Okay friends, grab a cuppa tea (or something stronger!), let’s dive into what it really cost me to tackle England, Scotland, and Ireland last month. I kept every bloody receipt, so you get the full picture, warts and all. My main goal? See those amazing places without completely wrecking the bank.
The Big Ticket Items: Flights & Getting Around
Right, started staring at flight prices like a madman. London kept popping up cheapest from my side. Finally snagged a return ticket to Heathrow for £420. Not the absolute cheapest ever, but decent timing. Big lesson: booked this 3 months out, watching prices jump around like crazy weekly.
Inside the UK and Ireland? Man, trains! Planned to see a lot, so got a BritRail Pass. Cost £389 for 8 days within 2 months. Sounds steep? Compared to buying London-Edinburgh (£70+ alone!), Edinburgh-Glasgow (£15), Glasgow-Belfast ferry (£35), Belfast-Dublin train (£25)… yeah, saved my bacon, especially last-minute hops. Top Tip: Seriously consider this pass if moving around lots!
Cheapo Airlines Save The Day: My flight from Dublin back to London? Ryanair. Paid £19.99! Yes, just my tiny backpack as hand luggage. Needed checked luggage? Would’ve been £30+, turning it into a ‘meh’ deal.
Where I Laid My Weary Head
Budget meant hostels mostly, private rooms when I needed space. Didn’t fancy sharing with 12 strangers every night!
- London: 3 nights private room hostel near Victoria. £95/night! Ouch. City’s bloody expensive.
- Edinburgh: 2 nights in a 6-bed dorm. £38/night. Place was okay, bit noisy. Weather was shite.
- Glasgow: Snagged a tiny hotel room! Clearance rate £52/night. Lucky find.
- Belfast: Hostel private room £65/night. Actually nicer than expected.
- Dublin: Dorm bed again, £40/night. Lively spot near Temple Bar (mistake? maybe!).
Overall Lodging Trick: Book cancellation-free options early when you see a decent price, then keep checking! Sometimes prices drop later on.
Fueling the Adventure (Cheaply!)
Tried hard not to eat out for every single meal. Adds up crazy fast.
- Supermarkets are Lifesavers! Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S Simply Food for sandwiches, fruit, snacks. Grabbed picnic lunches loads of times. Spend? Maybe £10-£15 daily max. Sitting in parks became my jam.
- Pub Grub & Casual Eats: Aimed for lunch specials (cheaper than dinner!) or pub deals. Found a great Fish & Chips place in Whitby for £9. Dublin pub lunch was like €15. Tried not to go over £20-25 per meal when eating out. Let’s be real, had a few pints too… and that €8 Dublin pint stung!
Playing Tourist Without Selling a Kidney
You don’t need to pay for everything!
- Walking is Free! Explored London parks, wandered Edinburgh Old Town endlessly, hiked Arthur’s Seat (free!), walked Glasgow Uni campus.
- Museums & Galleries: Massive win! British Museum? Free! National Galleries? Free! Edinburgh Castle was steep (£22), but planned for it. Booked some paid stuff online slightly cheaper (like the Titanic Belfast, £24).
- Pre-booked What I Really Wanted: Saw a West End show (£55 – worth it!), that Edinburgh Castle slot. Skipped pricey tours I wasn’t fussed about.
The Grand Total Shocker (or not?)
Drumroll please… Flights + Trains + Pass + Ferry + Buses: £1053
Sleeping: £790
Eating & Drinking: £580
Sights & Fun: £310
Misc (Sim card, bus fares, coughwhiskeycough): £120
Grand Total for 15 Days: £2853
Honestly? After seeing the individual prices, this feels like a win. Could I slash it more? Maybe. Skip the paid sights? Eat only supermarket food? But then it’s just existing, not experiencing properly. This felt balanced – saw the big stuff, ate decently, slept fairly comfortably. Biggest takeaway? Plan transport smart (that pass!), embrace supermarket picnics, and cherish the free walking tours and museums. Happy travels, folks!
