Sitting in an economy class cabin seat near the window, I spend hours trying to get shuteye, and can’t. Despite wearing my travel pillow around my neck, sleep avoids me.

I spend the first 2-3 hours of my flight trying to watch movies available on Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment network, and – after giving up trying to find something worthwhile – I settle for napping, but that doesn’t work either. My body clock is off, so even though it’s nighttime, I’m wide-awake.

Finally, I decide to put on my headphones, and listen to music as I lift up the window blinds to look out at the troposphere – which is black.

While everyone around me slumbers, I smile with excitement.

About 5 hours into the flight, a glint of sunlight cuts through the darkness, and I realize that clouds surround us.

An hour and a half later, the plane descends over England, which is composed of green fields, farmland, and livestock. It’s not that different from where I come from (Canada), and there’s something distinctly British about it.

After landing outside London Gatwick Airport, I take the train down to the city, which takes a half hour.

I know I’ll never forget my first views of the London skyline as the capital becomes visible through the train windows:

The Shard protruding through the horizon, 20 Fenchurch Street looking like something out of The Matrix, 30 St. Mary Axe and Lloyd’s Building… I’ve never seen anything like this (and I come from Toronto).

I’m enchanted. By the time I hear the saying, “You silly sausage”, muttered by a mum sitting next to me to her kid (who makes faces), I’m sold. London charms me before I even get off the train.

Gentlemen, when visiting London – or any major city for that matter – there are experiences you MUST have, even if you’re travelling on a budget. Below, I’ll be talking about some of those experiences (I’d love to get through all of them, and there’re too many for one article, so I’ll split them up into a series) and how they can benefit you, making you a more resilient, cultured, mature, and developed backpacker.

Here are the must-see attractions you’ll want to visit while backpacking in London, England:

Despite my jet lag after getting of the plane, I decide to roam the city. After getting off the tube at Farringdon Station, and meeting up with my friend – who was on her lunch break –, I leave my gigantic luggage bag (I still can’t believe I wheeled the thing around with me everywhere I went) at her workplace. Then I take her advice, and set off to visit The National Gallery.

Before I get into this, it’s essential to note that exhibitions are free to visit in London – barring special expositions –, making these the IDEAL experience for budget backpackers. From art galleries to historic buildings and palaces, you won’t be able to get enough of how much free stuff there is to do.

Anyhow, two of the most famous London institutions that you can visit – free of charge – are The National Gallery and British Museum (which are less than a 20 min walk from each other, and a 7-10 min drive).

The former – founded in 1824 and located in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster since 1838 – consists of 2300+ paintings from medieval times (the late 5th to late 15th centuries), including works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Vincent Van Gogh.

So as I walk towards Trafalgar Square – already in awe at the amazing sites and architecture I experience on my way there – I am speechless when it finally comes into view.

It is then that I realize that – up to this point – I’ve never appreciated anything this epic in my life! Hundreds of people gathered around the square – tourists, locals, students of all ages, you name it –, where the gallery dome rises above the columned pantheon-like entrance… it’s stunning!

As I walk towards those gargantuan entrance pillars, I am intimidated as well as impressed by how stately and majestic the architecture is.

Once inside the gallery, I’m awestruck by the masterworks inside of it. Everything from historic Egyptian figures, to head busts & statues, to feudal paintings and Italian Renaissance masterpieces… we have nothing like this in Toronto (the ROM and AGO don’t count unless there’s a special exhibition).

Even though I struggle to stay awake because of jet lag, my awareness of this once in a lifetime experience motivates me to grab coffee, and plow through it.

Once I complete my visit to the National Gallery, I visit the British Museum…

…which is equally as – if not even more – impressive. It’s important to note that while The National Gallery and British Museum are free to visit, entry is not guaranteed because of capacity limits, so it’s best to book a timed entry ticket in advance for both these attractions!

Anyways, here I find the Rosetta Stone (196 BC), a colossal bust of Ramasses The Great (who reigned from 1279 – 1213 BC), Sophilos’ Vase (made in 580 BC!), The Parthenon Sculptures (438-432 BC), and more!

Bust of Ramasses The Great at the British Museum

This is just day one, guys, so if museums are your thing, London is THE place for you, and if they aren’t? Well you’re in luck because there’s a lot more that London has to offer, such as…

2. Thrift and Spirituality: Budget Tips for Westminster Cathedral & Abbey Visitors

I put these two together since their names lead to confusion – they’re not the same thing.

Though close in proximity, Westminster Cathedral is a Catholic church that is considered to be the primary – or mother – church of the catholic minster in England and Whales.

**Westminster Cathedral, Victoria, London SW1, © Copyright** **Christine Matthews** **and licensed for reuse under** **creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0** **- link to photo page:** **https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4895223**
**All photo credits go to** **Christine Matthews**.
Photograph has been modified by being included as part of this blog post (originally it was on its own on geograph.org.uk with the following description, which has been removed in this modification for the purpose of this blog post: *Westminster Cathedral, Victoria, London SW1. Westminster Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Victoria, Central London. It is possible to go up the tower but I didn't go on this occasion.*

Built in 1903, and consecrated in 1910, it’s a stunning location to check out, if only for its architecture. There’s no entrance fee, and it’s open to the public, so you can head inside and check out its gorgeous interior.

Westminster Abbey, on the other hand, is a convent that’s been around since 1066 (insane, right?)! It’s renowned for being the coronation site of 40 English & British monarchs, as well as the interment location for 18 English, Scottish, and British royals. Since 1100, 16+ royal weddings have transpired here. So yeah… it’s a pretty significant place to visit, especially if you’re a history or monarchy buff!

Window view of the Westminster Abbey courtyard

Anyways, Westminster Abbey – unlike its nearby counterpart – is NOT free to visit (unless you’re a member), and costs £27 for adults (about $45 CAD, $33 USD, and €31), and £12 for children (approx. $20 CAD, $14.50 USD, and €13.85). The price – while steeper – is possible – not to mention worth it – to include in your spending plan.

To give you an idea of how EPIC this nearly 10 century-old monastery is, I’ll describe what it feels like to visit it:

As I enter the church – overwhelmed by its extraordinary exterior construction that includes the rose window and flying buttresses – I find myself enraptured by the depth, beauty, and scale of the nave, which stretches out before you – simultaneously narrow and grand – like a house of mirrors, or The Great Hall at Hogwarts (I later read that this is the tallest gothic nave in England, rising 101 feet off the ground!).

Tourists surround me, yet the expansiveness of the church makes it impossible to make out what they’re saying to one another, as their voices become echoes.

I look up at the vaulted ceiling, which is ornamented with pendants and ribs that conceal the transverse arches in the Gothic style.

Despite the daylight, it’s dark inside the church as the only windows are in the clerestory, and they’re small. This effect – darkness during daytime – is a sight to behold.

As I take my time walking around the church, I make sure to get my money’s worth, observing the tombs, effigies, statues, paintings, and artworks pervading it. The high altar alone is a masterwork, and its gilded adornments make it the centerpiece of the church – which is filled with chef-d'oeuvres!

Later, I make my way 108 steps above the abbey floor to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, which – housed in colonnades atop the nave arches – are stunning.

Anyways gentlemen, my point is that you NEED to visit these attractions if you’re in London. They’re either free or inexpensive, and they’ll provide you with some of the best experiences you’ll have in this city. Not visiting them is like not visiting the Vatican when you’re in Rome, or the Eiffel Tower when you’re in Paris (why would you do that?).

Plus, both the abbey and cathedral are about a 10 min walk from Buckingham Palace, so you can check out the latter while you’re in the area – make sure you go on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday morning between 10:30AM – 12:00PM so that you can see The Changing of the Guard Ceremony while you’re there!

My view of The Changing of the Guards Ceremony

A cool statue in front of Buckingham Palace

Now that we’ve discussed that, another great, budget-friendly activity that’ll stun you and change your life through travel is…

3. Cryptic Adventures: Unearthing London’s Past Without Digging Deep Into Your Wallet

It’s daytime, chilly, and overcast with a slight drizzle as I enter the black, iron doors serving as the entrance to the catacombs at Brompton Cemetery. I become shrouded by darkness as I breathe in the cold, moist air and look down at the dingy, damp cement floors beneath my feet. CLANG! The tour guide shuts the doors behind me, and the sound reverberates throughout the tunnel. I feel like I’m locked in and screwed – there’s no way out.

