London is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, welcoming around 21 million international visitors from outside the UK each year. There’s no surprise that this is the case either with the capital being a hotspot for finance, fashion and tourism, as well as offering so many unique and interesting experiences that other travel locations fail to provide. However, the one downfall to London is that it’s very expensive, making it very difficult for travellers to stay within their budget during their stay.

If you’re choosing London as a travel destination, you need to make sure that you budget correctly to stay within your finances and don’t overspend in the UK’s most expensive city. Staying under £50 a day is a goal of many travellers, but many fear that this is impossible in London. Luckily, we’re here to help you with some tips to see the capital’s most iconic locations while managing your spending. Continue reading for more information.

The £0 Iconic Walking Route

If you’re searching for a walkable route around London that allows you to see the most famous sights for absolutely free, you’re in luck! The following places can be seen without spending a single penny on tickets, giving tourists the perfect route for capturing photographs of the most famous locations in the capital city.

Westminster Abbey & Big Ben

Start your tour surrounded by royal history by going to Westminster Abbey. It’s hosted some of the most iconic royal weddings and coronations, with Big Ben nearby also adding to the location as it’s a famous spot for capturing London photos.

Houses of Parliament

Located right next to Big Ben is the Palace of Westminster, which has Gothic architecture that looks beautiful combined with the River Thames. It will offer incredible photo opportunities from across the river or on Westminster Bridge.

The London Eye

You can then walk across Westminster Bridge, which is an experience of its own, before reaching Europe’s tallest ferris wheel where you will see the best sights of the capital city. Taking a ride of this will be a wonderful experience, but even just taking a look at it for free is quite the experience just seeing how big it is.

Trafalgar Square

Heading north toward this vibrant public square, home to the imposing Nelson's Column and guarded by giant bronze lions should be next on your list. It's a hub of street performers, beautiful fountains and the grand backdrop of the National Gallery, so it’s sure to give you a truly fun time to share with whoever you travel with.

Buckingham Palace

Finish your walk along The Mall at the official London residence of the Monarch. Here, you can see the iconic palace gates, the King's Guard and the famous balcony. Seeing all of this will make this an unforgettable stop for any visitor.

Free London Museums

The British Museum

Tourists can get free entry for permanent galleries at The British Museum, though booking online in advance is recommended to make sure that there’s enough space to enter. Special exhibitions require a paid ticket, so be mindful of this before visiting. Key pieces of artwork to see include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles, Egyptian mummies and the bust of Ramesses the Great.

The National Gallery

Housing the UK's national collection of Western European paintings dating from the mid-13th century to the early 20th century, The National Gallery is considered a must-visit to all of those who travel to the capital city. The museum contains over 2,300 paintings, nearly all of which are on permanent public display and are free to see.

The Natural History & Science Museums 

London's Natural History Museum and Science Museum are right next to each other in South Kensington and offer free general admission, although you should definitely book in advance. In the Natural History Museum, you should see Hope the Blue Whale skeleton suspended in Hintze Hall. Meanwhile, the Science History Museum’s main highlight is a walk among spacecraft in the permanent Space Gallery.

Cheap Transit

If you don’t fancy walking around London, there are some cheap transport routes that you can take which will allow you to see the most iconic sights:

• The "Secret" Bus Tour (£1.75): Tap your contactless card on Bus Route 11 or Bus Route 24 to pass by major icons for a flat bus fare, all while seeing some famous London landmarks.

• Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (approx. £10–£12): Instead of a pricey cruise liner, use the public river bus to sail past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Greenwich.

£50 Day Budget Breakdown

Start your day with a morning coffee and pastry, which can be purchased for under £5 if you go to local bakeries rather than coffee shop chains like Starbucks. You can even find good budget coffees and pastries in supermarkets.

A daily Oyster Card will cost you around £8.50, which will allow you to use the London Underground in Zones 1-2 for an entire day. This is the most cost-effective way of travelling around the capital city, much cheaper than buses and taxis.

If you get a bit peckish in the afternoon, you can find street food lunches for around £12. Start your search in the Borough Market and Camden areas for the most cost-effective lunches, allowing you to save a lot of your budget.

An Uber Boat River Trip will cost you around £11 and as mentioned, this will give you amazing views of some of Central London’s best river-side attractions.

You can end your evening with a pub dinner and drink for around £13.50. Wetherspoons is great for this, as you will find various deals that offer you a drink with your meal. If you’ve somehow managed to save money on previous days, you can even splash out a bit extra for something more fancy.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re travelling to London for a short period of time or have recently moved there and want to get your indefinite leave to remain, following these tips can help you enjoy days out for as little as £50! We really hope this inspires your trip and helps you save money.