Spending your summer in the city? Then here are some ideas of how to keep yourself occupied even on the smallest of budgets.
With the Olympics coming to town this year us Londoners that don’t have an interest in sport are planning our escape routes. But you don’t need to spend hundreds on a trip away, why not stay at home and take in some sights that you may not have even know were on your doorstep.
On a tight budget?
If you love history and culture then why not visit on of the capitals many museums mainly located in South Kensington. Interested in the natural world then the picturesque Natural History Museum will get you buzzing. Take a wonder around the grand rooms and soak in the history. If you’re more of a science geek then hit the science museum (right next door) and check out loads of great experiments, its great if your with kids as there is tonnes for them to involved in.
Not only are the museums a great day out for everyone, but best of all its FREE!! Make sure you bring a packed lunch then the only think you have to pay out on is your travelcard.
Another thing that many people take for granted in London is the great parks we have. If the weathers on our side then they make an excellent day out. Why not grab a ball and take the kids for a kick about? Pack a picnic for two and take that special someone on a romantic stroll. Or if you need a break grab your ipod and a good book and have a day in the sunshine to yourself. It won’t cost you a penny!
In the evening
Are you fed up of watching TV night after night in order to save money? Why not have a more intellectual evening and go for a free university lecture. Gresham College offer several free lectures every month on all sorts of topics. For example if your not busy tonight, why not head up there and listen to Dr Jim Parry from the University of Leeds talk about what fair play means and how it will work in relation to the ethics of the 2012 Olympic games.
Here’s the address:
150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
Transport St Paul’s/Barbican
Telephone: 020 7831 0575
Save save save!!!
Another way to save money on great things to do in the capital is to sign up on a website that offers huge discounts on day trips, meals out and beauty treatments. They send you different deals everyday and its costs nothing to register so its well worth a look. The sights worth looking at are:
Pubic transport in the capital can be expensive but other than walking it is the cheapest way to get around. If you are a student in London make sure you apply for your 18+ Oyster card. This then gets you a third off of weekly, monthly and annual travel cards. So if your planning on a week of activities then its a lot cheaper to pay £35 for the weeks travel card than £15 a day (if travelling before 10am, £8 after.)
After Dark
As students we all love nothing more than a night of hard partying. London has some of the best clubs in the world but they unfortunately come at a cost. Here are some of the best clubs in London and how much they’re going to cost you.
If you want to party like a celeb then you need to head to Mahiki. The stars love it in there and your almost guaranteed to see someone when you walk in the door. However to drink with the celebs it will cost you so be prepared.
Mahiki Price List :
Bottle of Larger: £6.50
Cocktail: £8.00
Sprit and Mixer: £9.00
Glass of Wine: £4.50
Jager Bomb: £9.00
Mahiki is one of the most popular bars in London so you need to make sure your on the guest list to avoid being stuck outside all night. This isn’t a cheap night out so you might want to stop off somewhere for a few drinks before you get there.
To counter Mahiki’s ridiculous prices lets look at a more student friendly option. Yates is a Club chain across the county, and no doubt there is on near you. But if you fancy venturing out of your town and heading into central without spending a small fortune then its flagship bar in Leicester square is perfect. With their prices its student night every night. At happy hour (usually between 5pm-9pm or 9pm-midnight) drinks can be as little as £1.50 even on a Friday and Saturday night, this promo also covers Jager Bombs so you can get 6 for the price of one at Mahiki! You can also get a jug of sex on the beach for £4.95! I say get down there and get drinking!
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