Image Credit: Jolie Whittingham

Sun’s out, purse out. Whether you’re a student, unemployed, or a servant to the 9-to-5, the capital’s worsening cost of living spares no soul. However, an empty bank account shouldn’t hinder your social life. As the British heatwave beckons, board the sweaty Tube and let it carry you towards adventure on the streets of London.

Grab your Sambas, a colourful frock and your Primark sunnies, and listen up. London can be done on a budget. Like Potter’s own Grimmauld Place, you just need to know where to look…

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More…

The average Brit spends 25% of their annual income dining out. Based on my (obviously expert) opinion, I’d imagine the figure for Londoners is disproportionately higher, while portion sizes and quality continue to fall short. A bowl of £20 gruel, anyone?

The best way to find good grub at great value is to eat off-peak. Many food vendors offer affordable deals during limited hours (so be sure to check the fine print!). My favourite hidden gem is Mercato Metropolitano. With branches in Mayfair, Wood Wharf and Elephant and Castle, these stunning food courts are housed in repurposed churches. A literal foodie heaven. Some of their traders include Pad Thai House, Club Mexicana, Dez Amore Pasta, as well as cocktail and beer bars.

Image Credit: Jolie Whittingham

On a recent visit, I tried Dez Amore Pasta’s lunch special, and for £10 I tucked into a generous portion of their Gnocchi Arrabbiata. Deals often change and vary by vendor, so if you find yourself roaming London with a rumbling stomach, pop in!

What could be better than a £10 lunch? Possibly 50% off your entire bill at hundreds of London restaurants. Yeah… that sounds pretty good.

The app First Table, for a small booking fee, offers 50% off your meal if you dine at off-peak times. I also thought this sounded suspiciously too good to be true. The only ‘catch’ I’ve uncovered is that certain restaurants have terms and conditions, such as requiring you to purchase a drink, that need to be met to receive the discount.

Image Credit: Jolie Whittingham

I recently visited Pasta Nostra, a quaint Italian spot in East London, serving freshly made pasta and some of the most flavourful sauces I’ve tried. I’d recommend their Chilli Crab Amalfi Spaghetti, which costs just £9 through First Table.

Liquid Assets

You’ve lined your stomach, now you’re ready to hit the pubs. If only a pint didn’t cost an arm and a leg, and then the rest… While the easy answer would be to visit one of London’s 37 Wetherspoons, their sticky floors and greasy atmosphere don’t exactly showcase the best the city has to offer.

Instead, keep an eye out for the frequent offers run by pub chains. For example, Greene King is currently running a promotion offering £3 Peroni and Aperol Spritz, alongside a 20% student discount on all drinks through UNiDAYS. If you sign up via the app, you’ll also get the chance to spin the wheel, classic game show style, for the chance to win free food or drinks.

My top tip: if you’re a sucker for freebies (and who isn’t?), sign up with different email addresses for multiple spins and, therefore, multiple chances to win.

A Brit’s favourite buzzwords: Guinness. £4. All day. Every day.

Image Credit: Jolie Whittingham

This promotion is being run by Simmons Bars, alongside their classic Happy Hour deals from 4 pm to 9 pm. So, if, like me, you think stout tastes like metal and gas, you can instead explore their two-for-one cocktails, £18 cocktail teapots, and £2.50 single spirit-and-mixer deals.

The Best Things in Life Are Free

We’ve all attempted the ambitious ‘no-spend’ day out. With a packed lunch, a water bottle and your own two feet, anything is possible in London.

One of the city’s greatest boasts is its wealth of free museums. To name but a few: the National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Alongside paid exhibitions, these museums offer free access to their main halls and permanent collections.

Image Credit: Jolie Whittingham

My only warning is to try to avoid getting stuck behind 100 children on school trips with their larger-than-life backpacks and sticky hands. Then again, my warning is pretty useless, as they somehow find a way to appear when you least expect it.

London’s free activities are also perfect for dates with your partner or your friends. One of my new favourite spots is the cosiest, most romantic place to take in the London skyline. Tucked away at 120 Fenchurch Street is a skyscraper with a rooftop garden, free to access if you can handle the queues. Or, follow my lead and irk the security by turning up 20 minutes before closing, when you can breeze straight through.

Image Credit: Jolie Whittingham

There is no shortage of rooftop gardens in London. Another stunning spot is the Barbican Conservatory. While getting tickets can feel like trying to secure seats for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, the effort is worth it for a lush green paradise in one of London’s vibrant cultural hubs.

As we enter the final stretch before payday, take the opportunity to uncover the oxymoron that is affordable London.