Top Tips for Travelling The UK on a Budget
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Travelling around the UK? Excellent choice – it’s packed with travel treasures, history, diverse landscapes, and cool cities. But there’s also a major bummer, and it’s not the weather: it can hit your wallet hard.
The good news?
It doesn’t have to. There are many ways to cut costs without recklessly spending, skimping on the fun or missing out on the sites or museums.
This guide shows you how to enjoy your time in the UK without your bank balance going into an anaphylactic shock.
So, let’s discover how you can save those precious pounds while exploring the UK.
Top 5 Takeaways:
- Always check coach travel before the train.
- Choose the weekend for your splurge restaurants & meals to take advantage of mid-week deals.
- Create or use a different email address for apps/sign-ups.
- Bahh, Tesco!
- Do not use Heathrow or Gatwick Express.
Public Transport
Navigating public transport in the UK can quickly drain your funds if you’re not careful. To dodge those tourist traps right off the bat, skip the Gatwick & Heathrow Express. Opt for the Southern Lines or the Elizabeth Line, saving 20-40%.
Another ally in your quest to save is off-peak travel. It is cheaper and tired, and ripe commuters won’t squash you. Before jumping on a train, it’s always worth checking out coach options—they can be surprisingly wallet-friendly.
Coach Travel
Coaches are pretty hard to beat in terms of value for money for UK Travel.
It’s not always rosy. The key is being smart about balancing time and cost, especially when comparing coaches to trains.
Think about it: is it worth sitting on a coach for an extra three hours to save a mere £4? Probably not. But what about adding just 15 minutes and keeping an extra £17 in your pocket? If you’re a couple or a family, those costs will soon take much of your budget away. Needlessly and stupidly as well.
In terms of recommendations, National Express gets our vote. They’re reliable and have an excellent network running at all hours. But don’t overlook Megabus – they’re incredibly affordable with excellent networks.
Train Travel
No doubt one of the faster ways to travel around the UK by public transport is by train. Now, that’s not always the case, as we discussed above. It also comes at a hefty cost. The privatisation of British Rail has led to many problems: greed, a substandard service, zero vision and a top-tier price bracket that reflects.
If you plan to use trains regularly in the UK, you might want to consider getting a rail card. You do not need to be a UK citizen to order the digital rail card. We made our money back within two train journeys!
You can check out savings before purchasing a railcard to see if it will work for you. Just click, ‘I have a railcard whilst browsing’.
So that you know: You will always pay more buying tickets at machines or kiosks than online.
Top Tip: Use Tickety Split for train travel. You might save a few pence or over a tenner. Any saving is better than none, right? You can also use your railcard with TicketySplit.
Bus Travel
Never get on a bus on a whim unless it’s a total one-off. Bearing in mind that you probably have to get back, return tickets can cost as little as less than 60pence more.
Better yet, most local bus services offer day passes for a very reasonable price by UK standards.
A single journey to Bournemouth will cost one person £3.90. A day pass you can use unlimitedly within 24 hours around the local areas costs £4.90. It’s a no-brainer, considering you probably have to get back and then can also explore.
Regarding London, Bus Travel is the cheapest option and is capped to a maximum of £5.25 daily or £24.80 weekly (prices as of March 2024). There are plenty of great guides for London, and that we are not.
Bus companies change via region, so it’s always worth checking online beforehand in each area. You can also buy passes there, which you can use on your smartphone. For example, we have More Buses in the Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch areas.
Cheap UK Flights
Another friend for your wallet, especially for longer-distance journeys, is taking advantage of our Budget Airlines. However, this may not be cost-effective if you need to use checked baggage or have an oversized backpack.
We recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights for easy reference. Looking at Skyscanner, we can fly from Bournemouth to Edinburgh for £30pp. That’s a steal for the convenience.
Sorry, Greta.
Food & Drink
‘Eat like a local’ in the UK means a cosy date with an air fryer and potato smileys.
Well, yeah, but no, but…
Truthfully, the UK’s food scene is much more than just the ‘brown or beige foods’ you often hear of. We’ve got a melting pot of international cuisines, some authentic, some a bit, let’s say, ‘creatively adapted’ over time.
I hate to use ‘melting pot‘, but I honestly can’t think of a better name for it.
And what about the ‘Street Food’?
Don’t get tricked into thinking they’re the same as the budget-friendly street eats you find abroad. In the UK? Slap ‘artisan’ on a van, and suddenly, it’s £12 for a slice of gammon in a ‘crusty roll’ with a sliver of stuffing.
