UK Breaks - London on a Budget

Whilst travelling the world is an amazing thought, there are also so many wonderful places to visit that are practically on our doorstep. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing I love more than a week on the beach, in the sun, sipping a cocktail (or two). But… I also love to explore the UK and see what we have to offer. UK mini breaks can be more budget friendly, shorter in duration (so time off work or working around school is easier to manage) and can provide you with some much needed, hassle free time away from everyday life. My boys and I have spent the last two October half terms abroad and so this year, I wanted us to visit London. Gabriel had been showing a bit more interest in the royal family recently and had even asked to see where the King lived. We spent two nights/three days there and pre-planned a few things to ensure that we experienced as much as possible in such a short space of time. I was, however very conscious that I didn’t want us to be rushing from one thing to another and therefore attempted to plan in some down time too. I wanted us to have a chance to just take it all in. Thursday We got the 10am train down to London Euston from Manchester Piccadilly, checked into our hotel and left our bags, walked over the Tower Bridge and along the Thames, ate lunch and visited the Sealife Centre. Tickets for the Sealife Centre were pre-booked so we saved some money and guaranteed our entry. I would recommend this, especially in peak times such as school holidays, as there was a large queue to get in for those who hadn’t pre-booked. It was dark when we came out so we decided to call at the nearest Tesco Express and grab some ‘picky bits’ for tea. We ate these in bed, watching Men In Black (the only movie on the TV!). Kurt and I obviously enjoyed a glass (…bottle) of wine too. Friday We took the tram to Leicester Square to visit the Lego shop, ate lunch, made our way to Euston and took a train to Watford Junction to start our journey to the Harry Potter studios. We literally spent hours exploring and had the most amazing time. Whilst it may seem like an expensive option at the time of booking, it is absolutely the most wonderful place and I would definitely recommend a visit, especially if you are a HP fan. But even if you are not, the whole experience is memorable. Pre-booking is essential and I would suggest booking months prior to travel as timeslots do get booked up in advance. We finished our day by eating up the left over picky bits from Thursday in our hotel room and watched Men in Black 2. Saturday We packed up, checked out of the hotel and headed straight over to do the typical tourist attractions (Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Hyde Park etc). Our train home was at 4pm. Budgeting Overall, our trip was just brilliant and we had the right mix of experiencing key landmarks but also time to chill at meal times and stroll at our own speed. London is somewhere we plan to visit again and as Gabriel gets older then we will plan different itinerary’s based on what he will enjoy the most. London can be a very expensive short break so if you are on a budget then forward planning is key. We stayed very central at The Tower Bridge Hotel but this came at a cost. Personally, whilst the location and the view from our room was just fabulous, there are much more value for money options if you don’t mind being a little less central. I suggest taking your time searching. Just be prepared to do a lot of steps and try to get your head around the tube! We didn’t opt for breakfast at the hotel but instead, took cereal bars and used our spending money for a bigger lunch. Tesco express for our picky bits and wine of an evening also helped keep costs down. Limiting our trip to just two paid events and the rest of the itinerary being free then this also helped with the total cost. As we plan to visit again we will do the same but choose different paid options next time. Tickets for the Sealife Centre and Harry Potter were booked and paid for months in advance so this also helped us spread the costs over different pay days! There are a lot of ‘free’ things to do in London too. If you are planning to travel with children then take a look at groups on Facebook. There are so many helpful tips I picked up prior to planning our trip. The only other thing I’d say is that as a northerner, the pubs in London are extortionate! If you are anything like me and the hubby and enjoy a couple of drinks whilst away, then either plan your spends around this or grab from the shop and prepare to drink out of paper cups in the hotel! #classycouplegoals #thelengthswegotoforavino As always, if you want to get in contact then please do: Laura.bramfitt@travelcounsellors.com or 01706 330052