There’s no escaping it: London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. A survey conducted by Mercer in 2022 ranked 227 cities globally and placed the UK capital at number 15, outpacing San Francisco, Vienna, Oslo, and Dubai. Moreover, adding inflation and the effects of a looming cost-of-living crisis makes spending a day exploring London’s streets feel particularly challenging for your wallet.
However, if you know where to look, you can indeed spend a day gallivanting around the city’s best-known landmarks and taking in its prettiest sites without the need for deep pockets. Here, we’ve put together a one-day itinerary for soaking up some of London’s best attractions—coupled with experiencing its most delicious food—all for less than £50, including transport to whisk you around in no time.
Here’s how to spend a day in London for £50 (or less).
10am – Walk through Green Park and The Mall (Free)
Almost 20 percent of London is parkland; there are officially about 3,000 public green spaces scattered across the many boroughs, from tiny squares to sprawling venues like Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath. Start your day strolling through one of the most-visited parks—Green Park. This green space, located just behind the buzz of Piccadilly and lined with grand hotels, restaurants, and shops, stretches across 40 acres in the borough of Westminster. Emerge at the eastern end, where The Mall—the road linking Green Park and Buckingham Palace—carves through St James’s in all its movie-star glory.
11am – The Changing of the Guard (Free)
The Changing of the Guard is one of the spectacles London is best known for. This ancient ceremony occurs at Buckingham Palace every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 11am. First held at the Palace of Whitehall and later at St James’s Palace since the 17th century, this event is a must-see. Remember to check if the ceremony is still taking place if you’re visiting on a rainy day.
