As part of my blog series Living in London on a Budget, I'm going to share with you my top tips for getting around London without spending a fortune.
While rents in central London are sky high it might be worth considering living closer to the city if you are someone like me who enjoys milling around the West End and all the fantastic markets in Zone 1. When I first moved to London I lived in Clapham South, the last stop of Zone 2 on the Northern Line. I paid my usual £138 for my Zone 1-2 Oyster Card and frequented the tube and buses to get myself places.
I'm now living in my second flat in Central and while often this means a higher rent I'm saving money on my travels as I very rarely need to use public transport because everything is within walking distance.
Don't fret dear friend as there are lots of ways to get around London without spending a fortune!
Not only am I saving money on travel by living centrally, but my Council Tax is also half the price as what I used to have so it's definitely worth looking around before deciding on an area to live. I have more tips on how to choose where to live in another post in this series.
So, you're going to work, meeting friends in town, or popping to the cinema for the twentieth time this year but that pesky tube fare starting at £2.40 is not a fun charge to see on your card statement. Don't fret dear friend as there are lots of ways to get around London without spending a fortune!
Bus
Possibly the most iconic bus in the world: the red double-deckers aren't just world-famous they're also budget-friendly! A bus ride is cheaper than the tube at £1.50 per ride and you have the option of changing buses on the same ticket within the hour. Another perk is that the bus is zone-free so whether you're getting the bus to Zone 6 or just down the road you're never paying more than £1.50!
Cycle
London is busy not just with people but with cars and buses fighting for their space on the roads and on top of that you have all the cyclists. It might seem daunting at first but there are lots of bike lanes and the cycle highway is great for the longer rides. If you are going to cycle every day and for longer distances than 30 minutes worth then it might be worth purchasing a bike! There are several cheap second-hand ones out there and I even found a nifty single speed bike for £150 which would be great for the less hilly central.
Santander Bikes
If you however are like me and not cycling too far and not too often there are the Santander Bikes that you can rent for £2 for 24 hours and it’s the fastest way to get around the city in my opinion. No need to walk to the tube/bus or get stuck in traffic. Hop on a Boris Bike and you can whizz past both pedestrians and cars in traffic. Just be careful and follow the rules! If you time it well you can even take advantage of the 24-hour usage as it can span over 2 days. Sometimes I'm too lazy to walk home so rent a bike in the afternoon and then I can use it the next day both to and from work.
Hop on a Boris Bike and you can whizz past both pedestrians and cars in traffic.
Walking
Okay, hear me out... I hate walking if it's just for the sake of walking. But your two lil legs are the perfect method of getting from point A to point B. Perhaps not the ultimate way of getting around a big city like London but if you’re on a tight budget and not going too far I defo recommend walking. Heck, I've walked from Clapham into Central and spent hours and hours walking from Tower Bridge to Kensington. As long as you're not in a rush I 100% recommend you walk!
London can get expensive and if you're looking for a way to spend less then I recommend these modes of transport as both the tube and taxis are just too expensive. While it might take a little longer to get to your destination you can enjoy spending your money on more fun things than transportation!
As long as you're not in a rush I 100% recommend you walk!
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