How to plan a family trip to London on a budget.

Let’s start with the basics. Getting a good idea of how much you’re expecting to spend in London is a sensible place to begin. From there, you can set a budget and consider costs like accommodation, travel, food, entertainment, and more. 

Take the time to research the average costs for travel and hotels – both near the centre of London and a little further out – and set realistic budgets for yourself.

Typically, it’s cheaper to travel to London during off-peak seasons like spring and autumn. Prices will fall and crowds will be thinner - it’s a win-win! Hotels and travel companies know that popularity rises in the winter around Christmas and during the summer months when the sun is out, so consider visiting during a different season for a better deal - we can guarantee the city is just as charming all year round!

If you’re not travelling with the kids, you might also want to consider visiting London on weekdays, as prices are certain to rise on a weekend. 

There are a number of ways in which you can travel to London. Would you prefer to drive to the city? If so, is there parking available near your accommodation? How much will your petrol and parking cost? You might prefer to get a train, which may even be more affordable and convenient if you book ahead of time.

When it comes to accommodation, it’s worth looking for places outside of the city centre. It can be tempting to book your stay in a high-end hotel near the city’s biggest landmarks, but it’ll cost you! Transport in London is pretty affordable. So as long as there is a Tube station within walking distance from your accommodation, accessing landmarks should be pretty straightforward. 

London has plenty of free attractions for the entire family to visit. Take advantage of spots like the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, and parks like Hyde Park or Regent’s Park. You can experience plenty of the English capital’s history and culture without spending a penny. 

If you sign up to tastecard, however, you can access a selection of discount days out in London. Enjoy deals at attractions like Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, The London Eye, and many more. So, if you’ve got your eye on any of those locations, tastecard can save you and the family a whole lot.

When planning a family trip to London on a budget, you may think of food as a problem. But what’s a trip to London without great food? The city hosts cuisines of all flavours for you to explore. From traditional British restaurants to delicious Indian restaurants, London has something for everyone. Even better, if you visit with tastecard, you can enjoy enticing restaurant deals like 2 for 1 or 25% off the total bill across endless locations. Get this: with our discounts, you can save an average of £23 per meal!

You may even choose to stay in self-catering accommodation to save on food. This can be handy for meals like breakfast, but while you’re out and about in the city, the last thing you’re going to want to do is return to your accommodation for every single meal.

Now that we’ve talked you through all of our tips, it’s time to start planning your getaway! Make the most of tastecard’s range of discounts today and enjoy a visit to London that packs just as much fun for so much less money.