I look around at the gothic, rock walls surrounding me as I walk – crouching beneath the low ceiling – past the loculi entombing decayed crypts of nearly 200 year-old skeletons. REAL skeletons. People once just as alive as you or I… now turned into dust. This is what I imagine it would be like to walk through the London catacombs.

You see, gentlemen, I’ll be 100% honest with you; I didn’t visit these when I went to London. It’s one of my regrets. That said, I’m told that the catacombs and cemeteries – collectively called The Magnificent Seven – are some of the coolest things to see and experience – if you don’t mind creepiness, that is… perhaps these are best confronted on Halloween?

Spread throughout the city, these crypts – buried beneath church and chapel floors – were a longstanding tradition throughout the Victorian Era (1830s till the early 20th century). West Norwood, Kensai Green, Brompton, Nunhead, and Highgate Cemeteries are some of the churchyards with subterranean mausoleums.

Yes gentlemen, for just £5-18 (about $6-$22 USD or $8.35-$30 CAD, depending on whether you book a tour or a group visit), you can access these underground passageways that house the tombs of corpses from the 1800s. Check out these Youtube videos to get an idea of what it’s like to take a tour.

I understand that this might not be everyone’s thing; it’s not for the faint-hearted. That said, if you don’t get queasy when it comes to centuries-old skeletons, then visiting these ossuaries is an atmospheric, spooky, haunting, and budget-friendly experience.

Besides, this blog is about courage and resilience, so what better way to flex your nerve than to face the crypts? Once you see dead bodies, everything else becomes child's play.

Now that we’ve got the moody stuff out of the way, let’s move onto the next attraction on our list:

4. Tasting London's Richness without Spending Richly: Borough Market on a Budget

As my friend and I cross Southwark St., I see The Shard, which is located just a few blocks away, and protrudes, into the sky across from us. I smile at the landmark – feeling excited to see it up close – as we approach one of London’s most well known food markets: Borough Market.

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

It’s a weekday afternoon – around 3:30PM –, and while the sky is overcast, I can see from the crowds that the energy inside the bazaar is lively.

After heading into the tent-like structure with its curved, transparent ceiling, I get engulfed by the sounds of people from all over the world having a blast. Housed within the framework are hundreds of booths selling everything from groceries (fresh from around the world), to jewelry shops & baked goods – you name it, and this place has it. Some of the stalls are delis, others are cafes, and several of them sell alcohol.

The traders are friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere is animated and jovial – this place encapsulates what London is all about.

After an hour of scouring the market and partaking in cheese, wine, and bread samples, we head to The Borough Market Kitchen – the food hall – where we eat Brindina’s chorizo, pepper, and rocket rolls. It’s delightful.

Gentlemen, if you love markets, having a great time, and indulging in food samples (as well as making your way through and eating alongside crowds – talk about resilience, huh?), then this place is for you. It’s a must-see destination for anyone visiting London, and it’s perfect for budget backpacking because you don’t have to spend money unless you want to! This is a place you experience for the atmosphere.

That said, if you allocate money towards Borough Market, I highly recommend you order sandwiches beers, wines, or cheeses. If you want, treat yourself to a restaurant! Some of the well-known ones include Hawksmoor Borough (perfect if you want to indulge in a steak), El Pastor (Mexican food), Padella (Italian), and Tapas Brindisa (we’ll talk more about Tapas when we get to Spanish cities, and suffice it to say that this place is just as good as what you’ll find in Madrid or Barcelona). Also, if you love karaoke, BAO Borough has it!

Now despite my recommendations, I understand that the prices at the aforementioned eateries are high, and that you might want to avoid the wait times. No worries – that’s what resilience is all about!

In such cases, I recommend you do what I did and try The Borough Market Kitchen, a curated dining space where the hot food traders are located. The food here is just as delicious as that at any high-end restaurant (albeit inexpensive and less pretentious), and allows you to experience the authentic vibe of the marketplace without sacrificing money or flavor.

