Guest post by Niamh O’Reilly
London is a bustling city thriving with nightlife, restaurants, theaters, historic buildings, and some of the most beautiful parks in the UK. However, despite its appeal, London is well-known for being an expensive place to live.
In fact, according to Yahoo! Finance, “London is the sixth most expensive location to live in the world, largely attributed to high rental accommodation costs in areas popular with expatriates, which are almost a third higher than in Geneva, and twice as high as in Paris.”
We don’t want you missing out on all there is to see and do in London just because you don’t have any spare cash. So, in this article, we will be sharing how you can travel around London on the cheap. Because there is plenty to see and do for free – you just have to get there!
Cheap Travel Through London Zones
London is split into different zones, with 1 and 2 being bang in the middle of central London and some of the most expensive travel zones as a result. Transport for London (TfL) is London’s transport system. They manage all aspects of transport in the city, whether you’re travelling by road, rail, or water.
If you want a cheap way to travel through London’s zones without having to break the bank, this article is for you.
1. Invest in an Oyster Card
The much-loved Oyster Card is one of the very best ways to travel around London. According to Transport for London, “An Oyster card is a smart card that you add money to, so you can pay as you go. You can pay as you go to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, most TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line and Thames Clippers River Bus services.”
Many students invest in an Oyster card to keep their costs down as they travel to and from college or university and meet friends all over London. When you order an Oyster card, it is delivered straight to your door so that you can get travelling as soon as it arrives.
TfL provides travellers with Hopper fare. This London travel option means you can travel freely around the city for £1.55. As long as you use the same card or device and make the trips within one hour of tapping in, you’ll get the benefits of the Hopper fare automatically charged to your card.
2. Avoid Traveling at Peak Times
Travelling at peak times around London should always be avoided where possible, particularly if you are struggling financially and looking for cheaper options.
The Underground has two different prices for peak and off-peak hours. Try to avoid travelling on the tube between 6:30 to 09:29 and from 16:00 to 18:59 for the cheapest fares.” What’s more, by avoiding travel at peak times you will miss the city rush hour and experience a far more enjoyable journey as a result.
If you can be flexible with the times you travel around London, you will save a significant amount. Ticket prices can vary greatly depending on the time of day. So, if you opt to travel when others are typically at work or at home, you will enjoy the benefits of cheaper and quieter travel.
3. Opt to Walk or Cycle
If you are living in London, it’s fairly likely that you know the city well. And the great thing about London is that it is a beautiful city to walk or cycle around. From cycle lanes, pavements, and parks, there are plenty of places you can amble through on your way somewhere. And it will save you a significant sum in travel fees, too!
The center of London is great for avid walkers and cyclists. It’s actually surprisingly small and can be easily navigated while on foot (or bike!). What’s more, you’ll have more time to take in the views, soak up the sun, enjoy the fresh air, and make the most of the health benefits of staying active.
If you don’t own a bike yourself, the London cycle hire scheme has over 11,000 bikes across the city, for just £2 each for the whole day. At almost 800 docking stations you’re never too far to pick one up and cycle through the city. To make it easier Santander bikes use contactless payments and offer users the option to pay via the official Santander Cycles app (Download for iPhone and Android).
4. Take The London Underground
London locals call it “the tube” and it is simply one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel around London. The London underground is one of the oldest working underground networks in the world and makes up hundreds of miles of train tracks that snake all around the city. There is practically a London underground stop every 5-10 walking minutes around the city.
This is a fast and efficient way to get around and with the help of your Oyster card, it’s also made extremely affordable. So, if you’re broke and living in London looking for cheap transport options, don’t overlook the London underground.
5. Free up Money With Your Car
How about taking out a loan? Now, we know what you’re thinking – travel in London can’t be so expensive that I’m expected to take out a loan! Don’t worry, it’s not. As you have read above, we’ve already covered affordable options to help you navigate the city on the cheap.
However, if you do need to free up some extra cash to help boost your Oyster card, pay for your season ticket, or just provide you with more options, taking out a loan can be a useful option.
What’s more, you can now release the equity from your car (and receive the cash within 1 hour). It’s called a Logbook Loan and is one of the best ways to get cash-in-hand quickly and simply so that you can enjoy the benefits of a little more financial freedom.
And the best bit is you can keep your car – so, you can continue driving around the city (if you’re brave enough).
Final Words
So, there you have it; the best transport options if you’re broke and living in London. For a more extensive list of ideas, you can also check out this article.
London is a beautiful city full of life and opportunities. We hope that, despite your current financial limitations, you are able to travel affordable around London now and soak up some of the best the city has to offer.
