The cheapest way to travel England on a Budget: 70 Tips for England & the UK! - Creative Travel Guide (2024)

The cheapest way to travel England on a budget includes how to save on accommodation, travel, attractions and food; so your trip doesn’t need to cost a fortunate!

Along with the rest of Europe, the UK is known for its expensive train fares and pricey domestic flights. As Brits, we wanted to share our top tips on the cheapest way to travel England on a budget.

Growing up in England, we spent many hours working out the cheapest ways to get around the country.

With bustling cities in England like London,seaside locations like Brighton and Tenby, historic cities like Oxford and Cambridge and miles and miles of gorgeous countryside, the UK offers so much more than a red phone booth and black cab.

So here are our tips on how to travel to England on a budget.

Cheapest way to travel England on a Budget

Planning your trip to England on a budget

• Book in advance –Whether you are planning to catch a plane, bus or train; booking your ticket early almost always works out cheaper. A lot of companies will sell a certain about of tickets for the cheapest price before the price begins to rise.

• Sign up for updates –Groupon, Hot UK Deals, Holiday Pirates and Secret Escapes are great websites to sign up for before any travel around the UK. We bagged ourselves £1 train tickets from London to Birmingham because of the Hot UK Deals updates. You may also wish to sign up for myvouchercodes.co.uk, and vouchercode.co.uk to get some great offers and browse the voucher codes on Stena Line Voucher Codes for deals too.

• Be flexible –Whether it’s a bus, plane or train, be flexible on the stations/airports you fly in between to find the cheapest way to travel England. Trains to and from major cities around the UK can be much more expensive than a train from a lesser-known station nearby the major cities.

• JourneyPro –This app allows you to plan a journey anywhere in the country but is perfect for navigating the London Underground. It is free to download and a bit of a lifesaver when you are lost in the big city.

• Holiday Pirates –The team at HotUKDeals has launched the Holiday Pirates website in recent years. Looking for the cheapest way to travel England for you, this site offers cheap, last-minute deals on holidays and hotels around the world but also across the UK. Not only do they offer some great trips and hotels but you can also get cheaper attraction tickets!

• Go in the Off Season –January through to March is cold and wet – the perfect time to save money on travel in the UK. Hotels, buses, trains and flights are a lot cheaper during these months than during the summer.

Travel around England on a budget

• Travel Smart – The train is usually the most efficient way of getting around the UK and can be the cheapest way to travel England at times.

It is cheaper than flights, offers more stops at those less known towns and cities and is faster than a bus journey. Tickets can be booked in advance and various railcards can be purchased to give you further discounts on individual journeys.

If you are traveling for some time in the UK, you may wish to look into getting yourself a BritRailcard, that will also give you deals on attractions around the UK.

Use National Rail to find the best route for you then head to websites such as virgin trains and Megatrains to bag a cheap fare.

Often, the cheapest fares can be found on The Trainline’s Fare Finder.

• Get the bus –Buses are not my favourite form of transport but they are normally the cheapest way to travel England on a budget.

Booking early with Megabus can bag you £1 for journeys although at unusual times. National Express bus routes offer better times and comfortable coaches at a higher price.

These buses are worth using for short, 3-4 hour journeys! You can even choose to upgrade your bus to the Megabus Gold for a more luxurious bus ride.

• Fly –Flying around the UK can be expensive but is useful if you are traveling long distances from one side of the country to another. This isn’t the cheapest way to travel England but can often be the easiest option.

Smaller airports can offer cheaper flights around the UK, look out for; Stansted and Luton (when travelling from London), Bristol, Prestwick, East Midlands and Belfast. Stick with budget airlines and unusual flight times to get the best deal.

Kayak and Momondo are the best sites to browse but EasyJet offers some good prices but aren’t listed on these sites and these flights can be the cheapest way to travel England.

Why not fly over to Edinburgh from London? Emily Luxton shares how you can make the most from a weekend in Edinburgh.

