London Cheap Frills (part 2)

Gone are the times when London was one of the most expensive cities in the world. There are tons of cheap or even free things to do in our wonderful city. Below are my favourites (see part 1 for more cheap stuff to do in Ldn). 

Take a walk along the South Bank. One of the most beautiful places in London and scattered with things to see and do. Make a day out of it: take in the view over Thames, count the historic bridges, have a drink at the National Theatre bar, visit Tate Modern, have lunch at Borough market, stop to watch the street performers amaze the crowd, and if still feeling like it, catch a Shakespeare play at the Globe (£5 for standing tickets) or a film at the British Film Institute. The place to take your date.

See free films, music, theatre or some random activities at The Scoop. Open during summer months, it’s got seating for 800. Works on a first come first served basis. Film screenings are on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and last summer’s films included titles such as Up, Hurt Locker, Pretty Woman, Up in the Air, Invictus and Dirty Dancing.

See free comedy. There’s plenty of comedy clubs and pubs around town with free comedy nights. They can be a bit hit and miss at times but usually the sets are short and you are likely to enjoy at least some of the comedians. Check TimeOut for listings. 

Toilets. And I’m not talking cottaging here (or am I?). But having travelled in most of the European capitals, I can tell you, the free loos are a treat. The only toilets you have to pay for can be found from the railway stations.

Street Markets. This is controversial choice as even though taking a stroll on a Sunday market can be a cheap or indeed a free activity, it can also set you back several days' salary. To play it safe, take only small amount of cash that you’re willing to spend with you. The vendors rarely take cards and the cash points close by are often out of cash anyway. For real food bargains, head for the food stalls an hour before closing time. For best markets, try Spitalfields (every day, busiest on Sun), Portobello (Sat), Camden Markets (best on weekends), Borough (food only, Thu-Sat), Greenwich Market (best on weekends) and Columbia Road Market (flowers only, Sun) .

London Walks. Guided walking tours are good fun! The best guides love their work and can keep a group of 40 easily entertained for an hour and a half. A walk costs about £8 per person. Start with a London classic Jack the Ripper Walk. More info here http://www.walks.com/

Keep track of the local and ethnic festivals. They are usually free and good fun (although sometimes unintentionally). The ethnic festivals usually have cheap food and drinks stalls and various cultural activities. Local festivals often offer guided tours, talks, plays, music and you can normally visit weird little museums for free. Some of the best ones include Brick Lane Festival, Notting Hill Carnival, Bloomsbury Festival, Japanese Festival, Latin American Festival and Thai Festival. Check TimeOut for details. 

Cuban festival in London. Would you buy a mojito from these guys? I did.