A 5-Day London Itinerary for Shoestring Budget Travellers

  • Day 1: Notting Hill and Kensington
    1.5 hours (5.2 miles) from London City Centre

    Start the day by exploring Notting Hill's Portobello Road Market, which opens from 8 am to 6:30 pm on weekdays, and enjoy vintage clothing, antiques, and street food. Visit the famous blue door from the movie "Notting Hill." After that, make your way to Kensington and visit the impressive Kensington Palace Gardens. Take a walk through Hyde Park and its beautiful Serpentine Lake.

  • Day 2: Tower of London and Tower Bridge
    20 minutes (2.6 miles) from Notting Hill

    Start your day with a visit to the Tower of London, a historic castle that houses the Crown Jewels. You can also admire the view of Tower Bridge and visit the Tower Bridge exhibition. Expect to spend four hours in both places. Admission to the Tower of London starts at £23 per person, and you can buy the tickets online to save money.

  • Day 3: British Museum and Camden Town
    10 minutes (2.5 miles) from the Tower of London

    Visit the British Museum, one of the world's oldest museums, and admire its vast collections of historical and cultural artefacts. Entry is free, and the museum opens from 10 am to 5 pm every day. After that, travel to Camden Town, where you can enjoy the lively market and street food scene and Camden Lock.

  • Day 4: Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus
    15 minutes (2.6 miles) from Camden Town

    Oxford Street is perfect for budget shopping, where you can find shops such as Primark and H&M. From Oxford Street, make your way to Piccadilly Circus, where you can visit the iconic statue of Eros and check out the West End theatre district. In the evening, consider watching a musical, and tickets like "The Lion King" can be found for around £35.

  • Day 5: Greenwich and Canary Wharf
    50 minutes (5.5 miles) from Piccadilly Circus

    Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a cultural and historical experience. Take a walk to the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, and the Cutty Sark. In the afternoon, travel to Canary Wharf and enjoy the view of London from the top of One Canada Square building. Entry is free, and it is open from Monday to Friday.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Portobello Road Market (2 hours, free)
  • Kensington Palace Gardens and Hyde Park (2.5 hours, free)
  • Tower of London and Tower Bridge (4 hours, from £23)
  • British Museum (2.5 hours, free)
  • Camden Town (2 hours, free)
  • Oxford Street (2 hours, free)
  • Piccadilly Circus and West End theatre (2.5 hours, from £35 for a musical ticket)
  • Greenwich (4 hours, free)
  • Canary Wharf (2 hours, free)
  • Total Estimated Costs: from £58

Transportation

Transportation in London is straightforward for tourists. Purchase an Oyster card, which costs £5 and can be used on buses, the tube, trains, and trams, and load it with enough money for your stay. Expect to spend around £5 a day for transportation.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can consider visiting the Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. If you have less time, you can exclude Canary Wharf and Greenwich from your itinerary. Remember that many museums and galleries have free entry, so take advantage of them to avoid spending much.

Airports

London has six airports, but the most accessible to the city centre is Heathrow Airport (LHR), located in Heathrow, west of London, around 15 miles away. It takes around 30 - 50 minutes by tube, depending on which station you choose. Another popular option is Gatwick Airport (LGW), located in Crawley, around 30 miles south of London, which takes around 30 minutes by Gatwick Express. London Stansted Airport (STN) and London Luton Airport (LTN) are budget options but are located outside London and involve a longer journey to the city centre.

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