Skip To Content
  • Viral badge

21 Cheap Date Ideas In London

Save your pennies.

We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share their favourite budget London tip. Here’s what they said:

1. Visit the Hunterian Museum

Budget: Free

"One of the best and most overlooked museums in my opinion is the Hunterian Museum, which is a 5 min walk from Holburn station. It's kinda creepy, but SO interesting. It's full of preserved specimens, medical equipment, skulls/skeletons, abnormalities, that kinda thing."

Suggested by Steff Louise Gros on Facebook

2. Get crafty at Drink Shop & Do

Budget: Tea from £2.80

"Drink Shop & Do at King's Cross have some fab activities including Lego Robots and Lionel Rich-Tea Biscuits - all absolutely free! The only thing you have to fork out for that's less than a fiver is their delicious cocktails and coffees".

Suggested by Maz Norton on Facebook

3. Pick up cheap seats at the National Theatre

Budget: From £5

"£5 standing tickets at the National Theatre. Just don’t pick Hamlet!"

Suggested by Alex Friend on Facebook

4. Stroll around Camden Market

5. Go for a nature walk

Budget: Free

"The Pergola and Hill Garden near Hampstead Heath, Kenwood House (not free) and grounds (free) on Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park, walking along the riverbank from Richmond to Teddington, grabbing a cheapish lunch in Broadway Market and walking along the canal back to Angel. Plenty of options."

Suggested by Jo Bromilow on Facebook

6. Buy a snack at Borough Market

Budget: Free

"One of my favourite things to do in London, on a Saturday morning, is wander around Borough Market. It can be a little crowded in peak tourist season but the atmosphere is great and if you can resist the temptation to buy all of the Turkish delight, cheese and brownies (something that I've never accomplished) then it's free! That's true of so many great markets in London."

Suggested by Louise Brain on Facebook

7. Or find hidden treasures at Maltby Street Market

Budget: Free

"I love Borough market but it is so crowded so I go to Maltby market just round the corner instead now. if you haven't been then it's worth checking it out."

Suggested by Paul Bee on Facebook

8. Climb the Monument

Budget: £4

"Climb The Monument (£4) and enjoy the amazing view!"

Suggested by jenniferp4536f2b7e

9. Pick up a new read at Books For Free, Stratford

Budget: Free

"Go book 'shopping' at BooksForFree in the Stratford Centre – they have hundreds of books and you can take up to twelve at a time for you to keep."

Suggested by 20s0mething

10. Snuggle up at the British Library

Budget: Free

"The British Library. Could spend days there."

Suggested by reneed49e0b5534

*Note: The photo on the left is of the reading room at the British Museum, which is another lovely option. It is currently closed.

11. Go window shopping in Covent Garden

Budget: Free

Suggested by emilyg47e5692de

12. Snoop in cabinets at Grant's Museum

Budget: Free

"Free and amazing."

Suggested by emmaaliceg

13. Feed the ducks in Hyde Park

14. Soak up the sun at Dalston Roof Park

Budget: £5

"Dalston Roof Park is a place with great views, and movie screenings, music and art all summer long. It costs just £5 for a membership that is good the entire season. Also, just around the corner is Dalston Eastern Curve Garden. It's a (free!) urban oasis. You can relax with a cup of coffee or tea, attend a workshop or simply stroll the garden."

Suggested by joem45ac45347

15. See what's happening on the South Bank

Budget: Free

"Walk along the South Bank, there's always something going on, even if it's skateboarding, same as Covent Garden (although a cup of tea will probably set you back over a fiver!). There's several art trails through the City too and I love paying a visit to the book sellers by Waterloo - they always have some crazy things."

Suggested by becik

16. Take a trip on the Emirates Cable Car

Budget: £3.40

"Me and my mum went on the Emirates cable cars yesterday! £3.40 single ticket and we had some amazing views of London."

Suggested by nataliec47a92351e

17. Soak up some culture at the National Portrait Gallery

Budget: Free

Suggested by hibahn

18. Say hello to the animals at Hackney City Farm

Budget: Free

Suggested by @no1cheesecake

19. Go the the top of One New Change

20. Visit the Sky Garden

Budget: Free

"You can also book a day to go to the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, also free!"

Suggested by emmag4509041ca

21. Have a pint outside.

If you want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts, follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter.