A local’s guide to must have apps in London for food, events, transportation and more – all the best apps to download before visiting London or moving to the city!
Today, you’ll learn about all the must have apps in London to use whether you’re looking for things to do, places to eat or Tube and bus updates.
I have included all the best apps to use in London, those I personally use on a daily basis (or weekly basis for events).
Hopefully, they’ll also come in handy for you, especially if you’re traveling to London for the first time!
45 Free Must Have Apps in London: Food, Events & Tube Apps
Whether you’re looking for cheap eats in London or ways to go from West Hampstead to Covent Garden, I’ve got you covered here.
I’ve already written plenty of London travel guides here, but this is one of the most important.
Especially if you’re traveling with the project of moving here, and actually living in London on a budget.
These apps here will tell you about your next Tube, restaurant deals, grocery shopping and more!
Must Have Apps in London for Transport
Must Have Apps in London: CityMapper
One of the must have apps in London is Citymapper, which I never uninstall, wherever I am in the world.
In London, Citymapper works particularly well and helps you navigate the city in a way less stressful way.
If you’re traveling to London for the first time, one of the best tips I can give you is to get Citymapper!
Read: Morocco in London: An Unusual Itinerary to Moroccan Places
Must Have Apps in London: Bolt
Bolt is the same type of app as Uber, but in my experience, it does tend to be cheaper than Uber overall.
In London, we’re lucky to have plenty of secret places to visit and amazing restaurants.
But if you can get a driver for almost the price of a Tube ticket, why not?
Read: Paris in London: An Unusual Itinerary to French Places in London
Must Have Apps in London: Lime
Lime is an amazing company which offers mainly bikes and scooters in London, and they’re quite cheap as well.
As easy to use as the Boris bikes, but I do like Lime better as I tend to find bikes and scooters more often in the city.
Taking a Lime scooter is clearly not one of the nontouristy things to do in London, but it does offer some pretty views.
Read: Fitzrovia’s Hidden Gems: A Quirky Itinerary in London
Must Have Apps in London: Uber
As I said before, Uber does tends to be a tad more expensive than Bolt and Ola, two other transportation services.
I do like having all three of these apps on my phone at all times so I’m sure I can get the best deal out of getting around in London.
Read: 15 Themed London Itinerary Ideas Off the Beaten Path
Must Have Apps in London: TfL Go
Another one of the must have apps in London is TfL Go, Transport for London’s app.
It’s one of the best crafted and most useful apps to understand the Tube, the bus map, and completely free to use.
Read: How to Spend 10 Days in London: A Complete Itinerary
Must Have Apps in London: London Live Bus
I remember freaking out the first times I had to take the bus in London, but the London Live Bus app is another really useful app to use.
This is an app which will show you live times of buses at your stop, as well as all the stops close to you.
Really intuitive and one of the best apps to use in London!
Read: Italy in London: An Unusual Itinerary to Italian Places in London
Must Have Apps in London: Santander Cycles
We’ve talked about the Lime scooters and bikes, and the Santander Cycles app is another one of the useful apps to use in London.
It shows you all the closest cycle stands with available bikes, and it’s pretty affordable too.
Perfect if you’re looking to pay a visit to hidden gems in London and don’t want to waste time on the Tube!
Read: A Quirky Bookish Itinerary in London
Must Have Apps in London: Trainline
Taking a day trip from London is one of the coolest things you can do, if you can afford it.
Whether you’re traveling on the DLR or taking a train from London to other UK cities, Trainline is one of the most useful apps to use in London.
You get all the deals on the app, and can log in to save your tickets as well.
I personally almost only ever use Trainline to go from London to Brighton, Oxford or Cambridge.
Read: The Most Secret Neighborhoods in London
Must Have Apps in London for Food
Must Have Apps in London: Too Good to Go
Another one of the must have apps in London is Too Good to Go.
It offers you plenty of possibilities to get cheaper groceries in London, and avoid food waste.
You can find some real hidden food gems on Too Good to Go, too – make sure you try it!
Read: Rotherhithe’s Hidden Gems: A Unique London Itinerary
Must Have Apps in London: Olio
Olio is another useful app to use in London when you’re staying here longterm.
At the beginning, Olio was designed as a food sharing service – people who would leave London or wouldn’t use the food they bought would pass it along.
Olio has then grown to share quite anything, from clothes to toys.
So, if you’re living in London on a budget, it could be one of the most useful apps for you.
