Cholmondley_Warner

I don't know if you've seen page 3 lately. The cpation to Hayley, 19, Cardiff is the poppet's view on an issue of the day such as the credit crunch or interest rates.

It's an interesting conjunction of ideas.

CAPH52

What a wonderful thread! (Well, most of it anyway! ) Thanks for starting it, Katie. And for all of the great responses.

My son and I are going to be staying a week longer than my husband after our daughter's June wedding in Ireland. We're considering using it to go to London and Edinburgh (with a possible stop in York). But can do it only if we find ways to drastically cut costs.

Although I'm not sure it'll work for us on this trip, I loved your info on the YHA hostels, Lee Ann. I'm going to look into it, just in case.

I'm very encouraged by all the posts about eating economically. I particularly like the idea of eating supermarket sandwiches in a park. But is there any type of "street food" in London? I mean anything comparable to eating crepes in Paris? And do fish and chip places (chiperies?) tend to be inexpensive? Or is that a meal best gotten at a pub?

Cholmondley_Warner

But is there any type of "street food" in London? I mean anything comparable to eating crepes in Paris? >>>>>>>

Yes. Sandwiches.

And do fish and chip places (chiperies?) tend to be inexpensive?>>>>>>

Depends what yopu mean by inexpensive. Fish ain't cheap these days so fish n chips is around a fiver to take away - more if you're eating in. There are cheaper options lik epies. But Americans can't cope with British pies. The big softies.

Or is that a meal best gotten at a pub?>>>>

The very LAST place you should buy fish n chips is in a pub. Very few do it well. The few that can do it charge a fortune.

jent103

Hi CAPH52 - congratulations on your daughter's wedding! As C_W mentioned, you won't find much in the way of street food as you're thinking in London. When I was there in the fall there were chestnuts outside the British Museum; in the summer I've seen a small produce/drink stand near Trafalgar Square. That's about it. No New York hot dog stands or anything like that. But there are Marks & Spencers, Tesco Expresses and Sainsburys all over with a selection of prepared foods.

I've actually not had fish and chips in London, but I know there are several threads on here with some recommendations. I think there's a place in Bloomsbury (Leigh Street, perhaps?) that's gotten some good reviews here.

Cholmondley_Warner

I think there's a place in Bloomsbury (Leigh Street, perhaps?) that's gotten some good reviews here.>>>

That's the North Sea Fish Bar. Bloody good it is too(but not cheap for the restaurant)

CAPH52

Thanks, CW. And, jent, thanks for the congrats and the info!

ElendilPickle

>>Although I'm not sure it'll work for us on this trip, I loved your info on the YHA hostels, Lee Ann. I'm going to look into it, just in case.<<

You're welcome! Do check on hostels; YHA's London Central just opened last year, and the one in York looks good.

Lee Ann

CAPH52

Thanks, Lee Ann! Since you mentioned that you hadn't stayed in one in London, I thought maybe it wasn't a good option for London. But I'll definitely check it out! The one in York too. I assume I'll be able to google them?

This may be an odd question, but can you have a bottle of wine in your room? Seems to me I've read that you can't have alcohol in your room if you stay in university housing.

CAPH52

Hi again, Lee Ann. I found the website. And the price is certainly good! As is the location of that new one in London. But you're sure this 56 year old mom wouldn't be out of place in a youth hostel?

librarianjen

I did London twice on the absolutely broke scale. First off-- do the free sights. The museums, the British Library... the markets, the views from the Thames. You can see most of the things that London has to offer for free. Wander down those weird sidestreets and see what lies at their ends. Do your research before you go, and know all the tourist walks. Know that places that charge admission often have some free or cheap options.

Plan for a few splurges. Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are two that come to mind. I've gotten into lots of churches by attending services, but Westminster isn't that sort of church. If you want to see the tombs and historical parts, be prepared to pay admission. No one at Westminster turns a blind eye to wandering "worshipers." That said, I've wandered into St Paul's with nary a question asked on a Sunday morning. My other recommended splurge is a walk with the LONDONWALKS group. They have a website that describes all the walks they offer. I've been on three; they were all top-notch and totally worth the 5 or 6 pounds they charged (as of 2005.)

Have a couple drinks at a pub. If you only have one drink at each pub on your sightsee list, you will pay full price each round. But if you find a nice pub, preferably uncrowded, and settle down, you may get a buy-back, or someone may buy a round for you.

Eat a good, filling lunch. Lunch is way cheaper than dinner (even if it is sometimes the same food.) Fill up at lunch and breakfast, and have a small, cheap dinner at a fast food place or sausage stand. Or eat a really early dinner at 4pm, if you find a place that offers an early-bird special.

Remind yourself that your trip is not about meals. Take pleasure in cheap Cadbury chocolates at Tube Stations or Scottish shortbread in convenience stores. Eat from sausage vendors and other street food. Buy fruit, veggies or prepared foods at markets and take them back to your hostel or hotel. Eat in less touristy areas-- I had reasonable meals in Bayswater and Islington, for example. Lots of people knock Wetherspoons here, but their cheap pub food is edible, if not authentic, and can be a lifesaver. Take pride in being cheap!


The best advice, of course, is simply to research as much as possible, discover all possible discounts and free sights, and don't get swayed by emotion. If you do (and we all do sometimes,) just go cheaper the next day. Expect that at least one night you will go totally off budget, plan accordingly and adjust your budget as needed. Have fun!

CAPH52

Sounds like great advice, Librarianjen!