London is one of the most exciting cities in the world, but planning your first trip here can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a student trying to stick to a budget.
Before visiting London, I found myself asking the same questions many first-time travellers ask:
- Which tour packages are actually worth the money?
- How many days should I plan for London?
- How expensive is transportation?
- Which hostel offers the best travel experience?
After hours of researching tour packages, comparing hostels, and understanding transportation options, I found a strategy that helped me explore London efficiently without overspending.
If you’re a student or solo traveller planning your first trip, here’s what I learned.
How Many Days Should You Plan?
If it’s your first time visiting London, 2–3 days is a great starting point.
Trying to see everything in one day will leave you exhausted. The city is huge, and major attractions like Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and The British Museum are spread across different areas.
Getting Around London
Getting around London is surprisingly easy thanks to the extensive London Underground network, which connects most major attractions across the city.
Students and solo travellers can simply use contactless payment or an Oyster card, which automatically caps daily travel spending.
However, if you prefer a more relaxed sightseeing experience, hop-on hop-off tour buses can be convenient since they often include open-top bus rides, walking tours, and river cruises in one ticket.
(If you want a full step-by-step guide to using the Tube, check out my detailed guide: “How to Use the London Underground: A Student & Solo Traveller’s Guide.”)
My Hostel Hunt: Finding a Unique Experience
When planning my trip, I didn’t want a hostel that was just a place to sleep. I wanted somewhere that reflected the energy of London, a place where I could meet other travellers and feel part of the city.
After comparing multiple hostels, I focused on three key factors:
- Location
- Social atmosphere
- Unique experience
Here are some of the hostels I seriously considered.
Best Social Hostels
- Urbany Hostel London
Artistic interiors and regular pub crawls keep the environment lively.
- St Christopher’s Inn London Bridge – The Village
Capsule-style rooms and a lively bar create a classic backpacker experience near London Bridge.
- Wombat’s City Hostel London
Known for its spacious common areas and friendly atmosphere that makes it easy to meet travellers.
- Onefam Notting Hill
Daily social activities and group dinners make this one of the most social hostels in London.
Quiet & Relaxing Options
- Astor Hyde Park Hostel
A cozy and peaceful option located near museums and Hyde Park. - Safestay London Kensington Holland Park
Located inside Holland Park, offering beautiful park views and modern interiors.
Why I Chose St Christopher’s Inn London Bridge – The Village
After comparing different options, I chose St Christopher’s Inn London Bridge – The Village for two main reasons.
1. Capsule Rooms
The capsule-style rooms offer a unique hostel experience. Compared to traditional dorm rooms, they feel more modern, private, and comfortable.
2. Perfect Location
The hostel is located right next to London Bridge, which is extremely convenient for first-time visitors.This location also made it very easy to access hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses and other transport options.
Comparing London Sightseeing Tour Packages
While planning my trip, I compared several popular sightseeing packages from a student and solo traveller perspective.
| Tour Provider | Package | Price | Notes |
| Big Bus Tours | Hop-on hop-off + Cruise | £34.99 | Good but limited flexibility |
| Tootbus | Bus + River + Walking | £32 | Decent combination |
| City Sightseeing | Sightseeing Bus | £36.75 | Mostly bus-based |
| TopView Tours | Bus + River + Walking + App | Best value | Most experiences included |
After comparing multiple packages, TopView Tours stood out as the best value for students and solo travellers.
For around £32, the package includes multiple sightseeing experiences in one ticket.
What the TopView Tours Package Includes
The TopView Tours package includes:
- Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours
- Thames river cruise
- Walking tours
- Audio guide mobile app
- Night bus tour
Included Experiences
Some of the main experiences included are:
- Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
- Landmarks Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
- Park & Palace Bus Tour
- London Lights Night Tour
- Thames River Cruise
- Royal Park & Palace Walk
- London Entertainers Walk
The Thames River Cruise Experience
One of the highlights of the package is the cruise along the River Thames.
From the boat, you can enjoy incredible views of London’s most famous landmarks, including:
- Tower Bridge
- Houses of Parliament
- London Eye
It’s a relaxing way to see the city from a completely different perspective.
Travel Tip
If you want to make the most of the experience, start your cruise from Westminster Pier and travel towards Greenwich.
This route gives you some of the best views of central London’s landmarks along the river.
Once you reach Greenwich, you can also take the nearby Emirates Air Line cable car, which offers a unique aerial view of the city and the River Thames.
Combining the river cruise with the cable car ride creates a great budget-friendly sightseeing experience that many first-time visitors overlook.
Recommended Add-On Attractions
If you want to experience London’s Biggest Attractions, you can add the popular attraction bundle:
- London Eye
- Madame Tussauds London
- SEA LIFE London Aquarium
- The London Dungeon
- Shrek’s Adventure! London
Bundle price: £59
Two Extra Experiences I Recommend
To make the trip even more memorable, I also recommend adding:
Why This Option Works Well for Students
For students and solo travellers, this type of sightseeing package has several advantages:
- Lower cost compared to premium tour packages
- Flexible sightseeing without strict schedules
- Multiple tours included in one ticket
- A simple introduction to London’s layout and landmarks
It allows you to explore the city at your own pace while keeping your budget under control.
Last Note
Visiting London for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re travelling on a student budget. But with the right planning, it becomes much easier to explore the city without spending a fortune.
For me, combining a social hostel experience with a flexible sightseeing package made the trip both affordable and memorable.
Instead of worrying about transportation routes or expensive attraction tickets, I could simply focus on enjoying the city, meeting other travellers, and experiencing London’s history and culture.
London is full of unforgettable sights, stories, and energy. With the right approach, even a short trip can become an incredible experience.