City of London London Budget Guide

Emergency Numbers: Police: 999 (Emergency) / 101 (Non-Emergency) | Medical / Fire: 999 (Emergency) / 111 (Medical Advice) | Local Currency: GBP (1 USD ≈ 0.79GBP)

Map of Budget Spots

Cheap Beds & Emergency Accommodation

No budget hostels or emergency shelters found inside this district.

Cheap Groceries & Free Meals

Supermarket Discount Hours: Yellow sticker price drops start around 18:00, with final reductions (up to 75% off) applied between 20:00 and 21:00 at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and M&S.
Best Cheap Eats: Greggs sausage rolls (£1.20) and baked pasties, or supermarket Meal Deals (£3.90 at Tesco/Sainsbury’s for sandwich, snack, and drink).

Discount Supermarkets

Supermarket	Best Budget Buys	Address (Google Maps)
Aldi Fenchurch Street	Store-brand oats, canned goods, pasta, eggs, and fresh produce	142 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 6BL
Tesco Express Cheapside	Tesco Everyday Value range, discount bread, £3.90 meal deals	63 Cheapside, London EC2V 6AA

Free Meals & Food Banks

No free meal centers or food pantries located directly in this district.

Free Water & Public Restrooms

Free Drinking Water Points

Location	Address (Google Maps)	Where to Find It
St Paul’s Churchyard Drinking Fountain	St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD	Public water refill fountain located near the south entrance of the Cathedral grounds.
Tower Hill Terrace Water Refill	Tower Hill, London EC3N 4EE	Free public drinking water point opposite the Tower of London entry concourse.

Free Public Toilets

Location	Address (Google Maps)	Hours & Notes
Barbican Centre Public Toilets	Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS	Clean, fully accessible free public restrooms inside the main foyer level. Open daily 09:00 - 23:00.
One New Change Shopping Centre	1 New Change, London EC4M 9AF	Free public restrooms located on the lower ground level near the lift foyer.

Free Wi-Fi, Workspaces & Showers

Places with Free Wi-Fi & Power Outlets

Place	Address (Google Maps)	Wi-Fi & Desk Details
Barbican Library	Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS	Free high-speed Wi-Fi, desk seating, and accessible power outlets. Open Monday to Saturday.
Shoe Lane Library	1 Hill House, Little New St, London EC4A 3JR	Quiet public study environment with free Wi-Fi and power sockets.

Note: Public Wi-Fi here is unencrypted. If accessing bank or work portals, keep NordVPN on. Grab the student rate (via Student Beans verification), or lock in the 2-year plan to save the most.

Cheap Showers & Public Baths

No cheap public bathhouses or drop-in showers found inside this district. A budget gym day-pass is often the best alternative.

Getting Around Cheaply

Best Way to Move Around: Walking (the entire district is 1 square mile) or Santander Cycles shared bikes.
Standard Fare: 1.75GBP
Transit Scams to Avoid: Unregulated cycle pedicabs near tourist hubs charging £50+ for short rides without fixed meters, and unofficial taxi touts outside major train stations.

SIM Cards & Internet

Best Budget Carrier: SMARTY / Lebara
How to Keep Data Costs Low: Order a SIM online for 30-day rolling plans starting at £5-£6/month with 5GB+ data on 5G network without long term contract commitment.

Safety, Scams & Areas to Avoid

Common Local Scams

Scam	How to Avoid It
Moped Phone Snatching	Keep your phone concealed and avoid staring at navigation screens near street curbs or pedestrian crossings.
Pedicab Overcharging	Avoid street pedicabs/rickshaws altogether; use TfL public transport or Santander Cycles instead.

Areas to Avoid at Night:

None