Five things to do in London for under a fiver

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but with just a bit of imagination you can avoid its pricey side. Here you are five ideas to spend only your time and not your money when in the British capital.

Violet's cupcakes at Broadway Market

A Violet’s cupcake
 Cupcakes are a massive trend in London at the moment. Head to Hackney on a Saturday morning (10.00 to 14.00) and enjoy the Broadway Market, where Violet has its own stall. Vanilla sponge cupcakes topped with delicious icing, from Valhorna chocolate to English strawberry, are her specialty.

Don't panic, if you can make the market on a Saturday, go to her shop.
Violet
Wednesday to Saturday 10:30–6:00pm
Soon to open on Sundays


47 Wilton Way, E8 3ED, London
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A gig at Barfly
Normally for £5 before 9pm, you can get in Barfly to spot, as they claim in their website, the next big band of tomorrow. The affordable venue (you can also find Barfly in Brighton, York and Cardiff) has staged Franz Ferdinand, Coldplay and The Strokes among many others, so what they claim, to an extent, is true. The Camden branch 200-capacity upstairs gathers locals and shabby students who share a passion for music. Don’t miss Fly magazine, a free music magazine which started as a listings guide for Barfly venues.

49 Chalk Farm Road

London NW1 8AN

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A subterranean coffee

Located in the 18th century crypt of St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, the Café in the Crypt is a great choice for a calm coffee after a visit to the National Gallery or the West End theatres. Only a step from Trafalgar Square, its consistent pillars and the gravestones on the floor make the location not fit for those sissy. They are said to served one of the best afternoon teas in London (£5.75).

Opening times
Monday and Tuesday 8.00am – 8.00pm
Wednesday 8.00am – 10.30pm
(Jazz Night ticket holders only after 7.00pm)
Thursday–Saturday 8.00am – 9.00pm
Sunday 11.00am – 6.00pm


6 Saint Martin's Place, London WC2N
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Tate to Tate by boat

The Thames might not be the cleanest of the rivers, but still a boat ride offers a great scenery of the city. For five pounds you can take the Tate Boat, a catamaran service which runs every forty minutes during gallery open hours between the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern and enjoy the galleries' free art.

The Houses of Parliament and London Eye

Tickets can be purchased online, from Tate Modern, from Tate Britain or by calling 020 7887 8888 (9.45-17.50, Monday-Friday).

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Mrs. Kibbles Olde Sweet Shoppe
Go to Mrs. Kibbles Olde Sweet Shoppe for a great dose of 1950s nostalgia. A stone’s throw away from the busy Piccadilly Circus, this tiny vintage sweet shop inspires visions of childhood, even if you were not even born during the Fifties. All the sweets are stocked in big glass jars. To name but a few, bon bons, clove drops, butterscotch, bulls eyes, milk bottles, fizzy cola bottles... Selling by weight, most of them go for under a pound for one hundred grams. It is worth popping in to sweeten your day.
Opening times
Mon-Wed 10:00 - 18:00
Thu-Fri 10:00 - 19:00
Sat 11:00 - 19:00
Sun 12:00 - 16:00


57a Brewer Street
London W1F 9UL
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