London for
Making the most of what London has to offer can be easy and economical if you know where to look. With our comprehensive guide to the best budget activities you don’t have to look very far – it’s all listed here. And don’t think that by seeing the free stuff or going for the cheaper
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option you are selling yourself short – many of the city’s gems do not charge and some of the best bars and restaurants are the most affordable. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy an uncompromising but walletfriendly trip in the world’s most vibrant capital.
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THE BEST FOR BUDGET SIGHTSEEING
No 3
le temp
Daily from 11:00
Kenwood House (Iveagh Bequest) and Park
No 2
Monday - Friday from 10:00 when in session
Houses of Parliament / Westminster
No 1
before
Daily at 21:30
Ceremony of the Keys - Tower of London Tower Hill, EC3 It costs to visit the Tower; however visitors can attend the Ceremony of the Keys for free. The ceremony takes place in the grounds every evening at 21:30. To apply send a SAE detailing names of attendees to: Ceremony of the Keys, HM Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB two months in advance. Phone: 020 7709 0765 Station: Tower Hill Tube
St Margaret Street, SW1 Home to the two seats of Parliament - the Commons and the Lords – members of the public are allowed free access to the Public Galleries in both Houses where they can watch debates when parliament is in session. You don’t need tickets in advance, but may have to queue. Phone: 020 7219 5353 Station: Westminster Tube
Hampstead Lane, NW3 Free admission to the house and grounds of this neoclassical villa, beautifully positioned on the edge of Hampstead Heath. Phone: 020 8348 1286 Station: Hampstead Tube
No 4
Times vary
Mount Pleasant Sorting Office Rosebery Avenue, EC1 Free tours around this amazing 23 mile underground network of postal trains. Phone for details. Phone: 020 7239 2362 Station: Chancery Lane Tube
Ticket to ride
No 5
Monday - Friday from 10:00
Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) City of London, EC4 Free to observe trials in the public gallery of London’s principal criminal court. Phone: 020 7248 3277 Station: St Paul’s Tube
No 6
Daily from 11:00
Oxo Tower and Wharf Bargehouse Street, SE1 Free admission to Oxo Gallery exhibitions and a free public viewing platform on the 8th floor. Phone: 020 7401 2255 Station: Southwark Tube
No 7 Times vary
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Bow Street, WC2 Visitors can walk around this remarkable, historic and architecturally stunning building and attend lunchtime concerts for free. Phone: 020 7240 1200 Station: Covent Garden Tube
No 8
Times vary
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple) 105-119 Brentfield Road, NW10 Free admission to this stunning, intricately carved Hindu Temple - the first traditional Hindu Mandir in Europe. Phone: 020 8965 2651 Station: Harlesden / Neasden Tube
No 9
Check website for programme of auctions
Sotheby’s 34-35 New Bond Street, W1 Free to attend auctions at the world’s oldest art auction house. Check website for dates and details. Phone: 020 7293 5000 Station: Bond Street Tube
No 10
Daily from 8:00
Westminster Cathedral Victoria Street, SW1 Free admission to this superb example of neo-Byzantine architecture. Phone: 020 7798 9055 Station: Westminster Tube
London for Backpackers
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Jumping on one of London’s famous red public buses is a cheap and authentic way to see the sights at your own pace. With a Travel Card, Oyster Card or bus pass you can jump on and off, as and when you feel like it. You can combine any of the routes for a trip around central London but there are four particular journeys which are great for a sightseeing spree direct from the top deck…Numbers 8, 11, 12 and 15 all allow a bird’s eye view of London’s iconic landmarks.
