london

[sophie_1003]

I'm planning to go to London for a day, if I wanted to see all the touristy stuff....tower bridge, trafalger square, big ben...any other suggestions? Just want free stuff! Also, for a day tube ticket, which zone would I need? Went on the tube website and it offered several options and i dont know which one to use!

[mushroom25]

if you start off at buckingham palace & see changing of the guard (if it's the right day/time) you can walk from there down to the mall & admiralty arch to trafalgar square, take a look in the national gallery then down whitehall to horse guards, past downing street to parliament square (houses of parliament and that anti-war protester chap), cross westminster bridge to the south bank, take in some of the street performers near the royal festival hall, then walk along the river to the tower & tower bridge.... and you needn't have spent a thing!

[Pam29]

You can see most of the Tate Modern for free - I always try to pop in when Im down that way as the exhibits change regularly.

[steve2010]

all londons main museums are free to get in now

[Im a BusyBee]

we just spent 3 nights over new year staying at royal horseguards (thistle) hotel and done it for next to nothing by using clubcard deals from tesco. the hotel was paid for by deals vouchers (being 4 x their value) we bought a year pass for tussauds group again on clubcard deals, we thoroughly enjoyed the live chamber particularly at madam tussauds. this pass then allowed us to go on the eye for nothing and we shall use again during year for a few days at alton towers and other attractions it also covers.we travelled by train to london on a �5 special offer ticket, which also then gave us 2 for 1 entries to other attractions, so we saw chicago and guys and dolls having only paid for 1 ticket. the tube ticket was just under �10 day for 2 of us covering zones 1 and 2 continued......

[Im a BusyBee]

but you would be suprised how easy it is to walk - you also see more. the area mentioned above (around where we stayed) there are many things very closeby. we are planning another trip as we enjoyed so much. I hope you shop at tescos too and can make good use of your deals as we did. Have fun.

[Buenchico]

(2 part post):

If you were staying longer than a day, I'd recommend buying an Oystercard but, for a day trip, a One Day Travelcard is your best option. All of the principal free tourist attractions are within Zones 1 & 2, so you can just buy the cheapest ticket. If you start your travel before 0930, Monday to Friday, it will cost you �6.60. Otherwise it will cost �5.10. Your Travelcard will give you unlimited travel on the buses and tubes; it will also get you one third off the cost of many river trips.

If, as seems likely, you're travelling to London by train (and travelling after the morning peak period) it might be worth asking whether there's a combined off-peak rail and Travelcard available. If there is, the price is usually about �4 cheaper than off-peak rail travel on its own, so it works out even cheaper than buying the Travelcard when you get to London.

[Buenchico]

The best way to see London is from the river and I recommend the short trip (about 30 to 40 minutes) between Tower Pier and Westminster. (Unless things have changed, that's one of the journeys where you can get one third off by showing your Travelcard).

As Steve2010 states, the main national museums (and art galleries) all offer free admission. (However, there are usually quite high charges to visit any special temporary exhibitions they may have on). If you're a big kid at heart, the Science Museum is unmissable. If you're into fashion and fine arts, don't miss the Victoria & Albert Museum. These two museums, together with the excellent Natural History museum, are served by South Kensington underground station.

Don't miss Covent Garden Piazza. It's always got a buzz to it and there's usually plenty of free entertainment going on. While you're there, you could get a meal at the excellent (and incredibly cheap) Bistro 1 on Southampton Street.

As Pam29 states, Tate Modern is free but if you prefer more conventional art, the National Gallery (Trafalgar Square) is worth a visit. However, I prefer the National Portrait Gallery (at the rear of the National Gallery) which has some stunning photographic exhibits.

Chris

[Buenchico]

Oops!

Slight typo!
As should be obvious, the price of an off-peak day travelcard, from National Rail stattions, is about �4 dearer (not cheaper!) than the cost of rail travel on its own.

Chris

[Trotbot]

You could also try one of the bus tours - you can hop on and off all day long, and they follow the tourist routes

[dzug]

A couple of points -

the bus tours are not covered by the one day travelcard but are still good value

The one day travelcard mentioned by Chris is available from all stations on what used to be Network South East - ie London suburban trains, very loosely defined - and is nearly always a good buy.

Some of the mainline companies have begun to make it available from further afield - eg Great Western from say Bristol. They tend to overcharge for it so it can cost more than buying a day return or saver to London and a separate travelcard when you get there. If this applies to you check the two prices before deciding.

[sophie_1003]

thanku for all ur answers! am actually getting the bus down as although it is a very long journey (from coventry) for a return it's �8---bargain compared to train prices! as for what to do think ive got it planned--- will go to trafalgar sq, walk down to big ben, at 11.30 go and watch changing of the guard then spend the rest of the day looking round the natural hist museum! next question...how much should i take for food for the day?

[Buenchico]

The Changing of the Guard, at Buckingham Palace, only takes place on alternate days at this time of the year. During January, it occurs on even numbered dates. There's an alternative ceremony, which takes place daily at 1100 (1000 on Sundays at Horse Guards Parade).

How much should you take for food? That's one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions. There are plenty of cheap places to eat in London but there are even more places which are trying to rip you off. (Watch out, particularly, for take-away and 'eat in' price differences. Lots of places will offer you a tempting slice of pizza, to take away for, say, �1.50. However, when you order the same slice of pizza inside the caf�, it comes with a small amount of salad and the price goes up to �4).

As I suggested above, I think the best bargain for food is the Bistro 1 group of Mediterranean-themed bistros. (I always go to the one in Southampton Street, by Covent Garden but there are another two branches in Soho). A really good 3-course lunch will cost you just �7.50. The menu is here:
http://www.bistro1.co.uk/Bistro1%20Lunch%20Men u.pdf
Other information is here:
http://www.bistro1.co.uk/

If you're on a really tight budget, there are plenty of places selling cheap sandwiches to take away. (Perhaps you could have lunch at Bistro 1 and then just buy sandwiches to take on the bus back to Coventry?).

If you're going to the Natural History Museum, I recommend also visiting the V&A, which is just down the road. It often seems to be ignored by visitors to the other museums at South Kensington but it's a wonderful place to explore.

Chris

[sophie_1003]

well actually, now that Ive spoken to my boyfriend, he thinks we should stay for the night so we get 2 days, we'll probably stay in the travelodge in covent garden so that bistro idea is brilliant! ta much!