Posts by author Frances Ambler
London's double-decker buses are fun and cheaper than the Tube. Photo: Nikos K.
Planning a trip to London? Your itinerary is already packed full of things that you want to do. From free museums to authentic pubs, you’ll have no problem coming up with plenty of great London ideas. But there are a few things we suggest you don’t do, too. These oh-so-easy to make errors can add » Read more
Glasgow, Scotland is an affordable destination too often overlooked by visitors to Scotland. Photo: Kamyq
While Edinburgh may woo visitors with its genteel charm, and there’s no escaping the sheer beauty of the Scottish countryside, visitors to Scotland too often overlook Glasgow as a destination. Scotland’s largest city has plenty to offer the budget traveler, whether it’s tremendous free museums or the city’s renowned social life. It’s a working city » Read more
We take a peek behind London travel myths to get a real sense of this this polite (sometimes) and expensive (not always) city. Photo: Pixabay
Thanks to EuroCheapo correspondents across Europe, we now know that all Parisians aren’t the height of chic, and that Barcelona isn’t full of sangria-guzzling locals. Now it’s time to leap on the next Eurostar to debunk a few London travel myths. 8 Debunked London Travel Myths Like many places, London has many popular misconceptions about it. » Read more
Princess Louise pub in High Holborn. Photo: Stephen
Headed to London? A stop-off (or several!) in a classic London pub is a must-do for most visitors in the city. If English people seem uptight on the tube, the pub is where we kick back and relax, catch up with our friends and put the world to rights. Needless to say, a visit to » Read more
Get around London on the Tube! Photo: Craig Nelson
The London Underground carries a whopping 1.357 billion (yes, that’s over a billion!) passengers a year. And, if you’re planning on visiting London any time soon, it’s highly likely you’ll be one of them. Londoners may frequently grumble about the Tube, but there’s lots to love about it — including that it makes this big » Read more
Don't miss the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. Photo:
Oxford is a perfect tourist destination for history buffs and book nerds alike. With its university, literary links that stretch from Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter, and its quintessentially English pursuits, such as punting on the river, it’s easy to see why Oxford has charmed many. The city is small enough to explore on » Read more
The famous rocks of Stonehenge. Photo: birdies-perch
The monumental and mysterious stones of Stonehenge are a quintessential symbol of Britain, as much as the red telephone box or double-decker bus. A record 1.3 million visitors visited Stonehenge last year, but how can you join them without busting your budget? If you’re thinking of making a day trip from London, you have several » Read more
Big Ben in London. Photo: Kosala Bandara
London is huge and it’s all-embracing. Suffice to say, whatever your interest and budget, you’ll find something that matches it in London. Our main advice for first-time visitors is to put aside the “must-do” lists for a moment and spend your time seeking out things that you will personally enjoy — you’ll never manage to » Read more
Tesco is a giant supermarket chain that has express branches in London. Photo: Gordon Joly
While we’d love to encourage you to do all your shopping at one of London’s markets, stocking up on food in a supermarket is going to ease your budget. Britain has several huge supermarket chains, and their dominance is a big issue with London locals: many people are concerned about how they have put independent » Read more
The famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Photo: deepakhere.mypixels
Blue sky, blue sea, and palm trees — it’s easy to see why Nice is such a favorite with visitors. But its popularity can make it expensive, especially when you consider its proximity to notoriously pricey places such as Monaco and Cannes. However, with a bit of planning, it is possible to keep your trip » Read more
The free breakfast at Celtic Hotel will get you going for a full day of sightseeing in London. Photo: Craig Nelson
There are thousands of restaurants in London that cover every imaginable cuisine. While they also cover every budget, how do you know where to start? And the knowledge that there are so many choices can make a disappointing, expensive meal taste all the more bitter. To help you start navigating your restaurant options in London, » Read more
The British Museum draws huge crowds, but there are still ways to have an enjoyable visit. Photo: Christophe G
The British Museum is probably one of the sights you shouldn’t miss when you’re in London. There’s a reason why it’s the most visited tourist attraction in the UK: it has an amazing collection of artifacts, dating back thousands of years and drawn from all over the world. Plus, it probably doesn’t hurt that the » Read more
British coins. Photo: wwarby
London and Britain like to do their own thing in Europe, and the same applies to their tipping rules. If you’ve got your head around when and when not to tip in Europe (say in Paris or Stockholm) in comparison to North America, you’ll need to readjust again when you think about tipping in London. » Read more
Night falls over London. Photo: barnyz
London offers visitors plenty of temptations every year and during every month. Might 2017 be the year you finally decide to make the trip (or decide to pay it a revisit)? We’ve thrown together a list of 12 reasons why we think you should visit London in 2017 — not that you need more than » Read more
Union Chapel has several free live events on their calendar. Photo: Danny N.
