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Great Value Britain:A Guide

Quintessentially British experiences that won’t hurt your wallet

14 FREE things to do in Britain

www.visitbritain.com

2 Great Value Britain

ContentsQuintessentially British experiences that won’t hurt your wallet 3 5 value experiences in London 4 5 ways to have maximum fun on a minimum budget in Britain 6

14 free things to do in Britain 10 Travelling round Britain by public transport 13 London transport 14 The rest of Britain 15 Everywhere in Britain is really close and easy to reach 16

Great-value accommodation 17 In the city 18 Outside the city 19

17 affordable ways to dine in Britain 20

Pocket-friendly walking tours 25

Bargain shopping 29

England 28 Wales 28 Scotland 28 Northern Ireland 28


Quintessentially British experiences that won’t hurt your walletWhat do you think of when you think of coming to Britain: taking afternoon tea; seeing iconic sights; shopping ‘til you drop; strawberries and Pimms at Wimbledon? You can do all of this on budget, and still have spare cash for a top-notch dinner.

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5 value experiences in London1. See the sights on a bus tourAnd when we say bus, we mean a regular London bus www.tfl.gov.uk, with a regular bus fare. Head upstairs and try and nab the front seats, then you’re in prime position for some bargain sightseeing. Route number 24 takes in some top central sights. Board at Westminster Abbey, wave to the British government as you pass Downing Street, get a pigeon’s-eye view of Trafalgar Square, then hop off in the West End for a half-price show (see below), or explore the characterful streets of Soho. You can hop back on the 24 as it continues on to Camden, famous for its music scene, or stay on to the end of the route at Hampstead. There you can spot celebrities walking their dogs on pretty Hampstead Heath, and get a fantastic view over London from the top of the hill.

The number 9 is another great bus route, particularly as the bus is normally an old-style Routemaster – London’s iconic double-decker red bus with an open staircase at the back. Begin your ride at Somerset House, take in Trafalgar Square (get off here if you want to see the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery – both free entry), continue through

Knightsbridge where you can window shop at Harrods, then pass the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace, the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Near the end of its route, the bus stops at Holland Park where you can admire the Japanese garden and resident peacocks!

2. Catch a West End showGoing to see a show in London’s West End is a memorable experience – revel in the whole ritual from pre-theatre dinner (most West End restaurants offer this value menu), to immersing into the bustle and anticipation of seeing some of the world’s best theatre productions. For a genuine Shakespearean experience, head over to The Globe www.shakespearesglobe.com where you can get standing tickets for just £5 (CAD$10) for all performances.

Bonus value tip: Make sure you order a Visitor Oyster Card www.visitbritainshop.com/oyster before you arrive in Britain to save money and time – then you can start using it as soon as you land.

Bonus value tip: For excellent on-the-day deals and half-price bargains, head to the TKTS www.tkts.co.uk booth in Leicester Square. If you’re in London during January and February, make the most of the Get Into London Theatre www.getintolondontheatre.co.uk scheme, which has more than 65 top shows selling tickets for £10-40 (CAD$20-81); booking starts in December.

All prices correct at time of print. CAD$ conversions approximate


3. Spend the day at Wimbledon Yes, there’s a bargain way to pick up the atmosphere when the spotlight falls at world-famous Wimbledon www.wimbledon.com in June/July every year. Grounds Admission tickets to the Championships can be as little as £15 (CAD$30), gaining you access to all but the main courts for an entire day. Be prepared to queue for the tickets, but then it wouldn’t be Britain otherwise, would it?!

4. Shop for top brands with 20% offGet a free VIP pass giving up to 20% off in London’s top shopping centres – Westfield London or Westfield Stratford City – when you buy any item on the VisitBritain shop www.visitbritainshop.com/vip. The shopping centres have a mixture of all the well-known chain stores and designer outlets, as well as fun non-shopping activities like bowling. Who doesn’t love a bargain and some bowling?!

5. Afternoon tea for a bargain priceAfternoon tea – the perfect combination of Britishness and deliciousness. Towering with delights both sweet and savoury: sandwiches, scones, cakes, and of course served with a steaming hot pot of tea.

Afternoon tea can be taken in all sorts of places throughout Britain – tea rooms, hotels and even museums. London’s Fan Museum consistently wins praise for its ‘best value’ afternoon tea, priced only £7 (CAD$14), and is served in the genteel Orangery www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/orangery.