Use alternative airports – When flying in the UK, especially London, there are some alternative airports you can use. London’s Luton, Standsted and Southend airports are popular hubs for budget airports. So compare EasyJet and Ryanair flights into these airports to save money; especially when flying from other cities in Europe.

Manchester airport – Another one of the cheapest way to travel England is to use Manchester Airport to fly in and out of. If you are traveling around the UK and not just heading to London, then Manchester Airport can be a great, affordable option. The airport connects to over 200 destinations worldwide and is the third biggest airport in the UK. Flights to and from Manchester can be cheaper than flights to London, especially when traveling from some US destinations and Europe.

• BlaBlaCar –Lift share your way around the UK with BlaBlaCar. Search the journey you wish to take across the country, along with your chosen date and get cheap journeys.

• Drive –The best way to get around the UK is to drive. There are many great UK road trips to choose from, and driving is often the best way to explore the towns and villages. Compare rental car costs on GoCompareand choose a company that allows you to pick up and drop off your car at different locations.

• Free or cheap(er) Parking – Parking can be expensive in England and the UK, but there are ways to save money. Street parking is often free in England where allowed, especially outside of the cities. When in the cities themselves, use AppyParking and Parkopedia to help you find cheap or even free places to park.

• Use your own GPS – As with many countries in the west, there is an additional charge to rent a Satnav from car rental companies. Instead of paying extra to rent a car, why not make sure to have data on your phone and use google maps.

• FlixBus – This is a well-known European bus company that offers affordable routes across the UK. They also connect the UK to cities like Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris, which can be the cheapest way to travel England when heading here from another European country.

Driving around the UK travel tips

Petrol is more expensive than in Asia and America but is similar to other countries in Western Europe.

The UK is connected by so many motorways with service stations to make your journey a more pleasant one! Just bring change and check for toll charges; some tolls require a pre or post-payment online or a massive fine!

Plus, if you are driving, you can access the random but fun attractions and things to do along the way to each city and also take advantage of the cheaper, free parking chain hotels that are normally found on the outskirts of towns and cities.

• Bike it–When staying in London, rent a Boris bike and explore the great city at a cheap price; this can be a one of the cheapest way to travel England.

• Get an Oyster Card –If you plan on staying in and around London for some time, it is worth getting yourself an Oyster card. The card itself costs £3 and you can top it up as you go. You use this card for the underground train and buses around London, with a £6.60 cap on it, meaning you will never spend more than £6.60 getting around this expansive and expensive city.

• Railcards –For those living, studying, or working in the UK, you can get yourself a Railcard. There are railcards offering discounts for students, families, couples, and seniors as well as those just travelling in the South East. A yearly fee gets you discounted prices on all train rides across the country, you can enjoy the cheapest way to travel England.

• Walk – UK cities are accessible and easy to walk around. Opt for a walking tour to save money and see all your favorite sites.

• Flying to the UK – One option to save money, if you have plenty of time for your trip, is to fly via a different European city first. If you plan on travelling around Europe for an extended period of time, fly into a city like Amsterdam, Paris, or Ukraine (with the national airlines) to get cheaper prices to Europe. You can travel via train or bus to England afterwards. Traveling from England to France and vice versa can be affordable when comparing prices.

• Omio – Check out the Omio website to compare the best ways to travel the country. If you want to head from one area of England to another, or even travel across the UK, head to Omio and search your journey. This website will tell you the best options for you to choose from, comparing trains, flights, buses and coaches as well as the best times and prices to travel.

• Use the buses – Every city and town will offer some type of bus service and you can find these simply by googling the city or town and bus service. These buses get you around a place but often can take you from one town to another. Make sure you have change for your ticket though!

• Avoid express – There are a handful of airports in and around London, with many of them offering ‘express’ trains into the city centre. It will cost a lot more for this ticket and won’t save you much time either.

