Best Things to Do in London on Foot and by Train
Take a Walk
Take the London Underground to the Embankment tube stop. Emerge and walk in either direction along the north bank of the Thames. One way will take you to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The other turn will take you in the direction of Parliament and Westminster Abbey with views of the London Eye directly across the river. It's one of those situations where you can't make a bad choice. Best of all, this delightful stroll costs you nothing!
If you're willing to part with £8 ($13 USD), you can take any number of excellent guided tours with a company called London Walks. Just visit their website, choose a walk that appeals to you and show up at the appointed time and place. No pre-payment is necessary--they don't even take reservations. There are a variety of walks, from the rather ghoulish "Jack the Ripper" tour taken at night to the more sedate "Westminster: 1000 years of history."
One practical word of caution for North Americans who walk in London: Lanes are reversed in England. Almost everyone knows that, but your natural inclination is to cross streets the way you would do so at home. In many tourist areas, directions for which way the oncoming traffic is headed are literally painted on the curb to remind visitors. But each year, there are pedestrians who get hit after looking the wrong way.
London Layover
Many budget travelers find themselves waiting out a London layover. That's because London is often the most affordable entry point into Europe, and it's also blessed with one of the world's best selections of budget airlines that will take you other places.
So if you must wait a day to start the next leg of your journey, how should you occupy your time?
Major attractions such as Westminster Abbey and The Tower of London sometimes require long waits in line.
Even if this is your first visit to London, it might be best to skip those places and concentrate on a few things you can see quickly and at relatively low cost.
One medium-priced attraction that will intrigue history buffs is the Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall. These were the basement offices from which Sir Winston conducted Britain's valiant efforts in World War II.
You can see the situation room, which was manned continuously from 1939-1945. You'll see Churchill's private quarters and the microphone used to broadcast his inspirational speeches.
Nearby St. James Park is a great place to spend some time walking and enjoying picturesque landscaping.
Take a look at a number of ideas for a budget London layover
Greenwich Royal Observatory
It's not the best-known attraction in the London area, but it is certainly a significant place to visit--and you don't have to pay admission to see the Astronomy Centre.
The adjacent Meridian Courtyard was made free of charge in 2001, but in March 2011 a £10 ($16 USD) charge was re-instituted for adults (£7.50 for children). Maintenance needs were cited for the fee at Meridian Courtyard. The ticket also entitles you to tour Flamsteed House, where the royal astronomers lived.
Discoveries and decisions made at the Royal Observatory shaped modern navigation and rewrote the astronomy textbooks. This is the place where the earth's time zones were organized. So significant was this spot that it became the basis for all east-west measurement on the globe. The prime meridian runs through this property. It's an imaginary line connecting the North Pole with the South Pole. So it is possible to put one of your feet in the western hemisphere and the other in the eastern hemisphere. That picture alone -- however tacky -- makes the trip here worthwhile.
This has not been a working observatory for more than half a century. It is a museum on the site where many of the greatest astronomical discoveries were made. You can still see the telescopes that were used.
Getting here requires an uphill walk from the National Maritime Museum, but the surrounding park and grounds are green and gorgeous even in the dead of February.
Greenwich National Maritime Museum
While you're in Greenwich, be sure to stop at the National Maritime Museum. Technically, the Royal Observatory is part of the Maritime Museum complex, but they are housed in separate buildings in spacious Greenwich Royal Park.
Until the early 1960s, Greenwich was adjacent to one of the most important seafaring areas in the world. From the docks of London, great expeditions and important commercial enterprises were launched.
All of these great stories, and the leaders who made them possible, are documented here in fascinating detail--and entry to the museum requires no admission charge. You could be asked to voluntarily contribute to the upkeep of the museum or buy some informative booklets.
Maritime Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby is the former Old Royal Naval College (originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren as a hospital) and Cutty Sark, the famous sailing ship preserved here in dry dock.
To reach Greenwich, take the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to the Cutty Sark station, which is within walking distance of the major attractions.
Pre-Theatre Dinner Splurge
Would you like to enjoy a pre-theatre dinner at a five-star hotel frequented by heads of state and celebrity guests? It's a splurge, but for many budget travelers, it can be affordable if you'll economize on a few other meals during your stay.
The Sofitel St. James is located in the West End, within a short walk of Picadilly Circus and a number of well-known London theatres.
Sofitel St. James offers a menu for patrons of the theatre designed to get you on your way before the curtain rises.
Three choices for each of the three courses are offered from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.; Post-theatre dinners at 10:30 p.m. The prices start at £15.50 ($25 USD) per person, It's not a low- or medium-budget choice, but given the quality of the food and presentation at highly rated Brasserie Roux, it's an affordable splurge that will help make your evening on the town memorable.
