what can i do in london on sunday that is fun and cheap!?

Question

my sister is coming to london for one day on sunday. What are the best things to do on a low budget?!

Answer 1

National History Museum, Science Museum and Tate Modern are all free.
If you can afford a bit I would say deffo go to the Aquarium (its right next to the London Eye- Westminster tube station) its not too expensive at all!

Answer 2

Get a travelcard each, and use buses rather than the tube - sunday traffic means they will be quicker - and you can see so much from the top deck. The museums and galleries which others have suggested are all good, but beware, many do not open until later on Sundays. Do a bit of prep on the net: find out the opening times of the ones you fancy. Don't attempt to visit more than 3, and work out a logical route so you don't waste time retracing your steps.

There is so much to see in all the museums and galleries, you could think about what you and your sister are most interested in. The Natural History Museum or the Science Museum, for example. A walk along the Embankment is a great thing in the early evening: the river looks great and all the street performers are out. Covent Garden is another good place for street theatre. Camden Lock Market is wonderful, too, but crowded on Sunday and watch your wallet in all these places.

One place I do not recommend is Regents Park Zoo. Expensive, (very) crowded, and full of gifty rubbish shops. It's a wonderful city, have a great time.

Answer 3

Depending on where you're based you may want to get yourself a day pass for the tube and/or bus you can use it as much as you like. I love London, it's full of culture, lots of beautiful old buildings and everything is surprisingly close together! All the museums and most art galleries are free to enter,(there are sometimes special collections that have an entrance fee) there are lots of different types of museum many with interactive sections. I also love Covent garden, with street performers and the market it has a great atmosphere at this time of year, it is just up the road from Trafalgar square, with the museum and art gallery. Depending on your budget, in Covent garden there's a ticket office where you can get last minute tickets to the theatre for a show, sometime they're cheap. Baker street has Madame Tussuad's right next to the tube, not sure if that's free though, then next stop across or 5 minutes walk is a Chinese inside Marylebone tube station at the back which does really good really cheap selection used to be £2 will be more now, but not much. There are lots of cheap eateries around, as much as you can eat buffets or burger places. There is Regents Park, and Hyde Park and sometimes there are concerts going on, but just walking around to see the sites, Westminster Palace, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and St. James Palace a short walk away just seeing these beautiful buildings is all free and The London Eye across the river is nice to look at even if you can't afford a ride. Whilst Harrods might be expensive to shop in, it's free to look around and if you've never been there before, it's fabulous! If you want an inexpensive but impressive gift, why not choose a few chocolates from the confectionery counter? Just the box, ribbon and bag are fab! You don't mention your budget, or what you like to do, or if you've been before, but hopefully there is at least something to do that you'll enjoy in this lot.

Answer 4

That would be my planned day:
- English breakfast-brunch. There is a recent post about where to have the best english breakfast in london.
- Camdem town, don´t miss cyberdog, and other weird shops. Maybe have lunch there, many "world" food from which to choose.
- Regent park is not far, maybe take a bus to sightsee a little. Stay a while there
- Walk south till regent street, quite posh area... visit apple store, hamleys, virgin... Picadilly circus..
- Leicester Sq, Trafalgar Sq, maybe a litlle walk to covent garden and then back to trafalgar via the Strand, (Temple area for an extra walk), then down to the Big Ben... Of course, all the time you have the museums if you want to stop (I REALLY like national portrait gallery).
- Then enjoy the southbank till tower bridge, stop at pubs or restaurants The borough market area should be ok on sundays for a quick dinner.
This takes easily a full day

Other areas to show:
Camdem town channels
Brick lane and nearby for a multicultural view
Notting hill, then go south, then parks
You have londonwalks (i.e. jack the ripper and the like, and they have special ones also). You may want to research on audio tracks to download from internet (cheap or free) for walking routes.
There are some people offering cycle tours (i took a card from one lady at the soutbank once, but i lost it)

Enjoy London
Cheers

Answer 5

If you want to go to all the "tourist-y" places like Madame Tussuad's and the London Dungeons etc. it is good to get a London pass. Granted it may seem a bit on the expensive side but it really is a saver plus you won't have to wait in the queues that can go on for miles. In terms of spending as little as possible i would suggest the Science museum and for the little treasure the Temple church just off the Strand (its the one featured in Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code) They are free to enter and only ask for a small donation if you can spare - no pressure. As for just walking around in utter amazement try Harrods and Selfridges - definitely not affordable but an easy way to spend 2 - 3 hours. A walk along the river is also good. You see most of the sights and can easily cover most of London. If you don't wanna walk, hope the weather is nice and have a picnic in Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park - High Street Kensington and Portobello Market aren't that far away.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

