Editor’s Note: This post was written by guest contributor Lisa Fantino.
There is no time like the present for visiting and finding bargains in jolly old London, which has been called the most expensive city in the world.
Right now, with the state of the economic climate and exchange rates for the dollar and euro against the pound better than a year ago, there are plenty of deals to be had in London for food, culture, and off-the-beaten-path. Here are ten great things to do for £15 ($20) or less:
1. Courtauld Gallery
The Courtauld Gallery is one of London’s best kept secrets. The museum, located at Somerset House on The Strand, contains one of the best collections of impressionistic art outside of the major museums. Admission is just £5 ($6.50) for adults, while visitors under 18 are free. If you go on Mondays between 10 AM and 2 PM, admission is free for everyone. Visitors can see masterpieces by the fathers of impressionism: Monet, Manet, and Renoir. There are other impressive collections such as Rubens & The Baroque, The Renaissance, and Gothic & Medieval Art. The Courtauld even houses original sketches by Michelangelo, DaVinci, Picasso, and Van Gogh.
2. The Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is an imposing modernist structure on the South Bank of the Thames. While the Tate Collection houses 60,000 works from artists dating back to the 16th century, the collection at Tate Modern focuses only on works created from 1900 to the present–think Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Joan Miró and Roy Lichtenstein. Admission is free, except for major exhibitions.
3. Camden Market
This is the shopper’s paradise for everything quirky at Camden Lock, along with a good sampling of British antiques at the Camden Stables tossed in for good measure. It makes for a great day outing because it’s free to walk around and soak in the local color.
4. Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes
For Americans wanting to feel like they just stepped into Happy Days, this is the place to visit. Bloomsbury Lanes is located in the heart of Russell Square, near the University of London. It’s a step back in time to the 1950s, where you can bowl and listen to new bands along with catching some vintage film clips. You will have to hunt for this place, as it’s hidden in the basement of the Tavistock Hotel. It’ll cost you a bit to bowl but a burger and fries only runs about £9.95 ($13). And if you’re looking for music, the Lanes host a regular Rock ‘n’ Soul Bop for £5.50 ($7) with a D.J. spinning the hits, as well as Retro Remix nights for £9. Also, if you are as dance-crazy as this writer, don’t miss Sundays through November when they host Swing Alley dance classes from 5 PM to 10 PM for only £6 ($8).
5. 100 Club
A visit to London would not be complete without a stop at this legendary music venue, which is located in a basement off Oxford Street. On any given night, you can catch great music and quite possibly the next big band to make a splash—across the pond—with tickets costing around £5 ($6.50).
6. Ceremony of the Keys
“It’s 10pm and all’s well,” cries the Chief Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London. This is a ceremony of historical pomp and circumstance and occurs well after the last tourist has left the grounds. The Ceremony of the Keys, which is the formal locking of the gates of the Tower, has been carried out continuously every night, without fail, for nearly 700 years. However, you must plan your visit months in advance. You must send in a written request at least three months before your selected date and hope for the best. The good news is that the rare ticket is free.
You never know who you will find performing at this intimate West End theater at an affordable ticket price. The gorgeous Jude Law just finished up in Hamlet and Rachel Weisz returns to the Donmar to play Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’s A Street Car Named Desire through October 9th. The small venue only accommodates 250 people, and tickets can be purchased for as little as £12 ($15.50).
8. London Transit
The tube is the most efficient way to get around central London since taking a bus can have you stuck in traffic for hours if you go anywhere near or around Oxford Street. The London Transit system now offers daily and weekly travel cards, as well as a special reusable Oyster Card for overseas visitors. However, unless you plan on picking up the Oyster Card in person in a major city, the best alternative is the daily or weekly travel card which can be purchased at any tube stop.
8. London Transit
The Tube is the most efficient way to get around central London, since taking a bus can leave you stuck in traffic for hours if you go anywhere near or around Oxford Street. Transportation for London (TfL) offers daily and weekly travel-cards, as well as a special reusable Oyster card for overseas visitors. However, unless you plan on picking up an Oyster card in person at a London Station, the best alternative is a daily or weekly travel-card which can be purchased at any Tube stop.
9. Pizza Express
You might find it slightly odd to recommend a chain restaurant for pizza—in London of all place—but Pizza Express offers the quality, value, and variety to suit every budget and palette. My absolute favorite is the Veneziana, which only runs £6.50 ($8.50) (You can also feel good about eating this particular pizza because part of every sale goes to support the Venice in Peril charity). Pair it with a bottle of mineral water will run another £2.20 ($2.90), and you can have a great lunch or dinner for under £10 ($13.25) in the most expensive city in the world. As an aside, my favorites location of this chain are on Beauchamp Place in fashionable Knightsbridge, and near the Millbank Pier with partial river views.
10. Food Garden Cafe at Selfridges
Hidden on the top floor of this century-old London shopping institution is a great restaurant offering everything from Indian entrees and a salad bar to fancy crusted pretzels, custom crepes, and jacket potatoes. You can pile it on at the salad bar for about £8.50 ($11.25).
Let me know how you make out and if you find any other deals along the way! Ta-ta!
Minor updates and edits were made from the original article.
Featured photo © mattbuck
___________________________________________________________________________________
Lisa Fantino is an award-winning journalist turned attorney with a spirit of adventure that has sent her wanderlusting across the globe. You can find her all over the web at her Wanderlust Women Travel blog and on Twitter.