Manchester’s fun and funky Northern Quarter is home to plenty of cute cafes to take tea at: Teacup Kitchen www.teacupandcakes.com is a favourite, and their afternoon tea comes at a good value £16 (CAD$32) for 3 tiers of homebaked goodies that will fill you up for the rest of the day, or if it’s just the scones you’re after, you can opt for the £6.80 (CAD$13.78) cream tea.

Over in Cardiff the Waterloo Tea Rooms www.waterlootea.com, set in an Edwardian park, serves a delightful homemade 3-tiered tea for £13.50 (CAD$27.36) a head.

Bonus value tip: The Grounds Admission ticket drops for entry after 5pm (prices differ depending on the date – it’s cheaper to go during the second week of the tournament and on Sundays).

Bonus value tip: To save on entry fees to top attractions and public transport while travelling in Britain, get value-for-money passes and saver tickets from the VisitBritain shop www.visitbritainshop.com/vip, and then you’ll get the free 20% off shopping VIP pass.

Bonus value tip: Check out www.afternoontea.co.uk for special offers and deals. It’s a comprehensive resource for where to find afternoon tea all over Britain.

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5 ways to have maximum fun on a minimum budget in Britain1. Check off Britain’s stately homes and castlesBritain is teeming with castles and stately homes, telling the stories of lords and ladies, knights and battles, pomp, pageantry and upstairs-downstairs scandals. So many remain in their original splendour and are ready to be explored just as though their former inhabitants had popped out for tea.

Bonus value tip: It’s worth investing in a pass so you can get to see lots of places on your trip and not worry about entrance fees. The VisitBritain shop sells The National Trust touring pass (£25) (CAD$51) www.visitbritainshop.com/ntpass, which pays for itself after just a couple of visits to their wonderful properties – and there are plenty to choose between: from Winston Churchill’s home Chartwell, to Game of Thrones filming location Castle Ward in Northern Ireland, and magical Powis Castle and Garden in Wales. For Scotland, get the National Trust Discover Ticket (£22.50) (CAD$46) www.visitbritainshop.com/ntscot, which lasts 14 days. Choose from Culzean Castle, the Glencoe Visitor Centre (Glencoe was a Skyfall filming location) and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Chatsworth Peak District


2. Mysterious stone circle – and a pubSo you’ve seen the mighty Stonehenge, did you know just down the road is another, lesser-known but no less mystical stone circle? Yes, the village of Avebury www.visitbritain.com/avebury is practically built around a stone circle that you can wander freely around.

3. Enjoy the gameIf you follow the Barclays Premier League, there is nothing like actually experiencing it live for yourself in Britain. Going to a match can be cheaper than you think: Thomas Cook Sport Match Break www.thomascooksport.com/Football/Premier-League packages start from £79 (CAD$160), which includes a match ticket and a hotel stay. On Stadium tours fans can go ‘backstage’ and even get to run through the players’ tunnel out onto the pitch. You can book on the VisitBritain shop www.visitbritainshop.com/sportstours.

Bonus value tip: Linger longer in Avebury with a stop in the village pub where you can sit and puzzle over the stones while supping a refreshing pint of local ale.

Bonus value tip: While you’re in Manchester don’t miss out on the National Football Museum www.nationalfootballmuseum.com, which has free entry and is home to the world’s greatest collection of football paraphernalia. You can try a penalty shoot-out and even smell famous players’ socks – should you wish...


4. Blend your own whisky at a distilleryMany Scottish distilleries offer the chance to do a tour and a taste, and Glengoyne www.glengoyne.com – just an hour from Edinburgh by car – lets you go a step further and bottle your very own blend, meaning your trip lasts even longer! The tour is a fascinating insight into a real Scottish distillery, showing the process from source to end product (even including a peek into some very pricey, very old whiskies brewing in their barrels).

Then it’s down to you: choose from different strength whiskies and get to work nosing, tasting, and blending, before leaving with a bottle of your very own blend. At £55 (CAD$111), the Malt Master Tour is excellent value.

Bonus value tip: To just take a tour and a taste is £8.50 (CAD$17), with a £5 (CAD$10) voucher towards products in the shop.


5. Walk into a postcard in WalesWales is the only country in the world with a continuous hiking trail along its entire coastline – The Wales Coast Path www.walescoastpath.gov.uk. Along the way you’ll get to see Wales’ stunning and diverse landscape as well as meet some locals. When you reach the Isle of Anglesey you will fall in love with the landscape, just like William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, did when they set up home there.

There are a whopping 600 castles in Wales! Beaumaris www.beaumaris.com in Anglesey is said to be ‘the most technically perfect castle in Britain’, and is a reasonable £5.25 (CAD$811) to visit.

