London, low cost, in five days

If you are thinking on travelling to London I guess you know it´s a expensive city, so if your budget is poor plan a low cost trip… Take with you a handbag, buy the weekly bus pass and don´t miss any place!

The V&A Museum courtyard

DAY 1. If your flight arrives to London soon you can do a lot of things during the first day. Go to Hyde Park, where you can see the Kensington Gardens, the Lady Di Fountain and the Albert Memorial. Have a walk around the Royal Opera House and visit some museums: the Science Museum (last Wednesday of the month they organize Lates, an evening event where the freakest activity is the Silent Disco), the dinosaurs of the Natural History Museum or the design, fashion and decorative arts collections of the Victoria and Albert.

If you are in the area at lunch time, have a picnic at the V&A courtyard or at the rear garden of the Old Brompton Oratory. Other option is Da Spago, an Italian restaurant with two courses for 9 pounds (6 Glendover Place). In the evening finish in Cromwell Road, have a look in the Food Halls of Harrods and  pry in the haute couture shops of Knightsbridge.

The National Gallery

DAY 2. Have breakfast as soon as possible because the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace starts at 11.30am. It´s better to arrive half an hour before for looking for a place with good views (the steps of the monument dedicated to the Queen Victoria are a good choice). After the 45 minutes exhibition go to St James Park, walk around the lake and cross the Blue Bridge, where the cityscape is beautiful. Don´t miss the House Guards, Trafalgar Sq and spend two hours in the National Gallery (The Rokeby of Venus by Velázquez and the Sunflowers by Van Gogh are the top).

For lunch, a good choice is Pizza Hut (56-59 Strand). From Monday to Friday there is pizza, pasta and salad buffet for 6,99. Children eat free.

Continue walking along the riverside to Waterloo Bridge, cross it and enjoy the Thames views. Go to the London Eye, but I don´t recommend you to pay 20 pounds for the ticket… too much expensive, better if you save them for the pubs! Cross Westminster Bridge towards The House of Parliament and if you want to visit Westminster Abbey don´t pay the 15 pounds ticket and attend to the mass (5pm) or to the Sunday organ concerts.

If you have time take a bus to Covent Garden and Leicester Sq and spend the evening in Waxy O´Connor, the tree pub. Take the typical photo in Piccadilly Circus and enjoy Soho, the gay area. O´Neills, an Irish pub, has live music everyday (Wardour St, free Entrance before 10pm).

DAY 3. You can sleep more today. Begin the day walking along Strand and watch the amazing building of The Courts of Justice. Continue towards St Paul Cathedral and, as always, don´t pay the ticket. Attend to the mass at 12.30pm and also visit the crypt. Go to the upper balcony of the New Age St mall and enjoy the cityscape. It´s almost the same view than from St Paul´s.

A Tate Modern exhibition

For having lunch go to O´Neills (65 Canon St). The gammon steak is the best (11 pounds) and also there are dishes for 5,99.

After cheering with pints cross the Millenium Bridge and visit the Tate Modern, one of the most important modern art museums in the world. Pass The Globe, the theatre designed by Shakespeare in the XVI century. Buy a deli in Borough market, take a photo in Bridget Jones door and review Southwark Cathedral (compulsory to take a pic in sitted in the cute pink chairs).

Continue walking down by the river and arrive to Tower Bridge, the one that can be raised and lowered. Cross it and surround Tower of London, the old roman wall and finish in St Katherine´s Dock, a little marina having a drink in Dicken´s Inn.

Little Venice

DAY 4. Let´s start with the British Museum. Go straight to the Egyptian and Greek galleries. Try a hot dog with all the toppings, even onion, from the guys at the main entrance and take the 134 in Great Russel St. Hop off in Warren St Station and walk to Regent´s Park. Walk the whole park, it´s awesome (don´t miss the little corridor with gardens and fountains, the waterfall and Queen´s Mary Gardens (find the Ingrid Berman´s roses!) If there´s good weather have a picnic and a short nap, you´ll need it... Pass the Zoo and walk all along Little Venice, the nicest canal in London, to get to Camden Market. It´s not so good now but it continues being cool. I recommend you the Stables, the punk shops in Camden High St and Cyberdog. If you are thinking on pubs, try the Underground or buy something in any off licence and stay in the canal.

Brick Lane shops

DAY 5. If your last day is Saturday go to Portobello Market in Notting Hill and hang around the streets, even Holland Park. If it´s Sunday, don´t think and go to the East, it´s the trendy area now. Get off in Liverpool St and take a bus to Columbia Road, where Flower Market opens from 8 to 3pm. After that go to Brick Lane, the biggest vintage market in the city. Find clothes, music, cameras... retro stuff! Also food, but in a different atmosphere. Eat smoked salmon and cheese or beef beigels in Beigel Bakery (Brick Lane, 1,50-4,50 pounds), order argentinian pastries made of beef, ham and cheese or tomato, basil and mozarella in Chango Empanadas (3 for 5 pounds) or lose your mind in the Sunday Market international food shops. Visit the art galleries around the area and ask any musician for a pick. Complete you album with the Rough Trade photo boot. Go to a live concert in 1001 or buy something in Tesco and drink in the street, it´s not forbidden. At night, go to Passing Clouds (1 Richmond St. 5 pounds before 10pm). I cannot tell you anything about this place, just discover it!
This is a good itinerary for five days but whatever you do, enjoy London!