Example:

London Heathrow – £36 for an express return taking 15 minutes or £21 for a standard return taking 30 – 40 minutes.

London Gatwick – £35 for an express return taking 30 minutes or £20 for a standard return taking 35 – 45 minutes.

The standard return train ticket is the cheapest way to travel England, over the express options and the time makes very little difference.

• Book trains in advance – Use websites like Train Line to book your train ticket in advance. On-the-day tickets can be twice as expensive and good discounts can be found online.

Save money on accommodation in England

• Chain hotels

The cheapest way to travel England is to take advantage of the chain hotels. Travelodge and Premier Inn are your cheap but clean, spacious and comfortable hotels in the UK. Head to their websites in advance of your trip and you can snag a room for as little as £29 a night. These hotel chains are in all major cities and towns and can also be found at the service stops off major motorways.

• Stay at Universities –This was a fairly new concept whilst I was at University but it seems to be getting more and more popular.

Websites like University Rooms help you finduniversity rooms in cities and towns across the UK; the best deals are found in the summer months (June – September) and over Christmas and Easter when students aren’t at University.

• YHA –YHA offers cheap hostels across the country and is known to be clean and fairly modern. Many of their hostels offer family rooms as well, ideal for families or group travellers on a budget.

• Pay in dollars – If you are American, you may be able to save some money by booking in dollars. Many high-end hotels like Egerton House Hotel and Milestone Hotel offer guaranteed dollar rates, so check your hotel’s website before booking.

• Air B’n’B –Just like the rest of the world, there are some great Air B’n’B options in the UK with some great prices to match. Plus, if you click here you can get £30 off your booking! This can be the cheapest way to travel England, especially if you are traveling as a family or group.

• Outskirts –When planning a trip to one of the small cities and towns, try looking at hotels just slightly on the outskirts. Local buses are convenient and inexpensive so booking hotels on the outskirts of towns may work out quite a bit cheaper.

• Caravans –Think of an RV – but smaller. Known as one of the cheapest way to travel England, iin the UK, Caravans are popular for those wanting to park up on the coast or in parks. Caravan Parks are cheap and often offer restaurants, cafes, bars, and even performances. There are lots of websites that allow you to search for the perfect Caravan for your trip.

• Camp in a garden –That sounds crazy, right? Camp in My Garden offers travelers a place to set up a tent or park a caravan in the homes of locals.

• Guest Houses –Guest houses can be another great option for those looking for the cheapest way to travel England. These are often cheaper than hotels but offer a lot more character, Guest Houses offer cheaper options yet still offer similar amenities.

• Do your research – There are some amazing, cheap hotels around the UK. Do some proper research, using TripAdvisor, booking.com and Air B’n’B to help you choose the perfect place to stay.

• Pitchup – The Pitch app is a website you can use to search and book holiday parks, campsites, glamping sites and caravan sites. Although some holiday parks can be booked directly with the company, this website helps you compare some affordable sites, ideal for those looking for the cheapest way to travel England and find accommodation.

Visit attractions in England on a budget

• English Heritage Pass –If you intend to visit some of the historical sites around the UK, you can save money on all the entrance fees and ticket costs by purchasing English Heritage Pass. There is a yearly fee but if you are here for some time, it may be worth the price when looking at visiting England on a budget. When planning a visit to the best places to go for a weekend break in the England, these passes can be a great way to help you choose your next destination.

• Historic Scotland Explorer Pass – We have looked at the cheapest way to travel England but heading up to Scotland is a must. Scotland is an incredible place with so many castles, abbeys, ancient sites and museums. So save money by purchasing an Explorer Pass!

• The National Trust Touring Pass –With so many National Trust properties across the UK, it is hard to make a decision on which places to visit. Pick up a pass to save money if you plan to visit a few, so you can do so whilst saving money; another one of the cheapest way to travel England and see the sights.

