Grocery Stores/Markets
You’ll hear it a million times, but the absolute #1 way to save money in London is to eat in. In London's top 5 places to eat I touched on the best places to eat out. But, I also made myself a lot of good, inexpensive meals in. I would usually hit Morrison’s (2 minute walk from study center) and stock up on cheap cereal, milk, eggs, bread, the basics. Then I would visit Torrington Market (10 minute walk) every Thursday to stock up on fresh berries for cheap. One of my personal favorite “brunch” items I would make before a long day of class was a scrambled egg and cheese croissant. I bought my croissants day of at Pret, they were always fresh, and only a 3 minute walk away. Sainsbury’s is by far the cheapest supermarket in London, Morrison’s following in closely behind. The price of groceries compared to the price of a meal in London is substantially cheaper. Also, buying beer and cider at grocery stores will save you a lot of money instead of drinking at the pub. A liter of cider will cost you less than £4, versus a pint of the same thing at a pub for £5.
MuseumsThey’re ALL free. All of the best museums in London have free admission, but usually have a suggested donation area when you first walk in. I can’t tell you how many times I visited The British Museum, The National Gallery and The Victoria & Albert Museum. It’s hard to believe you can actually sit and look at a Van Gogh painting every day, for as long as you’d like, for free. Even if you are not a big history nerd like me, remember that the museums in London are the absolute best in the world. People travel from all over Europe to visit London’s museum scene. FSU is very lucky to be able to be located only a 5 minute walk away from The British Museum, home of the Rosetta Stone and some of the most incredible collections from Ancient Egypt and The Enlightenment era.
Walking
A tube ride will cost you on average about £2.60, and riding the bus is slightly cheaper. However, the cheapest (and FREE) way to get around London is to walk. The main part of Central London is pretty much less than 6 miles in length, which seems like a lot, but really isn’t when you put it into perspective. By walking, you’re not only saving on average about $6 US dollars a day, but you’re also walking off the endless amounts of Fish and Chips!
Punch Cards
Yes, the UK has them! If you’re going to be in London for more than 4 weeks I would definitely recommend getting as many punch cards as possible, especially for coffee lovers. A few places that offer them, Cafe Nero (many locations around London) and Nando’s. Don’t be afraid to ask a place if they offer a punch, or loyalty card. Eventually, your purchases will build up and you’ll get a few free meals or drinks. Don’t forget to utilize your International Student ID! Never be afraid to ask a place if they take a student discount, many do.
Bargaining
No doubt, a Harrods shopping spree is an absolute must before you leave London, and you certainly can’t bargain there. However, for those cheesy big ben shirts and keychains, you can easily bargain with the clerks to save a few extra pounds. If you go to a big London gift store like Cool Britannia (in Piccadilly Circus) you won’t be able to bargain. But, if you come across the smaller, off the beaten path souvenir shops, usually you can get a good deal on shirts and other goods. Just talk to the clerk and ask if they can give you a better price on the items your buying, most of the time they will accommodate, and you’ve just saved yourself a few pounds.
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