This Just In: Britain Doesn’t Have to be Expensive
Travel Blog • Eva Holland • 02.26.09 | 4:27 PM ET
Photo of Durham Cathedral by Sure, London can be one of the world’s most expensive cities, and the pound has offered a punishing exchange rate with most other currencies over the past few years. But, having done the “starving student” thing there in my grad school days, I’ve always believed that the U.K. remains a prime destination for travelers on a budget. For every pricey West End stage production there’s a free, world-class museum, and for every swank celebrity-helmed restaurant there’s a tasty meal in a cozy pub. Don’t believe me? Here’s proof: 10 free cultural gems, courtesy of the Guardian, and, from the Independent, the country’s 50 best cheap eats. Both are good lists—the Guardian’s in particular gets bonus points for avoiding the best-known London freebies, like the Tate Modern, in favor of more obscure (and more geographically diverse) cultural institutions.
As for my own favorite British bargains? On the culture front, I have to go with Durham Cathedral. Closing in on its 1000th birthday, it’s one of the last major cathedrals in Britain to avoid implementing an admission fee—and it’s one of the most powerful buildings, in terms of sheer presence, that I have ever visited. Food-wise, it’s got to be the meal deal at the Boots pharmacy chain: three pounds gets you a sandwich, a bag of chips (crisps, in Brit-speak) and a drink. Choose a ploughman’s sandwich or a cheese savoury (if you’re in the north) and an unusual flavor of crisps—think marmite, pickled onion, or cheddar and mango chutney—for added authenticity.