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THE BEST FOR BUDGET SURFING
No 1 Art Café 96 Queensway, W2 Popular spot with a classic coffee house atmosphere, an eclectic crowd, and great snacks. Phone: 020 7229 8447 Station: Queensway Tube
No 2 Be the Reds 39 Whitfield Street, W1T This South Korean-themed café serving a selection sushi dishes was once the home of the original cybercafé Café Cyberia. Phone: 020 7209 0984 Station: Goodge Street Tube
London for Backpackers
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No 3 Coffee@ Brick Lane 154 Brick Lane, E1 Relaxed Brick Lane retreat offering some good value food and drink deals. Phone: 020 7247 6735 Station: Shoreditch Tube
No 4 easyInternet 9-16 Tottenham Court Road, W1 The world’s biggest chain of internet cafés offers one of the cheapest ways to get online. Phone: n/a Station: Tottenham Court Road Tube
No 6 Netstream 9-12 St Anne’s Court, W1 Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Netstream’s convenient, extremely central location is perfectly matched by round-the-clock service. Phone: 020 7434 2525 Station: Tottenham Court Road Tube
No 5 Living Space
No 7 Orient Espresso
1 Coral Street, SE1 Award-winning social enterprise internet cafe serving reasonably-priced Fair Trade drinks and snacks. Phone: 020 7926 8445 Station: Waterloo Tube / Rail
59-61 Borough High Street, SE1 Convenient coffee shop and internet café attached to an intimate and friendly hostel on the South Bank. Phone: 020 7407 1856 Station: London Bridge Tube / Rail
No 8 Portobello Gold 95/97 Portobello Road, W11 Licensed internet cafe with CD burning and free coffee. Phone: 020 7460 4910 Station: Notting Hill Gate Tube
No 9 Reload London
No 10 The Glow Lounge
197 Praed Street, W2 Thriving chain of bars offering high-speed connections, a range of superb facilities and services, a full menu, singles nights, phone cards and laptop docking. Phone: 020 7262 4113 Station: Paddington Tube / Rail
6 Cavendish Parade, Clapham Common Southside, SW4 Funky, friendly and fresh internet cafe and bar with wireless and internet access points throughout. Phone: 020 8673 4455 Station: Clapham South Tube
London
Libraries
Nearly all the public libraries spread over the city offer internet and word processing for free as well as a multitude of other services. Southwark, Westminster, the City and Lambeth libraries are the most central. You may need to register – check for details.
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No 1
Daily from 10:00
National Gallery
Daily from 10:00
National Portrait Gallery St Martin’s Place, WC2H 10,000 portraits and over 250,000 archived images, of everyone from statesmen to showbiz stars and media barons. Phone: 020 7306 0055 Station: Leicester Square Tube
No 3
Daily from 11:00 (Sunday 12:00)
Photographers’ Gallery 5 & 8 Great Newport Street,WC2H Leading centre for contemporary photography, with a yearround programme of fantastic free exhibitions. Phone: 020 7831 1772 Station: Leicester Square Tube
London for Backpackers
Daily from 10:00
Serpentine Gallery
Kensington Gardens, W2 Beautifully located (it nestles idyllically in the heart of Kensington Gardens) platform for contemporary artists, both British and international, with a host of changing exhibitions. Phone: 020 7402 6075 Station: Lancaster Gate Tube
No 5
Daily from 10:00
Tate Britain Millbank, SW1 Home to the greatest collection of British art from 1500 to the present day. Exhibits include the Turner Prize and works from Blake, Rossetti, Spencer and Stubbs. Phone: 020 7887 8000 Station: Pimlico Tube
No 6
Daily from 10:00
Tate Modern
Galleries
Bankside, SE1 Homage to modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present day, housed in the former Bankside Power Station. Opened in 2000, the riverside collection spans works from Matisse to Moore, Dali to Picasso. Phone: 020 7887 8000 Station: Blackfriars / Southwark Tube
No 7
Daily from 10:00
The Wallace Collection Manchester Square, W1 One of the finest collections of art – paintings, miniatures, sculptures - amassed by one family. Phone: 020 7563 9500 Station: Bond Street Tube
Tate Britain
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No 2
No 4
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Trafalgar Square, WC2N Over 2000 paintings representing some of the finest examples of Western European art from 1250 - 1900. Phone: 020 7747 2885 Station: Leicester Square Tube
Top 10 Free
THE BEST FOR BUDGET ART
No 8
Daily from 12:00
The Wapping Project Wapping Wall, E1 Multi-purpose exhibition and performance space, located in the historic Wapping Hydraulic Power Station. Phone: 020 7680 2080 Station: Shadwell Tube
No 9
Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00
White Cube 48 Hoxton Square, N1 Over 1000 square metres of exhibition space, filled with some of the world’s most cutting-edge art. Phone: 020 7930 5373 Station: Old Street Tube
No 10
Tuesday - Sunday from 11:00
Whitechapel Gallery Whitechapel High St, E1 Britain’s first purpose-built art gallery. This unique and elegant venue, designed in an arts and crafts architecture style by Townsend in 1901, is one of London’s most dramatic spaces. Phone: 020 7522 7888 Station: Aldgate East Tube
East London
Galleries In the 1980s, the exindustrial areas east of the City were colonized by a new generation of artists. Converting warehouses into studios, factories into galleries, they forged a fresh art out of a ruined landscape. Jay Joplin’s White Cube gallery was the starting point and this is where your journey should begin. After that, just explore the areas around Hoxton Square, Cambridge Heath Road and Whitechapel. Travel on foot or you’ll miss what makes this area so exciting - the artists of Hoxton and Hackney love to write on walls, and amid the tags and scrawls, there is some remarkable work.