Anyway, enough moaning,
let’s dive into how to navigate the UK food scene without your wallet taking a gourmet-sized hit.
Brown Foods & Stews: Have you ever wondered why classic British dishes like stews, hotpots, and cottage/shepherd’s pies have that distinctive brown hue?
During wartime, when rationing and the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign were in full swing, veggies were not rationed in the kitchen. We turned to stocks and broths to create warm, hearty meals. It made the meat go a long way, and that’s why many of our traditional dishes have that rich, brown colour and comforting, deep flavour.
It’s also cold, damp, wet and grey for five months of the year.
Supermarkets
Intelligent choices can save you a bundle when it comes to grocery shopping in the UK. Top picks? Aim for Lidl, Aldi, or Asda. Why? They are the cheapest, and some of the bigger supermarket chains have gotten a bit cheeky with their pricing.
They’re playing the membership game now – charging steep prices unless you’re part of their club.
This can be frustrating for travellers, tourists, or even locals caught in a pinch. You’re just looking for a quick buy, and suddenly, you’re facing over-the-top prices or the hassle of signing up for a club card.
Our advice? If you can, steer clear of these spots.
We have a club card, and they always log me out. The password manager doesn’t like the app either. Annoying.
But there’s also a workaround if you’re caught out and need to shop there. You could download their app and sign up quickly, or not quickly, for that matter. Use a spoof address and go for the digital card. Alternatively, the person in line behind you might let you piggyback on their club card. (it doesn’t hurt to ask politely & more points for them!)
Another tip would be to check in convenience stores such as Tesco Express, Co-op, One Stop, etc, in the afternoons. They’ll often have reduced items throughout the day, and they’ll get cheaper as it gets later. Remember, the later you go, the less choice you’ll get. We’ve found great bargains from 2 pm onwards.
Ouch: Need proof of how wild the price difference can be? Check out this Reddit thread where one user found an item tagged at £18 with a Clubcard but a whopping £46 without. It’s a no-brainer where to shop if you’re watching your wallet!
They’ll even pinch you out of an extra 40p for a cheeky meal deal.
**** Tesco!
Restaurants & Fast Food
There are plenty of excellent restaurants in the UK when splurging the cash, so we’re letting you do your digging there.
However, the odds are that you won’t be eating restaurant food 2 or 3 times a day and will need budget options in between. Even a flexible wallet will take a hit in the UK
Fast food can also be expensive due to the massively rising overheads.
Toby Carvery: Home of the Roast & Breakfast
It’s not perfect, and it’s not a greasy spoon or a pub roast, but for the price, you cannot go wrong with Toby Carvery. From just under £8 during the week, you can get an all-you-can-eat roast dinner with 3 or 4 meats to choose from. We often pick 2 or 3.
The Yorkshire puddings are banging tasty as well!
Feeling like slouching in your hotel room? Head in and grab a roast to-go or order online through Deliveroo, Uber etc. If you’re close by, we recommend going in. You’ll be able to grab exactly what you want rather than ending up with a load of peas.
You can also get an all-you-can-eat breakfast from £5.99 with unlimited tea and coffee.
I mean?
Premier Inn make a pretty decent breakfast, as well as Beefeater. Beefeater is a little more pricy, but they’ve got you covered. From cooked breakfast to continental and unlimited juices, coffees and teas. The coffee machine is decent too.
Top Tip: If you sign up online, they often have deals & birthday vouchers. Who says you can’t have a birthday on your travels?
Burger King & Mcdonald’s
Shoot the uncultured swine down for scoffing down a cheeseburger or chicken royale!
Most of us love a burger to tie us over on a busy day sightseeing or for a cheap bite. Unfortunly the cheap has gone out of most of our fast-food chains and you’ll be paying restaurant/pub prices.
On the menu, you can pay over £10 for a large meal at Burger King, which is ridiculous considering you can get a roast for £7.49 or take advantage of a pub meal of gammon, egg & chips for £7.00 during the week.
You need to download the app and load up the offers with Burger King or risk paying way over the odds—medium chicken royale meal for £8.29 or two for £10.99. Likewise, a large whopper meal will set you back £9.09 on the menu or £5.99 on the app.
The saver menu at Mcdonald’s works out the best value for money, and keep hold of your receipt where you can claim a Big Mac and fries as well as other favourites like a quarter pounder with cheese for £2.99. It was £1.99 not long ago, which was a real bargain.
Even if you buy a coffee, you still claim that with a receipt. Digital receipts do not work.
