Last updated: 15 July 2023
If you find yourself asking “What is the cheapest way to sightsee in London” then you’re definitely not alone because the cost of living crisis has made it harder to discover some of the iconic London landmarks and attractions. However, there is some good news in that there are still a numbers of ways to save money visiting London and that’s exactly what we will cover in this post.
To help visitors on their sightseeing journey in London, a new campaign between Transport for London (TFL) and some of London’s most popular attractions has launched to offer discounted entry to people who travel there using the TfL network (Tube, bus, tram).
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The best offer, in my opinion, is that from Historic Royal Palaces (HRP).
Save Money Visiting London’s Palaces
HRP are offering 2-for-1 entry on weekdays at three Historic Royal Palaces’ sites for up to three adults in one transaction which is a fantastic offer!
Which Palaces are included?
- Tower of London
- Hampton Court Palace
- Kensington Palace
Conditions apply:
- Tickets must be claimed in person at the ticket office (not available online) by simply showing proof of same-day travel on the TfL network via the TfL Oyster and contactless app
- Discount applies for visits between 5 September to 23 December 2022, excluding half term, 24-31 October
- The offer applies to standard daytime admissions only (not for special/evening events)
- One purchase applies to one palace only, and the free ticket cannot be used at a different palace
- Not all venues are open every day, check www.hrp.org.uk for more details
- Palaces run timed entry to manage capacity. If the timeslot is full at the time you will need to wait until the next available time slot.
Save Money Visiting London’s Landmarks as a Family?
Merlin Entertainments is also offering discounted entry to some of their biggest attractions across the capital. I think the best one here is the London Eye with on-the-day tickets priced at £36 or from £32.50 if bought online. As a part of the campaign, TfL customers will get 30% off for up to four people when they book in advance.
Which attractions are included?
- London Eye
- The London Dungeon
- Madame Tussauds London
- SEA LIFE London
- Shrek’s Adventure! London
Conditions apply:
- London Eye – book your tickets online using code ‘CityOffer‘
- Show proof of same-day travel on the TfL network via the TfL Oyster and contactless app
- For Merlin, an adult is 16 and over, entry is free for children under 3.
Save Money Travelling on the Tube
One of the most common costs that can quickly add up is public transport, especially if you’re visiting multiple London landmarks so there’s some good news that there are some discounts available too.
- Kids go free on TfL network if they’re under 11 and with a fare-paying adult (max 4 kids per adult)
- The most affordable Tube fares can be had by travelling off-peak and using pay as you go on contactless or Oyster. (Peak times: Mon-Fri 06:30-09:30, & 15:59-19:00)
- Travelling by bus? Don’t forget about the Hopper fare, which allows unlimited journeys for the price of one when carried out within an hour of first touching in.
Note:
Journeys via Boris Bikes (aka Santander Cycles) are not included
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that things are getting more expensive and most people are looking at tightening their belts but the good news is that there are still good deals available which means that you can still explore new places and enjoy London without breaking the bank. We hope that this post has been helpful and you can save money visiting London landmarks.
Below is a list of some other articles about London that you might be interested in so have a read and enjoy your time in England’s capital city.
Discover More of London
- Unusual Things to do in London (Immersive theatre, Pilot a floating hot tub, Discover disused Tube stations & more)
- Climb The Monument to the Great Fire of London (cheap & cool!)
- Cutty Sark, the world’s sole surviving tea clipper
- Bermondsey Beer Mile for small batches of craft beer
- London under £10