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10 Top Budget
T H E B E S T WAY TO S E E T H E C I T Y F O R L E S S
before
No 2 Bateaux London
London Eye and Lunch
Lunch Cruise
Enjoy a relaxing twocourse meal with wine in Covent Garden, London’s Theatreland, before witnessing some spectacular panoramic views of the capital from the top of the London Eye. The riverside wheel boasts an impressive 150 metre arc and allows inhabitants of its glass-pods an unrivalled 360˚ view of London and beyond. On a clear day the view extends to 25 miles in each direction. Price: From £29 Phone: 020 7437 4370
the city to ur
Enjoy London from a different perspective with this fantastic value lunch cruise. Savour the delicious set menu lunch, relaxing atmosphere and stunning river views on this perfect lunchtime treat. Price: From £17 Phone: 020 7437 4370
Capture the excitement of the River Thames on board Catamaran Cruisers’ sightseeing boats offering spectacular views and a whole new perspective on the magnificent City of London. Price: £7 Phone: 020 7437 4370
London Pass
A London Pass costs as little as £12 a day for a 6 day pass and offers you a chance to avoid the queues, plus free entry to over 50 attractions, a free guide book, free walking tours and other special offers. Attractions covered include the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle, London Aquarium, HMS Belfast, Kensington Palace, and the Cutty Sark. You can also opt for a pass that includes a Visitor Travelcard - offering free travel on central London buses and trains after 9:30am. For more info, and to buy, phone: 020 7437 4370.
No 4 No 3 Hop-on Hop-off Circular River Cruise River Cruise Navigate the Thames with a hop-on, hop-off open ticket, allowing you to explore by water the sites and sounds of London at your own pace. Price: £8 Phone: 020 7437 4370
No 5 Jack the Ripper Walking Tour As darkness descends on the capital venture back to 1888 when Jack the Ripper terrorised London’s streets at night. Price: £6 Phone: 020 7437 4370
No 6 Open-Top Bus Tour Explore the city with a hopon, hop-off bus tour, which stops at up to 90 different places around central London. Full commentary included. Price: £18 Phone: 020 7437 4370
No 7 Shakespeare City Walking Tour Shakespeare lived in the City for at least 10 years and did most of his writing here. See where he lived, worked and played on this revealing walking tour. Price: £6 Phone: 020 7437 4370
No 8 The Blood and Tears
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No 1 A Flight on the
No 9 The Da Vinci Code Trail Walking Tour Follow in the footsteps of the best selling novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’. See the sites described in the book, and hear the facts behind the fiction. Price: £6 Phone: 020 7437 4370
No 10 The Royal West Bike Tour Discover London’s royal sights on a bike with a professional guide to escort you along the cycle routes, side roads and alleyways of the capital. Price: £17 Phone: 020 7437 4370
London for Backpackers
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Walking Tour
Hotels, Tickets and Tours
Explore London’s macabre history as you hear tales of witchcraft, executions, torture, Jack the Ripper and much more. Price: £6 Phone: 020 7437 4370
Open every day 8am to 11pm English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Italiano
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F ree 10 Top museums
T H E B E S T F O R B U D G E T H I S TO RY A N D A R T E FAC T S
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No 1
Daily from 9:30 (Sunday 11:00)
British Library
th e n atur a l h i st o r
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96 Euston Road, NW1 Home to the Magna Carta, the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare’s First Folio, the Lindisfarne Gospels, and a range of illuminated and literary manuscripts. Phone: 020 7412 7332 Station: King’s Cross Tube / Rail
No 2
Daily from 10:00
British Museum Great Russell Street, WC1B Collections from around the world ranging from prehistoric to modern times. Famous objects include the Rosetta Stone and sculptures from the Parthenon. Phone: 020 7323 8000 Station: Tottenham Court Road Tube
No 3
Daily from 10:00