Heathrow Express
The Heathrow Express runs from all the airport terminals to Paddington Station. Within Heathrow Airport, you can ride it at no cost. It whisks you efficiently between terminals at this sprawling airport, which is one of the largest in the world.
If you ride into Central London, the cost for a one-way fare is £20 ($32 USD) or £34 ($54 USD). It is cheaper to catch the London Underground, at a cost of £5 ($8 USD).
I have tried both of them.
If you're on a tight budget with a fair amount of time to use, take the Underground. It takes about an hour to make the trip, because you will stop at quite a few stations along the way into Central London.
If time is precious, the Heathrow Express can be a better buy. It takes almost exactly 15 minutes between Heathrow and Paddington, and as the name implies, there are no stops along the way. If you're doing a London layover and have a day or less to spend here, Heathrow Express tickets are a must.
London has 12 major railroad stations. Among them: Paddington (seen above), which is the point for connections to western England and Wales, and the point for catching the Heathrow Express airport service; Kings Cross and St. Pancras, recently renovated to accommodate high-speed trips to Brussels and Paris; Victoria, the London terminus for the Gatwick Express airport service; and Waterloo, located immediately south of the Thames and within view of Parliament.
London's famed Underground train system connects all these stations, and the cost of traveling between them is reasonable if you use this efficient web and skip the London cabs.
You'll leave from St. Pancras if you decide to book a Eurostar trip to Paris, where you'll arrive at Gare du Nord station. The lowest cost is £89 ($144 USD) for a trip that takes about 2.5 hours. When you consider how much time you'll spend getting into and out of an airport for a flight to Paris, it's an option worth considering.
London is generally regarded as one of the world's most expensive cities. Hotel rooms are costly, as are meals, car rentals and gasoline. In many cases, the top attractions charge significant entry fees.
But do not despair! Many travelers are able to piece together a strategy that allows them to take advantage of special offers for airfares and this region's famously cheap, efficient ground transportation.
With that in mind, the London Underground is your most economical option. Only a handful of cities can match the intricate network of public transportation options available here.
If you know a few tricks and shortcuts, you can visit London on a budget. Take a look at more tips for savings on London hotels and , dining and attractions.
Next Stop: Bath
Take the London Underground to the Embankment tube stop. Emerge and walk in either direction along the north bank of the Thames. One way will take you to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The other turn will take you in the direction of Parliament and Westminster Abbey with views of the London Eye directly across the river. It's one of those situations where you can't make a bad choice. Best of all, this delightful stroll costs you nothing!
If you're willing to part with £8 ($13 USD), you can take any number of excellent guided tours with a company called London Walks. Just visit their website, choose a walk that appeals to you and show up at the appointed time and place. No pre-payment is necessary--they don't even take reservations. There are a variety of walks, from the rather ghoulish "Jack the Ripper" tour taken at night to the more sedate "Westminster: 1000 years of history."
One practical word of caution for North Americans who walk in London: Lanes are reversed in England. Almost everyone knows that, but your natural inclination is to cross streets the way you would do so at home. In many tourist areas, directions for which way the oncoming traffic is headed are literally painted on the curb to remind visitors. But each year, there are pedestrians who get hit after looking the wrong way.
London Layover
Many budget travelers find themselves waiting out a London layover. That's because London is often the most affordable entry point into Europe, and it's also blessed with one of the world's best selections of budget airlines that will take you other places.
So if you must wait a day to start the next leg of your journey, how should you occupy your time?
Major attractions such as Westminster Abbey and The Tower of London sometimes require long waits in line.
Even if this is your first visit to London, it might be best to skip those places and concentrate on a few things you can see quickly and at relatively low cost.
One medium-priced attraction that will intrigue history buffs is the Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall. These were the basement offices from which Sir Winston conducted Britain's valiant efforts in World War II.
You can see the situation room, which was manned continuously from 1939-1945. You'll see Churchill's private quarters and the microphone used to broadcast his inspirational speeches.
Nearby St. James Park is a great place to spend some time walking and enjoying picturesque landscaping.
Take a look at a number of ideas for a budget London layover
Greenwich Royal Observatory
It's not the best-known attraction in the London area, but it is certainly a significant place to visit--and you don't have to pay admission to see the Astronomy Centre.
The adjacent Meridian Courtyard was made free of charge in 2001, but in March 2011 a £10 ($16 USD) charge was re-instituted for adults (£7.50 for children). Maintenance needs were cited for the fee at Meridian Courtyard. The ticket also entitles you to tour Flamsteed House, where the royal astronomers lived.
