Budget-Friendly 1-Week Itinerary for London
Updated as of: May 18, 2025
Best For: Students, solo travellers, backpackers, and low-cost explorers
Estimated Budget: £100–£150 (excluding accommodation + transport cap of £30–£40 with an Oyster card)
Accommodation Tip: Stay at hostels like YHA, Wombat’s, or budget hotels in Zone 2–3 for cheaper rates (~£25–£40/night)
🧭 General Tips for the Week
Use an Oyster card/contactless — daily travel cap in Zones 1–2 is £8.50
Bring your own water bottle
Cook your own meals or grab supermarket meal deals (£3.50)
Most museums and parks are free in London
Walk where possible — it’s beautiful and free!
📅 Day 1: Iconic London Landmarks (Free Tour Day)
Start at Trafalgar Square
Walk down to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey (outside)
Free walking tour (check SANDEMANs or Strawberry Tours)
Walk across Westminster Bridge to the South Bank
End at Tower Bridge and relax at Potters Fields Park
💰 Cost: Free (maybe tip £5 for the tour)
📅 Day 2: Museums & Royal London
Visit Natural History Museum and V&A Museum (free)
Walk to Hyde Park, stop by Serpentine Gallery
Visit Buckingham Palace (outside only)
Stroll through St. James’s Park at sunset
💰 Cost: Free
📅 Day 3: Markets & Street Food
Morning: Explore Camden Market (window shop + street eats)
Walk along Regent’s Canal to Little Venice
Optional: Climb up to Primrose Hill for great views
Evening: Visit Coal Drops Yard (Kings Cross) – lights + ambience
💰 Cost: £7–£10 (food/snacks)
📅 Day 4: East London & Cultural Finds
Start at Brick Lane – street art, quirky shops
Visit Spitalfields Market
Chill in Victoria Park or Shoreditch Park
Free exhibitions at Whitechapel Gallery or Museum of London Docklands
💰 Cost: Free / £5–£7 food
📅 Day 5: South Bank Walk + Tate Modern
Explore Tate Modern
Walk from London Eye to Borough Market (samples or cheap eats!)
Chill on the riverside or Clink Street tunnel for cool vibes
Sunset from The Garden at 120 or Sky Garden (free but pre-book)
💰 Cost: Free / £5–£8 food
📅 Day 6: Greenwich Day Trip (Zone 2)
Take DLR to Greenwich
Explore Greenwich Park, stand on the Prime Meridian Line
Walk around the Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark (outside view)
Picnic in the park with supermarket snacks
💰 Cost: £3–£6 (food)
📅 Day 7: Markets, Bookshops & Chill Day
Morning at Portobello Road Market (Notting Hill)
Visit Daunt Books, wander Marylebone High Street
Chill in Kensington Gardens
Optional: Go to Science Museum’s late opening (if it’s a Friday!)
💰 Cost: Free / £5–£7 if you grab coffee/snacks
✅ Optional Evening Add-ons (Any Night)
Watch a street performance in Covent Garden
Free comedy nights at Angel Comedy Club
Museum Lates (V&A, Science Museum, British Museum on select Fridays)
Chill at Southbank Centre or Barbican public spaces
Note: All information in this itinerary is updated as of May 18, 2025. We’ve made sure everything is correct — timings, prices, and locations. But if you spot anything that’s changed (a shop closed, a price updated, or a timing shift), just drop us a message at @Londonyaar and we’ll update it! We’ve got you covered.