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Road, SE1 Founded in 1917, this national museum of 20th century conflict contains a fascinating display of the vehicles and weapons of war. Phone: 020 7416 5320 / 11 Station: Lambeth North Tube
No 4
Daily from 10:00 (12:00 on Sunday)
Museum of London 150 London Wall, E2 Over 1.1 million objects, documenting the growth of London from the prehistoric to the present day, make this the world’s largest urban history museum. Phone: 0870 444 3852 Station: Barbican Tube
No 6
Daily from 10:00 (Sunday 11:00)
Natural History Museum Cromwell Road, SW7 Interactive exhibitions, dinosaurs, volcanoes, giant whales and creepy crawlies make this one of the most highly renowned and best loved museums. Phone: 020 7942 5000 Station: South Kensington Tube
No 7
Daily from 10:00
Science Museum Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 Home to one of the world’s most magnificent collections of science, industry, technology and medicine, this is one of London’s most hands-on and interactive museums. Phone: 0870 870 4868 Station: South Kensington Tube
No 5
No 8
National Maritime Museum / Royal Observatory / Queen’s House
Sir John Soane’s Museum
Daily from 10:00
Park Row, Greenwich, SE10 These three attractions combined boast: the most important collection of objects relating to Britain at sea, Sir Christopher Wren’s magnificent museum of time and space, and the grand, neoclassical home of King Charles I. Phone: 020 8858 4422 Station: Greenwich DLR
Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00
13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A Housed in the former residence of one of Britain’s leading 19th century architects, this sprawling treasure trove boasts 20,000 architectural drawings, antiquities and works by Hogarth, Turner, Canaletto and Piranesi. Visit on the first Tuesday of the month when the museum is lit by candles. Phone: 020 7405 2107 Station: Holborn Tube
No 9
Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00
Theatre Museum Russell Square, WC2E Over 145 galleries of fine and applied arts populate this influential museum. Phone: 020 7943 4700 Station: Covent Garden Tube
No 10
Daily from 10:00
Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum Cromwell Road, SW7 Home to one million programmes, playbills, puppets, photographs and props. Phone: 020 7942 2000 Station: South Kensington Tube
National Treasures
Nowadays entry to all the national galleries and museums in London is free, but it hasn’t always been that way. Admission fees were only abolished in December 2001, before that most of the major attractions charged up to £7.50 to get in. The response has been impressive; in the first three years after the change admissions rocketed by 75%.
London for Backpackers
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Top 10 outdoor spaces T H E B E S T F O R WA L K S A N D PA R K S
No 1 Battersea Park
London for Backpackers
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No 5 Hyde Park
Holland Park Avenue / Kensington High Street, W8 Beautiful park in west London, boasting elegant pavilions, an Orangery, 18th century glasshouse and ice house, wooded walks and a Japanese rock garden - not to mention rabbits, ducks and peacocks. Phone: 020 7471 9813 Station: Holland Park Tube
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Roo
Hampstead Heath, NW5 / Muswell Hill Road, N10 Hampstead Heath is a rich conservation area, boasting dense woodland, bogs, hedgerows, grassland, ponds and one of the best views over London from Parliament Hill. Ancient oaks and hornbeams, bats, squirrels and over 70 species of birds, happily inhabit this glorious, 70 acre patch of woodland in Highgate. Phone: 020 8348 9908 / 020 8444 6129 Station: Hampstead Heath Rail / Highgate Tube
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Hampton Court Road, Hampton, TW12 An essentially informal park with woodland copses, wildlife glades, tall grasses and bracken hiding hoards of wild deer and a gentle, winding river. Phone: 020 8979 1586 Station: Teddington Rail / Hampton Wick Rail / Hampton Court Rail
Highgate Woods
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No 2 Bushy Park
No 4 No 3 Holland Park Hampstead Heath /
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Albert Bridge Road / Queenstown Road, SW11 Water, wildlife and walks adorn this riverside retreat, complete with Peace Pagoda and regular events including concerts, fireworks and films. Phone: 020 8871 7530 Station: Sloane Square Tube
