Top 10 Travel Tips - September 2007
Free Events and Saving Money in London
Back by popular demand is a Top Ten dedicated to saving you money when you set foot in London – otherwise known as one of the most expensive cities in the world! Here's a fact you might not know - the cost of living index in the British capital is 126.3, which is compared against a cost-of-living score for New York - set at 100. This makes London the second most expensive city in the world after Moscow. With that in mind we're going to show you how to have fun in London - without taking out a loan.
1. Free Live Music at the Royal Albert Hall
Head down to Ignite featuring the TG Collective, at the Royal Albert Hall on September 7, 2007. This is a free, midday music session and the collective brings together young musicians who like to have fun with jazz, gypsy, flamenco, classical and movie music! The line up with the TG Collective is different every time but it generally revolves around two acoustic guitars and a mass of powerful influences. It's set to run between 12 noon and 1.30pm and you can grab a cheap eat while you listen. For the best directions, acquaint a search engine with: Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 2AP.
2. Free Scottish Dancing Lessons
Another excitingly free and slightly more active activity can be sought out at the International Students House on Great Portland Street. Every Wednesday you can enjoy free Scottish Dancing Lessons, from 8pm. They are available to everyone, there is absolutely no charge and it's a great way to stave off the British lifestyle and body fat that the Aussies affectionately call the Heathrow Injection. Despite the venue you don't have to be a student to take part when you rock up at 229 Great Portland Street. For more information get in touch with the guys behind the magic on +44 (0) 20 7631 8305.
3. A Taste Of Bhangra
When your ears and feet are feeling a little weary why not give them a break and exercise your eyes at The Brunei Gallery? You'll find this at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Russell Square. The current exhibition is called From Soho Road to the Punjab and it covers 50 years of Bhangra music, culture and style in the UK. Better yet this stunning showcase will not cost you a penny and it's a great way to spend an afternoon exploring the heritage and tradition behind Bhangra. The exhibit is there until September 21, 2007 and you'll find it on Thornhaugh Street.
4. A Good Read With Amnesty International
We're a big fan of Amnesty International and when we found out they were having a City and Tower Hamlets Festival, we got a bit excited. When we found out it was free we had a reaction similar to that of a child eating E-number-laden chocolate for the first time. All you have to do to have fun with the global ethical warriors is head down to Christchurch Gardens in East London on September 16, 2007. The thinking behind the festival is quite inspired. Between 1pm and 5pm they will be selling books, donated to Amnesty International by newspapers who receive them for free - for their reviews. This means the books are brand new, published recently and priced competitively! There are also CDs and food for sale and live music. You'll find the gardens on Commercial Street, opposite Spitalfields Market.
5. There's Something A Little Bit Fishy About This
Not everyone is fan of fish but if you happen to love those healthy oils and don't mind the smell then you should definitely take yourself to London's 2007 Festival of Fish. This spectacular annual event is within easy striking distance of out Backpackers Hostel in London, (London Bridge in fact) and like all the best things in life, it's free! When you arrive at the south bank of the Thames, simply follow you nose to the Hay's Galleria. Here you will find some of the best fish and seafood from around the world. Significantly the dates of the event mark the start of the 2007 native oyster season so we're crossing our fingers for some free samples, on September 7, 8 and 9. There's also wine, champagne, Guinness, street entertainers, face painters and a live Caribbean steel band thrown into the mix. Click here for the gritty details.
6. Free Tai Chi
To say London is the calmest place in the world would be a bold face lie, punishable by a slap. On the flip side the resources thrown together in London make it easy to de-stress when the city decides to kick your ass. Every Wednesday in Hampstead you can take advantage of a completely free Tai Chi class, at 6pm. This North London session is held in the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel on Pilgrims Place and it's the perfect antidote to the trauma caused by the neurotic, self important, drones that appear to be taking over the world. The nearest underground train station is Hampstead on the Northern Line. They don't care how old you are or if you have any experience but the class survives off donations so if it helps you, why not throw a few pennies their way?
7. Free theatre with The Scoop at London Bridge
This is another great event going on within skipping distance of our trio of hostels, on Borough High Street. You'll find it at the More London venue, next to the Lord Mayor's building and near to the fishy Hay's Galleria, (mentioned in money saving tip number five)! This is the back end of the More London Free Festival and the organisers are celebrating this with six weeks of free theatre. It's only running until September 9 but you can still catch some great performances of The Grapes of Wrath and Disney's Jungle Book. Be warned though, these dramatisations about the depression in America and the musical stylings of Mowgli are immensely popular and the free places are allocated on a first come, first serve basis. They play every Wednesday to Sunday.
8. He was a Skater Boy, she said see you in London Boy.
OK so that's not the actual Avril Lavigne lyric but it is a great way to introduce you to a fantastic way of keeping fit on your travels – London Skate. Every Wednesday there's a night skate around London and this cardiovascular wonder won't make a dint in your travel funds. Head to the bandstand on Serpentine Road in Hyde Park for 7.30 and dare I say it, get your skates on. You and hundreds of other skaters will leave at 8pm, following the expert skater marshals on the 12 mile route. All abilities are welcome and there's a half time pub stop! Even if you can't skate there's still hope because the organisers offer free beginner lessons in the park after the main group has left. There's more information here.
9. Bargain Tea Dance Anyone?
Our penultimate penny pincher takes us towards another rhythmic money saving scheme - Tea Dances. These started out as a fun way to spend a quiet afternoon in the sleepy, yesteryear days of genteel England. Now they're a great way to combine cake eating with a spectrum of globally influenced dance styles. Head down to Wembley on Mondays and Wednesdays between 1.30pm and 4.30pm, pay £3 ($6 or €4.4) and then dance away. You can free-style, take a few hints from the local experts and there's a fully licensed bar to provide a bit a Dutch courage – if required. It's held in the 1000 capacity Brent Town Hall and conveniently, Wembley Park Tube is only a 5 minute walk away. It's not free but by London prices, this is cheap.
10. Flights At A Fraction Of The Price
Our final money saving tip covers an essential part of your trip to London - your flights in and out of this money magnet city. This tip comes to you from a source that we at St Christopher's regard as a money saving guru - Money Saving Expert! A new feature of this website is an amazingly comprehensive, complex and yet simple, search engine which delves into reserves of cheap flights that most online scanners don't! This is a testament to the fact that it's never been cheaper to get to the St Christopher's cities and when you're here, our regular top ten articles and travel tales, make it a lot easier to get by on a backpackers' budget. Take a look.
