London is a fabulous city with rich history and culture and so many places to explore and adventure. If you’re thinking about travelling to the English capital as a weekend getaway with the whole family, there are many things to consider. Fortunately, tastecard is here to help you! Check out our tips on how to place a family trip to London on a budget below.
At tastecard, we love providing deals and discounts and have previously provided a guide on how to save money for a holiday, so we thought it would be beneficial to show you how to travel on a budget. Take the whole family to London, and save money in the process, with our tips.
Our first tip for planning a family trip to London on a budget is to set a budget. Calculate your budget for the entire trip, including transport, accommodation, food, attractions and other expenses. Research average costs for travel and hotels – both near the centre of London and a little further out – and set yourself realistic budgets. You can save a lot of money by staying in a low-budget hotel the further you go from central London. Transport links are easy to find and navigate and get you to where you want quickly so there’s no great need to stay in the heart of the capital.
Consider travelling to London in off-peak seasons like in spring or autumn. Prices will fall and crowds will be thinner in these periods. Hotels and travel companies know that popularity rises in winter, such as Christmas, and the summer months so consider going in a different season for a better deal.
Equally, weekdays are better suited for travelling on a budget compared to weekends. However, we know this may be difficult with children, especially if they’re in school.
In terms of travelling to London, wherever you are in the country, you need to consider your transport. Will you drive to the city? If so, is there parking available at your accommodation? Trains are the main way of accessing the city but can be expensive if you don’t plan ahead and buy with plenty of time in advance
In terms of public transport, London has an extensive transportation system, including the Underground (Tube), taxis and buses. Travel can be paid for with a tap of a contactless card in tube stations, buses and taxis.
For your accommodation, as tempting as it can be to book your stay in a high-end hotel near the city’s biggest landmarks, you can save a lot more money by choosing a low-budget offering away from the centre of London. Did you know that you can make a 10% saving on your booking with Hotels.com? Not only that, but you could save on parking and more.
London offers several free attractions, such as the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, and many parks like Hyde Park or Regent's Park. Take advantage of these to save money while still experiencing the city's cultural and natural beauty.
If you sign up to tastecard, you can take advantage of discounts on days out in London too. You can make huge savings on attractions like Madame Tussaud’s, SEA LIFE, The London Eye, and many more. If you plan on taking the whole family to some of the city’s biggest attractions, a tastecard subscription is a great idea for cost-saving.
Our final tip for a family trip to London on a budget revolves around dining out. With tastecard, you can save money with our restaurant deals that involve 50% off and 2 for 1 meals in a wide variety of different restaurants in London.
Another option for saving money is opting for self-catering accommodation. However, this may impact the time you have to explore the city if you’re having to return to your accommodation for every meal, especially if you’re only in the city for a weekend.
There is a wide range of places in London to eat that don’t cost a fortune, especially if you use your tastecard membership. With a tastecard subscription, you can save an average of £23 per restaurant bill!
Images sourced from Adobe Stock.
Now that you know how to plan a family trip to London on a budget, you’re financially prepared to book the best trip away. For even greater savings, consider downloading the tastecard app today and save even more cash with 2 for 1 meals, 50% off food, or 25% off food & drink, cinema ticket savings, and discounts on days out.
Images sourced from Adobe stock.
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