Take in the sights and sounds of London without blowing your budget.

The capital of England and the ninth largest city in the world, the vast city of London is in fact made up of two historic cities that have combined. The 'City of London', referred to as simple 'The City', is the now the country's financial centre and is the oldest part of London, despite it taking up only around one square mile. The other half of London is the City of Westminster, where parliament, the government and Her Majesty the Queen's residence, Buckingham Palace, can all be found. Together making up Greater London, the city as a whole has an international draw which makes it unlike anywhere else in Britain and promises excitement however you spend your trip there.



Though Londoners swear by their Oyster Cards, the definitive city travel card, these aren't ideal for visitors. Instead, the tube is the cheapest and easiest way to get around, with Travelcards lasting for anything between a day and a year. Take note though that tube stations generally start to close between 11pm and 12.30am, after that a Travelcard will get you on any of the frequent night bus services.



Perhaps the most densely packed piece of sight-seeing real estate in London is South Bank. Following the bank of the Thames, this stretch covers a day's worth of landmarks in itself, from the towering London Eye to the Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern. The Tate Modern is an exceptional collection of contemporary modern art, and definitely one not to be missed. Make sure you pop into some of the other major art galleries within central London though too, like the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery and The Wallace Collection off Oxford Street. Thankfully most art galleries and museums in London operate a late opening policy, so it's simple to factor them into your day's schedule - and all the major ones are free!



No trip to London can be complete without watching the changing of the guard. The Queen's Guard in the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace change position inside the gates at 11.30am everyday in the summer, and it has become an attraction in itself. Not to mention the resplendent Buckingham Palace too, sitting at the head of The Mall - London's premier address.



You don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy many of London's traditional attractions. Trafalgar Square, for example, is a draw to most tourists thanks to its size and the towering Nelson's Column and is apparently the 4th most visited tourist attraction in the world. Likewise you can explore inside Westminster Abbey for free and several markets around London are a great way to spend your day and grab a bargain too, like Camden, Portobello and Brick Lane. For cheap eats grab a copy of Time Out and find good value London hotels online.



Matthew Pressman writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.