Tips for budgeted travel in the UK

There is absolutely no excuse to be bored while studying abroad in UK, between museums, pubs, theatres, parks, historical landmarks, and restaurants, there is never a dull moment. The best part about most of these attractions is that a lot of them are free and most importantly can be enjoyed by oneself. Sky is the limit for students for exploring the UK as long as financial planning is kept in mind.

5 places to visit in the UK that are free

1) Harry Potter film locations

On Mondays, there’s a free tour of Harry Potter London film locations including St. Paul’s, Horseguards Avenue used as the Ministry of Magic entrance and Godwin’s Court; used for Knockturn Alley. Visit the Warner Bros studio tour London: The making of Harry Potter, to live your childhood dream of visiting Hogwarts, Gringotts, Platform 9 and 3 Quarters. See original props, sets and costumes used in the Harry Potter movies, including Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts Express and at the end of a tiring day have butter beer on the privet drive.

2) Royal Parks

With more than 6,000 acres, UK is covered in beautiful parks boasting enchanting gardens, scenic lakes, and lush fields for one to join a pick-up game of football. To enjoy to the fullest, one should rent a paddle boat in Hyde Park and spend the afternoon reading and floating on the Serpentine.

3) Museums

Museums in London are completely free to enter. The great museums of London are all free One can explore dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum, learn about British and world history at the British Museum and wander around the beautiful exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum. All the museums can be enjoyed oneself.

4) Iconic bridges of London

Perfect for photographers, London is home to a host of fascinating bridges that can be photographed and admired across the city. The Millennium Bridge and the Tower of London Bridge are popular choices for tourists visiting London. The landmarks around the city make for the perfect Instagram spots in London so make sure one takes full advantage of the free landmarks, sites, and museums!

5) Visit the sky gardens

One can book their free tickets for The Sky Garden in advance from their official website. The Sky Garden offers sweeping views of London along with some bustling greenery high up in the sky. The garden is located from floors 34 to 37 of the Walkie Talkie building and gives one unobstructed view across London. With clear skies, you can expect to see the London Eye, the Share, St Paul’s, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf. Get some swoon worthy pictures from the outdoor observatory deck, take in a glass of wine from the bar or stroll around the levelled greenery that gives the place its name Sky Garden.

5 Tips to travel in and around the UK

1) Easy (and Cheap) Flights

Because of how many people go in and out of the city, one will always be able to find a well-priced plane/train ticket to any part of Europe. One can also choose between multiple airports, all of which are accessible by the tube or a shuttle.

Vvidhi Agrawwal student at St Andrews stated that “Many times Whether it’s a bus, plane or train, be flexible on the stations/airports you fly in-between. Planes to and from major cities around the UK can be much more expensive than a plane from a lesser-known station nearby the major cities.”

2) Public Transport

The UK has an excellent updated underground system, tons of finest red, double-decker buses have fantastic routes traversing across the whole of London, and over-ground trains to ensure that one get to go wherever their heart desires. If one is in London, then public transport is one’s best friend. The capital’s busy, historic, and narrow streets are a nightmare for many new drivers to navigate plus, there are also Congestion Charge fees for driving within much of London, so it’s best avoided. London’s network of trains, buses and Tubes is comprehensive and can get you all over the sprawling metropolis, even during the peak hours

3) Sign up for updates

Groupon, Hot UK Deals, Holiday Pirates and Secret Escapes are great websites to sign up for before any travel around the UK. One can bag even £1 train tickets from London to Birmingham because of the Hot UK Deals updates. One can also sign up for myvouchercodes.co.uk, vouchercode.co.uk and discountcodes.co.uk to get some great offers.

4) Get an Oyster Card

If one plans on staying in and around London for some time, it is worth getting an Oyster card. The card itself costs £3 and one can top it up as one goes. One uses this card for the underground train and buses around London, with a £6.60 cap on it, meaning you will never spend more than £6.60 getting around this expansive and expensive city

5) Walk

UK cities are accessible and easy to walk around. Choose a walking tour to save money and see all your favorite sites but make sure you travel light and invest in a good pair of shoes to make your sightseeing enjoyable. See the weather forecast firsthand in the UK because all four seasons will often hit in one day.