Venturing to London on a business trip and looking for ways to save more money? Yes, London’s a costly city and business travel can drain your pocket if you’re not careful (particularly for extended periods). However, not all hope is lost! You can still save quite a lot of money on your London business trip with smart planning and innovative tips. Let’s look at some of them below.
Saving On Your Business Trip to London- 10 Useful Tips
Now that you’re going on a business trip to London, it’s time to use a few useful tips to save money.
1. Reduce your accommodation costs
How can you do this? It is only possible if you avoid booking costly hotels and opt for serviced apartments instead. You’ll find several serviced apartments at reasonable or lower rates in prime London locations for business travellers. They are ideal for extended stays and come with flexible lease terms, too. You can save quite a bit on your London business trip with this hack. Many of these apartments also have all-inclusive rates that cover laundry, cleaning, housekeeping and utilities.
2. Cook meals as much as possible
When you’re booking a serviced apartment, you have the freedom to cook meals in your own kitchen. These units have fully-equipped kitchens with appliances. You can simply purchase ingredients from nearby grocery stores and cook meals easily. It helps you save a lot of money on dining out each day, and this comes in handy if you’re staying for an extended duration.
3. Travel During the Off-Peak Season
If it is possible, time your business trip for the off-season. This is usually between January and March. Use off-peak public transportation as well (avoiding 6.30-9.30 AM and after 6.30 PM) to get lower rates.
4. Book Business Zones for Weekends
A handy tip, it will help you get lower rates on weekends, when demand is lower in business zones. Areas like Canary Wharf and other parts of the CBD are less crowded and more livable on weekends, too. Lower demand also equates to lower prices in most cases.
5. Use Public Transportation
One of the best ways to save money on your London business trip is to use public transportation. It is considerably cheaper than taxis, and you can buy the Oyster card or use contactless payments for the most affordable transportation fares. The underground covers 11 lines (DLR, Overground, Tram and Elizabeth Line). You will find it easy to reach multiple railway stations. The tube also helps access the airport (District line to Heathrow and DLR to London City Airport). Bus and rail routes are also available.
6. Walk Around
London is a wonderfully walkable city. Plan your routes in advance to go for walks and see tourist landmarks on your days off. It will help you save a lot on transportation costs. Walking tours are also available for free or at nominal rates to help you explore the city on foot.
7. Check Out Free Attractions
Many attractions are completely free to visit in London, including several well-known art galleries, museums and public parks. Make a list to avoid paying more in entrance charges. Some options include Kensington Gardens and St Paul’s Cathedral, to name a few. Hyde Park is also there for you to explore.
8. Dine Out Affordably
If you have to dine out, there are plenty of affordable choices available. Many chain food stores have meal deals at lower rates, while sandwiches from Tesco, M&S and Sainsbury’s are also value propositions. Beer is always cheaper than other spirits, while soda pop is costlier. Takeaways are more affordable than dine-in food, and cold, bottled beverages are more expensive than their room-temperature counterparts. Refill your bottles since bottled water is otherwise costly. Ask for regular water at restaurants for lower dining costs.
9. Get a London Pass
The London Pass will give you discounted or free access to 80+ city experiences and even fast-track entries in some cases. Most London museums, including the Museum of London, National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Museum and the Natural History Museum, do not charge entry fees. Some museums that do charge for entry have free options at least once every month. The London Pass is a good way to save a lot of money on exploring major London landmarks.
10. Shop Reasonably
Yes, it’s hard to shrug off the temptation of shopping a little on your business trip to London. You can visit affordable markets such as Greenwich Market, Portobello Road Market, Brick Lane Market, Camden Market and Broadway Market for fashion, souvenirs and antiques at lower rates than the glitzy stores elsewhere. The Covent Garden Market is also an option worth considering if you want to avoid the high-priced malls.
Make the Most Of Your Trip to London
There are many ways to make the most out of your London trip, and it does not always have to pinch your wallet. While the above-mentioned tips will help you save more on your London business trip, there are some other points worth noting as well. Keep a nose out for loyalty programs and cashback offers, along with using a no-fee credit card to avoid currency exchange costs. In fact, you can enjoy the best views of London at The Shard by buying just a drink at the restaurant and bar (save money on entry fees). Buy West End theatre tickets for less on the performance day/standing tickets at other theatres.
Coming to affordable serviced accommodation in London options, look no further than TheSqua.re. This is the best place to find verified apartment listings in prime London locations. Discover stunning properties with flexible leases and reasonable rates for extended stays. From housekeeping and utilities to laundry, concierge, high-speed Wi-Fi and well-equipped kitchens, there’s everything you need and more. Enjoy more space, privacy and home-like comfort with great service and amenities. Book them in advance and get the benefit of lower rates. Here’s to saving more on your London business trip and deriving more value out of the same!
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