• Pass cards – The London Pass and the Edinburgh Pass are attraction cards that allow you entry into multiple tourist attractions in the chosen city but also offer great discounts in restaurants and theatres.These can help you see some of the best places to visit in the UK on a budget.

• Free Attractions –Like everywhere in the world, the UK offers some amazing FREE attractions. These are perfect for those looking for the cheapest way to travel England. Museums in London are completely free to enter as are many castles, National Parks and Hike trails around the country. There are lots of free things to do in London to enjoy and explore.

• Book online –Another way to take advantage of the cheapest way to travel England, is to book tickets online. If you are visiting a popular attraction, it is worth looking at ticket prices online before you go. Prices online can be purchased at a reduced rate whilst also saving your ideal time slot

• Coupons – Coupons are popular in the UK. Travel by train and pick up the 2 for 1 booklet from stations outside of London or head over to VoucherBin to get discounted deals.

• Walking tours – Take advance of the free walking tours around the major cities; find a local free tour on Free tours by foot.

• Visit the Cathedrals – Whilst in the UK, make sure you visit the stunning cathedrals in every city! Fun fact – cities in the UK can only be called a city if it has a cathedral. Anyway, these can date back all the way to the 15th century and offer stunning architecture for absolutely nothing!

• Shopping – If you want to enjoy a bit of shopping in the UK, there are plenty of options to choose from. If you are looking for luxury brands and designers, head to one of the many outlet malls around the country to save money on good-quality items.Alternatively, if you are in the UK and find you need to make a quick purchase – maybe you forgot a scarf or need more socks, head to Primark. This is a very cheap store for quick, easy clothing items – just don’t expect them to last for more than a few months.

• National Rail Days Out – If you are taking advantage of the National Rail train line, you can also save on attractions. The company offer a Days Out 2-for-1 ticket deal. This means you can visit aquariums, zoos, football grounds, museums and cinemas with the 2-for-1 discount, as long as you can show your train ticket on entry to receive the discount.

How to save on Food and Drink in England

• Taste of UK card

There are many ways you can find the cheapest way to travel England when looking at food in the UK. These little gems get you discounts and deals across a selection of restaurants in the UK. You can get yourself a card from the website and the first 90 days cost just £1 – perfect for those touring the country.

• Walk away from the tourist attractions

This is the same in many places around the world, but to find the best and cheapest restaurants, pubs, hotels and hostels you’ll need to look further away from the central tourist attraction.

Travelodge and Premier Inn can be found in and around most towns and cities across the UK with decent private rooms at affordable prices.

Wetherspoon pubs offer cheap alcohol and food whilst chain restaurants are unfortunately often cheaper than independently run restaurants in the smaller cities around the UK.

• Order food

OK, I can promise you that during your stay in the UK, there is a 90% it will rain! When it rains, it pours and puts you off getting all dressed up for a fancy dinner.

JustEat and HungryHouse are websites that allow you to search the menus of nearby restaurants that will deliver to your address. You can compare prices and read reviews on the website before ordering anything. These are similar to UberEats and DoorDash but one of the cheapest way to travel England.

• TablePouncer

Get the TablePouncer app. Available in major cities, this app is ideal for last-minute dining. It offers you great discounts and deals at top local restaurants and reserves your chosen restaurant in seconds – helping you save money and time.

• Plan your food

One of the most exciting things to do when you travel is to wander the streets and walk into any restaurant, bar or cafe that takes your fancy.

Food in England is ridiculously expensive compared to most other countries in Asia, the Americas and even Europe. Plan ahead and use TripAdvisor, blogs and google maps to locate and choose one or two great restaurants in your chosen area in your price range.

For another cheapest way to travel England, have a look for the nearest supermarket (Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda are all budget-friendly places) to stock up on snacks and breakfast/lunch food. Food at service stations is also expensive so make yourself sandwiches or budget for these extra prices.

The food court in Marks & Spencers offers high-quality food but at higher prices than most supermarkets.