The best way to see London on a low budget is get a Travel card, which is around £5.00, which can be used on the Tube, London Buses (excluding tour services) and BR suburban routes. On arrival you will see railway maps in many locations showing routes or buses and trains, which are split up in to six main travel zones. Depending on how far you travel, will relate to the cost, that's Way i say around £5.00. Most Museums and Art Galleries are free, but will accept donations, whatever you can afford. The best from my point of views are The National Gallery on Trafalgar and Tate Modern across the water, south side, near Waterloo East Railway Station and for Museums, The Science or Natural History Museum, located in Kensington. Enjoy your day trip. If you're into shopping locations, try Piccadilly and Oxford Circus and my favourite, as I'm a bloke, is Hamleys Toy Store.

Answer 7

Make your way to Greenwich on a Sunday and have a walk around the market. Then go to the Queens house and just look at the beautiful ceiling (it is free). Take a walk around Greenwich Park quite the most beautiful place. Loads to see and do in Greenwich. Then take the boat (about £3) and go up the Thames to Waterloo and you can walk the Thames Path (totally free). You can see all the sites along by the river. Big Ben, London Eye. The walk is beautiful whatever the weather. The Thames Path has to be the most wonderful water walkway in the world. Too late unfortunately for the Thames Festival held in September. But don't miss it next year. Street Theatre. Fireworks, everything you could wish for and totally, completely and utterly free!!! London you just can't beat it.

Answer 8

The cheapest way to make your sister stay memorable is tour her around the city and mind you get a one day ticket (TUBE TRAIN) zone 1,2,3,4,5 that encompasses the whole London tourist spot, while visiting his places take a picture that will slow you down in aparticular beautiful places and plus the picture are so magnificently wonderful that a memory can recall the small details of the time, memorable that worth a million of wholestic memory of the place. Places like Parliament, London bridge, Wraft area, Train station were Harry Patter was taken Plot form 9 1/2 you can find this in St.Pancras Station.Museums are all free, The joyful Oxford st., Hide Park, Kinsington Palace sometime the garden are free so you could see the place, Buckingham Palace,No.10 Downning St., you will not run out of place to go that you did not need to spend a lot of money, by goin this you could visit a lot of place and your sister will love it specially she's photoholic type of person and the place I mention is perfect for a picture perfect. One day is not enough for your tour so don worry just follow our die if you don't want to spend a lot of money.

Answer 9

On a budget this Sunday, I would recommend:

1. Watch a bridge lift of Tower Bridge from London Bridge (free)
2. Visit the South Bank frost fair (free)
3. Go on a river boat ride (1/3 discount if you show your one day travelcard or Oyster card)
4. Climb the monument to the Great Fire of London (£2)
5. Have lunch at LMNT, Queensbridge Road, E8 (3 courses £11.85)
6. Go to any of the main museums or galleries such as British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and Tate Gallery (all free)
7. Visit Spitalfields, Columbia Road, Petticoat Lane and Brick Lane markets (free)

Answer 10

Walk along the river, like so many others have said, but if you can hire a bike, or have 2 bikes, go further afield - you can cycle pretty much all the way to Greenwich in the East and Battersea in the West whilst staying by the river.

If you get to Greenwich, go under the Victorian foot tunnel to Island Gardens and cycle to Canary Wharf.

Or try the Regent's Canal. Start off at the beautiful Victoria Park, and join the canal all the way to Camden, or even further to London Zoo / Regent's Park. It's beautiful & interesting.

If you're feeling even more adventurous, download one of the many walks and bike rides recommended by the mayor.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/streets/walking/walkfinder.asp

it really is better by bike, because you will see more, but there are loads of ideas on the tfl website for seeing a lesser-seen London off the beaten tourist track.

Answer 11

Walk along the Thames from Tower Bridge to the House of Parliament. You can visit loads of free things on the way such as St Paul's, Tate Modern, Trafalgar Square, the national gallery and national portrait gallery and the outer section of Westminster Abbey.

It is also free to visit the houses of parliament which is beautiful inside and worth seeing outside.

If you want to go for a drink try the Nell Gwynn pub which is one of London's best kept secret and a hidden gem -as well as one of the cheapest pubs in central London. It's down an alley called Bull Inn Court betweent the Adelphi (Chicago) Theatre and the Vaudville Theatre off the Strand near Charing Cross Station.

If she's into clothes I would recommend the V&A in Kensington, it's free and has a great costume and textiles section - you could also take her down Ken High St afterwards which has a great mix of designer shops and funky boutiques. Kensington Palace Gardens are nearby and are beautiful to walk in too.

Hope you have a lovely day.