Read: How to Spend 3 Days in London: A Fun Itinerary
Must Have Apps in London: The Fork
If you’re looking for ways to eat in London on a budget, The Fork is a great booking app to use.
I’ve used it more times than I can recall, and have saved sometimes up to 50% on the bill.
Must Have Apps in London: Uber Eats
Uber Eats is sometimes cheaper than going out to the restaurant, especially if you’re living in London already.
If you’re visiting London for the first time, I wouldn’t say you’re going to need a delivery app that much.
Do spend time looking for the best halal breakfast in London or the cutest pink cafes – keep delivery apps for when you’re home!
Read: London Foodie Itinerary Around Covent Garden
Must Have Apps in London: Deliveroo
I actually tend to like and use Deliveroo more than Uber Eats – Uber Eats simply always seems to have issues with my account and I cannot order anything.
Deliveroo, however, has cheaper deals, faster delivery times, with the same kind of offer.
If you’re staying in London around Central London, it can be cheaper to order with Deliveroo – but as always, get both apps to compare prices!
Read: Dark Academia in London: A Secret London Itinerary
Must Have Apps in London: Best Coffee
Best Coffee is another one of the must have apps in London to use when you’re looking for a chill cafe to relax!
From coffee shops in Shoreditch to cute, instagrammable cafes in Central London, you’ll have it all here…
As long as the coffee is premium quality.
Best Coffee focuses on coffee quality, but in many of the places listed, you’ll be able to have some incredible breakfast and brunch in London!
Read: A Local’s Fashion in London Itinerary from Museums to Shops
Must Have Apps in London: Pret
If you’re planning on moving to London, having the Pret a Manger app on your phone will come in handy.
Getting a coffee in London is an institution, and few people are never to be found with a coffee cup in their hand.
Pret offers a cool monthly subscription which costs £25 for up to 5 drinks a day – the cheapest way to get coffee in London.
Read: Marylebone’s Hidden Gems: A Quick Itinerary in Central London
Must Have Apps in London: Happy Cow
Happy Cow is another one of the must have apps in London, especially if you’re following a specific diets.
From grocery stores to food markets and restaurants, Happy Cow shares vegetarian, vegan and gluten free places.
Health food spots, completely vegan bakeries and gluten free restaurants…
You basically have everything you might wish for there.
You can also leave your reviews; so if you try a few spots that wow you (like the vegan doughnuts at Crosstown Doughnuts!), make sure to leave a note!
Read: The Old London: A Historic Itinerary in the City of London
Must Have Apps in London: OpenTable
OpenTable is another one of the best restaurant booking apps to use in London.
It’s very clear and understandable, with some great deals and discounts on some of the most famous, fanciest restaurants in London.
I collaborated with OpenTable and visited two restaurants:
- Aqua Kyoto in Soho
- Whitcomb’s at The Londoner, Leicester Square
Both of these were incredible, with some of the best food in Central London overall.
Read: How to Spend 24 Hours in London: A Full Itinerary
Must Have Apps in London: Elan London
If you’d like to save money on coffee, use the Elan Cafe app.
I’ve already written a complete Elan Cafe Soho review a while back, and it’s one of the most nontouristy things to do in London.
I love finding new instagrammable cafes in London, and if I can get £5 off my first coffee, as well as deals with Elan Cafe… Why not?
Read: The Best Things to Do in Camden Town
Must Have Apps in London: Groupon
Whenever I look for cheap massages in London, I check out the Groupon app.
It’s one of the most useful apps to use in London in my opinion, especially if you tend to go out a lot.
From cheap afternoon tea vouchers to haircuts, massages and even fancy dinners, you have it all on Groupon.
Anyone serious about saving money in London would do well to keep this one at hand!
Read: The Best Non Touristy Things to Do in London
Must Have Apps in London for Everyday Life
Must Have Apps in London: Toilets4London
It’s not easy to find clean and free toilets in London, but with the Toilets4London app, you’ll find it’s quite easier.
I know a couple that are always clean, and that includes the Charing Cross Road Station toilets – these always come in handy when I’m close to Trafalgar Square.
In any case, Toilets4London are completely free, so always worth having ready on your phone!
Read: The Best Things to Do on London’s Piccadilly Line
Must Have Apps in London: EventBrite
Eventbrite is a specialist when it comes to booking events in London, and a must have app to travel that I’ve used countless times.
You can find free and cheap tickets to lots of different performances, from movies to music and plays.
The amount of free things to do in London you can find on Eventbrite is really interesting, too, if you’re on a budget!