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Hyde Park, W2 Covering over 350 acres Hyde Park is one of the largest green spaces in London. It’s also an extremely popular place to walk, picnic, horseride, rollerblade, swim, boat or simply relax on a deck chair. Look out for the many free events and guided walks. Phone: 020 7298 2100 Station: Hyde Park Corner
No 8 No 6 Kensington Gardens Regent’s Park Bayswater / Kensington Grove, W2 Small, peaceful area covering 275 acres which forms a backdrop to Kensington Palace, the Serpentine Gallery and river, the Italian Gardens and the Diana Memorial Fountain and Playground. Phone: 020 7298 2100 Station: Bayswater / Queensway Tube
No 7 Kensington Roof Gardens 99 Kensington High Street, W8 1.5 acre rooftop oasis with Spanish, Tudor and English themed gardens. Phone first to check admission. Phone: 020 7937 7994 Station: Kensington High Street Tube
Regent’s Park, NW1 500 acres of wide open spaces filled with lakes, bandstands, a mosque and beautifully designed gardens. Phone: 020 7486 7905 Station: Baker Street Tube
No 9 Richmond Park Kingston Vale, TW10 Over 14,000 trees adorn this riverside, country retreat with its royal parkland and majestic wild deer. Phone: 020 8940 9125 Station: Richmond Tube / Rail
No 10 St James’s Park St James’s Park, SW1 Flanking Westminster and Buckingham Palace, St James’s is the perfect spot for a stroll, picnic or spot of bird watching in idyllic surroundings. The view from the park down towards Whitehall is one of the city’s most celebrated vistas. Phone: 020 7930 1793 Station: St James’s Park Tube
City Farms
Getting back to nature in the capital is simple and free. Amid the sky scrapers and general clamour of the city a thriving community of city farms exists to boost the open air delights available in the many parks and gardens. Britain’s largest city farm, Mudchute, exists on the Isle of Dogs and was originally created 150 years ago. Kentish Town City Farm is one of the capital’s oldest, and keeps north London’s city dwellers in touch with this country’s agricultural heritage. City farms are a cheap, cheerful and often more accessible alternative to major zoos and animal parks.
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Free-Wheeling London
Urban sports have grown up in London. The city is dotted with a combination of specially constructed and uniquely improvised skate and stunt parks. Some are free to use, others offer spectators the chance to watch and learn as experts glide, flip and spin over all manner of ramps, lips and rails. The South Bank, in particular, has become an informal, improvised performance arena for both skateboarding and stunt biking. Go at the weekend and take in the mobile magic.
No 1 Bowling Petanque at Hay’s Galleria, Tooley Street, SE1 The riverside Galleria’s Balls Brother’s bar boasts a free petanque pitch at lunchtimes. Phone: 020 7407 4301 Station: London Bridge Tube / Rail
No 2 Cricket Lord’s / Marylebone CC Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, NW5 Join the crowd of spectators in the stands and watch free matches throughout the season. Phone: 020 7616 8595 Station: St John’s Wood Tube
10 Top free activities
THE BEST FOR BUDGET SPORTS AND GAMES
No 3 Cycling London Cycling Campaign, 2 Newhams Row, SE1 Free bike tours around London. Phone: 020 7234 9310 Station: n/a
No 4 Dancing Bar Salsa, 96 Charing Cross Road, WC2H Free early evening salsa and meringue classes for beginners on Fridays at 6.30pm and Sundays at 7pm. Phone: 020 7379 3277 Station: Tottenham Court Road Tube
No 5 Fish Aquatic Design Centre, 107 Great Portland Street, W1 Enjoy the display of over 300 tanks filled with amazing marine and tropical fish. Phone: 020 7580 6764 Station: Great Portland Street Tube
No 6 Football Chelsea FC - Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, SW6 Free to attend open days and to watch training sessions. Phone: 0870 603 0005 Station: Fulham Broadway Tube
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No 7 Flying
No 8 Roller-skating
No 9 Surfing
No 10 Swimming
Primrose Hill, Blackheath, Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill All offer great vantage points and prime kite-flying spots. Phone: Various Station: Various
