Cheap Inside Tips on London

Boris Bikes, as Londoners affectionately call them, are the new alternatives to daily bike rentals...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:29:46 -0400

Boris Bikes, as Londoners affectionately call them, are the new alternatives to daily bike rentals and the confines of bus routes. The bikes provide a cheap and convenient way to get across town quickly whenever the mood might strike you. They’re likely to be of particular value if you are staying in the centre of town when visiting London - for example in a Kings Cross hotel or Paddington hotel.

Photo: Steve Bowbrick

Want to do something a bit more cultured and memorable during your lunch hour? Pop in to one of...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:48:19 -0400

Want to do something a bit more cultured and memorable during your lunch hour? Pop in to one of the many central London locations where the Royal College of Music performs lunch time and rush hour concerts. The concerts are free unless otherwise stated.

http://www.rcm.ac.uk/events/concertsinlondon/

Photo: Ancasta1901

If you’re inclined to plan your outings in advance, you musn’t miss the opportunity to witness this...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:36:38 -0400

If you’re inclined to plan your outings in advance, you musn’t miss the opportunity to witness this 700 year old ceremony. Every night the Tower of London is locked down in the traditional way and you can see it for free. The only catch is to apply for tickets in advance due to the ceremony’s popularity. We recommend staying in a cheap Liverpool Street Hotel for ease of access.

Photo: Mr Moss

The best of old and new all in one neighbourhood, including...

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:46:24 -0500

The best of old and new all in one neighbourhood, including Kings Cross station, Hare Krishna charity shops and a new Tune Hotel - one of the best cheap UK hotels. Great article and well worth a read:

ezinearticles.com/?Kings-Cross-London—-A-Travel-Guide&id=7348663

Photo from Flickr user Martin Pettitt. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdpettitt/7582057430/

The popular NickThat Tumblr blog recently listed useful tips on...

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:05:00 -0400

The popular NickThat Tumblr blog recently listed useful tips on cheap dining in the vibrant Paddington district of central London. Most of the places suggested are within easy reach of Tune Paddington - one of the cheapest and friendliest Paddington hotels (the photo above shows a view from one of the hotel’s rooms).

Photo credits: London Hotels Insight Flickr for Tune Paddington

We recently spotted a great article about London’s best...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:37:10 -0400

We recently spotted a great article about London’s best Indian food on the cheap - and doesn’t this picture just make you want to grab some? The article mentions that to enjoy easy access to those delicious budget Indian joints you might want to stay in one of the cheapest hotels in London with good transportation links, such as Tune Kings Cross; or even at its sister budget hotel, Tune Liverpool Street, which is even closer to London’s vibrant Brick Lane.

(Photo credit: eddie.welker)

Following in the footsteps of its sister hotels near Liverpool...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:16:21 -0400

Following in the footsteps of its sister hotels near Liverpool Street and Paddington is the new Tune Kings Cross. London Hotels Insight recently explored how the hotel has celebrated the building’s past by restoring the original facade and displaying a number of old floor plans from 1920 onwards (rescued from the basement during the restoration) throughout the property. The hotel looks worth consideration for budget travellers in search of cheap Kings Cross hotels with the added advantage of a location close to the busy St Pancras/Kings Cross rail terminus.

(Photo credit: London Hotels Insight)

We recently spotted a brilliant article on the topic of the best...

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:31:44 -0400

We recently spotted a brilliant article on the topic of the best cheap London afternoon teas. The writer’s objective was to list the best places to grab a budget afternoon tea for less than £10, while not compromising on quality. We might have to check out some of the places ourselves soon!

(Photo credit: fred_v)

We recently blogged about the early opening sale of the Tune...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:52:40 -0400

We recently blogged about the early opening sale of the Tune Hotel Paddington. This is the first Tune to enter the competitive Paddington hotels market and was recently toured by London Hotels Insight bloggers who were impressed by its central location (near Oxford Street and Paddington) and its focus on the locality - the hotel even offers special discounts in neighborhood restaurants for people like us who like to save money! Seems like a cool place to stay if you’re looking for a cheap but clean hotel room where you can crash comfortably for a few nights.

(Photo credit: London Hotels Insight)

London is one of the most alluring cities in the world. Its...

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:43:00 -0400

London is one of the most alluring cities in the world. Its historical structures and vast cityscape create a visual masterpiece. Here are six places around the city offering the best views of London - and some of them are free!

London Eye

This enormous Ferris wheel is located next to the River Thames and definitely worth the £17 investment if this is on your bucket list. Spectacular views of the entire city are visible from the wheel’s highest points. Riders can buy London Eye skip the line tickets to avoid waiting.

Primrose Hill

Locals and visitors alike often flock to this hill to enjoy picturesque views of the central areas of London and to get some fresh air in the city. Celebrity sightings are common, as many famous people have made their homes in the vicinity.

Tower Bridge

This iconic bridge spans the River Thames. The observation decks located in the bridge’s two towers provide ideal spots for seeing the city.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Panoramic views of London are visible from this historic church. The cathedral contains several lookout points.

OXO Tower

Beautiful scenery of the city is visible from this structure, which is located on the south bank of the River Thames. Views of the city can be seen from its eighth-floor restaurant or from one of its shops.

Greenwich

You can climb up to the Observatory for a free gorgeous view over Docklands and the city centre (pictured above) and visiting can be a free alternative to the London Eye. For other free alternatives to top London tourist attractions, check out the Smitten by Britain blog.

Any of these spots in London offer ideal observation points of the cityscape. People who visit these places will quickly be able to see why London is such a magnificent metropolis and pretty affordable to stay in once you’re armed with the best London hotel deals.

