The National Theater in London. Photo by Sizemore.

We were thrilled to read that the National Theater will again be hosting its extensive Travelex £10 ticket season in early 2009.

London’s theater scene is among the most celebrated in the world. Ticket prices, happily, are already more reasonable than their counterparts in New York, and half-priced same-day tickets from the TKTS booth at Leicester Square make them even more affordable. The National’s festival is a great addition to the city’s affordable theater offerings.

Cheapo productions at the National

Held annually since 2002, the National’s £10 ticket season runs from February to May. This year, theater buffs can enjoy productions like the brand new England People Very Nice; other productions include Death and the King’s Horseman, Burnt by the Sun, Dido, Queen of Carthage, Time and the Conways, and Berlin.

Buy tickets online

All productions are held in the Olivier Theatre. Although tickets can be purchase online, they can only be sent to UK post addresses and must be ordered at least a week before the show. You can also pick up your tickets at the box office.

Popularity: 26% [?]

An alley off Charing Cross Road. Photo by Andwar

In London, great writers from Dickens to Keats, Woolf to Orwell found a home and a literary community. Today, bookish visitors can find shelves filled with their works, often in charming, historically-significant bookstores. Cheapos on the hunt for souvenirs know that many of these shops hand out bookmarks for free.

Souvenirs to write home about

The proprietors of many of London’s famous bookstores promote themselves with free bookmarks. After perusing your favorite titles on the shelves at one of the shops, pick one up at the front counter. Not only will they keep your page, but the bookmark will be a pleasing reminder of your trip.

Charing Cross Road, a row famous for its many second-hand booksellers, runs between the Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square tube stations, and is an excellent place to hunt down bookmarks. Waterstone’s and Foyles, two of the biggest British houses of books, are found here as well. You can also stop in front of 84, Charing Cross Road, well-known by the book of the same name (c. 1970) and the film starring Anthony Hopkins (c. 1987).

Daunt bookstore has four locations. The main store is at 83 Marylebone High Street south of Regent’s Park. Branches are also in Belsize Park, Hampstead and Holland Park. Rumors purport that George Orwell often frequented the location in Hampstead, where he also kept house.

While you’re at it…

Why not also buy a book for you to mark? We’d suggest buying a novel by a British author in his or her old neighborhood. For instance, a trip to London doesn’t get more self-referential than buying “A Song About Myself,” by John Keats, from the Daunt branch near the poet’s old house.

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In London, it’s no big secret that that many activities surrounding Trafalgar Square are free. You can view the paintings at the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, or hang out in the square and check out its sculptures without paying a pence.

Lunchtime concerts at St. Martin’s in the Fields

However, an oft-overlooked freebie occurs several times a week at the nearby church of St. Martin’s in the Fields. On most Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, St. Martin’s offers its guests free lunchtime concerts. Music ranges from classical to experimental, often featuring special performances.

Doors open at 12:30 and the concerts begin at 1 PM. (Although the concert is free, St. Martin’s suggests a donation of £3.50 to cover costs.)

Find a list of schedule of concerts, including the (more expensive) evening and jazz concerts, on the St. Martin’s in the Fields website.

And, when the concert culminates, hop over to the National Gallery and get your art on! Stay tuned tomorrow, Cheapos, for more free tips. Next stop: Madrid.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Plaque in Gordon Square in Bloomsbury 

Ah, Bloomsbury—aptly named for its blossoming trees and for the squares and side streets filled with pretty greenery. Once home to the famous Bloomsbury Group, a gaggle of literary types like Virginia Woolf and E. M. Forster, the area now hosts the famous British Museum and nearby Russell Square.   

When choosing the neighborhood for your London hotel or B&B, Bloomsbury is an attractive choice. Here are some things to think about before “booking it” in Bloomsbury:

Advantages of staying here-

Location, location! Bloomsbury has access to all major forms of transport, so it’s easy to dine in Soho, see a show in the West End, or do some shopping in Piccadilly Circus before heading home for the night.

Its proximity to the British Museum makes it a shoe-in for art aficionados, and book nerds will love meandering the streets in search of the blue plaques that mark the former homes and haunts of writers like Charles Dickens and George Bernard Shaw.

Today, Ricky Gervais, star of the British version of “The Office”, lives in Bloomsbury’s Tavistock Square. (Isn’t that reason enough?)

Disadvantages of staying here-

Bloomsbury, it’s no secret, can get expensive. Well, most of London can. However, budget hotels and cheap B&Bs can be found in the area.  A little bit of research will go a long way in finding the right hotel. Check out the hotels we recommend in Bloomsbury.

If all the good picks are booked up, try staying in the nearby Kings Cross area, which often has cheaper hotel offerings, and benefits from easy access to Bloomsbury and central London.

And, if you’ve ever stayed in Bloomsbury, tell us what you thought in the comments section below.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Do you smell that, Cheapos? It’s the scent of summer, of rubber-soled walking shoes, and of crisp, new, glossy maps. It’s time to set foot in the land of tea and crumpets. Royal weeeeee!

Here are five fabulous walking tours in London that won’t cost you a pound. Get moving!