Pubs offer daily specials and most towns and cities have magical Wetherspoon’s (a chain of British Pubs) that offer reasonably priced meals.

• Lunch menu

Like many places in Europe, there are some amazing restaurants in the UK, especially when you head into Central London. If you want a treat, head to these restaurants at lunch for a cheap lunch menu!

• Voucher Cloud

Another great app to use when searching for the best deals and prices. Voucher Cloud uses your location to share restaurant and attraction offers as well as supermarket deals.

• Eat Ethnic food

Eating ethnic food is another one of the cheapest way to travel England. Scattered around the UK are some excellent ethnic restaurants, from Chinese to Indian, Middle Eastern to Pasta – there are foods from all over the world. These are often tasty, interesting and a lot cheaper than fine dining options.

• Dine at a pub

For a decent, hearty meal, head to the pub! Alcohol can be pricey in the UK but there are some great meal options for a pie and pint! Plus, you get to eat the delights of British food.

My personal favourite has to be Wetherspoons! A chain of pubs around the UK that offer cheap meals – A burger, chips and beer for £5.49!

• Fish’n’Chips

One of the UK’s most popular meals is, of course, Fish and Chips!

Whilst you are in the UK, you need to stop and try this infamous meal whilst saving money – a bag of chips and a cod really don’t break the bank.

• Happy Hour

When visiting any of the University cities and towns, head to the bars. Many offer great promotions and happy hours, especially on the weekends.

• Afternoon Tea

Afternoon teas are a must when in the UK but prices can get high, especially in London. However, you can find some great Afternoon Tea outside of London for cheaper prices and even ones that cater to Vegetarians and Vegans.

• Enjoy the chains

I know many people may disagree but when you are traveling on a budget, it is worth making use of chain restaurants. Nandos is a popular choice in the UK whilst Pizza Express has some great two-course deals. Also, don’t forget to head to Wetherspoons for a pint and a greasy plate of British food – it sounds awful but doesn’t knock it before you try it! These can come in very helpful when planning a family break in the UK too; especially with fussy eaters!

• Meal deals

Head to any supermarket and you will find some type of meal deal. These often include some type of salad, sandwich or pasta with a snack and drink for less than £4. This makes for a cheap, quick lunch or even a chilled-out dinner with a few extra snacks.

• Weekday dining

Many restaurants offer weekday dining options for those looking for cheaper rates. Whether it is a 3-course meal for a set price or 2-for-1 mains, there are plenty of deals to find in your chosen area. Not sure where to start? Have a look at the chain restaurants like Pizza Express and TGI Fridays.

• Money Saving expert

This site gets its own section because it is so helpful. This website is all about finding ways to save money in the UK; especially saving on food and entertainment. There is an updated list of the best deals, so you can refer to this for up-to-date deals during your trip.

How to Travel London on a budget

• Staying in London – Stay near the underground but don’t worry about the city centre. London has a comprehensive underground system that can be used to get everywhere. Use the Underground map to help you get around and don’t forget to down the map on your phone to help you when you are out and about.

• Thames Clipper – The Thames Clipper is a public ferry service that costs around £8 for a full journey; a much cheaper experience on the Thames compared to the tours available.

• Cycle – Whilst in London, you can choose to cycle using the Santander Cycle Scheme. You will notice bikes dotted around the city and for £2 for 24 hours, you can cycle between the sights.

• Get an Oyster card – Whilst in London, get yourself an Oyster card. This means you can travel around the underground without having to buy an individual ticket each time but also, these journeys are capped so you don’t spend more than a set maximum. If you have a contactless card, you could use this on the underground and on buses too.

• Skip the Shard and head to the Sky Garden – There are plenty of famous buildings in London but not all of them are worth heading up. Skip the Shard, it is overpriced. Instead, opt for the Sky Garden, offering stunning views completing for free.

• Theatre tickets – There are lots of great websites that help you get discounted theatre tickets. Head to the theatre of your chosen show at 9.45/10 am to see if they have any last-minute tickets for that day or use websites like Last Minute or London Theatre Tickets.