And if you can’t get enough of markets and want more of them, then check out…

5. Street Performers and Savings: A Resilient Backpacker's Day at Covent Garden

“Holy!” is my reaction when my friend brings me to this majestic shopping and entertainment hub in London’s West End. It’s a clear-skied afternoon, and the place is beautiful to look at under all conditions.

The colors and architecture are surreal – emerald, orange, yellow, and red window frames cover the historical buildings throughout the neighborhood – making the quarter look like it’s something out of a fairy tale.

Buskers line the square outside the former vegetable market. Structures from bygone eras – including The Royal Opera House – streak the South side of Long Acre – the street that divides the borough. The London Transport Museum – made of brown bricks that look orange from afar – stands to the left of the shopping mall entrance… and what a mall it is!

Centred within the square, this attraction has it all – flower & bouquet shops, fashion stores, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, candy & ice cream shops, gift shops, and chocolate factories.

If you’re from (or have visited) Toronto, Canada – like me – then this place might remind you of The Distillery District, though more charming, famous, and historical (which is saying a lot!). It resembles King’s Cross Station – where Harry Potter boards his Hogwarts train every year – in that it’s old, and made up of shiny, blue-green pillars supporting a ribbed vault through which the sun rays shine. The hanging lights, glossy globes, and foliage give this attraction a year-round, evergreen Christmas feel.

This place is crowded – though perhaps more so on weekends and holidays – when I visit, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular: in addition to providing necessities, it stuns and charms. Much like Borough Market, it’s ideal for budget travellers because you don’t have to spend money to experience it – although you can if you want.

In addition to this location’s budget friendliness, you can use it as an opportunity to adapt to London’s culture, which takes time and effort – although London’s enchantment makes it easier –, and I encourage you, gentlemen, to embrace this city’s diverse cultural experiences – such as Covent Garden – to engage with locals, and try new things (while staying within your budget), in order to hone your resilience.

The final place – keep in mind there’ll be more, and for the sake of brevity, I’m including six per article – that I recommend you gentlemen visit is…

6. Royal Greenery Without Royally Emptying Your Wallet: Kensington Gardens on a Budget

Gentlemen, if you told me that you struggle to find budget-friendly attractions in London, I’d say, “I don’t believe you”, because of places like this.

Before you continue reading, I want you to Google “Kensington Gardens” and look at the photos. You might get addicted to browsing the pictures – because they’re stunning –, and trust me, you’ll want to return to this blog post because I have one thing to impart: the gardens are free to visit!

I know, right? It’s difficult to imagine that a place like this would be gratis, and it is. Get used to it!

Kensington Gardens are amongst the Royal Parks of London (meaning that they were once hunting and tenant lands belonging to the monarchs, and have since become public); they were the private gardens of Kensington Palace, a royal residence where William and Kate reside.

Yes, you can visit the Prince’s and Princess‘ of Wales abode – as well its exquisite grounds – free of charge. Why would you want to? Because it’s one of the most beautiful – and on the house – places to visit in Europe.

The gardens include: blossoms, orchards, fountains, shrubs, plants, statues, ponds, Kensington Palace, The Serpentine Bridge, and The Albert Memorial, amid other sites. Connecting with Hyde Park to the West, this common is a sought after destination for tourists and locals. It’s like walking through Versailles in Paris, except you don’t have to pay! Kensington Gardens is London’s version of the public park in your neighbourhood.

I’d get into more detail about how f****** cool this place is, as well as what it feels like when you experience it up close, and honestly, gents, my words won’t do it justice. I’ve included photos to give you an idea of what the park looks like, and trust me, the only way to truly appreciate the picturesque vibes that this place imposes upon you is to go there and experience it first-hand.

Anyways, that about does it for this post. As you can see, visiting these hotspots and embracing their low cost activities as well as affordable food options is one of the many ways you can navigate London’s cost of living while budget backpacking. Doing so builds your resilience muscles, and saves you money for the journey ahead.

If you want more articles like this – lord knows London has TONS more budget-friendly draws –, please let us know in the comments below or on our social media channels, which include Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Feel free to like and subscribe to the aforementioned platforms in order to get more travel and budget backpacking advice to help you, my sirs, develop as people as well as travellers.

Until next week, have a great day!

London On A Budget: A Resilient Backpacker’s To Do List & 6 Budget Friendly Attractions To Visit

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