A local’s guide to live in London on a budget without just surviving; from cheap groceries to free activities and tips for accommodation and transportation!
Before I went full-time blogging, I did lots of things in London, from working as a lettings agent to being a receptionist, and even, briefly, a PT student.
On and off, I’ve been living in London for about five years, and currently split my time between this city and warmer spots like, most recently Rome, Barcelona and Istanbul.
All the tips I’m sharing in this guide are from firsthand experience, and will hopefully help you not only survive, but really live in London on a budget, without missing out on the experience.
How to Live in London on a Budget: 21 Tips From a Local
The London rent and food prices are higher than ever, and it really does feel this way.
However, when you’re smart with your money, even if the rent is not cheap, you can still do plenty of really cheap and free things in London.
Because honestly, there was no worse period in my life (which turned out to be the best later) than when I was starting The Working Line and really could not afford anything.
I didn’t go about blogging with another job lined up, and London was probably one of the hardest cities to start a business with no savings (smart Scorpio stuff).
So I had to learn how to live in London on a budget, because there was no way around.
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to live in London as a student, as a freelancer, a digital nomad or even a couple/family, you’re exactly where you need to be!
How to Live in London on a Budget: Main Expenses
How to Live in London on a Budget: Careful with the Rent
Finding cheap rent in London is not the easiest, but it’s possible.
As a freelancer, I tend to have more trouble finding a good, cheap apartment in London simply because of the nature/instability of my job.
However, you can definitely find some good, cheap flats in the outer boroughs of London.
That does not mean you need to live in Kent, because you’ll just transfer the rent issue to the transportation issue.
I have personally lived in Bethnal Green and Mile End, in zone 2, and North Finchley, and they were the most expensive areas of London I’ve lived in.
However, a bit further up North, I have lived in Seven Sisters, Tottenham and Edmonton.
Now, these are definitely not the poshest areas in London – far from it, but I never had any issue there.
I was also lucky to live in Greenwich for a while.
Yet, if you’re looking for ways to live cheaply in London, Greenwich and its view of Canary Wharf are absolutely not it.
Some safe and good places would be Mile End (at least from my point of view), Camberwell, Stockwell, or even Holloway Road.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Food Shopping
There are some really cheap food supermarkets in London, and they are the ones you should definitely focus on.
Forget Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Whole Foods when you’re trying to live in London on a budget.
Avoid Eataly, although it’s one of the best Italian food shops in London – unless it’s an occasion, maybe.
Instead, check out branches of Lidl, Aldi and Iceland.
And to some extent, Tesco, especially with their almost-expired item deals.
I personally don’t really like the Iceland shops, but Lidl and Aldi have quite good quality products.
Especially the bakery items.
And the Aldi candles are amazing, if you want to create a cozy atmosphere but don’t want to splurge on Yankee Candle.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Walk over Tube and Bus Trips
Well, it’s no secret that taking the Tube in London is expensive.
And buses are cheaper, that’s true, but you still have to wait through traffic when riding the bus during rush hour.
The ideal solution would be to find an apartment in areas of London that are easily accessible both by bus and by Tube.
There are plenty of such areas in all the boroughs of London, but finding something as close to Central London as possible would be the best.
That way, if needed, you can walk or cycle to your job, to your friends’ houses, etc.
It’s a bit different when you travel to London on a budget, but in the main line of things, I always prefer to avoid the Tube and the bus.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Cheap SIM Card London
Another thing that really helped me live cheaply in London was to find a good budget SIM card.
You can go to various phone stores in London to get a SIM card, but what I did is I ordered a Giffgaff SIM card a few weeks before moving to London for the first time.
You can get it in the post quite anywhere in the world, too.
I actually received my first Giffgaff SIM card when I was still living in Paris.
The prices vary between providers, and another good one to check is Voxi.
Since you literally have to have a phone to survive nowadays, choosing a good SIM card in the UK, with good coverage, is crucial.
With some of these phone providers, you can also connect on the Tube, which is quite amazing since there’s no coverage for some providers, like Giffgaff.
Live Cheaply in London: Everyday Expenses
How to Live in London on a Budget: Meal Prep
When I’m in other cities I love like Barcelona and Rome, I don’t really meal prep. I want to discover the hidden gems, the cute instagrammable restaurants.
When I’m in London, meal prepping is of the order – I become the most organized person ever.
Say you manage to find some cheap rent in London, and cheap supermarkets, you’ll be able to live pretty well already.
But meal prepping adds this little extra that helps you save money in London – and that’s not the easiest.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Avoid Takeaways
On par with meal prepping, avoid takeaways as much as you can, especially if you’re a student on a budget.
If you arrive in London and live in a hostel, it might be harder to meal prep.
But when you find your apartment, the cheapest way to live in London as a student, a freelancer or a family is to cook.
There are also some very cheap eats in London for occasions, by the way – because really, it doesn’t make sense to live only to survive.
Gotta have some fun and find the best street food in London from time to time!
