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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for help for a cheap day out near Tower Bridge

93 replies

Tereseta · 19/09/2021 23:03

I'm taking my OH to London for his birthday and we are staying one night by Tower Bridge. We have no idea of where things are London and are on a minimal budget. Are there any free/low cost places near there to visit. Also are there many places to eat and drink round there or will we need to travel. Sorry, very clueless and have ended up in a Google black hole.

OP posts:
EvilRingahBitch · 19/09/2021 23:18

Depends what you're into. But you could do worse than wander up the South Bank of the Thames just seeing all the sights.
Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, Borough Market, Golden Hinde, The Globe, Tate Modern (free to enter), Millennium Bridge, St Paul's (from the outside), the buskers, the London Eye. There's a huge amount to see if you've never been.

There are a few nice places to eat just on the other side of Tower Bridge, depending on your budget.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 19/09/2021 23:18

On the other side of Tower Bridge (north of the river) there's St Katherine Docks, which has a lot of nice chain places that are reasonably priced, eg Côte Brasserie. Or walk along the south bank of the river to Shakespeare's Globe and just near there is a row of other nice standard places like The Real Greek.

If you're going at the weekend, I really like wandering around the City of London (banks etc) as it's really empty at weekends and the architecture is great.

The Tower of London is expensive but is worth it if you haven't been and like history.

EvilRingahBitch · 19/09/2021 23:20

But if it's his birthday and you don't do London often the key question is what would he most like to do and what's he into?
Buzzy? Hipster? Arty? Historic? Architectural? Views? Movie locations?

EvilRingahBitch · 19/09/2021 23:25

I personally rate Tavolino, which has the most amazing view of Tower Bridge.

SevenOldLadies · 19/09/2021 23:25

I recommend this on almost every London thread - it’s free if you can book tickets and quite near Tower Bridge

skygarden.london/

Also a river trip is good - the commuter boat is fairly low cost and there’s a pier by either London Bridge or the Tower of London, although if you’ve walked along to the London Eye (which I’d recommend), getting the boat from there probably gives the best experience

booking.thamesclippers.com

EvilRingahBitch · 19/09/2021 23:26

I agree that a Clipper up the river (or back home after a walk) is very good value for money.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 19/09/2021 23:27

There's loads of things you can do for free/cheaply. What kind of things do you think he'd like? Is he into museums, architecture, gardens/parks, hippy, foodie?

RaspberryBerry · 19/09/2021 23:28

I second the Skygarden, if you can’t get the free option you can still book a restaurant, the views are amazing!

Noodella18 · 19/09/2021 23:30

If it's your kind if thing, all the museums are free. Natural history museum is amazing. It's not near Tower Bridge, but isn't that far on the tube. Tbh I think you'd really be limiting yourself if you just stuck to 'near tower bridge'.

SuziLikeSuziQ · 19/09/2021 23:32

My favourite walk starts from there, on the south bank going along to London Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Golden Hinde, Clink Prison etc. Also, Shad Thames is nice for a bit of a stroll and if it's low tide there's a little beach you can go down onto right beside Tower Bridge. Plenty of places to eat, too, although as said above there are some places north of the river too.

ElizabethTudor · 19/09/2021 23:32

You can go into St Paul’s for free for evensong. I think it’s 5pm on a Saturday evening (but check the website), and it’s beautiful.

www.stpauls.co.uk/choral-evensong-at-st-pauls-1

AllTheWorldIsGreen · 19/09/2021 23:34

Tate Modern is close enough and plenty to see for free there. You need to book (free) tickets in advance and there are a couple of (great) exhibitions that you would have to pay for to see. It is my all-time favourite London day-out and I have lived in London for most of my life.

therarebear · 19/09/2021 23:34

The Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie building is free to visit. You do need to book in advance though. It's lovely up there and the views are 360 across the city, absolutely amazing. You could buy coffee and cake up there in the cafe, or even take a Pret sandwich lunch (if you're keeping your costs down) and sit in one of the garden bits or by some big windows in the top level!
skygarden.london/visit/how-to-visit-2/

Spikeyplants · 19/09/2021 23:36

Many museums are free, but just walking along the Thames is nice too.

Do you have any tesco vouchers? These can be converted and used at many attractions and restaurants.

