London day out for under £15

Food

First things first - you can't have a day out without a meal. Obviously, you don't want to blow your entire budget on eating out, so where can you eat for cheap? Cha Cha Moon is a fantastic budget-friendly restaurant. Expect dishes from Taiwan, Penang and Singapore, starting at just £3.50! The most expensive dishes are just £5.50 and the portions aren't tiny either. Check out our Cheap eats page for more ideas on eating out on a budget.
Total spend: £5.50

See the sights

Walk

Walking around London is a great way to see the sights and save on transport. Take the back streets and you're sure to find some hidden gems. West End walk: From Piccadilly Circus, walk through the famous Leicester Square - taking in Chinatown on the way. From the south end of Leicester Square, continue south and you'll come across the National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery and Trafalgar Square. A walk along the Strand and Villiers Street brings you to the Victoria Embankment and the River Thames. Cross the River via the Hungerford Bridge footbridge and you'll find yourself on the South Bank. From here you'll be able to see the London Eye, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. As you walk east along the South Bank you'll pass the Royal Festival Hall, Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral and a whole host of other great icons all the way up to the magnificent Tower Bridge.
Total spend: £0

Take the bus

There is no shortage of open-topped sightseeing buses in London, but why pay over £20 for a ticket when you can see the same sights for just £2? The number 11 bus route starts at Liverpool Street in the north east corner of the City of London, and terminates at Fulham Broadway in the south west of London. Jump on the bus with your Oyster Card (a single bus journey with an Oyster is just £1.20), snag a seat on the top deck, and you'll soon find yourself passing some of London's most famous landmarks: St Paul's Cathedral; Fleet Street; the Strand; Trafalgar Square; Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament; Buckingham Palace and the King's Road.
Total spend: £2

Views

The London Eye isn't the only way to get great views of London - and it certainly isn't the cheapest! Head to Greenwich Park, Primrose Hill (near Regent's Park) or Parliament Hill (Hampstead Heath) to take in the famous panoramas. Look out for famous landmarks like Canary Wharf, the BT Tower, Big Ben and of course, the London Eye.
Total spend: £0

Attractions & events

Parks

London is home to 8 Royal Parks - all of which are free to visit all year round. Take a picnic and some friends and spend the day sunbathing in Regent's Park, seeking out the regal landmarks of Kensington Gardens or deer-spotting in Richmond Park or Bushy Park. Visit the Royal Parks website for more information on the parks.
Total spend: £0

 

Markets

Now, we know shopping isn't exactly the most budget-friendly activity, but the atmosphere at London's markets is so good you won't even need to buy anything. Camden Market, Portobello Market and Greenwich Market are all great on Saturdays and Spitalfields Market is the place to be on a Sunday. It's easy to spend hours browsing the stalls - which are full of everything from vintage clothes to homemade jewellery and antiques - but if you really want to buy something, make sure it's cheap!
Total spend: £0 (hopefully!)

Changing the Guard

Inject some royal culture to your visit and watch the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace for free. The process involves a new guard exchanging duty with the old guard, and takes place at 11:30 each morning from May to July, and on alternate dates throughout the rest of the year.
Total spend: £0

 

Museums & galleries

There are over 300 museums and galleries in London - and lots of them are free! Spend hours exploring the fascinating collections at the V&A, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, British Museum and many more.
Total spend: £0

Ceremony of the Keys

If you've planned your trip in plenty of time, why not apply for tickets to see the Ceremony of the Keys? This ancient ceremony is the traditional locking up of the Tower of London and has taken place on each and every night at 21:30, without fail, for at least 700 years. Tickets are free, but due to the popularity of the ceremony, it is necessary to follow the correct process for applications. Visit the Tower of London for more information.
Total spend: £0

Prince Charles Cinema

A tight budget doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a night out in London's famous West End. At the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square you can see great films from just £6.50 on evenings and weekends (£5.50 in the afternoons!).
Total spend: £6.50

 

 

Visit our Cheap and Free Britain pages for more ideas on free things to see and do.

Total day spend: £14