A Tourist’s Guide to Britain on a Budget

Britain is great – otherwise it wouldn’t be called Great Britain, right?! It’s got something for everyone (barring the weather), and that’s why so many people have ditched the foreign holidays for ‘staycations’ and so many come over from overseas for a while to see what all the fuss is about.

Okay, Britain might not be as exotic as the Maldives or as fancy as the South of France, its zoo’s might be nothing compared to an African safari and it’s not as huge and overwhelming as America, but it does work for people looking for a holiday on a budget – without it coming across as a “cheap” break.

There’s nothing worse than spending your hard-earned money on a holiday, only to discover that it’s the wrong side of affordable, and that the hotels are poor and there’s nothing to do. Britain – and this is where it does have the edge over other countries – isn’t so big that you can’t get around most of it in a few days or weeks, taking in a bit of everything.

It’s entirely possible to spend several days in and around England, then a few more taking in Scotland, Wales and even Ireland if you wish, and it’s not going to break the bank. To prove it, here are three typical tourist activities that you can do if you’re looking to explore Britain on a budget:

The Coast

As an island, Britain has an endless coastline. It’s entirely possible to see several of the top beaches in the country during one two-week holiday and you don’t even necessarily have to board a plane like you might in America or Spain for example.

In a survey conducted by greatbritishbingo.co.uk, the nation decided that their favourite beach was in Blackpool, in the North West of England. Just an hour from Manchester and less from Liverpool, you can combine your cultural break to two of the country’s most popular cities with a day or two at the beach.

The best thing about Blackpool is that, along with having a nice beach, it has the famous Pleasure Beach with fairground rides open all-year-round, and the iconic Tower overlooking the town.

If Blackpool isn’t for you, then the other favourites in the survey included Bournemouth and Brighton on the South coast or there is Skegness or Whitby on the East.

Landmarks

The Angel of the North, the Eye in London, Stonehenge and all of the other famous British landmarks can all be seen relatively easily without having to get on a plane or take out a loan! Some allow you to go right up to them and touch them, others require tickets to get on for a ride (such as the Eye).

One of the most famous tourist ideas is the traditional open-top tourist bus around London (other cities do do this), allowing you to see everything from Buckingham Palace and Downing Street to the Tower of London in one day, freeing you up to see the other attractions throughout your break.

Museums and Galleries

Each city in Britain has its own museum and range of galleries, and the best thing about these British attractions is that they’re all free. Ok, some might charge you a “donation” towards the upkeep of the building and the attractions, but there is no need to pay over the odds to see an exhibit if you don’t want to.

With plenty of different exhibits to see from the Imperial War Museum to the Ancient History Museum or even the Space Centre in Leicester in the Midlands, there’s something to keep the adults and the kids entertained for a few hours without having to spend spend spend.