London is awash with culture, from music and art to theatre and talks, especially now that fall has arrived. But often the question for budget travelers isn’t what, but how much? Luckily there are plenty of great freebies on offer, if you know where to look. Here are five of our free favorite London cultural » Read more
The Night Tube could be a huge plus for travelers on a budget. Photo: Hernan P
Unlike many of its European neighbors, London has never really had the reputation of being a late night city for visitors or for locals. This is partly because the closure of the Underground network after midnight has made navigating the city at night a time consuming and costly activity. Hailing a London taxi can cost » Read more
The charming Alfama district in Lisbon. Photo: Carlos E
Lisbon is a fantastic city in which to eat, sleep and be entertained on a budget. Prices are generally lower than other European capitals, and even visiting the most popular attractions, it’s hard to break the bank. However, to make your budget stretch even further, check out these tips on Lisbon’s finest free attractions. Wander » Read more
It's hard not to get excited about happy hour at Drunken Monkey. Photo: Olga P
We’ve given you our recommendations for 10 great London pubs, now we’re sharing our favorite bars and clubs that host fantastic happy hours in London – whether your drink of choice is beer, wine, spirits or cocktails. It’s perhaps unsurprising that these are also great places to let your hair down and have a good » Read more
Enjoy a pint at The Harp. Adam Bruderer
When in London, drink as the locals drink, right? That means, of course, a visit to the pub. In previous articles, we’ve explained the etiquette of visiting a traditional pub, where to find a lovely (and affordable) Sunday roast, and how to save on London nightlife and culture, but where should you go for an » Read more
Always keep an eye out for this very important sign. Photo Patrick G.
London is a shopper’s paradise, catering to all needs and budgets. Suffice to say, you could blow a load of money very, very easily in London’s shops. This guide will help you navigate the huge choice and save a little bit of cash in the process – how much you save, of course, depends on » Read more
Antique pocket watches at the famous Portobello Market. Photo: Benedetta A
London is indeed a city of markets. Whether food (try Borough Market or Maltby Street Markets) or flowers (Columbia Road), markets are great places to visit if you’re on a budget. And, while the description “flea market” isn’t really used in the United Kingdom, London does have plenty of places that do that job — selling » Read more
Don't miss a fun (and cheap) night out at a London pub. Photo: Kurt
London has some of the best nightlife in the world—from pubs and clubs, to theatre and culture, all interests are catered to. The difficulty is more likely to be deciding what to do, rather than finding something to do! But warning: Without proper planning, you could easily blow your entire budget on a couple of » Read more
Margate is an up and coming seaside destination with good prices. Photo: Barry Lewis
While the classic seaside trip from London might be to Brighton (see our Brighton day trip guide here), Margate offers strong opposition. This Kent town is undeniably scruffier than Brighton – a once popular resort that hasn’t quite regained the heights of its heyday – but recent investment, coupled with a creative community with great » Read more
Take in views from the London Eye. Photo: Andrea Schitz
London is huge! Even Londoners can feel they’ve barely scratched the surface of the city, so what’s the poor visitor with limited time and budget to do? Fear not, you can tackle most of the big sights – and some interesting extras – over the course of just a few days. We’ve created three suggested » Read more
The ice rink at Somerset House. Photo: Uri Baruchin
Thinking of heading to London this winter? Congratulations, you’ve picked a wonderful time to visit. Sure, it’ll be a little chilly but with average temperatures of around 37 to 50 degree Fahrenheit, it’s nothing a good coat, gloves and a few warm layers won’t cope with. For budget travelers, there’s also the advantage of securing » Read more
