Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in England, United Kingdom

May 3, 2022 Darleen Reid

– in Europe  (green & dark grey) – in the United Kingdom  (green)
Restaurants in England

1. The Mary Rose

Main Road Portsmouth Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3PY England +44 (0) 23 9281 2931 [email protected] http://www.maryrose.org
Excellent
84%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 5,617 reviews

The Mary Rose

The Mary Rose is home to the Mary Rose and the thousands of artefacts that were recovered from the Solent. Built between 1509 and 1511, The Mary Rose was one of the first ships able to fire a broadside, and was a firm favourite of King Henry VIII. After a long and successful career, she sank accidentally during an engagement with the French fleet in 1545. Her rediscovery and raising were seminal events in the history of nautical archaeology. After a 34 year conservation project, the Mary Rose is now fully on display within her purpose-built museum. Please note that The Mary Rose is not included in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 11 Attraction Ticket. We currently offer a 10% discount to holders of a valid 11 Attraction Ticket upon its presentation at either our Visitor Centre at the main dockyard entrance (Victory Gate), or at our museum. Tickets purchased before 1st April 2018 will still be accepted until their expiration date.

Reviewed By 910adrianh - Frome, United Kingdom

Have visited this museum twice now and each time have been amazed at the restoration and historical background to life onboard in Tudor times that it provides and demonstrates. Attended a brilliant talk about the threat of French invasion at the time.

2. Birmingham Back to Backs

50 - 54 Inge St / 55 - 63 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TE England +44 121 666 7671 [email protected] http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-to-backs/
Excellent
84%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,664 reviews

Birmingham Back to Backs

Reviewed By lesh244 - Birmingham, United Kingdom

Finally got around to booking (essential) in for the tour and was not disappointed, the rooms are so small that only a few people can be accommodated on each tour! Our guide was well informed and gave a very humourous guided tour During the 90 minute tour there are lots of narrow doorways and steep stairs, both up and down, to negotiate so you do need to be able bodied You are introduced to the ever changing history of the properties and its occupants with fascinating description of their lives and businesses There are lots of objects to see and handle to help you get a fuller picture of life in the back to back housing of the times There is a small museum to view and a visit to the sweet shop on the corner is an absolute must Please make sure to book so as not to be dissapointed when you are turned away, as all tours are fully booked, if you turn up on spec!

3. Victoria Tunnel

55 Lime Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ England +44 191 230 4210 [email protected] http://www.ouseburntrust.org.uk
Excellent
85%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,894 reviews

Victoria Tunnel

Guided tours of the fully preserved 19th century coal waggonway and WW2 air-raid shelter. Pre-booking is essential and tickets can be booked online through our website or by telephone during office hours. Tours every day, check the website for details. Our extensive Covid-19 precautions have been assessed by Visit Britain and we have been awarded "Good to Go" certification.

Reviewed By 597derekp

15/12/18. Victory Pub Christmas Jolly Boys outing at the Victoria Tunnel. A thoroughly enjoyable and educational history tour of this amazing engineering feat of the 1840s. 2 fantastic volunteer guides. Fascinating facts about the tunnel's original use and later use during World War 2 as an air raid shelter for up to 9,000 people. Highly recommended.

4. Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP England +44 20 7403 3761 [email protected] http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/
Excellent
65%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 39,056 reviews

Tower Bridge

An iconic London landmark and one of Britain's best loved historic sites, Tower Bridge is open to the public 363 days a year. Within the Bridge's iconic structure and magnificent Victorian Engine rooms, the Tower Bridge Exhibition is the best way of exploring the most famous bridge in the world! Come learn about this incredible feat of Victorian engineering, discover how the Bridge is raised and enjoy stunning panoramic views across London from our high-level walkways, 42 metres above the River Thames. Opening Times: 09:30 - 17:00 (last admission )

Reviewed By U9398PYmatthewp - Wiltshire, United Kingdom

For 10 quid you get a lot for your money. Super interesting museum and an opportunity to see a different side of Tower Bridge. It’s been done really well and whilst the glass floor is an interesting (and vertiginous) experience its really a side show to learning about the history and complexity of this iconic landmark. Be sure to watch the film in the engine room; fascinating.

5. River Avon

Excellent
52%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 203 reviews

River Avon

This scenic river runs through the center of Bath and offers pleasant walking trails along its banks and boat tours.

Reviewed By JohnD209 - Leavenworth, United States

The River Avon – There are several rivers named Avon in Britain as Avon is a cognate of the Welsh word afon, or river. The Avon River that flows through Bath and Bristol rises just north of Acton Turville in South Gloucestershire and is navigable from Bath to Bristol. It is 121 km long, the 19th longest river in the United Kingdom. The stretch from the Pulteney Bridge in Bath downstream 700 meters to the Bath Locks and the river at Bristol are particularly popular stretches for riverside strolls, although picturesque bridges span the river throughout its length. Visited late Fall 2019.

