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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
MrsHookey · 21/09/2021 22:28

The walking tours are brilliant value and really interesting.

Mumontheschoolrun · 21/09/2021 22:32

At tower bridge you are really close to where samuel Pepys is buried and could do the great fire of London walk for free - there is a great leaflet - will post in a second

There is also the memorial to all the merchant seamen to died in WWII ‘their only grave is the sea’ which is fascinating though of course very sad

The Malta memorial to commemorate the scarifies of Malta and the men who served there in WWII is also right by Tower Bridge

Spitalfields is within walking distance - beautiful Hawksmoor Church and the market

All free!

Mumontheschoolrun · 21/09/2021 22:34

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta_George_Cross_Memorial

Mumontheschoolrun · 21/09/2021 22:34

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Hill_Memorial

Mumontheschoolrun · 21/09/2021 22:35

Everything I’ve posted is close by, on foot and free - historical tour!

VestaTilley · 21/09/2021 22:40

Tate Modern is across the river and a bit further back towards town - that’s free.

Can you afford to take the bus or walk along to Trafalgar Square? It’s basically one straight line along Ludgate Hill, Fleet Street and the Strand to Trafalgar Square where you have the National Gallery, which is free.

The British Museum, Victoria & Albert, Science and Natural History Museums are all free and excellent. You can reach them all by bus, which is free.

I really wouldn’t go to London and just stay by Tower Hill; there’s not a lot there unless you’re going to the Tower of London (brilliant but expensive) or Tower Bridge or HMS Belfast.

If you’re not sure about bus routes download the City Mapper app or look them up on TfL.

Wandering along the South Bank or going to Borough Market near London Bridge on Saturday morning, or the Museum of London are also great and free.

St Paul’s Cathedral is near the Tower and is spectacular, though you may have to pay if you’re not going to a service.

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are also great and can be reached on a couple of buses or the Tube.

For good restaurants I’d suggest going near Borough Market or the South Bank near the Royal Festival Hall. The really good ones are in Soho and other parts of West and North London, but may be beyond your budget.

Do walk to Soho though- it’s near the National Gallery and China Town always looks great; you can eat a cheap Chinese meal there too. I hope you have a great time.

VestaTilley · 21/09/2021 22:41

I didn’t mean to say the buses are free! I’m tired - I meant they’re cheap, frequent and easy!

Tereseta · 26/09/2021 09:27

We are halfway through the weekend (DH is snoring next to me!) We used many suggestions from here yesterday, thank you all! We did the fire of london walk, walked along tower bridge and got to see it open!
Imperial War museum is today.
Food wise we started at liverpool Street and got lunch at Spitalfields Market, he had indian I had yummy pasta and got a free pudding from the coffee stall there cos we said it was his birthday 🙂
We have also used too good to go to get a teatime snack from Pret, two sandwiches, a pasta pot and various cakes for £3! We have one booked this morning for breakfast from one of the posher hotels nearby!
Had a few drinks last night around tower bridge starting Catherine's Dock overlooking some very impressive yachts and ending in the wetherspoons by the hotel when the pennies started running out! Also going to do the uber River bus today, thanks for making his birthday great Wine

OP posts:
jay55 · 26/09/2021 16:15

So glad you're having a good time. It's a bit grey but dry and pretty warm for the time of year.

Hope you have fun today too.

DollyPartBaked · 26/09/2021 21:09

Glad you're having a good time OP! Hope your DH was impressed with your research!

Slothkin · 27/09/2021 02:44

I’m so pleased to hear you’ve both had a lovely time! A very happy birthday to your chap 🥂

Slothkin · 27/09/2021 02:45

Oh - one last recommendation - Brasserie Zedel is absolutely gorgeous and very reasonably priced if you are near Picadilly Circus.

Slothkin · 27/09/2021 02:47

I’ve just realised you must be home and snug now - blumming insomnia!

NiceGerbil · 27/09/2021 03:09

I work next to tower bridge!

Assuming Thurs Fri sat are included-

Borough market is free and v interesting.
Leadenhall market is famous lovely and a short walk.
In the week. FREE. city of London has a free art gallery that is always empty and you can look at Roman ruins of the London wall down the stairs.
Are they still doing sculpture in the city? I'll check.
In the city wandering if you have a check first there are loads of interesting things.
Beautiful hidden church gardens.
Medieval churches to nose in.
The often missed grave of the unknown Roman girl under the gherkin.
Museum of London at Barbican.
I mean loads of free stuff. If weather nice just wandering around city looking at architecture and random golden gates. Guild places...

NiceGerbil · 27/09/2021 03:11

www.sculptureinthecity.org.uk/

I had a massive ai weiwei piece outside my workplace for months!

They all have map of other pieces and loads of info about the sculpture.

NiceGerbil · 27/09/2021 03:14

Sod fancy eateries.

Brick lane?
Street food in borough?

Town is overpriced and very variable.

Oh the other thing you can do is get river transport thing for cheap trip on Thames.

NiceGerbil · 27/09/2021 03:17

www.thamesclippers.com/explore-london

Thames clippers. Public transport- cheaper.

Link is their explore London page.

Have fun!

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