You can experience London on a budget
LONDON – The sunkissed scenes from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s storybook wedding at Windsor may have put you in the mood to visit the Old Country.
But what if you’re just looking to feel like a prince (or princess), not spend like one? Here are a few tips on enjoying London on a budget. ❚ London’s high season is late spring and summer and it’s also popular in December. Prices and crowds drop outside those months. I chose March and had typically damp and chilly weather with a few sunny afternoons. Right now, when all your friends are complaining about how much they’re spending on summer trips to Europe, is the time to book your trip for autumn. ❚ U.S.-U.K. tourism is up, in part due to the proliferation of cheap flights to Europe. I flew Norwegian nonstop from Oakland, California. For about $445 (that included an extra $45 to book a window seat), I had a seat, but not much else. I took my own blanket, pillow, water and snack and
Go low (season) Fly frugally
slept pretty much straight through to Gatwick Airport. From there, you can ride the Gatwick Express to Victoria station for about $24.
Drawbacks: I couldn’t check in online or take advantage of my TSA Precheck status. Note: The luggage limit, one carryon, one purse-type item, about 22 pounds total, was enforced. You’ll pay a lot for checked bags – nearly $70 each way if you pay for it last-minute at the airport. Another new low-cost but definitely no-frills airline to London is WOW. You can find complaints online about these cut-rate flights, but you can also save a lot of money. ❚ The farther out you go from the heart of London, the cheaper the lodging. Just make sure you’re within an easy walk from the subway (known here as the underground or tube) and build time into your itinerary for your commute into town. I chose an Airbnb in Hammersmith, which came to about $80 a night. ❚ Since I knew I was going to be visiting a lot of paid attractions, I bought a London Pass, a multivenue card. The drawback to this kind of option
Bet on the burbs Take a pass
is one can feel pressured to rush around and get maximum value. My goal was to avoid ticket lines and not lose money. I paid about $200 for a six-day pass that came with an Oyster transit card preloaded with about $50. I visited all the places I wanted, including Windsor Castle (train fare is included in the pass). I didn’t max out the pass but did come out about $125 ahead. If you’d rather take a more curated approach, look online for pay-in-advance discounts and combination specials such as the twofor-one ticket to the Queen’s Gallery and Royal Mews.
West End shows are another area where you can easily drop a bundle. But if you’re flexible on times and shows, discount tickets and lastminute bargains are available in-person at the TKTS office in Leicester Square. You can also book online https://officiallondontheatre.com/ theatre-tickets/. ❚ Most museums in London are free (special exhibitions may cost extra). A good, cheap, expedition is to head for the South Bank and the Tate Modern. Afterward, walk along the river path (past Shakespeare’s Globe) to Borough Market Hall (2-4 Bedale St., closed Sundays), a trendy spot where you can try specialties like the cheese toastie at Kappacasein. Keep walking to reach London Bridge and, if you’re thirsty, stay on the south side of the river and check out the 17th-century George Inn (77 Borough High St.). Or, retrace your steps to the Tate and cross the pedestrian Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s. If it’s close to 5 p.m. you’ll catch evensong at the cathedral. ❚ There are plenty of lavish teas to be had in London, including the swank spread at gourmet grocer Fortnum & Mason that comes to about $75. Harrods, too, has an excellent option if you are in the mood to splurge. Or, you can stop by F&M’s more casual restaurant, The Parlour, where for about $15 I enjoyed excellent scones, free Wi-Fi and, quite simply, the best cup of tea of my life. ❚ A free thing to do in London is visit the Sky Garden, a green space with a bar and restaurants at the top of the 34story building known as the Walkie Talkie (20 Fenchurch St.). It’s hard to walk in for a look without a ticket, but timed tickets are free, though sunset hours go fast: http://skygarden.london/booking.
Cheers, indeed.
See, stroll, sip High-low teas Reach for the sky