If you’ve always dreamed of visiting the land of British accents, this guide is your starting point for planning a budget friendly trip to London.
London is an amazing city to travel to, with a huge variety of literally everything. To be well prepared and keep your trip budget-friendly, good planning is important. Keep reading, because these advices will help you stay on track and get the most out of your visit!
Let’s start planning your budget trip to London!
1. UK ETA or Visa?
Since April 2025, the travel options for the UK have changed quite a bit. Depending on your circumstances, you’ll need to decide between a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) and a visa.
- UK ETA: This is the right choice if you want to visit the UK for up to 6 months – especially perfect for travelling!
On the official UK government site, you can find all the information to check if your personal circumstances fit the UK ETA. Afterwards, the easiest way to apply is through the official app. With this app, you can register step by step and usually get your travel authorisation in just a few days. The cost is always £16. When you applied successfully you’re all set up for your trip! From my experience you don’t even need to bother showing your ETA, because it’s directly linked to your passport.
More about the ETA and where to apply: gov.uk electronic travel authorisation - Visa: There are a few different visas available. As a traveller there are two that I find quite interesting.
- Standard Visitor Visa: If you want to travel the UK up to 6 months. If you have the chance to apply for the UK ETA, don’t choose the visitor visa, because it costs way more and has the same time line.
- Youth Mobility Scheme Visa: works similar to a work and holiday visa that lasts up to two years. On the official website you’ll find more information: gov.uk Visa
2. Airport to City: Cheapest Ways
The first and most common tourist traps are right at the airport. Arriving somewhere new can be overwhelming, and it might seem like the easiest way into the city is by taking one of the first shuttle services you see. But if you take a closer look at the options beforehand, you’ll realise that many of those are overpriced.
Since London has several different airports, it’s important to check which one you’re landing at and plan the cheapest route to the city from there.
Look for coach buses or trains!
- Cheapest bus option: Coach buses are usually the cheapest way to get from the airport to Central London. A very standard and often the most budget-friendly option is National Express: nationalexpress.com. To get the best price, book your ticket online in advance. You can choose your departure time and destination. I personally took National Express from Gatwick Airport, and although the ride took around 2.5 hours from the South Terminal to the city, I didn’t mind too much, I had enough time. I really enjoyed the ride. The views were amazing, and the first glimpse of London already made me fall in love with the city!
Cons: The journey can be quite long depending on your airport. Also, when you buy your ticket in advance, you have to pick a specific time and bus. This isn’t flexible at all, which made planning a bit stressful for me.
BUT: If you want more flexibility, you can pay a little extra for the Change & Go option. As a budget traveller, I stayed onthe risky side and just hoped for the best.
- Cheapest Trains: There are also cheap and fast train connections to the city, depending on the airport. Each airport has its own train lines, so it’s a bit complex to list them all here. However, I found this super helpful blog post from Cheap Holiday Expert that shows the cheapest routes from all six London airports: cheapholidayexpert.com – Cheapest Way to Get to All 6 London Airports Short note: the post mentions a Megabus line, which doesn’t seem to exist anymore for airport routes, which is why this entry might not be completely up to date anymore. Just make sure to double-check prices and routes on official websites.
Cons: The prices are usually a bit higher than the bus options, but often it’s just a few extra pounds. Still, as a proud budget traveller, I sometimes go straight for the cheapest choice.
BUT: Trains definitely get you to your destination faster, so you can save time – even if it costs a little more!
3. Don’t Buy an Oyster Card
Don’t waste money on an Oyster Card. When I arrived in London, my first instinct was to get myself this specific card for public transport. In order to enter buses, trains or underground metro you need to tap on and off regularly. I went to an information centre and asked for one, but the worker informed me that if I have a credit or debit card, I don’t need to waste my money and pay extra for it. It works just like any other card, so just use what you already have!
I added my card to my Apple Wallet, which made the entries and exits at the stations even easier.
Good to know: There is a daily limit for public transport charges on your card. So no matter how often you use public transport, there’s a maximum you can’t go over.
4. Easy SIM Card Options
Something I always need (but usually forget) is a SIM card. Especially when you’re in a new city for the first time, having internet is so important. I always panic when I don’t know where to go next and need to look for Wi-Fi just to use my phone. I survived without internet during a few of my last trips – I still don’t know how I did that – but now I really need it.
There are a few options you can choose from. For my last trip, I went with a eSIM.
What I used the last time: an app called Airalo. For my first day, I booked a free package with 1 GB for 24 hours, which was perfect for arriving. For the last four days, I used the package with 3 GB for 9.50€. This offer worked perfectly for me, and I just installed the eSIM directly at the airport.
5. Budget Stays in London
There are a few great options for a budget-friendly accommodation in London. If you want to learn more about the different types of budget stays, check out this blog post: 5 Best Affordable Stays for Travellers on a Budget
In general, I would always recommend hostels. By far my favourite place to stay while travelling! They’re really cheap, you have lots of different room options, and it’s the perfect place to meet new people.
I can highly recommend the hostel we stayed at in London, it’s the St. Christopher’s Village – London Bridge (165 Borough High Street). It was really nice – we stayed in a 21-bed mixed dorm, which had curtains on every bed! There were lockers and lots of different bathrooms on each floor.
What bothered me a little bit was that the chill-out area was a bit too small, and we couldn’t find a kitchen. But the location was really good – close to Borough Market, London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
6. Plan with Google Maps
Planning a short trip to London can be really challenging – especially in a city where you have everything. That’s why I’d recommend looking up the places you really want to visit. Spend some time on TikTok, Instagram, read a travel guide, or check out our blog posts. Find out what you really don’t want to miss.
I created a few different categories that interested me the most: bookshops, vegan food spots, markets, places, and One Direction hotspots. Once I had my list complete, I used Google Maps to add the places to my London album. That way, I could see where everything was located across the city, which made it easy to plan my route each day. If you’re travelling with someone else, you can share the album so both of you can add locations you want to see.
7. Book Tickets Early
Another thing to prepare before your journey is booking tickets for popular activities. London is a top tourist destination, and many attractions are likely to sell out. Make sure to check in advance for activities that require tickets.
Especially booking early can be cheaper and is perfect for your budget trip to London.
If you keep these things in mind and include them in your planning before the trip, you’ll be fully ready to start your adventure in London!
Johanna
About the Author:
If Johanna were a word, she would be "stardust" – nondescript, quiet, demure, until the passion appears that brings the stardust to fully unfold. She’s a traveler at heart, constantly curious to see more of the world, with a camera always close by to capture every moment just as it is. Whether she’s at a concert, lost in the music, or exploring a new city, Johanna’s world is filled with an endless curiosity and love for the little details that make life feel like stardust.
Johanna
About the Author:
If Johanna were a word, she would be “stardust” – nondescript, quiet, demure, until the passion appears that brings the stardust to fully unfold. She’s a traveler at heart, constantly curious to see more of the world, with a camera always close by to capture every moment just as it is. Whether she’s at a concert, lost in the music, or exploring a new city, Johanna’s world is filled with an endless curiosity and love for the little details that make life feel like stardust.
