The UK on a Budget
from Visit Britain
Want to make the most of your money in the UK? Here are some handy top tips to stop you breaking the budget on a night out.
Pubs and Bars
- Happy hours: If you’re heading to a bar for a drink or two, find out whether they run a happy hour and what time it is. Most bars run happy hours during weekdays, usually between the hours of 17:00 – 19:00. During these times you’ll find great deals and discounts on most drinks.
- Student hangouts: Students are the masters of thrift, so head for their hangouts and you’re guaranteed a budget-friendly night out! Student union bars are incredibly cheap, although you’ll need a student card to get in. If you haven’t got a student card, check out the bars surrounding the university and the student union.
- Backpacker’s bars: Like students, backpackers have got living on a budget down to a fine art form. Befriend a traveller and you’ve found the key to a cheap night out. Alternatively, visit the bars attached to youth hostels (e.g. Belushi’s, which you’ll find with most St Christopher’s Inn hostels) where they offer cheap deals on drinks.
- Promotions: Look out for promotions on drinks – these are usually advertised outside the bars and offer money off drinks. You might see more of them on weekdays than weekends, so keep your eyes peeled!
Nightclubs
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Ladies nights: Sorry guys, but this is just one for the girls. Lots of nightclubs run weekly 'Ladies Nights' where girls get free entry, just for being girls!
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Early entry: Some nightclubs charge an entry fee at peak club entry times, so the easiest way to avoid paying this is to go just before the charge kicks in (which is usually 21:00 - 22:00). Yes, the club might be empty at first, but it'll soon fill up (and you won't have to queue for hours for a drink!).
Nightlife
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Night walks & tours: Britain's great tours don't stop when the sun goes down - there are plenty of night walks to choose from. Why not try a Jack the Ripper walk (www.jacktheripperwalk.com/), Edinburgh's Ghosthunter Trail (www.mercattours.com/ghosthunter-trail.asp) or the London by Night Sightseeing Tour (www.london-by-night.net/?gclid=CNbgo7iLtJgCFQtOQgodvhCuUA)? Tickets won't break the bank, you'll avoid the daytime crowds and it's a great way to see a different side to Britain.
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London Lates: If you want to experience London's culture after dark, look no further than London Lates (www.lates.org/home) - a series of after-dark openings and events at famous London museums, galleries, libraries and art centres.
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Night-time views: The bright lights of Britain's cities make for fantastic views at night. See for yourself - the views of London from Primrose Hill or Greenwich Park (in the summer months) are amazing, as are the views of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat.
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Cheap cinema: If you think you can't have a night out at the cinema on a budget, think again. The Prince Charles Cinema (www.princecharlescinema.com/) in London's Leicester Square charges just £5 for a ticket in the evenings, and the Roxy Bar and Screen (www.roxybarandscreen.com/) in East London show films for just £3 and sometimes even free!
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Late-night grub: London is a 24-hour city, so if you're peckish after your cheap night out, head to a late-night restaurant to pick up a cheap but delicious snack. Brick Lane Beigel Bake is an East-End institution: both the meaty salt beef bagel, and cream cheese bagel (which costs just 80p!), have a reputation second to none.
Courtesy of Visit Britain . Reproduced with Permission.