Bonus value tip: New types of accommodation options are springing up, offering a completely unique experience as well as a comfy bed for the night. Canopy and Stars www.canopyandstars.co.uk is a collection of quirky and stylish properties, including wonderfully wild ‘safari’ lodges located minutes from a beautiful beach, starting at £87 (CAD$176) per night.


14 free things to do in BritainBritain is one of the best countries in the world to enjoy genuine and high-quality experiences, without spending a penny. The government has ensured most of the biggest and best museums and art galleries are free for all to enter, then there’s walking tours, cultural activities and events galore, not to mention our astounding natural landscapes all waiting to be explored.

British MuseumLondon


1. Many of Britain’s best museums and galleries are free to visit www.visitbritain.com/freemuseums. London’s British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, V&A, and Tate Modern; elsewhere Tate Liverpool, National Museum of Scotland… These are just some of the big guys, and there are hundreds of others everywhere you go in the country.

2. You can step inside many of Britain’s fine cathedrals and ancient churches for free. Consider the splendour of Durham Cathedral www.durhamcathedral.co.uk in Northeastern England, or catch King’s College Chapel’s www.kings.cam.ac.uk famous Christmas Eve carol service in Cambridge, an hour from London by train.

3. Climb a true Northern Irish landmark for free – the 125ft-high Scrabo Tower www.discovernorthernireland.com has wondrous views over the sea, not far southeast of Belfast.

4. Britain’s stunning natural wonders will keep you busy, for no charge. In Scotland, Ben Nevis www.visitbritain.com/ben is the UK’s highest mountain, and can be climbed in 4 hours along a steady path. Or try and spot Nessie in nearby Loch Ness www.visitbritain.com/nessie. In Wales, a short drive west of the capital Cardiff, you’ll reach Rhossili Bay www.visitswanseabay.com, which regularly tops the lists of the world’s best beaches.

5. While some Banksy works sell for millions, others by the mysterious graffiti artist remain open to all. Follow a Banksy Walking Tour around Bristol www.visitbristol.co.uk to spy some of his best pieces, like The Grim Reaper on a harbourside houseboat.

6. You can see more ground-breaking art at Crosby Beach, near Liverpool www.visitliverpool.com where 100 ghostly, life-size iron figures stand at intervals for half a mile (1km) into the sea. It’s an installation by sculptor Antony Gormley called Another Place.

7. Free guided walks can be found in most cities. Take in the iconic Royal Crescent in the gorgeous Georgian city of Bath www.bathguides.org.uk, Southwestern England. Further north, choose between culture and architecture by getting the free Manchester Walking Tours app.


8. Immerse yourself into Edinburgh’s eclectic and world-famous Fringe Festival www.edfringe.com, with hundreds of free shows – drama, comedy, cabaret, spoken word and more. When the festival kicks off in August, just stroll along the city’s Royal Mile and take your pick.

9. Pick up a bicycle and you’re free to explore Britain’s scenic cycle routes www.sustrans.org.uk. An hour from London, the Crab & Winkle Way is a leafy, 7-mile route following a former railway line and links the cathedral city of Canterbury with the oyster-fishing village of Whitstable.

10. Find out what all the fuss is about Britain’s festivals. A London highlight is the famous Notting Hill Carnival www.thenottinghillcarnival.com that takes over the streets in August, or head to Cardiff Summer Festival www.cardiff-festival.com – a blur of street theatre, music and funfair rides.

11. Stonehenge inspired you to explore mysterious stone circles? In Northern Ireland you’re free to enter the wild and atmospheric Beaghmore Stone Circles www.discovernorthernireland.com, a 90-minute drive west from Belfast. Look out for the Dragon’s Teeth with some 800 separate slabs.

12. One of Britain’s classic royal spectacles, the Changing of the Guard www.changing-the-guard.com ceremonies that take place outside London’s Buckingham Palace don’t cost a penny to view.

13. Gain unrivalled free access to heritage sites and buildings during Scotland’s Doors Open Days www.doorsopendays.org.uk on September weekends.

14. Amazingly, some of Wales’s many castles are free to explore, such as little-known Dryslwyn Castle www.cadw.gov.wales – even though it has fabulous valley views from its regal hilltop perch.

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Travelling around Britain by public transportEverywhere in Britain is so close and the country has such a comprehensive public transport network it means any journey is quick, easy and efficient.

Glenfinnan ViaductScotland


London transportLondon has one of the most developed public transport systems in the world, so you will find it easy and good value to hop around the city by Underground (the ‘Tube’ as the locals call it), bus, train and even river and cable-car.