Some of my favorites are:
How to Live in London on a Budget: Train Outside
I used to love going to the gym so much, until I discovered calisthenics and roller skating.
Going to the gym in London can be pretty affordable, or at least, the same kind of affordable as you’d find in Paris, with gyms at around 20 euros.
There are very cheap gyms in London, and the monthly subscription can also cost around 20 pounds.
But if 20 pounds are currently a lot for you (situations change, keep that in mind), then training outside is a good option.
You could go to the nearest park and train there, lots of people do that in some of the biggest parks in London like Hyde Park.
Running, planks, pushups…
You are literally living in a city where everyone minds their own business, so you can really be yourself by training and saving money.
In my experience, it’s very hard to make friends in London and the easiest way I’ve found was by roller skating – it’s a real community, try it if you’ve just arrived!
How to Live in London on a Budget: Visit Budget Shops
Another tip to live in London on a budget is visiting budget shops.
I’ve talked a lot about various cheap shops in London like B&M, Poundland, Poundstretcher or even Home Bargains.
By the way, if you like finding good cheap scented candles, the Home Bargains candles are a blast.
They’re from the brand Wickford & Co, mostly, and they are absolutely delicious Yankee Candle dupes.
On another level, if you’re wondering if it’s possible to live cheap in London, you’ll find that shops like Poundland and Savers will legit save your life.
They’re both amazing for everything toiletry and cleaning products, and both have a bit of makeup and food as well.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Visit Charity Shops
In the same line, visit the really good charity shops in London when you get the chance.
It’s one of my favorite nontouristy things to do in London, because it’s so cheap it’s almost free.
There are plenty of areas in London where you’ll find good charity shops.
Charity shops in Chelsea offer second hand designer clothes, shoes and bags, mostly.
On the other hand, you’ll find that charity shops in Camden offer a very edge, grunge, fashion type of vibe.
And in charity shops in Bethnal Green, you’ll find more books and high street clothing brands.
There are plenty of good vintage shops in London as well, but just bear in mind that they will usually be much more expensive.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Join the Library
If you’re a bookworm and want to buy books, just know there are lots of amazing second hand bookshops in London.
They’re really, really good and sell anything from fiction to academia, arts and literature.
For even cheaper, you can go to charity bookshops in London, that literally only sell books, CDs and DVDs.
Oxfam charity shops in London are one of the best spots for books.
And for free, you should join the library.
Joining the library is probably one of the best ways to live in London on a budget because they serve two purposes:
- you can borrow books you would otherwise have to buy
- you can also work in free libraries in London
Depending on your borough, you’ll have to give diverse documentation and once your library card is made, you can borrow books in any library of your borough.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Mind the Cafes You Visit
Well, coffee shops in Shoreditch are amazing.
Colorful, inspiring, amazing places to write in London.
But they’re also expensive.
Like cafes in Bethnal Green, Greenwich or Canary Wharf, by the way.
If you like working in cafes in London, check out various chains – they are the cheapest:
- Costa Coffee
- Pret a Manger
- Starbucks
- Caffè Nero
Coffee shop chains in London are great coffee shops to work as you know they will usually be more spacious, and have power outlets and WiFi.
The best one to live in London on a budget and still enjoy that coffee in the morning is Pret a Manger.
There are lots of branches all around London, and they have a 25 pound-subscription that allows you to get up to 5 drinks a day.
Costa Coffee also has a reward system; after 7 drinks purchased, you get the 8th one free.
But if you’re going to cafes to work in London, maybe try something else.
There are some really cool free quiet study spaces in London in which you can focus well with like-minded individuals.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Study in a Free Workspace
I have been both a student and a freelancer in London, and as I said before, that’s not the easiest thing to do.
London is bare expensive, man.
If you love working in cafes in London Bridge because you have the Thames river nearby, or in Canary Wharf for the skyscraper views, well, it’s expensive.
One coffee plus one coffee adds up, and a tenner is gone in a matter of seconds.
There are a few good free coworking spaces in London that you can check out, from real coworking spaces to free libraries.
Even if you’re a freelancer, you can actually use those spots to work – that’s the best part of being in such a big city, in my opinion.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Mind Expensive Areas
Sightseeing and walking around London to see street art and beautiful shops is amazing.
But temptation is so called for a reason.
I love walking around Mayfair and Knightsbridge.
Harrods is one of my favorite department stores in London.
I love shopping anywhere, so budget shops or department stores don’t faze me – I need to get new makeup and new candles.
And sneakers.
And bags.
And roller skates.
But when I’m low on budget, I’ll just avoid taking cash with me, and setting a budget in my head really helps.
You know me and MAC Cosmetics or Superdrug stores, if I see a store, I’ll get myself a new matte lipstick or something.
Live Cheaply in London: Activities & Free Things to Do in London
How to Live in London on a Budget: Take Advantage of Free Museums
Listen, there are so many free museums in London that I don’t even know where to start.
