I’ve just come back from three weeks in London. I budgeted £100 per day. I ended up spending way less than that, although a lot of what I was doing was free stuff (museums etc).
I agree with the suggestion of getting an Oyster card. Travel within London on the tube and buses is very cheap with one of these, because once you hit the maximum fare per day, it doesn’t cost you any more. But beware of train travel outside London - it starts to get much pricier.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how cheap things were in general, particularly food. London has a reputation as an expensive city, but I didn’t find it so this time round. Certainly the exchange rate was much more favourable than it has been in recent years. But prices also seemed lower. The UK economy is in such a hole that almost everything seemed to be on sale.
I just came back from London, and even with buying the great and wonderful illuminati primus, tour guide extraordinaire, the occasional treat, I spent less than you are planning. I think you will be fine. If he offers you a tour, btw, take him up on it.
You’re right that, for the OP, a PAYG (pay-as-you-go) Oyster almost definitely would work out cheaper unless he’s hopping on the tube more than four times a day. However, tourists sometimes do use the tube more than four times a day, because they’re less likely to get lost that way and they’re trying to see a lot in a short time.
TBH, if were the OP, I’d order an oyster loaded with a travelcard for the peace of mind. You can go on the TFL site and order them in advance from whatever country you’re travelling from. It might work out more expensive, but the OP doesn’t seem to be too worried about that, and it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
An Oystercard would still be better than a paper travelcard because it simply is quicker and works better. Paper travelcards get crumpled, meaning that might not work, and slow you down at the fast-moving ticket barriers. Oysters, you swipe and go. The card would also be registered, so you could claim the money back if it were stolen.
Plus, it would mean one less tourist standing at the ticket machine looking like he’s just been presented with the controls of the Space Shuttle and told to travel to Jupiter.
He’s not counting hotel costs, so it would still be tons of money. Accommodation in London is expensive; everything else, not so much.
Thats how much it cost in Edgeware Road. If you want cheaper, go elsewhere, The shop I actually was near my flat just off farringdon station was as you say, half the price. But the point is that the OP will be in very expensive area. I was for most of my time in London a poor student, and knew all the cheap places to eat. The 'rents came to town for a visit and stayed in a hotel off marble arch. I remember being absolutly shocked at the price difference. Prices in touristy areas are a lot lot lot higher then elsewhere. And the OP will be smack in the middle of it.
And, vistors are in London as elsewhere unaware of the places to get good deals.
Well, I’ve eaten out plenty in the touristy areas and found the prices not bad at all - definitely nothing like a tenner for a kebab! Besides, even if you were going to spend silly money like that you’d still have to work hard to spend £200 per day.
