Forget that £32.50 tourist trap ferris wheel! The London Eye crowds you into a glass pod with strangers for 30 minutes of mediocre views that fog obscures half the time anyway. Complete waste of precious London cash when you could be eating proper pad see ew at Rosa's for £8.50 instead.

Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath delivers the exact same London skyline panorama for absolutely free, plus you can walk around, fly kites with locals who know what's up, and actually breathe fresh air instead of recycled tourist breath. Take Northern Line to Hampstead station (it's zone 3 but worth every penny of that tube fare), then walk 10 minutes through the village to the heath entrance on East Heath Road.

If Hampstead feels too far, Primrose Hill near Camden gives similar views and it's closer to central — Chalk Farm or Camden Town stations work. Both hills are perfect for som tam picnics from nearby Thai spots. The locals doing their morning yoga and dog walking at sunrise? They've figured out London's best-kept secret while tourists queue for overpriced wheels.

Pro tip: Golden hour photography is spectacular from Parliament Hill, no glass reflections ruining your shots like on the Eye. Save that £32.50 for proper khao soi at Kiln instead — Your Instagram and your taste buds will thank you.