Summer can be a busy time for us all; festivals, holidays, shopping the new trends, bars and bbq’s and the general urge to not stay indoors when the sun in shining!

Sounds good right? And probably a little expensive huh?

Well this blog is dedicated to some of the amazing and different events and activities you can do this summer in London… all on a budget!

London; one of the most famous cities in the world and sometimes, to us Londoners, one that we can often take for granted. What inspired me to write this blog was a recent site visit to the iconic Shard. Whilst nearing the top floor I peered out of the window and was left astonished by the stunning view and skyline. Sky scraping buildings with amazing architecture, surrounded by cobbled roads that ooze history. The hustle and bustle of the city is mesmerising...and it really did leave a taste of wanting and discovery (especially as I have lived in London my whole life!)

Whist on my search for different  things to do this summer… I came to the realisation that  exploring my city doesn’t actually have to be pricey at all. In fact, I came across many reasonably priced (and even some free) events.

Here are my TOP 5 picks for the hottest pocket friendly things to do this summer:

1- The view from the Shard - Experience the views from the highest building in London for a real breathtaking activity. Tickets on the official website start at £25 however last minute.com and often Wowcher have tickets for as little as £18.95! I would personally recommend this and also ensuring you sign up to websites that give you these wonderful offers. This is great to do with a loved one, some friends or even alone! Bring a good camera and make sure you get some amazing shots!

2- Urban Food Festival - This is a must! We love our food here at Serenity London and the Urban Food Festival in the heart of shoreditch has an amazing range of food from vegan to italian, to the warm spices of the Asian cuisine, to good old grub with some mouthwatering fully loaded burgers, sweet desserts and drink stalls (including some cocktails to die for).  Entry is free, food is not - unfortunately - but is very reasonably priced and you can often grab a meal for just £10 (appetite depending - of course). They are open from midday to midnight every Saturday on Shoreditch High Street. So whether you want to stuff your face, or simply just go for a cocktail, the atmosphere and ambience is immense, and being in the heart of London going for a stroll in the city after you can’t go wrong!

3- Comedy nights - because we all love a good old giggle right?! We discovered this gem while site viewing nearby - Angel Comedy. This is a comedy house on Camden walk that offers various FREE weekly comedy nights. Monday - improvisation night, Tuesday - Edinburgh festival best bits  - Wednesday - ‘So you think you’re funny?’ competition, Thursday - a night of potential and variety - Friday & Saturday are their Flagship nights (Still free!) and Sundays are their Raw comedy evenings. This is wonderful for a night for a good old giggle - and a potentially free night in the buzzing area of Camden. (Thank us later)

4- Fun Educational Trip - In London we are fortunate to have wide range of beautiful, historic, fun and informative museums that never get old (no pun intended). Our favourite one for these summer months is the Natural History Museum. A classic museum that any Londoner would of probably attended on a school trip, but one that you can only appreciate fully when you re-attend as an adult. The natural history museum showcases some wonderful artifacts with many interactive attractions such as body snatchers: eaten alive by parasitic wraps, Spotlight: Tiger Longwing, Rainbow Nature: most colourful creatures, The making of colour and vision, dual gender butterfly and zebra butterfly to name a few. This is a fun day out for families, couples and friends and it really is a nostalgic experience to take you back to your childhood and re live this magical place. Entry is completely free as well as all the attractions but there is the option for night time experiences for adults and children that you can check out on their website. Perfect for a work event or a perfect date night!

5- For our sweet tooth readers - our favourite (& cheapest!) dessert joint in London - My old dutch. Spoiling you with not only one, but 3 cosy venues scattered around town - Kensington, Chelsea and Holburn, this is a Serenity London Must Go. With the most expensive dessert on the A La carte menu being a mere £10.95 you can not go wrong in visiting. The waffles, pancakes and crepes are to die for ranging from sweet to savoury with flavours such as classic maple syrup and butter to an edgier pear and cinnamon (I know - my mouth just watered too) and savoury crepes from smoked salmon and cream cheese to bolognese! My old dutch simply caters for all - also including gluten free products across all of their menus. They also cater for big groups and parties so whether it be a children’s birthday or for adults  celebrations or simply looking to treat yourself and really go out on ‘cheat day’ this is a fun and quirky place to go!