London entertainment on a budget

London is undoubtedly one of the greatest cities in Europe, full of culture, history and entertainment. Fortunately, you needn’t break the bank to make the most of what the UK’s capital has to offer.

There’s a famous quote that says that “if you are bored of London, then you are bored of life”. The quote suggests that if you can’t live life to the full in London then you would struggle to do so anyway.

This is the city of endless possibilities – one of the world’s financial capitals, home to entertainers, actors, rock stars and entrepreneurs. The city has an intoxicating atmosphere and each day can bring new excitement.

For those visiting the city or trying to live here, there is no doubt that life in London can, however, sometimes seem limited by financial restrictions. The trendy bars and restaurants are great but few of us can afford to spend every evening burning up money in such establishments.

Luckily, you don’t need to spend enormous amounts of money in order to enjoy the city at its best.

One great way to spend an afternoon in London is simply by walking around the best of the sights. This is actually a surprisingly compact city – a point that is missed by many travellers who stick to using the Tube (the London Underground).

A walk along the South Bank of The Thames will allow you to see some great buildings – much of the city is visible from here, including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Indeed, looking at a map of London, you soon come to realise that most of the key attractions are actually within very easy walking distance – Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden and Leicester Square to name but a few.

If, as you wander around the great city, you feel the need to relax then why not make use of one the many public parks?

Green Park, Regents Park, Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath and the other London parks all make a great spot for a picnic too – each one is a perfect little oasis.

At the end of a day of viewing what London has to offer, you may want some evening entertainment. Although many choose the theatre or a show, why not consider a trip to the cinema?

London has some of the world’s oldest cinemas – a trip to the cinema here is not to be missed.

So much to see, so much to do and yet so little to pay – make the most of London without breaking the bank!

Keith Barrett has written about the capital and cinemas in London as part of his writing on travel and tourism. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.