Many bus routes offer the chance for some sightseeing, too. In particular, be sure to take routes 9 and 15 which use the classic heritage Routemaster buses and pass top sights like Trafalgar Square.

Before setting off on London’s public transport be sure to get an Visitor Oyster card, which you top up with credit before you travel. It offers the best value for fares and allows you to simply hop on and off without worrying about tickets. Get yours in advance from the VisitBritain Shop where you can also view prices of tickets and plan journeys: www.visitbritainshop.com/londontravel.

You can pick up free maps and guides to help you get around at most London rail and Underground stations as well as from the really useful Transport for London website: www.tfl.gov.uk.

Bonus value tip: Remember London’s excellent night buses run all through the night and cover the whole city, so you don’t need to get taxis.


The rest of BritainBritain has an extensive rail network and you’ll find buses wherever you go, making anywhere accessible.

Britain’s trains and rail network are modern and efficient and the network covers all main cities and towns. Plus you get to sit back and watch beautiful scenery pass your window. Get up-to-the-minute information about routes, fares and train times on the National Rail website and phone app www.nationalrail.co.uk.

You can buy any rail ticket at any station or online www.nationalrail.co.uk. Prices can vary greatly depending on day and time of travel, distance and how far ahead you book. Ticket prices are often lower when you book in advance and when you travel outside peak hours.

Everywhere in Britain is really close and easy to reach Some example journey times from London to places of interest in the rest of Britain:

London to Brighton, Sussex, Southeast England 54mins

London to Stratford-upon-Avon, Central England 1hr 59mins

London to Manchester, Northwest England 2hrs 7mins

London to York, Yorkshire, Northeast England 1hr 50mins

London to Newcastle, Northeast England 2hrs 47mins

London to Exeter, Devon, Southwest England 2hrs 12mins

London to Edinburgh, Scotland 4hrs 22mins

London to Cardiff, Wales 2hrs 3mins

Bonus value tip: If you’re going to take lots of rail journeys, it’s worth investing in a pass available to help you get the best value. Britrail passes cover train travel around the country and you can either plan ahead or decide day by day where you want to travel. Buy yours before you set off for Britain on the VisitBritain Shop online: www.visitbritainshop.com/railpass


Clachaig Inn Glencoe, ScotlandGreat-value

accommodationWhether it’s staying in a ‘poshtel’, pitching up like you’re in The Lord of the Rings, or checking into an award-winning B&B, there’s good news for budget travellers visiting Britain: saving on price needn’t mean saving on coolness, quality or location.


In the cityIn Britain’s cities you can stay in a new wave of hostels– ‘poshtels’ – still at budget prices yet with added comforts like styled interiors and private rooms. In London the industrial-chic Generator www.generatorhostels.com hosts art installations and has its own cinema amid the reclaimed timbers and hot-rolled black steel. Private twin rooms begin at £52 (CAD$105) and the British Museum is just 5 minutes away.

Elsewhere, Hoax www.hoaxliverpool.com is Liverpool’s sharpest poshtel thanks to a creative space, bold colour splashes and the HOPSKOTCH bar serving street-style food. Private doubles start from £45 (CAD$91). Or there’s Cardiff’s Safehouse www.safehousehostel.co.uk, a converted Victorian building where shared rooms contain deluxe bunks made by a local craftsman. Memory foam mattresses, parquet floors, Wi-Fi, free breakfasts and complimentary walking tours of the Welsh capital clinch it: at a starting price of £18 (CAD$36) a night.

Luxury boutique hotels can even be found at scandalously tiny prices. In London, 2 minutes from Tate Britain, Citizen M Bankside www.citizenm.com has artsy live-in lounges dotted with iMacs, “absolutely no trouser presses, bellboys or stupid pillow chocolates”, and double rooms for as little as £109 (CAD$221).

Other low-cost, high-style design-hotel chains include Tune tunehotels.com (with options in Newcastle, Edinburgh and across London), Hub www.hubhotels.co.uk (Central London) and Qbic www.qbichotels.com (East London).

Then there’s Village Urban Resorts www.village-hotels.co.uk with nearly 30 locations across Britain. Stylishly designed, they feature gyms, pools, spas, a range of dining options and Starbucks coffee houses. A double room at the Village Urban Resort in Bournemouth, on Britain’s south coast (2 hours by train from London Waterloo) is £79 (CAD$160).


Outside the cityAll around the British countryside you can find lovely self-catering properties where you get more space for your spend. With fully equipped kitchens you can cut down food costs, and get to feel like you’re living like a local for a time. For a truly quirky place to stay, try The Landmark Trust www.landmarktrust.org.uk, which adapts historic buildings into comfortable places to stay – choose from ancient gatehouses, garden follies and even castles.

