London is a budget traveller's delight as the city has many attractions that can be experienced for virually nothing at all.

'Turn back Dick Whittington, turn back, for London's streets are paved with gold', chimed the bells of Westminister as Dick Whittington walked away from London in despair. Although the streets of London never were paved with gold, the city has always had an abundance of cultural richness and grace on display. Museums with the finest collections in the world, wide open spaces, festivals, pubs, palaces and the performing arts made London into one of the most visited cities in the world. But what makes a visit to London even more special is that once you've seen all that must be seen, London still has many attractions that you can revel in by paying next to nothing!

Far too much has been written about London's most visited attractions like the Houses of Parliament or the Tower of London and its ilk, to deserve repitition. Our journey takes us into those littler known, but equally charming aspects of London that allow you to experience the best the city has to offer - at the most economical price. If you're planning to stay in London for a week or two, it's advisable to stay at a YMCA/YWCA, International Youth Hostel or even in the University Campus. Most hostels have single, twin and four-bed rooms and range from around 18 GBP to 30 GBP per night, but are much cheaper on a weekly basis. What's more, you get a clean room with laundered sheets and a good breakfast to boot. The Holland House Youth Hostel is set right in the middle of Kensington Park, so you can enjoy the beauty of one of London's breathing spaces, while sticking to your budget. The only hitch about staying in hostels is that you have to enrol as a member in India before you fly out. Secondly, you can't stay more than three nights in a row at any International Youth Hostel. And finally, you must correspond with th hostel and book at least two months in advance if you want to be sure of your accommodation. If you're planning to stay longer than a week, you could consider staying in a dormitory or renting a room in one of London's Universities (from June to September). If you still can't find a place, check out the bulletin board near the Earl's Court news stand. It's full of messages from people who have flats to rent for a month or others who are looking for someone to share a flat with! And finally, if all else fails, London has many small agencies who specialise in finding low cost accommodation for tourists- free of charge!

By the time you've found yourself a nice little spot in town where you can rest for the night, you'll probably be very, very hungry. Which brings me to another unique facet of life in London - budget bites. The city is full of small shops, eateries, roadside stalls and big restaurants that offer budget meals and snacks. From the humble hot dog vendor, pub grub, unlimited pizza and pasta buffets, middle eastern delicacies, fish 'n' chips or a tandoori takeaway, you'll find it all here. The Fish 'n' Chips shop or 'chippie' has taken the traditional Fish 'n' Chips out of the dining room, onto the streets. You can enjoy a hearty meal of batter fried fish and a generous helping of chips for around five to seven pounds. If you're at a chippie a takeaway will cost you less than sitting at the restaurant to enjoy your meal. You'll receive your meal neatly wrapped in a paper cone with some vinegar andsalt lightly sprinkled over it. Fish 'n' chips, the way the British ove them. The best areas to find a good chipie are Covent Garden and Bloomsbury. Another great place to find a good, hot meal is your local pub. Pub grub can range from snacks to hearty pies and bangers (sausages ) and mash. Unlike the pies here, the pies in the pubs are served in a deep bowl that has the stuffing, topped with a feather light crust. A freshly cooked pie could take as much as 15 minutes to cool down, so enjoy a pint of the famed black lager, Guinness, before digging into your meal. If you're looking for a change of fare, check out the budget restaurants in Soho and near the City. You can take your pick from the Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Vegetarian resturants as well as soup and salad bars that won't set you back more than ten pounds for a hearty meal. And if you're feeling peckish late in the night, you can always pick up a Doner Kebab , which consists of a bread pocket filled with slivers of barbecued meat and fresh salad, toppped with a dash of mustard or mayonaise. Burp!

Now that you have a roof above your head and a full stomach, let's make the most of London's free (and virtually free) attractions. While many of these attractions do not have a formal entrance fee, a small donation, usually in the region of one GBP is expected from the visitor. However this donation is a pittance comapred to the normal admission charges which could range from three to eight GBP per attraction. The idea of wandering around museums and areas which charge nothing is not only to save money, but to get a feel of England's vast cultural hreitage as well a the pulse of day to day life while douing it. It's almost as though you're lounging aaround London for a week, letting it all seep in.

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