Are you travelling by train to London? You can get a two together pass. Costs £30, but you get 30% off train travel for a year, so can use it on other trips. I don't think it gives a discount on the London tube, but does for all national rail lines. I used it for London to Edinburgh, and even paying the £30, we saved on that one trip alone.

www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/

Original poster
Tereseta · 19/09/2021 23:38

@SevenOldLadies

I recommend this on almost every London thread - it’s free if you can book tickets and quite near Tower Bridge

skygarden.london/

Also a river trip is good - the commuter boat is fairly low cost and there’s a pier by either London Bridge or the Tower of London, although if you’ve walked along to the London Eye (which I’d recommend), getting the boat from there probably gives the best experience

booking.thamesclippers.com

Great suggestions, Sky garden looks amazing but is fully booked but will look at boat trips. He loves history and military so the museums could be good, just thought they were a bit far.

Its our first child free trip in 4 years for one night so we want to do something that wouldn't appeal to a four year old! Some great suggestions here, I will look at the resteraunt in the sky garden instead.

OP posts:
ThePlantsitter · 19/09/2021 23:38

Borough market is an easy walk from tower Bridge and is on at weekends (possibly Thursdays I can't remember) Fri - Sun. Good food that's not exactly cheap bit is Street food so not posh posh. Then a walk down the South Bank. If you fancy the London eye or something you can get 2 for 1 tickets with a train ticket.

FlowerArranger · 19/09/2021 23:38

Most of the best free/cheap things to do have been mentioned. There also the Imperial War Museum near Waterloo.

I'd suggest Evensong at Westminster Abbey on Sunday, sometimes preceded by a free organ recital. The No 11 bus is a great, super cheap sightseeing tour. St. James's Park is beautiful.

ThePlantsitter · 19/09/2021 23:41

Yes Imperial war museum is a longish walk or a quick public transport ride from tower bridge and is free (have to book like everything else now)

Original poster
Tereseta · 19/09/2021 23:43

We are driving as the train tickets (even the early ones) didn't come below £180 for all of us Angry even with the rail card! We are bringing DD and leaving her at my sisters then getting the train into London from her house in Essex. I like the idea of St Paul's and the river walk with drinks along the way.
Knew I would get some ideas on here!

OP posts:
JW13 · 19/09/2021 23:45

For dinner you could look at Padella (Italian) and El Pastor (Mexican) both in Borough Market (I don't think you can book either). Both have great food and quite reasonable plus very buzzy/popular.

Original poster
Tereseta · 19/09/2021 23:46

Booked the imperial was museum for Saturday afternoon Smile

OP posts:
avamiah · 19/09/2021 23:47

I would definitely jump on the clipper boat as it’s great for sight seeing and I would jump off at the London Eye( SouthBank) for a lovely walk.
China town is great for dim sum at lunch time and you must go Hyde Park as it’s just stunning.
You could also take a sight seeing bus tour which you can jump on and off and they are really good value.

I would Avoid Madame Tussaud’s as it’s a tourist trap and very expensive.
Hope I’ve helped.

EvilRingahBitch · 19/09/2021 23:48

Imperial War Museum is great - about 40 minute walk or half an hour by bus from Tower Bridge. You could easily walk back up to Waterloo from IWM and take a Clipper back - or vice versa.

Or if he'd really enjoy it you could splash out on tickets for HMS Belfast or the Cabinet War Rooms. The War Rooms in particular are amazing, but at around 25 quid a head for each, probably outside your budget.

whiteroseredrose · 19/09/2021 23:51

If you travel to London by train look up www.daysoutguide.co.uk. It is linked to National Rail and has loads of 2 for 1 offers eg on the Tower of London, River Trips, Shakespeare's Globe, View from the Shard etc. You need to book in advance since Covid.

Spikeyplants · 19/09/2021 23:53

The shard is very close to Tower Bridge. They have a viewing platform, but there is a fee. Another option is going to the Aquashard restaurant/bar. Its not as high as the viewing level, BUT, it provides fantastic views.

You can book the restaurant- but equally, just go for a drink. You used to be able to go to the bar without a reservation, have a drink, admire the view and take some pics. It works out as a much cheaper option than the viewing platform and much nicer IMO.