How much to visit London?

[Onthelastdayofseptember]

Looking at last minute trip to London. For few days in half term (family of 4). Doesn't seem so bad when I look at individual prices, but adds up to over £1.1k for 3 nights...

Train £200
Accommodation zone 6 £500
Travel cards 4 days approx £120
Spends maybe £300 (we'd be self catering but would have to buy lunches x4, entrance fees to some things)

We can afford it but just seems a lot to justify. I'm keen as I want to take dc to London and don't think it'll be a lot cheaper if we book in advance next year. Dp thinks it's stupid to spend that much on 3 nights.

Any ways to do it cheaper? If we drive it'd be cheaper but more expensive to get parking.

Commuting in and out to zone 6 ? I would pay more for central london location where you can walk and bus out the door
You will spend less $ and not use up hours just getting in and out

If zone 6 is free accomodation or reason to be there eg family or friends that is different but if random oh it s cheaper then that is false economy for a london experience

Lunches ..tesco or boots meal deals, most museums have indoor picnic areas

Holiday inn express Wandsworth is very well located near the train station and minutes into central London. Often very well priced.

It has a small paid car park- quite hard to get in but there is a massive paid one opposite.

and holiday inn express include breakfast

And zone 2.

Hotels out near Excel can also be cheap- hiltons, IHG (holiday inn/express)

We drive. The train is too expensive for four people coming from the north. Even paying £10 or so for daily parking it's still cheaper.We choose a premier Inn on the outskirts but with fast connections - Wembley park is a good one as the Metropolitan line is quick. Normally about £100 a night for a family room. Hotel breakfast can be your main meal, so you're just looking at lighter meals to pay for.

We pick a mixture of free and paid for activities. Most often we see a show and go to an exhibition, but also do free museums and a sightseeing walk. It's never cheap, but you can manage the costs a bit. U11s are free on public transport as well.

We stay at the premier in Waterloo in family room before (3 of us). It’s pricier per night that other premier inns, but super central. I just hopped on bus sometimes as easier with pram, but mainly just walk around. So you can save prob half tube fairs staying central.

Drive to save on train costs - but factor in the Low Emissions Zone/Congestion charge if you are anywhere within the M25. I would look for accommodation next to a direct train into the area of London you want to see.

The other option is to postpone the trip until February as someone mentioned upthread and combine a day or two in London with some sightseeing outside of it.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Looked at various more central hotel family rooms, but I think once we factor food in its quite a lot more expensive, as well as all being in one small room.
So gone for original plan, which has reduced in price due to discounts on accommodation and changing train fares - works out about £450 accommodation, 200 train, then 28 travel. Will eat evening meals in (dc are really picky so eating out is tricky for us). Splurged on one day doing a paid thing, and booked natural history museum for another.

Prices are adding up but tricky to postpone trip to feb due to dp's work.

Any other tips for cutting costs on activities etc would be much appreciated!

@Onthelastdayofseptember

Skygarden is free but may be booked up for half term now.
Dont pay for a river cruised just do the clipper with Oyster cards
If any of you get any form of benefits I think there is a new offer for royal palaces to visit for £1 - includes Tower of london.
If you are doing Natural history then you could go Harrods food hall for lunch. It's amazing to walk round and they have a carvery type place that you can get roast meat sandwich's for about £7 each. Take it away and eat in the park over the road.

London parks are really nice and check out Groupon for things like river cruises.

I live in zone 6, nice safe area. A family room in the local Premier Inn for today is £102. 2 mins from station 25 mins to Waterloo.

Honestly I wouldn't stay in zone 6 if you're only here for three days. You spend ages and money travelling. I'm a zone 1 snob I admit but I'm also poor lol and living here means I can walk everywhere so no travel costs and for food there's Aldi/lidl/ Tesco locals you can shop in.

Travelodge is decent, they do large family rooms and normally the King's Cross one is quite cheap and it's not too far from Corams field which is a lovely family only playground with animals and a cafe up the road from The British museum which is free entry.

Other free things good for families;

Borough market, Tate Modern and the Southbank centre are all along the same stretch of river Thames.

Barbican centre has a cute little lakeside area to eat lunch and a nice children's library.

Hamleys toy store is great as they have toys out to play with and demonstrations, can spend ages in there.

Science museum, natural history museum and Hyde Park are in the same area. Get a bus there if staying elsewhere as kids are free on buses and it's £1.75 single fare for an adult.

Tips:
if there's no direct bus to where you're going, Walk as bit and get one from somewhere close by or walk a bit at the other end. Same with the tube, central London pretty walkable.

Leon is a quick and healthy-ish food choice, download the app and you'll collect points really quickly for a free meal.
Hope you have a lovely time

You can get 2 for 1 entry to lots of places if you show your train tickets/paper travel card. Some things do need to be booked in advance online. 2 for 1