Hyde Park, W2 Friday Night Skate and Sunday Roller Strolls take place from Hyde Park each week – depending on the weather. Bring your own skates. Phone: 020 7731 4999 Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube
Apple Store, 235 Regent Street, W1B Apple’s flagship London store is a great place to explore. A hands-on policy encourages visitors to play with all the gadgets, with free internet access, interactive workshops, events and talks also a feature. Phone: 020 7153 9000 Station: Oxford Circus / Piccadilly Tube
Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill and Highgate Ponds There are 20 ponds in total dotted around this rural stretch of north London - you can swim for free in three of these. Highgate Pond is for men, Kenwood Pond for women and Hampstead Pond is mixed. All offer showers and changing areas. Check for times as these vary from pond to pond. Phone: 020 7485 4491 Station: Hampstead Tube / Highgate Tube
H y d e Park
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London for Backpackers
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Top 10
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Budget Restaurants T H E B E S T F O R C H E A P E AT S
No 1
Mediterranean
Bistro 1 75 Beak Street, Soho, W1F Cosy, buzzing Soho restaurant offering great deals on food and wine. There’s also a lovely branch on Southampton Street in Covent Garden. Main Courses: £4+ Phone: 020 7287 1840 Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube / Oxford Circus Tube
London for Backpackers
Booking Line 020 729 22 321 Hotels, Tickets and Tours Open every day 8am to 11pm English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Italiano
No 2
International
Chelsea Kitchens
No 4 Japanese
No 6
98 King’s Road, SW3 Unpretentious surroundings and good, honest, satisfying food located on one of London’s most exclusive streets. Find a seat in one of the wooden booths and escape the King’s Road crowds. Main Courses: £3+ Phone: 020 7589 1330 Station: Sloane Square Tube
Fujiyama
No 3
No 5
No 7
Fish Club
Il Bordello
Pho
189 St John’s Hill, SW11 Choose your fish from the ice-strewn wet fish counter of this superb fresh fish & chip restaurant. Takeaways also available. Main Courses: £3.50+ Phone: 020 7978 7115 Station: Clapham Junction Rail
81 Wapping High Street, E1 Colourful artwork and bare brick walls house this friendly, bustling Italian with its generous portions, extensive menu and busy specials board. Main Courses: £7.75+ Phone: 020 7481 9950 Station: Wapping Tube
86 St John Street, EC1 Enormous bowls of Pho soup form the centrepiece of this Vietnamese eatery with its simple menu and high quality ingredients. Main Courses: £5.95+ Phone: 020 7253 7624 Station: Farringdon Tube
Fish
7 Vining Street, SW9 Astonishingly cheap Japanese restaurant, housed in two low-ceilinged rooms, where long tables in polished wood create a convivial atmosphere. Main Courses: £5.50+ Phone: 020 7737 2369 Station: Brixton Tube
Italian
Indian
Masala Zone 9 Marshall Street, W1 Affordable and tasty Indian food with an unconventional twist - street food, special diets and thalis a speciality. Main Courses: £5.50+ Phone: 020 7287 9966 Station: Oxford Circus Tube
Vietnamese
No 8
Argentinean
Santa Maria del Buen Ayre 50 Broadway Market, E8 Warm and welcoming Argentinean grill restaurant offering an unrivalled meat fiesta. Main Courses: £6.50+ Phone: 020 7275 9900 Station: Liverpool Street Tube then 48 or 55 bus
No 9 British
Stockpot 18 Old Compton Street, W1 Hearty, traditional British home cooking in a central location. Main Courses: £3.40+ Phone: 020 7287 1066 Station: Leicester Square Tube
No 10 Thai
The Churchill Arms Thai Kitchen 119 Kensington Church Street, W8 Tasty Thai food served up in a pretty conservatory attached to one of the most attractive, welcoming pubs in west London. The Churchill Arms is one of the area’s most appealing inns, dripping with hanging baskets, open fires and old-fashioned charm. Eat in the conservatory or find a table in the bar. Main Courses: £5+ Phone: 020 7792 1246 Station: Notting Hill Gate Tube
Lets Do lunch Central London is bursting with restaurants and bars trying to attract the lunchtime crowd. Soho and the West End, in particular, are heaving with places that offer meals for as little as £3. Pick up flyers as you walk around as these are often the best way to find out about these everchanging deals.
