Let’s put it plainly: London is expensive. Sometimes it can feel like you get charged just for leaving the house. Even simple things like a pint or a cup of coffee and a pastry seem to require taking out a loan to afford them. But London doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, if you know where to look – or what to do – London can be downright affordable. Well… Almost… So if you’re a student in the city trying to pinch some pennies, here are our picks for the best budget-friendly things to do in London:
1. See the city’s sights
If you’re a newly arrived student in the city, there are a lot of sights to see. London is full of history and incredible tourist attractions. If you want to see (almost) all of the sights in one day, check out our Efficient Sightseeing Tour Of London. You’ll fly by most of London’s attractions in just two hours. Or you can spend some time at each one to make a full day of it!
The walk has the second (equally helpful) effect of making you more confident navigating our city. London’s a pretty big place – but once you get used to it, it’s easy to find your way around. You’ll never stop discovering new places and hidden streets, though! No wonder this sightseeing tour tops our list of budget-friendly things for students to do in London…
2. Then take in views of our city from up high
Once you’ve seen the sights, why not check them out from up high? You can point out where you’ve been and try to spot your flat from the sky. Now London is full of places to see stunning panoramic views of the city. But if you’re on a budget, we recommend hitting up the following free viewing spots:
🤩 Sky Garden – one of the most photographed spots in London
😍 Horizon 22 – it’s the highest free public viewing platform in all of Europe
🤩 The Terrace @ Alexandra Palace – an enormous beer garden with stunning views of London
😍 Parliament Hill – the city seems simultaneously so far away and so close from the charming viewpoint at this London park
3. Explore our many (FREE) museums
When it comes to budget-friendly things to do, the best options allow you to get lost in what you’re doing for a whole day. And there is arguably no better place for that than one of London’s many incredible museums. You can spend a whole day inside these places – without spending any money. (Unless you pony up for a special exhibition…)
🖼️ Victoria & Albert Museum
🦴 Natural History Museum
🔬 Science Museum
✍️ Design Museum
Check out even more free museums here.
4. Enjoy world-class cuisine without breaking the bank
One of the most common ways to spend a surprising amount of money is eating out. But in a city with as much incredible food as London – where you can find almost any cuisine – it would be a shame to never eat out. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of London’s best spots for delicious meals that don’t break the bank. Here are a few of our favourites:
🌮 Sonora Taqueria – some of the best tacos in London, starting at just £1
🍛 Marie’s Cafe – a Waterloo institution with generous British fry-ups and Thai food
🍝 Padella – Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognised pasta starting at just £9.50
🍜 Phat Phuc Noodle Bar – a cult Chelsea spot with incredible noodles (laksa, pho, and more) for around a tenner.
And find more cheap eats here.
5. Grab a round of cut-price drinks
Another easy way to make a dent in your bank account is going out in London. Without doing plenty of research ahead of time it’s easy to end up somewhere where the drinks cost FAR more than you were expecting. Fortunately, there are also plenty of happy hours in London that slash prices to far more reasonable levels. Check these out:
🍹 Simmon’s – London’s legendary happy hour; £2.50 mixed drinks, £3 beers, £3 glasses of wine, £20 bottles of prosecco, and more (time vary, mostly Sunday to Friday, 4-9pm)
🍻 Five Points Taproom & Courtyard – craft beer freshly brewed in the same location; £3.99 pints (Thursday and Friday, 5-7pm)
🍹 Barrio – a regular happy hour with all sorts of seasonal specials; 2-4-1 cocktails, £4.50 Madri, £3.50 tequila shots, and more (varies across bars, around 4-8pm)
🍻 Speedboat Bar – blazing Thai food and party vibes; select cocktails for just £7.50, or the ‘555’ special: a beer, cocktail, and shot, all for just £15 (everyday 3-6pm, and 10pm to close)
For more of London’s best happy hour deals, head here.
6. Hunt for the cheapest pint
The only issue with happy hours is that they do, eventually, have to end. So, where do you go for even more cheap drinks? Well, you could consult the cheap pint map to find out! No matter where you are in London, you’ll be able to use this to find a cut-price pint near you. And you just might find your favourite new pub while doing so! You could also plan a cheap pint pub crawl using the map.
7. See more of the city
Need to walk off all of that food and drink? Or want to see more of London’s sights after doing the sightseeing tour? Then head out to explore some of London’s fantastic walking routes. These can take you all over the city, from abandoned railway lines to stunning parks and green spaces and riverside oases. Truly, is there a better budget-friendly activity than going for a walk and an explore?
Check out our favourite London walking routes here.
8. Catch live music at a fraction of the usual cost
Living in London means that you’re close to some world-class live music venues but with the way ticket prices have been rising lately, who can afford to see their favourite stars anymore? One solution is to check out small local venues and see up-and-coming artists on the cheap. But what about when you want to listen to some live Adele, Coldplay, Oasis, Taylor Swift, or Elton John – without selling an organ for a ticket? We’ve got just the solution. London’s Candlelight Concerts treat you to renditions of your favourite songs, performed live by talented musicians in stunning candle-lit environs.
9. Find a new study spot
Sure, you could study at uni, or a library – but is there anything more charming than holing up in a London cafe? Regardless of whether you’ve got a big exam coming up, or some work to finish, these coffee shops are comfy AF and serve plenty of delicious coffee. After all, students run on coffee, right? Here are a few of our favourites in London:
☕ Host Café, Mansion House – a coffee shop in a stunning church? Yes, please!
🍵 Redemption Roasters, multiple locations – a lovely group of cafes with a feel-good story attached to them.
☕Ozone Coffee Roasters, Shoreditch – an impressive site with an unmissable brunch menu to boot.
🍵 Batch Baby, De Beauvoir – London’s best coffee? We think so…
Find even more brilliant London coffee shops here.
10. Have a picnic
London may have a reputation for being a concrete jungle, but it’s actually full of green spaces and parks. And there’s no better way to stick to a budget and still enjoy London than hitting up Tesco, grabbing some snack-y bits and drinks, and heading to the park for a picnic! Here are some of our favourite spots for a picnic in London:
🧺 Primrose Hill – this Grade-II listed park features two of London’s thirteen protected views towards St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster.
🥖 Kew Gardens – you do have to pay to enter, but there’s truly nowhere else like it in London.
🧺 Greenwich Park – the oldest of the eight Royal Parks of London and home to stunning flowers and greenery as well as gorgeous views of London.
🥖 Victoria Park – this enormous East London spot features sports fields, sightseeing, boating, cafes, playgrounds, and plenty of space for everyone to drop a blanket.
For even more picnicking spots, head here.
11. And check out even more of London’s free activities and attractions
A list of budget-friendly things to do wouldn’t be complete without a mention of London’s many freebies. There’s nothing better, after all, than a day out in London that requires you to part with absolutely none of your hard-earned cash. And if you look hard enough, you’ll find all sorts of free things to do in the city. We’ve put together a list of 200 free things to do in London – so grab a friend, make some notes, and see how many you can cross off the list!
So, there you have it. A selection of the best budget-friendly things to do for students in London. You might even be able to save up enough money to afford your rent! (I know, I’m just dreaming at this point…)