Read: The Best Things to Do in London When It Rains
Must Have Apps in London: Meetup
Whether you’re a local or traveling to London for the first time, one app can really come in handy: Meetup.
This one revolves around free meetups that can typically take place while walking, grabbing a bite or having a picnic.
They can be music production meetups, hiking groups, food groups… and really a good way to make friends in London easily.
Read: The Best Cafes in London With a View
Must Have Apps in London: Secret Stories
There are plenty of secret gardens in London.
Secret rooftops, colorful spots and secret beaches.
And well, if you want to learn all about the most beautiful architecture in London and hidden gems, I’d recommend using the Secret Stories app.
From all the beautiful statues and sculptures in London to houses and bridges, you’ll learn lots about the city!
Read: The Cutest Floral Cafes in London
Must Have Apps in London: TodayTix
TodayTix is another one of the must have apps in London, perfect if you tend to go out a lot.
There, you’ll be able to find discounted tickets and last minute tickets to famous shows – mainly in the West End.
If you’re living in London on a budget and still want to enjoy the thrill of the theatre tradition here, that’s a great app to use.
Read: The Most Instagrammable Secret Cafes in London
Must Have Apps in London: Accessable
If you have limited accessibility, are in a wheelchair or have crutches, use the Accessable app.
It shows you all the best things to do in London with accessibility.
You can plan a day out from the comfort of your own home, and it’s completely free to use and find anything from restaurants to famous attractions.
Read: The Best Bookshop Cafes in London
Must Have Apps in London: London Architecture Guide
The London Architecture Guide is another one of the must have apps in London when you want to learn about history, architecture, and hidden gems.
From statues to houses and hidden gardens, you’ll have access to over one thousand places in London – unveiled.
Really a very interesting app to have when you’re planning a trip to London and don’t know where to stay!
Read: The Best Cafes for Chai Latte in London
Must Have Apps in London: Currency Converter Plus
I love the Currency Converter Plus app and have been using it for years now – it’s easily understandable and allows you to have accurate conversion rates.
Completely free to use, and you have on Currency Converter Plus all the currencies in the world.
And you can also use the calculator at the same time as you’re doing the conversion – so intuitive!
Read: The Best Colorful Lattes in London
Must Have Apps in London: Fever
Fever is a bit similar to Eventbrite in that you can really plan your weekends out with it.
The difference is that Eventbrite really has lots of free things to do in London, whereas Fever focuses on bigger stuff, like concerts and tours.
And if you’re ever looking for immersive experiences in London, Fever is also the app you’ll want to check.
Read: The Best Breakfast in Notting Hill
Must Have Apps in London: TicketSwap
And if you ever happen to forget about booking such and such ticket and can no longer go, you can sell it on TicketSwap.
It’s one of the safest ways to sell and buy cheap tickets in London for plays and events.
Completely secure, and the prices you can find there are incredible when you can’t really splurge on going out!
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to London’s Instagrammable Places
Must Have Apps in London: Central Tickets
Another one of the must have apps to use in London for cheap tickets is Central Tickets.
It’s not a discount app per se – rather, Central Tickets focuses on seat filling tickets.
This can allow you to book tickets for events and plays for as low as a couple of pounds.
Perfect if you’re looking for romantic things to do in London and are on a budget!
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to Multicolor Places in London
Must Have Apps in London: StageDoor
Stagedoor is a bit like Fever, but this app focuses on plays and musicals mostly.
You’ll also be able to find deals and discounts on Stagedoor, so I’d highly recommend downloading the app way before you visit London!
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to London’s Street Art Neighborhoods
Must Have Apps in London: SpareRoom
Another one of the must have apps in London is Spareroom, which I always have on my phone.
You can pretty much use it in the whole of the UK, but when you’re looking to rent a cheap room in London, Spareroom is a reliable app to use.
I’ve booked a couple of my own rooms by using Spareroom, and I’d even recommend getting the upgrade if you want to find something faster.
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to London’s Secret and Free Museums
Must Have Apps in London: Treatwell
Treatwell is a great app to have when you’re looking for cheap haircuts, massages and aesthetic services in London.
From spa treatments to makeup applications, you can really find a lot of things to do on Treatwell at a fraction of the cost.
However, if I may, Treatwell does tend to set higher prices than what you’d find at the salon, so book with a coupon code if you can!
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in West London
Must Have Apps in London: Depop
Depop is the perfect place to shop if you’re looking for vintage clothes in London.
