Five Days On A London Backpacker Budget

Whether you’re here for a short trip or in it for the long haul, living the London life is a balance of good and evil: exciting, exhilarating, enticing…and incredibly expensive. There’s no way around it. Without a full-time job (hold that thought…even with a full-time job), ‘travelling Europe’ may as well be renamed ‘watching your savings slowly disintegrate into nothingness’ – a process which occurs all the faster for those who aren’t lucky enough to have the requisite ‘couch surfing’ contacts.

Ouch. That’s what we call pulling off the bandaid.

And yet, despite the fear of eventual poverty, living the backpacking and hostelling life in London has today become a virtual rite of passage for young travellers across the globe. Expats from Australia, America, South Africa and Europe flock to this city in droves, many of them choosing to stay out their visas and beyond.

Hence arises the inevitable question: what is their secret? How does a young traveller get the most out of a promised ‘London experience’ without that requisite money to burn?

Let’s break it down into a bargain of fives. Five days. Five sleeps. Five great eats. Five quintessential things to see and do. And five of the best hostels London has to offer. All for less than £50 pounds a day (sorry for the extra ‘0’, the £5 was pushing it).

5 Sleeps

YHA London Central: Perfect for individual backpackers, this West End hostel offers value accommodation in a social atmosphere minutes from cosmopolitan Soho. Complete with café/bar, ensuite, games room and self-catering facilities, beds are available from £27/night.

The Walrus Waterloo: Less than five minutes walk from the London eye, the Walrus Waterloo is a favourite of sightseers looking for a convenient travelling base. Dormitory style rooms from £20/night.

London House Gay Hostel: London’s premiere gay accommodation offers male-only 4-bedders for £20/night. Remodelled in 2003, each room in this Hendon Central hostel is decorated with quirky fixtures designed to turn a temporary lodging into a home away from home.

Generator Hostel: London’s largest and liveliest hostel, the Generator in Russell Square is one unique party destination. With nightly bar events, TV chill out rooms and regular themed parties, it’s a great place to meet other backpackers if you’re travelling solo. Rooms are available from £22.50/night.

St Christopher’s Inn – Shepherd’s Bush: This West End hostel is minutes walk from a plethora of museums, galleries, fashion houses and entertainment venues. A great place to meet and greet, St Christopher’s also plays home to international party house Belushi’s Bar, and offers rooms from £21/night.

5 Eats

Beatroot: One for the veggies, this Soho café serves dishes including quinoa taboullah, soy sausage rolls, vegetarian shepherd’s pie, and fresh detoxifying smoothies for less than £7/head.

Vapiano: An innovative concept in modern day dining, customers of Vapiano are presented with a menu, tray and bank card with which to order a traditional Italian meal. Not necessarily a romantic first-date option, but a great way to monitor your spending.

Abracadabra: Complete with revolving tables and quirky themed booths (Sex, Disney and Venice to name a few), this Piccadilly restaurant is the ultimate experience in entertainment dining. The best bit? Despite its Mayfair location, a two-course meal comes to only £12 per person.

Yum Cha: A departure from stock standard noodles and stir fry, Yum Cha is the ultimate locale for sharing and caring, allowing diners to stock up on dozens of tasty dim sum dishes for less than £10 per head.

Franco Manca: Forget your prawn and smoked salmon gourmet thin crust, Franco Manca goes back to basic Neapolitan pizza style, with the best in cheese, tomato and meat toppings on a slow-rising sourdough crust. A bargain at less than £10 per head.

5 Attractions

Changing of the Guard: A royal display if ever there was one, Britain’s famous (and free!) Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place at 11am on selected days outside Buckingham Palace.

Science Museum: Not just one for the science nerds, this South Kensington institution comes complete with drama performances, IMAX theatre and simulator rides. With five-floors to explore, don’t expect to get through it in a single day!

Street Markets: Bustling, buzzy and bursting with bargains, street markets are an integral part of the London backpacker experience. Favourites include Brick Lane on Sundays for vintage fashion, quirky antiques at Portobello Rd, and Borough Market for some truly delicious British and international produce.

Tate Modern: Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art offers a range of free exhibitions, including famous works from Picasso, Matisse, Dali and Warhol.

Theatre at the Scoop: An outdoor sunken amphitheatre next to City Hall, The Scoop hosts a summer programme of free open-air music, movies and theatre. Check out their website for a calendar of events.

So, that’s five days down in budget central. The next five is up to you. Moral of the story? Whoever it was that said ‘nothing comes without a price tag’ had obviously never been backpacking and hostelling in London town.