My favorite free gallery slash museum is the Saatchi Gallery, which boasts some incredible contemporary art all year long.
The V&A Museum is another one of them, just because you can find art from all eras and all continents there.
If you happen to love fashion and spend your time in clothes shops in Oxford Street, just know the V&A Museum has plenty of outfits from past centuries.
Absolutely incredible.
And on another note, if you’re ever looking for ultra colorful places in London, pay a visit to God’s Own Junkyard.
It’s completely pink and dark, and one of the best neon places in London and perfect to take pictures as well.
Not a museum, but definitely with a similar feel – and there’s obviously a pink cafe inside if you want to taste the best carrot cake ever!
How to Live in London on a Budget: Find Hidden Gems in London
There are plenty, plenty, plenty of amazing hidden gems in London.
Anyone who wants to learn how to live in London on a budget should start making lists of those hidden gems.
That could be from St Dunstan in the East, one of the most famous church ruins in London.
That could simply be the street art in Brick Lane.
Or that could even be cheap street food in Camden Market, one of the coolest things to do in Camden Town.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Find Colorful Streets in London
Finding super colorful streets in Notting Hill is soothing; seeing something artistic always makes me feel calm.
There are also colorful streets in Camden, if you like that area more than posh areas of London.
In any case, whether you’re looking for free things to do in London to save money for travel and other things, those are really cool places.
And, another cool multicolor place is Chalcot Square in Primrose Hill – amazing when you want to picnic in the park afterwards.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Make a List of Free Rooftops
If you’re looking for free views in London, you’ll see, there are plenty.
They allow you to see the skyline and have a romantic date in London or a perfect evening with friends.
The free rooftops in London are Sky Garden, The Garden at 102, and the secret garden at the Postman Building on New Oxford St.
Seeing the city from above is just something that makes me feel calmer and are obviously amazing places to see the sunset in London.
Just remember to book Sky Garden online way in advance, as you may have to wait a few weeks to enter.
There are also lots of secret gardens in London perfect to enjoy some nature away from car noises and the crowd.
One of them is Kyoto Garden, in the morning or at sunset.
The view will transport you, you’ll see.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Take Advantage of Restaurant Deals
If you do end up ordering on various apps like Deliveroo or UberEats, check the promos and deals they often have running.
Otherwise, you can also find good places to eat who also have promos running in-store.
If you want street food, you’ll find some of the best halal burgers in London at Bim’s Edmonton.
Or at Stax Diner, if you want something closer to Central London.
But beyond all the cheap pizza places in London, you also have lots of cute bakeries, chicken shops and other fast food chains.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Set a Clothing/Eating Out Budget
One of the best ways to live in London on a budget is to cut down on shopping.
I know, I know, you can do plenty of cheap shopping in London.
There’s the Yankee Candle outlet at the London Designer Outlet, which I absolutely love.
There are lots of TK Maxx shops in London, where you can buy amazing DW Home candles.
You can definitely live well in London, and experience the city properly, if you spend on smart things.
I used to really collect makeup and candles, but since I keep doing back and forth trips between London and other cities, I can’t really do that anymore.
What I regret the most, and what I will implement in a few months when I move to London (yet again), is experiencing the city.
Cut down on makeup and candle shops (not easy with the new Bath and Body Works at Next Westfield) and experience more instagrammable cafes and other delicious restaurants.
How to Live in London on a Budget: Use Extra-Work Apps
As a student, freelancer, or just human being, you can have very, very varied working hours.
For some jobs, I worked all night long.
For some jobs, I worked until 5 pm.
For others, I worked until 2 or 3 am.
And for freelance writing and blogging, I work whenever I want to share something new about London, Rome, candles and coworking.
One of the best ways to live in London on a budget is to find a way to have more budget.
It sounds stupid, doesn’t it, but it makes sense.
On apps like Indeed, you won’t really find what you want in terms of working hours.
However, on apps like WeCasa and Babysittor, you can find shifts, here and there. Single shifts, which was my favorite.
Indeed, saving money is one of the best ways to live in London on a budget.
But if you have a budget, it doesn’t really work, does it?
How to Live in London on a Budget as a Student: Start a Side Hustle
Easier said than done, but when I was living in London on a budget – tight budget, is when I started writing full-time for clients.
The goal was to pay the rent at the beginning of the month, so it had to work.
Starting a side hustle can be as easy as buying and selling vintage clothes, or creating prints; things you can sell on Etsy, Depop, or Vinted.
Your budget to live in London will definitely increase if you manage to build such a business, but there are other online jobs you can do as well.
Blogging is one of them, and you can use tools like Pinterest to grow a blog.
It does take time, but it’s definitely worth it, as passive income or as a full-time job.
How to Live in London on a Budget: 21 Tips From a Local
There you have them, all my best tips to learn how to live in London on a budget!
It’s true that when you’re a traveler in London, you don’t have to worry about getting cheap rent as much as a local.
But in terms of places to eat in London and cheap or free things to do, it’s everyone’s business!