She Strengthens

London Calling: A Budget Breakdown

Taking Flight

I recently embarked on a four-day adventure to London with my best friend, a trip I’d been saving for over a year. With a budget of around €500, I was excited to explore this vibrant city. We live near Venice, Italy, so we had to fly to London. Instead of meticulously researching flights, we stumbled upon a Ryanair deal and snapped it up. Our total flight cost? £40.12 each, including check-in services and seat selection.

Getting Around

Since Ryanair lands at London Stansted, about 50 km from the city center, we opted for the Stansted Express to get to London. Booking in advance scored us a discount, and we paid £20.98 each for both train rides. For the rest of our trip, we relied on the tube, purchasing an Oyster card for £35 each. Our total transportation cost? £96.10 per person.

Hostel Happiness

To save on accommodation, we chose a hostel, taking advantage of mid-February prices. We booked through the hostel’s website, using a discount code we found, and paid £48.80 each for three nights in a female-only dorm with its own bathroom. This included perks like free breakfast, a 20% discount at an affiliated bar, and free luggage storage.

Food for Thought

This is where our budgeting went awry. Food was surprisingly expensive, and we struggled to adjust to big-city prices. Despite free breakfast at the hostel, I spent £101.03 on meals and snacks. While our lunches were satisfying, our dinners were disappointing – we played it too safe, worried about overspending. In hindsight, we could have splurged a bit more on nicer dinners.

Souvenirs and Surprises

I did, however, indulge in some fun purchases: £40 at the Harry Potter shop, £5 on postcards, and £5 for a locker. The rest of our activities – visiting the British Museum, National Gallery, and taking walks in Notting Hill and Hyde Park – were free.

The Bottom Line

My total trip cost came out to £282.55, less than I’d budgeted. However, skimping on dinners lowered the quality of my trip. Next time, I’ll prioritize spending on meaningful experiences over saving a few pounds.