London isn’t a name that’s frequently thrown about in conversations regarding good value for money, is it? With the prices of pints, parking, and property rising higher than The Shard; the capital city isn’t often thought of as a particularly low-cost place to visit. But folks, it’s finally happened. London has nabbed a shiny crown for its affordability. And we truly never thought we’d see the day.
Based on a range of local and national data, surveys and reports; the lovely lot over at The Telegraph have put together a handy list of the cities in Britain that offer the best value for money. With consumer prices across the country rising by almost 25% since 2021, bagging a bargain has never been more important. And although it’s sometimes hard to believe, there are still cities in the UK that offer decent value for money; London apparently being one of them.
Now look, the capital certainly didn’t win any prizes for being cheap-and-cheerful in most departments. But when it came to public transport, London topped the value-for-money charts. And we’re feeling ever so proud of our trusty transport network. According to a 2023 survey, London was found to be the cheapest British city to travel in. The capital’s residents spend on average 11% of their expenses on public transport, whereas in Glasgow, for example, the average spend on transport for residents is 13%.
A ride on the Tube, anywhere in Zones 1-6, will cost you £3.60 with an Oyster or contactless card. If you opt to pay-as-you-go, TfL offers a daily cap of just £5.25 for bus and tram travel, or £8.90 for one-day Tube, train, or DLR rides. A single bus fare in the capital is just £1.75, and TfL’s ‘Hopper’ fare allows you to make unlimited bus journeys within an hour of tapping in for the price of just one fare. A certified bargain, as far as we (and The Telegraph) are concerned.
You can peruse The Telegraph’s full findings here.