1) For Charles Dickens fans:

London is a virtual playground for book nerds. Using this wonderful free tour from the London Tourism Board—that comes in a convenient PDF format and can be downloaded to your computer—you’ll visit the homes of John Keats, Charles Dickens, the essayist Thomas Carlyle, and Sigmund Freud. And, since for some of the jaunt you’re in the heart of literary Bloomsbury, you can also beckon your inner Virginia Woolf.

2) For thick skins:

Jack the Ripper was one of London’s most notorious serial killers. Today, there are countless (and expensive) tourist trap tours of the life and times of “Jack-attack.” Enter Richard Jones—author, tour guide, and frequent contributor to the History and Discovery networks—who offers a DIY Ripper walk for free on his website. Visit the locations of all actual killings and get a taste for the crimes that stumped the city’s police in the 1880s. One caveat: Jones doesn’t recommend doing this walk alone after dark. Instead, he says, link up with at least three others and go during the day. (Ooooh, creepy!)

3) For those who love the Queen:

You simply cannot visit London without getting a taste of the monarchy. But, let’s face it, a ticket into Buckingham Palace is costly (£15.50, to be exact). Although Sandeman’s New London Tours normally charge for their guided tours, every other day (from April to August) and everyday from May through July, they offer a free “royalty tour.” Visit all the regal hot spots, including St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster Abbey (where Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953), and Nelson’s Column. Best of all, you’ll benefit from the tour guide’s expertise, although your guide may ask for a small tip at the end. Check the schedule here.

4) For bridge-hopping:

We’ve recently come across a great site, London for Free, that features a fantastic “bridges walking tour.” Take in Westminster Bridge, the famous London Bridge, and Tower Bridge, plus many others, on an easy-to-use trail laid out by the LFF’s experts. Also included: little known trivia facts that will complement the sightseeing. (For example, did you know that for years London Bridge was the only working bridge in London? Or that because residents relied so heavily on ferries to cross the river, today’s ”EastEnders” still occasionally refer to the West End of London as “up West.”)

5) For the outdoorsy types:

If you just want to get up and go, then get thee to Visit London’s latest venture, “London Outdoors“.  Tons of free information, including how to get to and from walking tour locations, trail maps, and more are available on the site. If you’re already in London, we recommend you head to the London Tourist Information Center, at 1 Lower Regent Street (closest tube station is Piccadilly Circus), and just ask for a free walking tour and map. Then, get hoofing!

Popularity: 31% [?]

 
Westminster Abbey icons

Yes, we hate adding on the extra pounds too. And, in London, it’s easy to do. Thankfully, there are a slew of free things to take advantage of in Her Majesty’s city—and you pretty much only need a good pair of walking shoes to enjoy them. Righty-ho!

Water works

We think the best fountains in London (and there are plenty to choose from!) are the two majestic bronze fountains that flow over Trafalgar Square. Start by admiring them from afar, standing at the northern edge of the square. Then, take the stairs down, pause to pet the giant lion statues (another Square fixture), and settle in on a perch nearby. We’ve spent whole afternoons here, where the views of Londontown are great and you’re never far from a duck or a wish.

Sit for a portrait

The National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square is free and open to the public daily, closing only for a couple days at Christmas. The gallery displays portraits, photos, and sculptures of notable Brits, including a famous rendering of Shakespeare by John Taylor. Be sure to peek at portraits of Benjamin Franklin, Rudyard Kipling and all 50 paintings of Queen Elizabeth II (somebody’s been sitting for a long time!).

Admission is also free in The National Gallery next door, where the magnificent Arnolfini Portrait is on display. And, very important, don’t forget that most of the city’s state-run museums in London are free. Check out our post on free London museums for more information.

En guard!

London is known for its royal ceremonies. Stand outside Buckingham Palace at 11:30 am on most days and you can see the changing of the guard, a fantastic display of military music, regalia, and general British pomp. (Not to mention those furry hats!) Check the guard’s web site for the ceremony schedule. (The event occurs once daily from April to July and then alternates days August through March.)

A pew with a view 

It costs nothing to attend a traditional worship service at Wesminster Abbey, where Queen Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953 and notables like Geoffrey Chaucer are buried. There are six services on Sunday and four services on other days—all free and open to the public—and they provide a fascinating look into church life in England.

After the service, visit nearby St. Margaret’s Church, free and open to the public daily. If you choose to tour the Abbey, only available on weekdays or Saturday, it will cost you £10.

Parliamentary, my dear!

If you want to sit in on a session at the British Parliament, you’ll need to queue up early as it’s one of the most popular activities in town. However, if you are a UK citizen and apply in advance through your local MP (Member of Parliament), you can skip the line altogether and receive a guaranteed place. The best time of day to go is in the morning. If you get in, you may see the Prime Minister on Wednesday mornings, when he appears before the House of Commons for his weekly ”Prime Minister’s Questions” session. Parliament is open Monday through Friday. Check the Parliament’s Web site for hours.

Popularity: 18% [?]