(Photo credit: Elsie esq.)

To celebrate the early opening of the new Tune Hotel, guests can...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:37:00 -0400

Tune Hotel Paddington room interior

The Tune Hotel - ready, steady, go!

To celebrate the early opening of the new Tune Hotel, guests can now book windowless rooms for just £19 and rooms with a window for just £25 on the Tune website until 24th June. It’s a real bargain if you or anyone you know needs a last minute budget stay in one of the cheapest and cleanest Paddington hotels! But keep your eyes peeled on the budget chain’s website, as another new Tune will also soon make its entrance in the equally competitive Kings Cross hotels market, and you never know if another early opening discount sale opportunity might pop-up ;)

(Photo credit: Tune Hotel Paddington)

Summer is getting closer and closer - although the nice weather...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 05:53:42 -0400

Summer is getting closer and closer - although the nice weather is slow to come to London this year. But the glimpses of sunshine have already made some of us think about the best parks in London and there are so many to choose from! Here’s a shortlist of the Top 7 Green Spaces in London we recently came across - be sure to visit at least a few. IF the London weather finally improves ;-)

Pictured above is the St. James’s Park, one of our favourites.

(Photo credit: lorentey)

The Victoria and Albert Museum was founded in 1852 to provide a...

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:48:20 -0400

The Victoria and Albert Museum was founded in 1852 to provide a storehouse of arts and crafts that Victorian manufacturers could fashion their crafts after. However, it soon became a repository of great art despite its very functional original mission. You can definitely get lost in there for hours but you’ll always find something that you’ve missed before when you check out some of the museum’s many treasures. And the best part is: entrance is free!

(Photo credit: Fmpgoh)

Although it goes without saying for Londoners and UK travellers...

Fri, 11 May 2012 05:54:42 -0400

Although it goes without saying for Londoners and UK travellers coming regularly to the capital, many overseas tourists are unaware of the importance of getting an Oyster card right away - which entitles you to cheaper fares on public transportation. Furthermore, using buses instead of the overcrowded underground is not only cheaper but also allows you to see the city while travelling.

Two of the most expensive costs in London are generally accommodation and transportation and you can save both time and money by staying in a central location with good access to public transportation, for example in some of the newest budget hotels in Paddington or hotels in Kings Cross.

(Photo credit: amandabhslater)

One of the most reputable London blogs About London has...

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:51:50 -0400

One of the most reputable London blogs About London has published an essential Top 10 Free Things To Do in London list - do check it out, it has some brilliant ideas! It includes some of our favourite attractions like the Covent Garden street performers, London street markets, and Westminster Abbey pictured above - regarding the latter you should check out this beautifully illustrated article on the Velvet Escape travel blog.

(Photo credit: Oliver Brunches)

The month of May is now upon us and we are excited about the...

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:11:00 -0400

The month of May is now upon us and we are excited about the Museums at Night weekend from Friday May 18th to Sunday May 20th, when hundreds of museums and galleries open their doors for special evening events, most of them with free entrance. Pictured above is the British Museum which is a short bus ride from some good value Kings Cross hotels, a well-liked area to stay for bargain-hunting tourists.

(Photo credit: otubo)

Hotels in London can be ridiculously expensive – not just the...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:34:48 -0400

Hotels in London can be ridiculously expensive – not just the rooms but also the extras. So we’re happy to have come across Base2Stay, where a concept of “budget luxury” permeates through both their hotels in Liverpool and London.

One example of this philosophy is the mini kitchen with mini fridge pictured above which you’ll find in all rooms. This means you can buy your food at a cheap supermarket or heat up a takeaway in the microwave to save your pennies which you can then spend on other treats. Unlike the typical snooty hotel which wants to charge you a premium for everything, Base2stay actually encourages you to buy stuff cheaply from outside - for example, they’ve arranged discounts on local restaurants. A pretty neat idea we think.

(Photo credit: Base2Stay)

If you’re lucky enough to have tickets for the London...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:50:22 -0400

If you’re lucky enough to have tickets for the London Olympics, it will still take a ton of research online to score a stay in one of the cheapest hotels in London - and then you’ve also got the problem of budgeting for food!

But savvy travellers need not get caught in the tourist traps. Leading travel blog Vagabondish has published a useful guide with a title that certainly caught our eye: “Budget Olympics 2012”. It lists some of the best eats and pubs in the neighborhood around the Olympics Stadium and further afield (including Tayyabs Restaurant pictured above recommended for anyone in the mood for exotic flavours); or perhaps The Camel pub for a night out “that won’t break the bank.”

We recommend Vagabondish generally for anyone seeking slightly off-the-radar travel and destination tips.

Photo credit: Tayyabs Restaurant.

Don’t you hate it when you have to pay a lot for a meal...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:36:05 -0400

Don’t you hate it when you have to pay a lot for a meal that doesn’t even taste good? Worry no more, for now there is ‘Pay what you want’ lunch on Fridays and Saturday at Pips Dish cooked in a pop-up kitchen from healthy and responsibly-sourced ingredients, as we found out from the brilliant London on the Inside Blog. And if you like the idea and enjoyed your meal don’t forget that your contributions for the ‘Pay what you want’ meal help to fund free lunches for local pensioners :)

Photo credit: Pip Dish

Top Ten Freebies in London

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:15:13 -0400

Top Ten Freebies in London:

The only thing better than having fun for cheap is having fun for free! This great article we recently stumbled on gives great information on some of the best freebies in London, like a free vegetarian lunch, served with a smile and love in the Hare Krishna Temple in Soho after lunchtime darshan, and Friday lates at the National Gallery including tours, talks, poetry workshops, and music. Sounds like a super fun way to save money!