Cheap things to do in London

London which is an immensely popular tourist destination is often considered to be very 'expensive' by international tourists due to the strength of the British pound. However thankfully, London offers a wide array of attractions and activities which can be enjoyed for a minimal amount or no money.

Use an Oyster Card to travel cheaply around London
London is equipped with an extensive and efficient public transport system which provides a reasonable way to traverse the city as cab rides in the iconic London taxis can be prohibitively expensive. However the best way to use London’s transport system is by investing in an Oyster card which is a stored value card that offers discounted access on London’s transport system.

Visitors to London can purchase a reloadable Visitor’s Oyster card online or at several newsagents and kiosks around the city. A visitor Oyster card costs £12 per person and comes preloaded with £10 credit. This card can be reloaded at more than 4000 outlets all over the city. Oyster cards do not expire and can be used on future visits to London as well. A Visitor Oyster card is the fastest, and the easiest way to pay for single journeys on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services in the London zonal area.
Free and cheap transport for Children
London offers children and teens under the age of 15 free passages on the public transport network if they fulfill certain requirements. Children aged five and under are entitled to travel free at all times if accompanied by a fare paying adult. Children aged between five and ten can also travel free on the buses, trams, the London Underground( the tube) the Docklands Light Rail, and London Over ground services if they are accompanied by an adult who has a valid ticket or Oyster card (maximum 4 children per adult). Children aged 11-15 may travel free on buses and trams at any time if they carry and validate an Oyster photo card. They can further get access to child rates on the Tube, DLR and London Over ground services if they have a valid Oyster photo card.

An Oyster photocard can also be issued for non-residents of London and should be acquired online from the transport for London website at least three weeks in advance of your visit to London.
Cheap art and culture at the free museums and galleries of London
London’s many major museums and art galleries offer free public admission for their permanent collections. Museums like the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the Museum of London, the Horniman Museum and major galleries like the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, The Saatchi Gallery and the Wallace Collection are all free for the public though some of these cultural institutions do charge admission fees for their special exhibits.
Explore the wonderful bookshops of London on the cheap
London is home to some of the world’s best bookshops which welcome book lovers and browsers at all times. Hatchards, Waterstone’s, WH Smith, Foyles, the London Review Book Shop and Skoob are some of the outstanding bookshops in London which can offer hours of entertainment for a book lover.
Take in some free entertainment at London’s Covent Garden Market
Covent Garden Market which is a prominent shopping and dining destination in London has been synonymous with live entertainment ever since its inception. Even today the West Piazza of Covent Garden Market hosts street performers from all over the world who enjoy entertaining the hordes of visitors that throng the market at all times. All the performers who showcase their craft at Covent Garden are licensed and usually have to pass an audition in order to perform at the market. Piazza jugglers, mime artists, variety acts and musicians routinely enthrall and the crowds at this only area in London that is licensed for street entertainment.
Relax and rejuvenate in London’s many Royal parks
London is a city of parks and gardens and its many royal parks and gardens are always free to the public. Hyde Park, Regent’s park, St James Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens ( home to the Diana Memorial Playground and the Peter Pan Statue) are just a few of London’s many verdant public access parks.
Enjoy a movie on the cheap at the Prince Charles Cinema in Soho
While most movie tickets at London cinemas are priced around £ 10- £12 the Prince Charles Cinema in Soho which in its previous avatars has functioned as a West End Theater and a house of ill repute offers a varied fare for which it offers ticket prices that range from £ 1 to £ 6.50 for weekday and weekend shows.
Visit London’s popular street markets for a cheap day outing in London
Britain is often referred to as a nation of shopkeepers so it is no wonder then the city is home to some fantastic street market like the Borough Market which is known for its selection of fine and fresh foods, the Camden and Spitalfields Markets which are known to be a platform for exciting new young designers and Portobello Market which is populated by numerous antiques dealers and various other vendors.
Grab a cheap lunch on the go in London
London is home to many exquisite restaurants which serve fantastic meals that usually cost £20 upwards per head. These expensive restaurant meals can easily deplete a visit London travel budget quite easily but luckily many popular London pharmacies, supermarkets and food stores also offer the popular, substantial and cheap English lunch on the go which consists of a sandwich and a bag of crisps (chips) go. Stores like Boots, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Pret a Manger, EAT offer a wide range of such sandwiches, wraps and salads which adequately suffice as a cheap lunch on the go for Londoners and visitors alike.
Get Access to London’s best theaters on the cheap
Some of London’s best theaters offer cheap tickets for various performances periodically, the city’s National Theater has recently teamed up with the travel company Travelex to offer £10 tickets for various performances. Other theaters like the Royal Court theater offer deals like £10 Mondays while the Lyric Hammersmith often offers £10 nights for its various performances.