According to a recent study by ECA International, the organization specializing in international mobility, London is the fourth most expensive city in the world behind New York, Hong Kong and Geneva.
In question, rents, inflation and the cost of transport.
For a tourist, the prices of accommodation, food and attractions can be just as deterrent… except with these tips!
To discover
Tailor-made trips: discover the offers from our partners
London transport
These iconic buses are an economical way to get around.
Numbers 24, 9 and 11 pass through tourist areas.
Mae Black unsplash
The trip itself is expensive but becomes more affordable in January (and its sales!), and by avoiding Christmas and summer.
The plane and the bus are often cheaper than the Eurostar but, in all cases, book six months in advance – no more for low-cost flights which will not yet be on sale.
For low prices with Eurostar, subscribe to the newsletter and take a look at early, late trains, or from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy…
As a group, crossing the Channel with your car via the ferry or the Eurotunnel can be more advantageous, but beware of parking and congestion charges in London.
For airport transfers, rely on regional trains like the Southern – and not the “Express” – or on coaches, avoiding times prone to traffic jams.
From Heathrow, hop on the tube on the Piccadilly line, and at night, on the N9 bus.
The London Tube is the oldest and most expensive subway in the world.
A one-way ticket into the center costs €3 during off-peak times, and increases when crossing several zones.
By bus, for €2 per trip, you go as far as you want, whenever you want, and can take other buses for free during the hour following the validation of your Oyster (the registrable and rechargeable card from Transport for London worth €8) or your contactless payment card.
Prefer these methods to paying in cash.
Because a daily ceiling allows you, after a certain number of journeys, not to pay more than the amount of a paper Day Travelcard: €9 per day in zone 1-2.
The city is gigantic, so group your visits by neighborhood and don't hesitate to take a bike, classic or electric, from one of the Santander terminals, from €2.
Free London Attractions
Want breathtaking panoramic views without paying €35 for the Shard, it's possible.
Unsplash Benjamin Davies
Remember that access to the permanent collections of major museums – V&A, National Gallery, Tate Galleries, Natural History Museum, Science Museum – is free, as is the spectacle offered by the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
Did you know ?
You can also visit Westminster Abbey or Saint Paul's Cathedral for free, to the sound of sublime choirs, almost every day at 5 p.m., during vespers.
The mysterious ceremony of handing over the keys to Tower of London is just as enchanting and has taken place in small groups at 10 p.m. for more than 700 years.
At €5.50, places are rare and are reserved on the 1st working day of the month preceding your arrival, on the Historical Royal Palaces website.
By becoming a member of this charitable organization, you obtain unlimited access for one year to six palaces (from €62, paid for in two visits) including Tower of London (€38 entry), Hampton Court Palace (€30) and Kensington Palace (€23).
Covering these attractions and other must-sees – Kew Gardens, Windsor Castle, the Shard… – the London Pass (from €102/day) saves tens or even hundreds of pounds for stays that are very condensed in tourist activities because visits are unlimited…but not in time.
The Go London Explorer Pass is valid for 60 days and requires you to choose a specific number of attractions (from €61 for two).
Want breathtaking panoramic views without paying €35 for the Shard?
Come for free to the Sky Garden, or to one of the City's panoramic restaurant-bars such as Madison, the OXO Tower or the Duck and Waffle and its dizzying elevator.
Also note the Horniman Museum, perched on a hill south of the city.
Discover its fascinating anthropology and taxidermy collections, landscaped gardens and farm without spending a penny.
It also houses an aquarium with entry at €5.50 compared to €26 at Sea Life London.
London restaurants & bars
On its Formica tables, the Regency Cafe has been serving one of the cheapest breakfasts in the capital since 1946. Unsplash Joel Goodman
Start by getting into English time by sitting down early, and take advantage of numerous lunch and pre-theater packages, as well as 50% off offers from the First Table app.
Second tip: eat local.
Opt for an English breakfast in a “
greasy spoon
” – a small neighborhood restaurant specializing in fried foods – such as the legendary Regency Cafe in Pimlico (from €7.50), or an irresistible fish and chips for €11.50 (good more affordable than average in London today) at Sutton & Sons in Hackney, Stoke Newington and Islington.
You can also treat yourself to a culinary trip for not much in Chinatown;
in the foodie markets – Curb in Covent Garden or Leather Lane Market in Farringdon;
in certain mini chains such as Pizza Pilgrims or Taro;
and in insider spots such as the Chinese Silk Road in Camberwell (€12-17 per head), popular for its lamb skewers.
For kids, Bill's, Giraffe, M&S Café and other major chains offer free meals during the summer holidays, while Purezza Pizzeria and Harvey Nichols Café offer this all year round for little foodies along with a adult ordering a dish.
Cheap hotels in the capital
The compact and affordable luxury of Z Hotels.
Tom Sullam
According to a recent study carried out by the consumer association Which?
booking a hotel room in London would be 59% cheaper than an Airbnb type rental.
You can find great deals, without fear of cockroaches or a call from your banker, in East London's small hotels at €110-170 a night, such as The Buxton and The New Road Hotel.
The latter is a four-star that honors the district's industrial heritage, with yoga and kitchens run by chef Marco Pierre White.
In the same price range, you can also count on the citizenM chain which rather targets nomadic workers and young creatives and is present in four central districts, including a branch in South Bank with a modern and connected lobby.
As for families looking above all to be well located and preferably in the center, the London chain Z Hotels is ideal.
The intelligent design of the rooms, particularly that of the Family Rooms with their compact beds, allows you to sleep comfortably in groups without breaking the bank (from €130) in popular areas like Covent Garden.
Read alsoTop 10 of the best boutique hotels in London