Various bijou country hotels also offer outstanding value. In Glencoe, western Scotland – 60 miles northwest of Glasgow – the 300-year-old Clachaig Inn www.clachaig.com has double rooms starting at £47 (CAD$795), and you can experience hearty Highlands food, live music, a malt whisky bar and cosy log fires.

Topping TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travellers’ Choice awards for ‘Top Bargain Hotels – World’ is Lawton Court Hotel www.lawtoncourt.co.uk in Llandudno, North Wales – with praise for its service, seafront location, food and 77 rooms. Also topping the list is the Queen’s Promenade Hotel www.queenspromenadehotel.com in Northwestern England’s seaside town Blackpool, an hour north of Liverpool, where doubles start at £50 (CAD$101).

Bed-and-breakfasts (B&Bs) typically provide excellent value, and often being family-run, provide a friendly, personal service that will make you feel right at home. British stand-outs that topped TripAdvisor’s ‘Top 25 B&B & Inns – World’ list include Millgate B&B www.millgate-masham.co.uk (from 3£76 (CAD$160)) in Masham, an hour north of Leeds, and Shola Coach House www.sholabandb.com (from £45 (CAD$91)), in coastal Portrush, Northern Ireland – close to the Giant’s Causeway.

Bonus value tips: If you can, avoid weekends in popular holiday spots and instead stick to the cities.

In London, accommodation in areas like Mayfair or the City drop their prices on weekends (with deals common), while Bayswater, Kensington and West End residences mostly have lower midweek rates. If you visit over a weekend, searching for a ‘business hotel’ is a savvy first step.

January and February are the cheapest months to travel to Britain, yet there’s no less going on, and you can get bright, sunny (though still chilly!) winter days. Also, unlike other European cities, London and Manchester don’t empty over summer and there’s loads going on; July and August are peak time. Britain’s Bank holiday weekends – at Easter, at either end of May, and one in late August – see prices rise, as do Valentine’s Day (14 February), Christmas and the New Year.


17 affordable ways to dine in BritainYou don’t need to spend a fortune to eat out well in Britain. There are endless ways to ensure maximum taste on minimum budget.

The Devonshire Arms Peak District, Derbyshire


1. Monday money-savingMonday is Britain’s quietest dining night, after the activity of the weekend. That leaves restaurants with seats to fill, and means offers aplenty. Witness Liverpool’s Titanic-themed 30 James Street www.rmstitanichotel.co.uk offering a free starter or dessert with every main course come Monday nights, or the same evening in Bristol, Southwestern England, seeing bar-and-kitchen Prego www.pregobar.co.uk charge only £6.95 (CAD$14) per pizza.

2. Fill up in pubsAlong with cosy fires, real ales and local banter, a reliable constant of most British pubs is hearty grub. Ranging between £8-15 (CAD$16-30) depending on whether you’re in a traditional ‘boozer’ or fancier gastropub, these plates of food are almost always stacked stomach-fillingly high.

3. Feast on freshly caught seafood

Eat fish straight off the boat in seaside towns and it’ll be both fresher and cheaper. In Devon, Southwest England, The Galley www.galleyrestaurant.co.uk, one of Britain’s finest coastal restaurants, serves up prosecco-battered plaice with squid and sweet chilli for a very reasonable £17 (CAD$34).

4. It pays to eat earlyMany British restaurants have off-peak times when prix fixe, ‘earlybird’ or pre-theatre dinner set menus come into play. In Belfast, for example, £18.50 (CAD$37) serves you a pair of courses at the Merchant Hotel’s revered Great Room Restaurant www.themerchanthotel.com between 5.30-6.30pm, Monday-Thursday. Start with seared quail breasts and move onto slow-roasted pork fillet accompanied by truffley potato purée. Heading to Inverness? Near the airport, find the Glenmoriston Town House Hotel’s brasserie www.glenmoristontownhouse.com: pots of steaming Shetland mussels, fine views of the River Ness and, between 5-6.30pm, the earlybird menu with 3 courses comes in at just £14.95 (CAD$30.29). In northern Wales, an hour from Liverpool, Llandudno’s seafront St Tudno Hotel & Restaurant www.st-tudno.co.uk offers its earlybird menu twice daily: 12-2pm and 5.30-7pm.

5. Use discount websitesSign up to OpenTable www.opentable.co.uk for access to special offers and half-price deals at places to eat across Britain. Also, predominantly covering London, www.lastminute.com has ‘Offers under £20’ (CAD$41) and ‘Top 10 Restaurant Deals’ pages.

