Budget Tips for London

Tkts booth leicester square sells day-of tickets 20-50% off. Opens 10am but arrive 9am for hamilton lion king popular shows. They post available shows on boards around 9:45am.

Preview performances 1-2 weeks before opening cost £15-30 vs £50-80 regular prices. Basically dress rehearsals but same quality honestly. Check individual theatre websites for preview dates not general booking sites.

Wednesday matinees 2:30pm consistently cheaper than evening shows. Perfect avoiding evening rush and still time for dinner after. Some theatres do Wednesday evening discounts but not universal.

Student rush tickets exist but need uk student id usually. Rush releases 2 hours before curtain box office only no advance booking.

Every attraction has Tesco Metro, Sainsbury's Local, or M&S within 2 blocks. Standard meal deal: sandwich + crisps + drink for £3.60-4.00.

Tower Bridge: Tesco at 145 Tower Bridge Road. Westminster Abbey: Sainsbury's Local, 119 Victoria Street. Oxford Circus: M&S at 194-202 Oxford Street. Tourist cafés around these spots charge £5-10 for sandwiches.

Did the math for 6 days of lunches. Saved money versus tourist café prices. That's extra dinners out.

M&M's World in leicester square. Three floors of overpriced chocolate you can buy at any tesco for £2. Same with disney store - pure tourist extraction next to tkts booth.

Hard rock café london burgers range £11.95-£20.95 when honest burgers does better for £8.50. Memorabilia isn't even good anymore - just mass produced tat.

Any restaurant in leicester square with photos of food in windows. Walk five minutes toward chinatown or covent garden side streets for better food at half price. Locals never eat where there are photos of the food.