I know I love checking out the markets in Shoreditch, but if you’re looking for must have apps in London to shop, Depop is one you need.
You’ll find 90s tops, vintage and brand new shoes, perfect tracksuits, and even makeup and perfume on Depop.
A great place to find cheap clothes if you don’t want to go to the store!
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in East London
Must Have Apps in London: Vinted
Vinted is just like Depop, and I have always felt like it focused more on accessories.
It’s just my feeling, but in any case, where Depop has more vintage clothes, Vinted has more secondhand clothes.
The prices are usually lower on Vinted in my experience, so that’s perfect if you’re living in London on a budget and would like to treat yourself.
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in South London
Must Have Apps in London: Reddit
Reddit has been a lifesaver of mine for ages.
When I looked for places to go roller skating in London, I found all the answers there.
(and some comfort when I broke my ankle skating, too).
If you’re ever looking for cafes to work in Oxford Street, or how to make friends in London…
That’s one of the apps that won’t let you know.
I’ve met quite a few friends through Reddit, and that’s an app I always check at least once a day.
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in North London
Must Have Apps in London: Loyalty Card Apps
I don’t necessarily love using loyalty cards in supermarkets in London, but some of them really are useful.
My favorite is the Tesco Clubcard, as it allows you to have rewards, collect points and save money on everyday items.
For instance, the Tesco Meal Deal costs £3 with the Clubcard, which means you’re saving 50 p – and we all know how that adds up.
If you tend to shop at different food shops in London, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, and Sainsbury’s (amongst others) also have a rewards system.
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street
Must Have Apps in London: Mapstr
Mapstr is another app which will come in handy whether you’re a local or visiting London for the first time.
On this interactive map, you can see personal recommendations from your friends, influencers, and publications.
You can also leave your own reviews and recommendations so people can find your own hidden gems!
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in Covent Garden
Must Have Apps to Save Money in London & Make Money
Must Have Apps in London: WeCasa Pro
Wecasa Pro is a flexible job app I have personally used a lot last year, when I was still trying to make The Working Line a full-time business.
From massages to beauty and cleaning, you have lots of possible jobs on Wecasa Pro and payments are prompt.
So, if you’re looking for ways to make extra money in London, that’s a good one to download!
Must Have Apps in London: Coople Jobs
I’ve used Coople Jobs a good couple of times, and when you first sign up, you might feel overwhelmed with how many jobs are available on this app.
Still one of the must have apps in London to make money easily, since there are new shifts added several times a day.
This one has been a really useful app to have when I was in London last year and looking for some shifts here and there!
Read: The Best Harry Potter Things to Do in London
Must Have Apps in London: Stint
Stint is a great app to find flexible jobs in London.
When I used to be a receptionist at Oblix at The Shard, we had lots of people joining the reception from this app.
You get lots of really flexible shifts in London with Stint, and it’s really easy to get jobs from this app.
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in Mayfair
Must Have Apps in London: CV Maker – CV Builder
CV Maker – CV Builder is one of the must have apps to live in London in my opinion.
It’s completely free and allows you to make classic resumes.
You never know when a company is going to ask you for a resume, and I’ve created plenty of resumes last minute by using CV Maker – CV Builder.
Read: The Best Free Things to Do on London’s Central Line
Must Have Apps in London: Babysittor
If you’re looking for apps to make money in London, Baby Sittor is a great one.
I’ve used it a couple of times for babysitting, and it’s pretty straightforward to use.
You’ll need references to start working as a babysitter in London via this app, but one it’s set, you can get jobs pretty often.
Read: The Best Romantic Date Ideas in London
Must Have Apps in London: Monzo
Monzo is one of the must have apps in London to budget and basically pay for stuff without extra fees.
I have had an account with the British bank for years now, and have always felt that Monzo did a great job with helping you budget more accurately.
Read: The Best Things to Do During Summer in London
Must Have Apps in London: Fudget
You must have at least one budget app to use when you’re traveling/living in London!
I like Fudget a lot since it can be used freely and is very clear to understand.
You can also use the budgeting tools included in bank apps like Monzo, though.
Plus, there are plenty of free apps to budget when you’re in London!
Read: 7 Things To Do in London Bridge in One Hour
45 Free Must Have Apps in London: Food, Events & Tube Apps
There you have them, all the must have apps in London to help you get around, eat cheaper and find cool things to do!
Hopefully, you’ll have found here your new favorite travel apps for London – and the best part is, they’re all completely free!