Pub Grub
Pubs are disappearing at a concerning rate in the UK and crying out for business during the week. And weekends. You can do your bit by supporting some, enjoying some pub grub, and trying an ale or two.
It’s always worth checking out a few of your locals online beforehand and checking out the menu. Google Maps often shows the best pubs worth visiting + reviews.
Many independent pubs and chains have different menus of the day at discounted prices. Monday could be a classic Fish & Chips; Tuesday, Gammon and Egg & Chips; and Fridays are popular with Curry Nights. Other discounts to look out for are bottomless brunches and lunch menus, often discounted.
Compare that to the same price or less as most fast-food joints; it’s a no-brainer!
Too Good To Go App
Depending on your location, this app can be an absolute goldmine! We’ve seen massive dishes going for a few quid from Chinese to Indian and everything in between.
It’s a game-changer if you’re not fussy and quite adaptable to your eating time. Or an extra treat before hitting your hotel because you’re hangry after a few drinks.
Top Tip: You’ll need to be quick! The good ones sell out very quickly.
Greggs
Ahh, Greggs. Where the staple of English cuisine is found on every high street in the UK. It’s pretty cheap, and you can get four sausage rolls for three. Sorry Cornwall… but the pasties are unreal!
You’ll also find a range of baguettes, sandwiches, and other pastries like steak slices and bacon turnovers. While it might not replace the traditional bakers or sandwich shops – those hidden treasures you stumble upon in quieter towns or the outskirts – Greggs offers convenience and value that’s hard to beat when you’re in the heart of the hustle and bustle.
Beer, Alcohol, Coffee & Everything Else
Drinks are expensive in the UK, especially in southern England. I struggle to find a decent pint under £6. Or any pint.
Wetherspoons is probably the cheapest chain pub steeped in culture. Culture, you likely don’t want to see. You have been warned.
A half-decent coffee will set you back £3 minimum, which is still lacking in the quality department compared to our European neighbours. I’d make use of any hotel freebies as much as possible.
Budget Accommodation in the UK
Quite a weak point for us as residents. We either stay with friends or use trusted budget hotels.
If you want to make concrete plans, we recommend checking budget hotels such as Ibis, Premier Inn, Travel Inn, and EasyHotels. We stayed at an EasyHotel in Malaga, and whilst it’s very basic, it’s also hostel-style prices for a private room. Perfect for those who need a bed and somewhere private to sleep.
For a general overlook, look at Booking as you compare many hotels. A 4 or 5-star hotel might be going for a bargain. It doesn’t always happen, but rooms need filling.
Mobile Phone Data
For mobile phone data (non-UK residents), we recommend an eSIM or buying one from a shop if your phone is unlocked. You can get an O2 8 GB SIM for £1 at Argos.
We also strongly advise always using a VPN when using open WI-FI. It’s not worth the risk for a few quid a month. Any data from your device can easily be extracted using public WI-FI. That includes passwords, banking, and all those juicy chats.
Try and buy or renew your VPN on or around Black Friday. The savings are always very kind. CyberGhost works for us, and we’ve tried a bunch. For streaming, the devices available and speed. It wins, hands down.
General Tips
- Card is King in the UK – use an RFID wallet
- Don’t pay for public toilets; there’s almost always a free one somewhere close (ie McDonald’s)
- The north is cheaper… and friendlier.
- Many people drink on the beaches and parks in the summer. It’s a lot cheaper, and we’ve got to take advantage of that sun. Join us!
- Buy Paracetamol/Ibruprofen in Supermarkets. Not shops or pharmacies.
Resources
- UK Railcard For Tourists
- Booking ︱easyHotels ︱Premier Inn ︱Ibis
- Airalo eSIM
- CyberGhost VPN
- National Express ︱Megabus
Final Thoughts on Travelling the UK on a Budget
It’s easy to see how you can rinse your budget quickly here in the UK. The best way is to go with a completely adaptable plan. A big tip would be to remember that less is always more. This is especially true for travelling around the UK.
It might be a small island, but it’s hectic. Getting from A to B isn’t a case of saying it’s only 250 miles. There’ll be plenty of obstacles along the way.
If you’re driving, expect intense drives with many stops and starts, lane changing and roundabouts. Also, traffic…lots of traffic. Regardless of whether it’s a city, town, or motorway. It can take us over thirty minutes to get into Bournemouth in the summer. Eight miles!
I’d hire only for any remote parts that you want to explore. Public transport will take you a month.
You May Also Like:
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- Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal Review: Where Comfort Meets Convenience
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