London can be a tricky city for dining. Long criticized for the quality of its fare (”It’s no Paris!”), the city has undergone a gastro-awakening over the past decade that has benefited the bellies, if not the wallets, of its diners.

So what’s a Cheapo to eat? Here are our dining tips, all tested and tried:

1. Go for conveyer belt sushi!

We were initially turned off by the robotic, ever-moving feel of these establishments, frequently seen in London’s malls and Tube stations, but the low prices always lured us back to the belt. Eventually, we even got a hang of it. (Not counting the time the California rolls spun out on our table.) We’re big fans because you watch all the sushi and sashimi as it’s prepared, so you know it’s fresh. You can also ask the chef to add a little extra something (Wasabi? Extra roe?) to your particular dish. Hey, if we’re conveyer converts, you can be too.

Try Yo Sushi, which has tons of locations all across London.

2. Eat with the fishes—and chips!

Sure, we try to stay away from battered and fried, but you have to go there at least once during your stay. Our favorite fish and chips joint is the Rock & Sole Plaice (47 Endell St, WC2 ) in Covent Garden. For under £15, you can order a whole fish and taste a variety of dipping sauces, and have your chips too! If you can’t tube it to this spot, you can usually find decent (and cheaper) fish and chips in any neighborhood. Just steer clear of major tourist haunts (Read: Leicester Square) and larger chains like Slug and Lettuce that claim they have fresh oceanic fare. When in doubt, ask the locals!

3. Kebob it!

We’ve been there: It’s midnight, the pub just closed, and your tum-tum is grumbling. If you’re in Bayswater, head for a kebob stand on busy Queensway where, for a few pounds, you can get your lamb on. Doll it up with the fixins, which usually include peppers, tomatoes, hummus, tahini, and cucumber sauce.

We recommend The Taza Kebab House, where the lamb is always succulent and the pita sandwiches are filling.

4. Join the chain gang.

You may normally steer clear of chain restaurants, but local chains can introduce you to local tastes (mmmm…. mayonnaise!) and help your budget. Big name chain restaurants like Wagamama (Japanese) and Pret-A-Manger (eat-in or take-out sandwiches and coffee) are London mainstays, located throughout the city. Smaller chains like Hummus Bros offer a unique dining experience without exotic prices. Many of these chains offer lunch specials daily.

5. Get roasted.

Sunday is the best day to partake in a yummy, often three-course, gastro-pub meal. The menus are usually prix fixe, but you can always order stuff separately. And, if you haven’t been to a Sunday “roast,” it’s a great way to see London culture at its finest—and hungriest—as piles of bangers and mash, roasted chickens and beef, and plenty o’ pints are consumed. We love The Chapel Pub in Marylebone (48 Chapel Street, London, NW1 5DP ), where we’re always warmly greeted with a comfy seat and a fantastic meal.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Planning to visit London on a budget could initially give a Cheapo a nervous breakdown. But, as documented throughout our London guide, it is possible to live it up in London on a modest budget — with a little planning.

How? Besides the obvious (choosing a budget hotel, eating cheaply, and getting around with an Oyster card), you’d be crazy not to take advantage of London’s free museums and attractions. Most of the nationally-run museums and art galleries are publicly financed and don’t cost visitors a pence. It’s a beautiful thing…

9 must-visit free museums:

British Library
British Museum
National Gallery
Natural History Museum
National Portrait Gallery
Science Museum
Tate Modern
The Tate Britain
Victoria and Albert Museum

9 notable, free museums:

Bank of London Museum
Imperial War Museum
London Political Cartoon Gallery
Museum of Garden History
Museum of London
National Maritime Museum
Petrie Museum of Egyption Archaeology
RIBA Architecture Gallery
Sir John Soane’s Museum

2 fun and free attractions:

The Changing of the Guard
The Ceremony of the Keys

More budget help for London:

• Our article on budget tips for London
• The “London Free List” of free and nearly-free London attractions
• VisitLondon’s suggestions for free London attractions

Popularity: 11% [?]

Photo by RichardsonA

Usually a late night in London means a long night out, a club with a cover charge, and kebabs as the sun comes up. Now, the more cultured among us can step out for something other than a sticky dance floor and over-priced mojitos. Okay, so the new Late Nights at London’s cultural venues don’t last until the sun comes up, but National Gallery, The Tate, and other London favorites now have extended weekday hours. Now we can have our culture after work during the week, freeing up coveted weeken hours, which could easily be spent country hopping on Ryanair.

Check out the Lates website for all information on what’s currently on and what’s upcoming.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Photo by simonse15

We’re getting incredibly bored of celebs-cum-designers who don’t actually design anything but just stamp their name on some poorly-sewn kit. Our sourness aside, if you have a thing for Lily Allen—daughter of someone famous over here—you can pick up some of her style at New Look with her Lily Loves collection. (Ms. Allen’s Patricia Fields look is not what she was wearing at public school, by the way. We think a stylist had just a little bit to do with her aesthetic evolution. But we digress.)

To be honest, the collection isn’t particularly good, and the craftsmanship is more or less non-existent. At least the latter adheres to High Street’s general direction.

Popularity: 4% [?]