Discoveries and decisions made at the Royal Observatory shaped modern navigation and rewrote the astronomy textbooks. This is the place where the earth's time zones were organized. So significant was this spot that it became the basis for all east-west measurement on the globe. The prime meridian runs through this property. It's an imaginary line connecting the North Pole with the South Pole. So it is possible to put one of your feet in the western hemisphere and the other in the eastern hemisphere. That picture alone -- however tacky -- makes the trip here worthwhile.
This has not been a working observatory for more than half a century. It is a museum on the site where many of the greatest astronomical discoveries were made. You can still see the telescopes that were used.
Getting here requires an uphill walk from the National Maritime Museum, but the surrounding park and grounds are green and gorgeous even in the dead of February.
Greenwich National Maritime Museum
While you're in Greenwich, be sure to stop at the National Maritime Museum. Technically, the Royal Observatory is part of the Maritime Museum complex, but they are housed in separate buildings in spacious Greenwich Royal Park.
Until the early 1960s, Greenwich was adjacent to one of the most important seafaring areas in the world. From the docks of London, great expeditions and important commercial enterprises were launched.
All of these great stories, and the leaders who made them possible, are documented here in fascinating detail--and entry to the museum requires no admission charge. You could be asked to voluntarily contribute to the upkeep of the museum or buy some informative booklets.
Maritime Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby is the former Old Royal Naval College (originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren as a hospital) and Cutty Sark, the famous sailing ship preserved here in dry dock.
To reach Greenwich, take the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to the Cutty Sark station, which is within walking distance of the major attractions.
Pre-Theatre Dinner Splurge
Would you like to enjoy a pre-theatre dinner at a five-star hotel frequented by heads of state and celebrity guests? It's a splurge, but for many budget travelers, it can be affordable if you'll economize on a few other meals during your stay.
The Sofitel St. James is located in the West End, within a short walk of Picadilly Circus and a number of well-known London theatres.
Sofitel St. James offers a menu for patrons of the theatre designed to get you on your way before the curtain rises.
Three choices for each of the three courses are offered from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.; Post-theatre dinners at 10:30 p.m. The prices start at £15.50 ($25 USD) per person, It's not a low- or medium-budget choice, but given the quality of the food and presentation at highly rated Brasserie Roux, it's an affordable splurge that will help make your evening on the town memorable.
Heathrow Express
The Heathrow Express runs from all the airport terminals to Paddington Station. Within Heathrow Airport, you can ride it at no cost. It whisks you efficiently between terminals at this sprawling airport, which is one of the largest in the world.
If you ride into Central London, the cost for a one-way fare is £20 ($32 USD) or £34 ($54 USD). It is cheaper to catch the London Underground, at a cost of £5 ($8 USD).
I have tried both of them.
If you're on a tight budget with a fair amount of time to use, take the Underground. It takes about an hour to make the trip, because you will stop at quite a few stations along the way into Central London.
If time is precious, the Heathrow Express can be a better buy. It takes almost exactly 15 minutes between Heathrow and Paddington, and as the name implies, there are no stops along the way. If you're doing a London layover and have a day or less to spend here, Heathrow Express tickets are a must.
London has 12 major railroad stations. Among them: Paddington (seen above), which is the point for connections to western England and Wales, and the point for catching the Heathrow Express airport service; Kings Cross and St. Pancras, recently renovated to accommodate high-speed trips to Brussels and Paris; Victoria, the London terminus for the Gatwick Express airport service; and Waterloo, located immediately south of the Thames and within view of Parliament.
London's famed Underground train system connects all these stations, and the cost of traveling between them is reasonable if you use this efficient web and skip the London cabs.
You'll leave from St. Pancras if you decide to book a Eurostar trip to Paris, where you'll arrive at Gare du Nord station. The lowest cost is £89 ($144 USD) for a trip that takes about 2.5 hours. When you consider how much time you'll spend getting into and out of an airport for a flight to Paris, it's an option worth considering.
London is generally regarded as one of the world's most expensive cities. Hotel rooms are costly, as are meals, car rentals and gasoline. In many cases, the top attractions charge significant entry fees.
But do not despair! Many travelers are able to piece together a strategy that allows them to take advantage of special offers for airfares and this region's famously cheap, efficient ground transportation.
With that in mind, the London Underground is your most economical option. Only a handful of cities can match the intricate network of public transportation options available here.
If you know a few tricks and shortcuts, you can visit London on a budget. Take a look at more tips for savings on London hotels and , dining and attractions.
Next Stop: Bath
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