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No 8 South Bank:
Lower Ground Bar, 269 West End Lane, NW6 Excellent free comedy show every Wednesday night. Doors open at 20:00. Phone: 07801 259 307 / 020 7431 2211 Station: West Hampstead Tube / Rail
Royal Festival Hall / National Theatre
entertainment
No 1 Barbican
THE BEST FOR BUDGET PERFORMANCES
Silk Street, EC2 Free concerts and foyer music take place at this thriving art complex. Phone: 020 7638 4141 Station: Barbican Tube
No 2 BBC TV and Radio Recordings It’s free to attend TV and Radio recordings across a number of different programme genres. Apply for tickets in advance. Phone: 020 8576 1227 Station: Various
London for Backpackers
Booking Line 020 729 22 321
No 3 Comedy Café
No 6 Octave
66/68 Rivington Street, EC2 Free cutting-edge comedy every Wednesday evening. Phone: 020 7739 5706 Station: Old Street Tube
27-29 Endell Street, WC2H Free live jazz concerts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Phone: 020 7836 4616 Station: Covent Garden Tube
No 4 Covent Garden
No 7 Royal Academy
Market and Piazza
of Music
Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E Free street theatre, music and performance art are constant features of this thriving marketplace. Phone: 0870 780 5002 Station: Covent Garden Tube
Marylebone Road, NW1 Britain’s senior music conservatoire hosts free concerts and events during term time. Phone: 020 7873 7373 Station: Regent’s Park Tube
Look out for...
South Bank, SE1 - Free lunchtime concerts held in many of The City of London’s architecturally beautiful churches. Free events, foyer music, They usually begin at 13:00 and feature organ, orchestral, choral and chamber music. dance and theatre populate - The Prince Charles cinema’s ‘Feel Good Friday’ deals, offering film tickets for just £1. this waterside haven for the arts. - Tickets to free TV and radio recordings organised by SRO Audiences, The Applause Store, Granada, Channel 4 and Hat Trick productions. Register your details online and then apply Phone: 020 7452 3400 Station: Waterloo Tube / Rail specifically for each of the shows posted. - Film festivals offering free screenings, talks and associated events. August hosts the ‘Portobello’ and Theatre 503 the ‘Rushes Soho Shorts’ Latchmere Pub, festivals. October hosts 503 Battersea Park Road, SW11 the British Film Festival. Regular free comedy nights, fundraisers and free performances of new plays. Phone: 020 7978 7040 Station: Clapham Junction Rail
No 9
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No 10 The Boogaloo 312 Archway Road, N6 Regular free gigs and vox ‘n’ roll (a blend of readings and music) performances. Phone: 020 8340 2928 Station: Highgate Tube
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No 5 Mirth Control
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Hotels, Tickets and Tours Open every day 8am to 11pm English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Italiano
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No 1 Daily
Angel in the Fields 37 Thayer St, W1 Quiet, wood-panelled pub in the heart of the West End. Phone: 020 7486 7763 Station: Bond Street Tube
No 2 Daily
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Charlie Wright’s International Bar 45B Pitfield Street, N1 Lively, down-to-earth DJ bar offering Thai food and entertainment including live jazz on a Sunday; a refreshing antidote to its painfully trendy Hoxton counterparts. Phone: 020 7490 8345 Station: Old Street Tube
No 3
Closed Sunday
Cittie of York 22 High Holborn, WC1 Grade II listed building with three bars - the most notable of which is the architecturally stunning back bar with its intimate wooden booths and triangular stove. Phone: 020 7242 7670 Station: Chancery Lane Tube
London for Backpackers
Booking Line 020 729 22 321 Hotels, Tickets and Tours Open every day 8am to 11pm English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Italiano
No 4
after
Daily
Dublin Castle 94 Parkway, NW1 Internationally famous music venue and pub offering cheap drinks, dancing and live music from up-andcoming bands. Print a flyer off from the website for cheaper entry to gigs. Phone: 020 7485 1773 Station: Camden Town Tube
No 5
Daily from 19:00
Ginglik 1 Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 Friendly, club with a relaxed member’s policy, cuttingedge music and multimedia events, housed underground in a former public toilet. Phone: 020 8749 2310 Station: Shepherd’s Bush Tube (Central line)
No 6
Ging
Daily
John Snow
10 Top Budget Pubs
39 Broadwick Street, W1 Traditional, small, Victorian pub located in the heart of Soho. Phone: 020 7437 1344 Station: Oxford Circus Tube
and Clubs
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No 7
No 8
Daily
Daily
The Angel
The Crown
61 St Giles High Street, WC2H A regular meeting place for musicians and actors, this Victorian pub near Covent Garden also houses a host of original features. Phone: 020 7240 2876 Station: Tottenham Court Road Tube
51 New Oxford St, WC1 Friendly pub close to the West End with an open, continental-style seating area at the back. Phone: 020 7836 2752 Station: Tottenham Court Road Tube
No 9
Daily from 12:00
The Strongrooms
THE BEST FOR BUDGET DRINKING AND DANCING
120 Curtain Road, EC2A Laid back and unpretentious, this Shoreditch club offers a mixed-music policy, outdoor courtyard and free entry. Phone: 020 7426 5100 Station: Old Street Tube
Happy Drinking
Many city centre pubs and bars hold regular Happy Hours, during which drinks are sold at discounted prices or as part of 2-for-1 offers. These usually take place from 17:00-19:00. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk around the centre for flyers or posters advertising special deals and details.