6. The British Museum

Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG England +44 20 7323 8000 [email protected] http://www.britishmuseum.org
Excellent
73%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 72,631 reviews

The British Museum

A museum of the world, for the world. Discover over two million years of human history and culture. Some of the world-famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies.

Reviewed By kb147 - Lafayette, United States

Nearly everyone has heard of the British Museum and with good reason. The collections are absolutely amazing. This is the home of the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and one of the best collections of Egyptian artifacts outside Egypt. (Controvery over whether Britain should be the custodian of these things aside.) But that is only the beginning. There are artifacts from all over the world: an amazing collection of Greek and Etruscan terracotta objects, Roman glass, the Sutton Hoo treasure, some of the most famous Maya stellae, beautiful torquoise mosaic objects of the Aztec culture; sections devoted to China, Japan, and the South Pacific. A serindipity of German "notgeld". And much more! One of the most wonderful areas is King George Library, the "Enlightenment Room": one could spend an entire day just there! That being said, one has to be prepared for crowds, particularly at popular exhibits like the Egyptian artifacts and King George Library. During the week there are numerous school groups clogging these areas and multiple tours in a variety of languages. One has to be patient: go see something 'unpopular' at peak times and try the popular things later. We actually saw the Rosetta Stone at one point with not another soul around. It helps to have several hours to devote here.

7. Canterbury Cathedral

11 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH England +44 1227 762862 [email protected] http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/
Excellent
66%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,899 reviews

Canterbury Cathedral

The first Church of England, this historic gothic-style cathedral dates back to 597, which served as a rich and powerful monastery of Benedictine monks in the 12th century.

Reviewed By ianhB1787OH - Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

Visited to explore the grounds and the interior, booked one of the local guides to take us on tour and this added such a nice insight into the history and fabric of the magnificent building. 100% enjoyable and well worth the charge, its a must for anyone visiting this part of the UK.

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN England +44 20 7747 2885 [email protected] http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
Excellent
74%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 39,791 reviews

National Gallery

The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It is on show 361 days a year, free of charge.

Reviewed By Noraatc - Sudbury, United States

It always happens to me: National Gallery takes much more time than I originally plan. I started with the Renaissance painters, spent plenty of time enjoying my all time favorites, Leonardo’s “Virgin of the Rocks”, Botticelli’s “Venus and Mars” and his portraits. Moved on to amazing El Greco, phenomenal “Rokeby Venus” by Diego Velázquez, Van Eyck and Vermeer, several Rembrandt’s portraits, which I had seen on display recently in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh... the list is very, very long, so I do not want to bore you with it... Around 2 pm the swarms of noisy school children have become unbearable, so I decided to take a break for lunch in the lovely National Gallery Cafe. After much needed lunch, I went to the Impressionists, the reason why I got stuck in the National Gallery for so long. What a stunning collection! The best Cezanne, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, whom I adore... phenomenal Renoir’s portraits, beautiful Claude Monet’s landscapes, famous Manet’s paintings “The Music in the Tuileries” and “Execution of Maximilian”... I stopped paying attention to noisy school kids and completely drowned in the beauty of the paintings forgetting about everything around me. Forgot about time as well... it was already 6pm, the Gallery was closing. Will be back and hopefully soon.

9. Fitzwilliam Museum

Trumpington Street Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge CB2 1RB England +44 1223 332900 [email protected] http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,499 reviews

Fitzwilliam Museum

Museum houses vast collections of antiquities from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, including exhibits of English and European pottery and glass, furniture, clocks, Chinese jades, and ceramics from Japan and Korea.

Reviewed By Sebulus-Palmer - March, United Kingdom

I've been going to 'The Fitz' since I was a kid. My first favourite area, back as a nipper, was the arms and armour area. Then I moved on to the contemporary art galleries, in my teens (around secondary/sixth-form age I used to love to go and sketch there; learning from the masters in an inspiring environment!). More recently my wife and I have been getting more into the medieval, renaissance and suchlike, and enjoying such a temporary exhibitions as appeal to us, and these can be very varied: from medieval illuminated manuscripts to early gold coins, or Dutch paintings of Vermeer's era, etc. There's a nice cafe and shop area as well. And they even put on talks, concerts, and all sorts. We've moved further from Cambridge recently, making trips to The Fitz less frequent, and I/we miss it. It's like having a London style museum out in the 'the sticks'. Highly recommended.

10. Royal Armouries Museum

Armouries Drive, Leeds LS10 1LT England +44 113 220 1999 http://royalarmouries.org/leeds
Excellent
65%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4,530 reviews

Royal Armouries Museum

Home for the national collection of arms and armour that features five theme-galleries: War, Tournament, Self-Defense, Hunting, and arms and armour of the Orient.

Reviewed By Jodiedonny

This was a great interesting place with loads of different things to see & do really big place with five floors loads of war weapons and different sections to see, a lot of armour & plenty of places to listen to stories from over time, the museum has many places to sit in the glass front edge to look over the river which was lovely. Great enjoyable day, cafe staff downstairs very friendly & biscuit & cuppa lovely.

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