The Merchant HotelBelfast


6. Find bargain restaurants like Brasserie ZédelLondon’s ultimate bargain restaurant is Brasserie Zédel www.brasseriezedel.com, just off Piccadilly Circus. The art deco-style belies the prices: the efficient Zédel does more than 1,000 covers daily so costs are kept down. Pumpkin soup? That’ll be a piffling £2.25 (CAD$4.56). Celeriac remoulade? £6.59 (CAD$5.10). Or carrot crudités followed by steak haché with chips and pear tart? Just £11.75 (CAD$23.81).

7. Brunch it upConsume a big brunch and you’ll find it lasts all day. In the university town of Oxford, an hour’s train ride from London, the brunch menu at Oxfork www.oxfork.co.uk excels in pancakes and organic egg dishes. In Cardiff, The Pot www.thepotcafe.co.uk serves its extensive brunch menu – including a breakfast wrap of scrambled eggs and chorizo with a Mexican kick – until 4pm.

8. Put the emphasis on lunchMany British restaurants provide afternoon deals, with a sizeable lunch working out cheaper than dinner. At Simpsons www.simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk in Birmingham, 3-course dinner is £55 (CAD$111), yet come for lunch and you’ll get a trio of courses for £40 (CAD$81).

9. Michelin-starred lunchesBargains can even be found at many Michelin-starred restaurants. In London, try Arbutus www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk, just off Soho Square: 3 courses of modern British classics are just £23 (CAD$47) on weekday and Sunday lunchtimes. Or if you’re off to Wimbledon for the tennis, stop for a bite at The Lawn Bistro www.thelawnbistro.co.uk, where 2 French-influenced plates come to only £18.95 (CAD$38) between 12-2.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Advantage you. So it goes in Manchester, too. Double Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines manages the restaurant at ABode www.abodemanchester.co.uk, yet lunchtime sees 3 courses charged at just £15 (CAD$30). How does pumpkin velouté, poached cod and a coconut panna cotta with pineapple sorbet sound?

10. Bring your ownLet’s face it – the drinks always bump up the bill when eating out. Give corkage fees the slip by eating at one of Britain’s many bring-your-own (BYO) eateries. Pick up a bottle from the local off-licence and pull up a chair at Southeastern England seafood specialists, Wheeler’s Oyster Bar www.wheelersoysterbar.com – the oldest restaurant in Whitstable, 50 miles east of London – and The Company Shed www.thecompanyshed.co, a family-run stalwart near Colchester, 50 miles northeast of London.

Brasserie Zédel London


11. Michelin-starred pubsOne of Britain’s delightful Michelin-approved pubs, The Hand & Flowers www.thehandandflowers.co.uk is in pretty Marlow on the River Thames, just 1 hour from London by train. And it’s sensationally good value if you book their lunch deal. Amid rustic interiors, chef Tom Kerridge serves up 3-course lunches for just £19.50 (CAD$40).

12. Check out ChinatownChinatowns across Britain offer bargain dinners. London has the biggest one. In Birmingham head for the no-frills New Sum Ye diner. Order the 3 roast meats – lacquered duck, crispy pork belly and tasty char sui – with delicate rice and bok choi, and you’ll still see ample change from £10 (CAD$20).

13. Hunt out Bib GourmandsBib Gourmands are awarded by Michelin to restaurants offering good food at no more than £28 (CAD$57) per 3 courses. Britain now has 155 such places, including the mostly waiter-less 64degrees www.64degrees.co.uk in Brighton; Glasgow’s trendy, tapas-style Ox & Finch www.oxandfinch.com; and Northern Ireland’s seasonal-serving Old Schoolhouse Inn www.theoldschoolhouseinn.com, 10 miles southeast of Belfast.

The Hand and Flowers London


14. Stock up on vouchersVouchers are in vogue these days, and nowhere more so than Groupon www.groupon.co.uk, whose tentacles extend to numerous British dining rooms. Save over 50% on afternoon tea at luxury hotel Melville Castle, just south of Edinburgh, for instance.

15. Go veggie Vegetarian restaurants are often cheaper than their carnivorous counterparts, and Britain boasts some top-notch options. Try Nottingham’s not-for-profit Crocus Café www.crocuscafe.com, where candlelit 3-course dinners cost £10 (CAD$20) on Thursdays, or The Warehouse Cafe www.thewarehousecafe.com in Birmingham, whose dinnertime mains don’t go higher than £8.50 (CAD$17).Happy Cow www.happycow.net, an online directory of global veggie restaurants, has more than 1,700 UK listings.