No 10
Daily (Sunday 12:00-15:00 only)
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Wine Office Court, 145 Fleet Street, EC4 Historic pub with narrow passageways and winding staircases connecting a rabbit-warren of cosy bars and dining rooms. Phone: 020 7353 6170 Station: Blackfriars Tube / Rail
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10 TopMarkets THE BEST FOR BUDGET BROWSING
No 1
Friday from 12:00, Saturday from 9:00
Borough Market Southwark Street, SE1 This gourmand’s delight boasts a mouth-watering range of fresh food stalls under its Dickensian wrought-iron roof. Atmospheric, lively and mouth-watering it’s a definite must on a Saturday morning. Station: London Bridge Tube / Rail
No 2
Sunday early
Brick Lane Market
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Brick Lane, E1 Pure East End London Jewish bagel shops, Bangladeshi curry houses, Indian sari silks and Cockneys crying out their wares - this chaotic, bustling market is half way between jewel and junk heap. Station: Shoreditch Tube
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No 3 Times vary
Camden Markets Camden, NW1 A collection of varied, colourful markets branching off Camden’s bustling high street and along the canal. Station: Camden Town Tube
No 4
Sunday from 8:00
Columbia Road Market Columbia Road, Hackney, E2 Chic little boutiques line this historic street, which every Sunday overflows with flower stalls. Station: Shoreditch Tube
No 5
Daily from 8:00 (Monday closed)
East Street Market Blackwood Street, SE17 Venerable street market which comes to life on Sundays with over 250 stalls cramming the narrow street with all manner of goods. Charlie Chaplin was a regular visitor to the market during his youth in South London. Station: Elephant & Castle Tube / Rail
No 6
Weekends from 9:30, Thursday - Friday from 6:30
Greenwich Market Greenwich High Road, SE10 Greenwich hosts a number of glorious markets boasting a variety of traditional, hand-crafted goods, antiques, clothing and food stalls. The craft market is held at College Approach and the antiques market is off Greenwich High Road. Finish your market tour off with a walk along the river, taking in the Cutty Sark. Station: Greenwich DLR
No 7
Monday - Friday from 7:00
Leadenhall Market Beautiful, restored Victorian covered market located in the heart of the ancient City of London. Wares include traditional game, poultry, fish and meat. Visit at lunchtime and experience it at its most vibrant. Station: Monument Tube
Boot Bargains
A quintessentially British event, car boot sales allow members of the public to rifle through unwanted goods packed by eager sellers into the boot of their cars. There’s usually plenty of junk but a number of treasures are also there to be uncovered. Turn up early to catch the bargains. The following locations host good car boot sales early on Sunday mornings: New Covent Garden Market (Nine Elms Lane, SW8), Cold Harbour Lane (Brixton, SE5), and opposite the Odeon Cinema (Holloway Road, N7)
No 8
Daily from 9:00 (Saturday closed)
Petticoat Lane Market Between Middlesex and Goulston Streets, E1 World famous Sunday market, selling mainly clothes for men, women and children from street-cred club-wear to over-orders of designer goods and last year’s must haves. One of its specialities is leatherwear, with bric-a-brac and household goods too. Station: Aldgate Tube
No 9
Daily from 8:00 (Sunday closed)
Portobello Road Market Portobello Road, W11 Over 2,000 stalls selling everything from books to bric-a-brac, lace to Limoges situated in a colourful, dynamic stretch of London. Station: Notting Hill Gate Tube / Ladbroke Grove Tube
No 10
Daily from 9:00 (Sunday 11:00)
(Old) Spitalfields Market 109 Commercial Street, between Lamb and Brushfield Streets, E1 Nestled in the heart of the City, in the shadow of Christ Church, this old covered market is the place to look for something original, of excellent quality and value for money. Sundays are busiest, with over 200 stalls operating, including a specialist organic market. Station: Liverpool Street Tube /Rail
London for Backpackers
Booking Line 020 729 22 321 Hotels, Tickets and Tours Open every day 8am to 11pm English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Italiano
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