Is this enough money to get two people through one week in London?

Question

So I am paying for my brother and I both to go to England (we live in the U.S. if that makes any difference). We leave tomorrow night, and I have been saving up for this for the past 6 months, and I keep freaking out because I do not think I have enough money. I have already paid for the flights to and fro, the trains we are taking to and fro, and the tours we are taking, so those big monetary problems are already out of the picture - thank the Lord. XD The only things I have left to purchase are food (which we are going to get breakfast/lunch foods from the grocery store and just pack them with us when we go on our tours and eat at pubs for dinner), 7-day Travelcards for the both of us, cab fare from Heathrow to Kensal Green - where we are staying - and the return Kensal Green to Heathrow, and the hostel fare we are staying at (this trip is completely bare minimum because that is all I can afford, so yes, go hostel!). I have 1200 pounds, and a little over 100 U.S. dollars (in case of emergencies). Is this enough?! D8

Answer 1

Yeh you'll get by on that. But I'm guessing you've not done much travelling.

Don't eat in pubs eat in cafes ("greasy spoons" as they are known) over here. You'll get a decent meal and coffee / tea for around the £5.00 mark. Pubs will be more expensive. Although if you look for "Witherspoons" pubs then they do cheap food at the bar. Their beer is cheap too but they're not the most entertaining of pubs. Personally I'd choose the greasy spoon option.

You say you're buying 7 day travel cards (what zones?) but you also say you're booked on tours. You won't have time to use your Travelcards if you're on a tour will you ?. Have you looked into whether it might not be better to buy an Oyster card ? Yest it's cheaper to by a 1 week Travelcard (you can load this onto an Oyster card) IF you're going to make proper use of it. But depending on how much time you're going to be on tours just doing it with an Oyster card MAY be cheaper. And buy an Oyster anyway. They're like a credit card so they're not gonna get lost / damaged before they've run out. Check them out here. https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do

WHYYYYY are you taking a cab from Heathrow to Kensal Green and back ?????? There's two days living expenses gone already. Use the tube. (underground)

Piccadilly line to Hammersmith come out of the station, walk across the road to the 'otherj' Hammersmith station (Met line) take that to Paddington and then get the Bakerloo Line to Kensal Green.

I hope your brother appreciates what you're giving him lol ;-)

Mail if you want anything explained

You'll have a great time over here.

And I hope your brother appreciates what you're giving him lol ;-)

Answer 2

On a budget yet you're getting a taxi to Kensal Green? Have you any idea what that will cost? Get the Underground - Piccadilly line from LHR and change to the Bakerloo line at Piccadilly Circus.



Do you need 7 Day Travelcards if you're going on trains and tours? You may well do but they're an expensive luxury if you don't use them. Consider Pay As You Go Oyster.



EDIT: Two people should be able to eat very well on £500 a week. You could probably manage nicely on £250.



Thank you for being considerate about the tube. The Piccadilly line has spaces in the carriages for luggage (it does go to the airport, after all) and plenty of people (not just tourists) have all sorts of bags and boxes and stuff so don't worry about that.

Answer 3

For god's sake DONT get a cab at Heathrow, they are very VERY expensive, do a little research and find the bus route from Heathrow to Kensai Green, there are bus stops right near the airport. If it's a short journey they will charge you a 'fixed rate' which can be scandalouly expensive.



If you're feeling adventurous get the bus into Slough and get a train into central London and use the tube, it'll save you a fortune.



Other than that you should be fine.

Answer 4

you know what the hostel costs, work it out.



find a Tesco metro or small Sainsburys (google it) for best food prices.



cab fare from Heathrow to Kensal Green is not the behaviour of budget travellers. Wait until the tube opens and use it if you land too late for the tube. Also tours and budget don't go together, nor do nightly pub meals.



add up your hostel costs and tell us what is left.



you have travel insurance, I hope?

Answer 5

Sounds like it should be enough, you might even find a pub with a 2 for 1 offer on.

I agree about cabs too, public transport might be confusing but it is fairly cheap.

Answer 6

Unless you're planning on buying lots of expensive shopping items then that will be plenty.



Just keep track of how much you've spent per day.



Hope this helps and enjoy your time in London =)

Answer 7

wanted to add a suggestion

- check out the Heathrow Connect ( not the Express train) and see if that works for yo

it will take you into Paddington ( as well as a few other stops) for just under 18 pounds roundtrip



https://www.heathrowconnect.com/content.asp?SID={03FDEB32-6EC1-4F85-AAC8-28E323CA1CB8}&pageid=30

Answer 8

that should be about enough, but to be on the safe side, i would take a couple of hundred more.

Answer 9

That should be fine!