16. Posh food for a pittanceScallops and venison are foods with exclusivity and inevitably costliness in common. But the restaurant at Bristol’s Lido www.lidobristol.com makes an unusual splash by regularly featuring both on its set lunch and early-evening menu: enjoy 3 courses for £20 (CAD$41).

17. Fish & chipsNo visit to Britain is complete without eating fish and chips, and for the most genuine and tastiest experience get yours from a ‘chippie’ – a takeaway fish and chip shop that you’ll find in most British towns. It’ll be cheap (typically no more than £5/6 (CAD$10/12), cheerful and of generous portion. Many places claim to be ‘the best’, but the 2015 National Fish & Chips Awards’ champion is Frankie’s www.frankiesfishandchips.com in the Shetland Islands – Britain’s northern extremity, a 90-minute flight from Edinburgh.

Frankies Fish & Chips The Shetland Island


Pocket-friendly walking toursBritain’s cities, towns, villages and countryside are ideal to explore on foot, and walking tours offer that extra special insight into an area’s character. There are many free or affordable tours all across Britain, delving into every subject from literature and art, to music and heritage. Get your walking shoes on!

Dickens House, Doughty Street, London


Charles Dickens walk around London FreeExplore the London locations from Charles Dickens’ novels by downloading this walking tour app. On the 2-hour tour you’ll be guided by GPS so you won’t get lost and there are suggestions for atmospheric pubs en route. With evocative black-and-white photographs and sketches, you’ll get the feeling of being transported back in time as you follow the famous author’s footsteps around London’s historic streets.

Food tour of East London Pay what you wishDiscover the food history and culture of the capital’s East End and eat like a king, while spending only a few pounds. Wander down ‘curry mile’ and sample samosas and Indian sweets; learn the history of the pie; taste the fish and chips voted ‘Best in London’; peruse the hippest food trucks in town; eat a salt beef beigel and finish with a sweet American import.

The World Heritage Site Audio Tour of Bath, southwest England FreeTake yourself on a fascinating journey through Bath’s history and architecture with this free audio tour. See the historical highlights of the city such as the Royal Crescent and the Assembly Rooms. The tour comes with a free route map.

Shakespeare tour of Stratford-upon-Avon, West England £6 (CAD$12)Walk in William Shakespeare’s footsteps around historic Stratford-upon-Avon where the world-famous playwright lived and died (you can even find out about the ‘curse’ on his grave from your informative guide). Other highlights include the picturesque riverside, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and the town’s 15th-century timber-framed buildings and ancient churches.

Banksy tour of Bristol, Southwest England £9.20 (CAD$19)/ concessions availableFans of provocative artist Banksy will love this street-art tour of his native city. Uncovering Bristol’s street art and creative quarter, all the guides live and work within the Bristol street art community, so always know where to find the most cutting-edge artwork and artists in action.

How to: Bath is around 90 minutes by train from London. The tour has 12 chapters/audio files in MP3 format that you can listen on iPhone, iPod and most MP3 players; www.visitbath.co.uk

How to: Stratford-upon-Avon is around 2 hours by train from London. Meet by the yellow sign, close to the Swan fountain on Waterside, near the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours. Adult tickets: £6 (CAD$12); concessions available www.stratfordtownwalk.co.uk

How to: Tour begins at Liverpool Street Station on Thursdays and Saturdays at 10.30am and lasts approximately 2 hours. Buy food as you go, around £10-15 (CAD$20-30) should cover it. Book in advance www.freetoursbyfoot.com

How to: Download the free Walking with Dickens app: www.dickenslondontours.co.uk

How to: Bristol is just under 2 hours by train from London. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours; book in advance: www.wherethewall.com/tours


Peter James tour of Brighton FreeWith its legendary shopping Lanes, history-rich Regency architecture and iconic Royal Pavilion and seaside pier, Brighton has long offered a rich environment for writers. Discover the town’s darker side by taking a walking tour of the locations used in crime writer Peter James’ novels. Use the interactive map of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace’s patch, and stumble across key crime scenes from the series.

Ghost Walk in Robin Hood’s Bay, North England £5 (CAD$10)Journey into a mysterious past of spirits, shipwrecks and smugglers when you explore the atmospheric alleyways of Robin Hood’s Bay with ‘The Ghostwalker’. A well-informed raconteur, The Ghostwalker knows secret routes around this higgledy-piggeldy seaside village and has plenty of tales of ancient legend and maritime drama.

