A lot of people have been into travelling lately, partly due to peer pressure magnified by social media influence. In fact, according to surveys, 52% of Facebook users ponder about vacation and travelling when on the platform. While travelling may be a breeze for some, others may find travelling too expensive and too luxurious. However, that need not be the case as there are lots of ways to travel without draining your savings. Here are five things one can do without breaking the bank:
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Shop at Camden Market
Planning ahead is a necessity if one’s budget must be maximized. This is to avoid wasting time and fare money. Imagine if one traveller visits a destination, then moves northward to another site, only to return to a place near the first destination. So be familiar with sites that are close to each other and plan ahead. Equally pre-booking accommodation is a smart idea, there are plenty of cheap hotels in London, so don’t feel you have to go for the obvious names.
One of the famous markets in London is the Camden Market just north of the downtown area. It is a large market filled with shops and stalls that offer a lot of common and unique products. The area houses both old and new market stalls. It is a shopper’s dream to visit, comparable to Aladdin’s cave and should really be called little Marrakesh!
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Visit the Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament is part of the Westminster Palace complex. Serving as the legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Parliament has the House of Lords and House of Commons. While legislative buildings in many countries may offer only restricted access or none at all, the Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom is open to visitors even on working days, subject to strict security protocols. One can even sit down and watch members of parliament debate. A guided tour may incur some costs (£18.50 to £20.50 for adults). Sitting in the Gallery of the House of Commons and Lords is free when House is in session. Bringing airport-prohibited items, however, is also more or less prohibited in Parliament.
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Tour the Buckingham Palace
Besides the Houses of Parliament, Westminster offers a lot of tourist attractions. One of the most famous historical sites in Westminster is the Buckingham Palace, serving as the seat of power of the monarchy of the United Kingdom. There, travellers can witness the well-known Changing of the Guards, if weather permits it. Else, there are a lot of attractions inside such as the Queen’s Gallery. The gallery houses an extensive amount of expensive art possessed by the Royal Collection.
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Visit Piazzas such as the Convent Garden
One of the cheapest ways to travel in London is by using an Oyster card, a blue credit card-like stored-value smartcard accepted in many public transportation options in London. A visitor Oyster card usually costs around £2.4 to £18 depending on access privileges purchased. This card will allow one to use the London Underground, Trams (DLR), Overground, some riverboats, and the famous double-decker London buses. The visitor card also has special offers and discounts in leading London commercial establishments such as restaurants and shops. This card can be used to visit open places instead of expensive shows and closed venues. One such place is a visit public piazzas to dine and tour around. One such known piazza is Convent Garden accessible via the London Underground. This garden is actually a large piazza which hosts a diverse range of restaurants and bars featuring worldwide cuisine from Indian meals to Mexican street food.
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Visit Trafalgar Square and Big Ben
Near Buckingham Palace is the Trafalgar Square and Big Ben, another tourist site. One can walk and observe the majesty of Big Ben, the largest and most accurate striking and chiming clock in the world. Visiting these two sites can be done on foot. There are plenty of neighbourhoods in and around London where you can stay and walk to get around, saving you plenty.
These tips are more effective if one can budget effectively. The best part is that one can indeed enjoy London without spending a fortune.
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