Don’t forget to visit some of my favourite places in the UK: Liverpool, Bristol, Brighton and Chichester are some of my top picks!

So these are the main ways we use to save money whilst living and travelling around the UK. Do you have any other suggestions? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Travel in England FAQ

How much should I budget for a trip to England?

A week in England will cost around $1500 – $2000, for a solo traveller, depending on where you are staying. London hotels are more expensive than in other cities but you can visit the UK on a budget and spend as little as $100 a day.

What is the cheapest month to travel to London?

The cheapest months to travel to London and England are September to the start of October and January to March. You can find cheaper flights to the UK during these months and there are fewer tourists, so you will find a budget hotel easily and attractions will be quieter.

What is the best way to travel around the UK?

The train is the easiest way to travel the UK but catching buses with Megabus or National Express is often the cheapest way to travel the UK.

Is the train cheaper than the bus in England?

Often the bus is cheaper, especially when moving between smaller cities. However, the underground is much quicker than buses around London’s city centre and train travel around the UK is more reliable than buses.

Is food expensive in England?

Food prices vary in England but an average sit-down meal is more expensive in England than in Eastern Europe cities but similar to prices in the US and Western Europe. You can find cheap food in supermarkets and chain restaurants and decent-priced meals in pubs.

How much money do I need for 2 weeks in London?

If you are a budget traveller and intend on cooking for yourself in a hostel and visiting the free attractions, you can visit London for under $50 a day. However, if you want to eat out more and visit some paid attractions, you will need around $100 a day whilst those looking to go shopping, watch a theatre show or football game, expect to budget around $150 a day.

How do I get cheap London tickets?

Cheap London train tickets can be found when purchasing tickets in advance, online. Use Nationalrail.com to compare prices. Also, avoid travelling between 6.30 – 9.30 and 15.30 – 18.40; this is peak travel time and prices are higher. Also, sometimes 2 singles can be a better value than a return.

For cheap flights to London, compare prices on Skyscanner and check flight prices to London Stansted, Gatwick and Luton; these smaller airports can sometimes be cheaper than Heathrow.

Is it worth renting a car in England?

If you are staying in a city, no, it is not worth renting a car. However, if you plan on travelling the country a lot, then it can work out cheaper to rent a car. However, compare prices on Avis and Europcar and make sure to book your car hire online as far in advance as possible; prices rise as you get near the pick-up date.

How do I plan a road trip UK?

1. List the places you want to visit
2. Plot these destinations on google map to work out the most efficient routes
3. Compare rental prices using Travel Supermarket.
4. Don’t pay for a GPS (car companies overcharge and you can use your phone GPS instead).
5. Be flexible with your dates but book accommodation in advance.
6. Stick to the speed limits and laws
7. Enjoy your travels

How many days are enough to visit the UK?

If you are only visiting London, you can spend 3-4 days seeing the most popular attractions. If you want to visit other cities and sites in the UK such as Bath, Stonehenge, Oxford and Liverpool, plan at least 10 days in the UK.

How much is a meal in London?

Budget restaurants in London (ethnic or chain restaurants) will cost between £6 – £10 whilst mid-range restaurants will cost you around £15 – £25 for a main meal and drink. High-end restaurants in London can cost anything between £40 to $140+ per head.

How much should I budget for food UK?

If you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, you could budget as little as £20 for food. However, if you will be eating out 2-3 times a day, you will need at least £35 a day, presuming you are picking up a light breakfast or lunch from the local supermarkets.

Do I need cash for London?

You will need some cash, mainly for buses and cabs. However, credit and debit cards are widely accepted.

What is the cheapest airport to fly into England?

1. London Gatwick
2. Manchester
3. London Heathrow
4. Birmingham
5. London City Airport

What is the cheapest day to fly to the UK?

Friday is consistently the cheapest day to visit the UK.