Mural tour of Derry, Northern Ireland £4 (CAD$8)The city of Derry is divided physically by the River Foyle and culturally by hundreds of years of conflict between 2 opposing religions. This tour of the city’s wall murals created during the conflict explores not just the artistry, but also the statements being expressed during a time of political and religious upheaval.

How to: Brighton is on the south coast of England, around one hour by train from London. Download the map at: www.peterjamesbrighton.com

How to: Robin Hood’s Bay is in north Yorkshire, near York. Tour departs from the Slipway in the Dock outside the Robin Hood’s Bay Visitor Centre and lasts approximately 1 hour www.whitbystoryteller.co.uk

How to: Derry is around a 2-hour drive from Belfast in Northern Ireland. Meet the tour at 11 Carlisle Road at 10am, 12noon, 2pm, 4pm every day. It lasts 1 hour and includes free tea/coffee www.derrycitytours.com


Fear & Loathing in Cardiff tour, South Wales £6 (CAD$12)Cardiff has a long and colourful history and in days long ago it could be a dangerous place to live. Wandering among glorious gothic revival architecture, this walking tour takes in treachery, torture, execution, martyrdom, war, murder, battles, riots and piracy. Not for the faint hearted!

Music tour of Glasgow, Scotland FreeGo on a musical marathon around Glasgow to a soundtrack of locally inspired music. A series of walks available on your smart phone feature interviews with bands like Mogwai and chats with DJs. Along the way you’ll find Franz Ferdinand’s Chateau, see sites of raves and parties and discover Glasgow’s cool underground scene.

Rebus tour of Edinburgh, Scotland £10 (CAD$32)Rebus author Ian Rankin explores contemporary Edinburgh in his bestselling crime novels. Fans can explore the city’s secret heart, where few tourists venture, on a Rebus Walking Tour. Led by entertaining and knowledgeable guide Colin, you’ll take in many of the locations featured in the books, and Colin ensures you’re never more than 50 yards from a pub; Rebus would approve.

How to: The tour sets off most Saturdays at 2pm and lasts approximately 2 hours. Concessions available. Booking essential www.cardiffwalkingtours.com

How to: Download the tour through the Guidigo app and search for ‘Walking Heads’. 4 walks, each approximately 1 hour www.walkingheads.net

How to: Departure is every Saturday at 12pm from The Royal Oak pub, 1 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh. Book at: www.rebustours.com


Private White VC.Manchester

Bargain shoppingFashionistas and bargain hunters rejoice! Towns brim with affordable chain-store fashion, plus Britain boasts designer outlets and factory shops with big discounts.


Shopping in EnglandThe now-famous designer discount outlet – Bicester Village bicestervillage.com in Oxfordshire – is an easy hour’s trip from London’s Marylebone station. Find last season’s clothing and accessories with discounts of at least 50%. Fan of British designers? You’ll be thrilled with the choice available by Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and shoe designer Rupert Sanderson. Northamptonshire, in the Midlands region of England, is long-renowned for its high-standard handmade shoes, particularly for men. All the biggest brands have factory shops, including Church’s www.church-footwear.com and Cheaney’s www.cheaney.co.uk. Crockett & Jones www.crockettandjones.com may only be open Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings but the queues outside its doors before opening time are a sign of its popularity. Expect to pay around £180 (CAD$365) for a pair of shoes.

Shopping in WalesLess than 30 minutes by train from Cardiff is outlet village McArthurGlen Bridgend www.mcarthurglen.com. More than 90 brands, such as Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Osprey London, Fossil and Calvin Klein Underwear, offer discounts of up to 60%. This is just one of the 6 McArthurGlen outlets dotted around Britain.

Shopping in ScotlandCashmere rules and Scottish weaving mills are renowned for being some of the best in the world. Chanel has its own factory in Hawick in the Scottish borders and you can pick up luxury bargains at its factory shop www.hawickknitwear.com.Fans of luxurious scarves and throws should head to Ayr on Scotland’s west coast, just over an hour’s drive from Glasgow, where you’ll find Begg and Company’s factory and shop www.beggandcompany.com with sumptuous goods made from fine cashmere, silk and lambswool angora yarns. En route to Ayr, stop off at Galston (about half way between Glasgow and Ayr) to pick up bargains at the Balmoral Mill www.balmoralmill.com, itself still working factory with a shop outlet.

Shopping in Northern IrelandThe area around Belfast was once known for its linen weaving, and the brand Thomas Ferguson www.fergusonsirishlinen.com, established in 1854, still produces high-quality tablecloths and bed linen. Factory tours can also be arranged, plus there’s a shop selling discounted goods.

Great Value Britain - Amazon S3 · 10 Great Value Britain 14 free things to do in Britain Britain...

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