I personally tested all 8 free things to do around Covent Garden when we stayed at the Kimpton Fitzroy London recently. It was bang in the middle of a heatwave so we felt like we were back on holiday in Rome! We got the train into Charing Cross and then decided to walk the rest of the way instead of getting the Tube, as I LOVE walking about in London not just for the obvious money-saving benefits but because it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world when you know where to look (spoiler alert, the best place to look is nearly always up!).
We also booked our train tickets in advance which made them loads cheaper, then walked most of the day instead of paying for taxis or hopping on and off the Underground constantly. It all adds up and this is exactly what layered savings are. Lots of little money-saving decisions that still end up giving you a brilliant day out but mean you don’t need to remortgage your house to pay for it (plus the more pennies you can save during the day, the more cheeky Aperols you can squeeze in…priorities!).
1. Escape the crowds in Victoria Embankment Gardens
One of the best little finds of the whole walk was Victoria Embankment Gardens. Designed by Alexander McKenzie and officially opened in 1875 it’s a great little spot in the summer. If you come out of Charing Cross station and instead of going out the front entrance, take the side entrace down Villiers Street towards Embankment tube station. Before you get to the tube station entrance, on your right-hand side, there’s an entrance into Victoria Embankment Gardens.
It was flipping boiling when we went because London was in the middle of a heatwave, so finding somewhere shady to sit for ten minutes felt like winning the lottery.
There are fountains, flower beds, benches under the trees, sculptures and even permanent outdoor table tennis tables dotted around.
We ended up sitting watching the fountains with the London Eye skyline in the background and it was one of those moments where you suddenly forget you are in the middle of central London.
Places like this are exactly why I love walking around London instead of jumping straight on the Tube.
2. Somerset House is worth visiting even if you don’t book anything
Once you get to the end of Victoria Embankment Gardens, you’ll get chucked out right before the steps up to the back entrance into Somerset House. Somerset House is one of those buildings where every five seconds you end up stopping to take another photo (or maybe that’s just the content creator in me!).
The courtyard is massive and the architecture is just ridiculous in the best possible way. Huge stone staircases, archways, old doors, massive windows and loads of beautiful aged textures everywhere you look.
If you are into interiors or design, there is so much inspiration just wandering around outside.
Depending on what is on, there are sometimes free exhibitions or installations too, but even just walking through the courtyard is worth doing.
Check out my full post on Somerset House with more details about visiting in summer, nearby food spots and some budget-friendly London tips around the area too.
Come out of Somerset House via the main entrance and head back along the Strand towards Covent Garden.
3. Wander into Covent Garden’s Jubilee Market Hall
Before you get to the really famous bit with the beautiful and iconic Covent Garden Square, in Southampton Street there’s an entrance on the right-hand side to Jubilee Market Hall full of antiques and collectables.
There are so many interesting things to see on the walls
Then in under a minute, you’re in the bustling and exciting Convent Garden main square but before you head to the famous arches and fancy boutique shops, swing by St Paul’s church for a surprisingly serene space.
4. St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden with its hidden courtyard
One of my favourite hidden spots was St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden. It’s been there for over 300 years and has a thriving community that worships, celebrates, and even host theatre performances just tucked away on the edge of Covent Garden.
From outside, you would never know there is this peaceful little courtyard hidden behind the gates.
There are benches where you can properly sit down for a bit without feeling like you need to spend £20 on coffees just to exist somewhere, which is quite useful in central London!
There is also this really unusual shell-shaped fountain tucked away inside which I had never seen before.
It felt so quiet compared to the busy streets outside and was such a good little hidden find.
5. Enjoy the Market Building and Piazza, Covent Garden
Walking through Covent Garden always feels properly touristy. It’s a place I used to avoid like the plague when I worked in London because it was full of annoying tourists wandering around aimlessly having a lovely time and getting right in the way. Now, I enjoy nothing more that coming to London to be that annoying tourist! ; )
In the main piazza, there are musicians playing everywhere, performers drawing crowds, flowers hanging from buildings and loads of gorgeous shopfronts tucked underneath the arches.
6. Enjoy the Apple Market
The Apple Market was probably my favourite bit because I loved all the little independent stalls underneath the huge roof structure. We spent ages wandering around looking at artwork, gifts and random bits we definitely did not need.
There is also such a funny mix of old London and luxury shopping all crammed together.
One minute you are looking at traditional market stalls and the next you are walking past Aspinall of London and designer shop windows.
Then there was the beautiful Ladurée Covent Garden storefront with all the pastel macarons in the windows, the sleek Tom Ford shop and the historic Covent Garden Underground Station itself. I love browsing in Laudree, such amazing macarons they look like works of art…
7. Old pubs, famous shopfronts and classic London details
This part of the walk basically turned into me stopping every thirty seconds saying “wait, I need a photo of that”.
We wandered along Floral Street past gorgeous old pubs including The White Lion and The Nag’s Head, both covered in loads of traditional London character.
This is exactly why I always tell people to walk around London if they can. You miss so much when you are underground.
Use this handy map of Covent Garden to help navigate around and seek out any specific shops you’re keen to see.
8. The incredible Art Deco architecture at Freemasons’ Hall
I genuinely was not expecting Freemasons’ Hall to be quite so impressive. You come across it on Great Queens Street on the way to Holborn after leaving Covent Garden.
The building is absolutely enormous and has this really dramatic Art Deco look that looks a bit like Gotham City (can you tell I have two boys?!) .
If you are into interiors, architecture or old buildings, it is definitely worth seeing properly instead of just rushing past it.
It stand on a site that’s been hosting Freemasons since 1775.
They also run free guided tours on selected days, which loads of people do not seem to know about.
Even if you only stop for five minutes, it is one of those buildings that makes you stand there looking up for a bit.
Our favourite money-saving London tips from the day
One thing I am constantly doing on trips like this is layering savings wherever possible.
Instead of endlessly buying expensive drinks while wandering around London, we stopped for a break at All Bar One Kingsway.
Another really good tip is downloading the Pret A Manger app before your trip. Their subscription deal can work out ridiculously good value if you are spending the whole day in London because coffee prices are getting out of hand now.
Between booking trains in advance, walking instead of getting taxis and making use of free attractions, London can actually work out way more affordable than people think.
Why walking around London beats taking the Tube
This whole day just reminded me how much more you notice when you stop rushing everywhere.
You see hidden courtyards, flowers spilling out of window boxes, old architecture, random little details and places you would completely miss underground.
For me, this is exactly what bespoke on a budget is all about.
You do not always need expensive attractions or massive plans to have a really good day somewhere. Half the time the best bits end up being the unexpected things you spot while wandering between places.
Where next?
Pop over to read about other things to do on a budget in London…
Find out where we’ve been travelling to outside the UK…
