Have a cheap day out in London

by Amy Davies on 29 November 2009  |  3 comments
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If you live in London, or you’re planning a trip to the capital, check out these top bargains...

The capital has a reputation for being ridiculously overpriced, and this assumption is, on the whole, justified - especially for tourists. 

For example, entrance for two adults to one of the premier tourist attractions, the Tower of London, costs a whopping £36. It's much the same story at other top attractions around the city, which typically cost around £10 to £15 per person. 

What a rip-off! 

The good news is, with a little careful planning, you can go out in London very cheaply indeed - and if you're really clever, even avoid spending anything at all!

Top London offers

By using websites such as daysoutguide.co.uk and lastminute.com, you can bag hundreds of discount and 2-for-1 offers (note that with daysoutguide.co.uk, you need to have a valid train ticket for the day of your trip).  

So here are my pick of the top London offers available at the moment and where you can get them from: 
 

 
What's more, depending on what day of the week you're visiting London, you can get a wide variety of deals and 2-for-1 offers in some of the biggest restaurants in the capital.  

For instance, visit an Ask restaurant between Sunday and Thursday and you can get a main course for £1 when buying another - simply register here to take advantage. To check out more offers, read our weekly Frugal Food  article, where you'll find all the latest food deals.

Stuff you can do for free

It's amazing how much free stuff there is to do in London, if you open your eyes. Many museums and galleries across the capital are free of charge. The big names of course are Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Imperial War Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.  

However, it's also worth checking for smaller venues such as the Horniman Museum, which contains a variety of exhibitions from around the world, or Kenwood House which not only is an interesting building but also houses paintings by big names such as Rembrandt, Turner and Gainsborough.

If you have a specialist interest in something, you're a regular visitor to London or just want to avoid the crowds, there are also several great museums aimed at catering to such audiences. Places such as the Museum of Garden History, the National Army Museum, the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and even the Library and Museum of Freemasonry are just some examples. 

Be warned however, that some of these museums will charge for entry to exhibitions within the building. For example, the 1960s photography show at the National Portrait Gallery costs £11 per adult (although you can get 2 for 1 vouchers using your train tickets). 

You can also witness British traditions for free too. Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, visit the Houses of Parliament, or sit in on a trial at the Old Bailey. Certain times and days are better than others, so you should check before you head to any of these first. 

There's plenty of other ways to be entertained for free in London too. By using the VisitLondon website you'll be able to search out free music, comedy and even cinema venues.

And don't forget to bring your own packed lunch with you to avoid paying for expensive food in museum restaurants and shops!

Finally....

If you are going to be in London on 5 December and you have an American Express card, such as the American Express Platinum Cashback Card, you can benefit from double points every time you spend on it! To qualify, you'll need to brave the crowds and shop in London's Regent Street and Oxford Street which will be traffic free from midday. The deal includes airmiles, Harrods reward points, Nectar points and cashback, but corporate cards won't be included in the scheme.

Get help from lovemoney.com

If you're looking for cheap days out, lovemoney.com can help!

First, adopt this goal:  Cut the cost of going out

Next, why not have a wander over to Q&A and ask other lovemoney.com members for hints and tips about what worked best for them?

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