The United Kingdom has so many wonderful attractions to see and experience. That’s what makes it a worthwhile travel destination. From the Tower of London and the British Museum to the London Eye and Buckingham Palace, there’s certainly no shortage of tourist attractions. 

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However, if there’s one thing that many visitors struggle with, it’s the price of their travels. The UK is easily one of the most expensive countries in Europe. In fact, in 2025, Edinburgh was ranked the most expensive city in Western Europe. The good news is that there are still money savings to be made. Here are some of the best ways to save money as you navigate the UK: 

Split Your Rail Fares

You can easily spend over £100 on train tickets travelling between major cities, but you actually don’t have to. When you use services like Split My Fare, you can spend a mere fraction of that.  This service provider enables you to book multiple tickets for various stops along your route, which has the potential to save a considerable sum of money. It also does all the administration work for you, so you don’t have to worry about ensuring all tickets line up for the correct stops. 

Explore House Sitting Opportunities 

If you intend to explore beautiful but expensive cities like Edinburgh, look for opportunities to house sit for residents. Rather than spending hundreds, if not thousands of pounds on accommodation, you might not have to pay a shilling if you’ve organised to look after someone’s home or pets while they’re away. 

What’s more, you can explore all the very best tourist attractions like Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Zoo, all while not having to worry about early checkouts and the noise of other guests. 

Stay in Hostels

As nice as it is to have your own room, bathroom, and kitchenette in a beautiful hotel, these conveniences and pleasures come at a cost. Keep more of your hard-earned money for fun activities and attractions by staying in affordable hostels. While you often have to share rooms with other people, you can spend less money and meet new friends in the process.  

Prepare Your Meals

An occasional meal in a nice restaurant or cafe allows you to enjoy the very best in local cuisine. However, don’t underestimate the value of preparing your own meals and snacks to save money. There’s potential for you to save thousands of pounds.

Research fast, easy, and filling recipes you can make in basic kitchens, as well as easy and cheap snacks you can carry in your backpack as you explore local attractions. While preparing your meals can take more time, it’s a great way to keep your costs low. 

Visit Free Attractions

Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to see attractions you’ve always wanted to visit just because they cost money. However, it doesn’t hurt to research the free attractions that you’ll enjoy without having to spend anything. 

You might be surprised by how many sites offer free entry, such as the British Museum, National Gallery, and the Tate Modern. If you plan to visit multiple heritage sites, research discount passes to save money, like the National Trust or English Heritage passes.

Getting the most out of your trip to the UK is going to cost money, but there are certainly savings to be made. Try some of these money-saving tips above – you might be surprised by how much more money you can keep in your bank account.