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Holidaymakers planning to spend some time in London this year will always find plenty to do to keep them busy. With a world-famous theatre district, internationally-renowned restaurants and many historical attractions to see, you’ll never be bored on a trip here.

It also has a vibrant art scene, so it is well worth taking a tour of the most famous galleries in the city.

However, guests staying in cheap London hotels may not always know where to start when it comes to deciding which venues to visit, so why not read our list of the top five galleries to explore while in London this year?

The National Gallery

One of the most famous galleries in London, and with good reason, as it is home to paintings ranging from between the 13th and 19th centuries.

Visitors can now come to the venue free of charge, which will make for a budget-friendly day trip. It is also open 361 days of the year, so you have a good chance of being able to head to the gallery at least once during your holiday.

There are more than 2,300 works of art in the National Gallery, making it one of the best places to see the history of western European art in the world.

Some pieces that you might have heard of include Sandro Botticelli’s Venus and Mars and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Virgin of the Rocks.

Tate Modern

For fans of contemporary art, there is perhaps no better place to visit than the Tate Modern. This was opened in 2000 and, since then, it has become one of the most important art venues in the country.

You will be able to see international works from the 1900s, in addition to modern British art.

Walk through different rooms and learn more about Surrealism, Minimalism, Post-war innovations in abstractism and figuration, as well as Cubism, Futurism and Vorticism on a visit here.

You will also have the opportunity to see some of the many temporary exhibitions that are held here, with 2012 seeing the Photography: New Documentary Forms display, among others.

Serpentine Gallery

The Serpentine Gallery might be another venue you want to visit if you like to look at contemporary art and more than 800,000 people head here every year.

If you join the crowds and attend the free gallery, you will be able to see permanent exhibitions by Ian Hamilton Finlay, while there are a number of temporary displays put on here all the time.

This year, the gallery will showcase work by Yoko Ono, with the widow of The Beatles’ John Lennon putting on a show with a collection of her pieces.

The Queen’s Gallery

For a memorable experience, a visit to the Queen’s Gallery could make for the perfect day out.

Located in Buckingham Palace, this is a unique type of exhibition centre, showcasing displays from the Royal Collection, in addition to pieces by world-renowned artists.

You might want to peruse the paintings and treasures held by Her Majesty, or you could take a look at temporary displays. One exhibition being put on at the gallery this year is Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist.

Visit the gallery between May 4th and October 7th and you’ll be able to see some of the artist’s famous anatomical drawings.

National Portrait Gallery

To finish your trip to London, why not head to the National Portrait Gallery? This exhibition centre was opened in 1856 and now has more than 160,000 portraits from the last 500 years.

This is one of the largest collections of art in the capital, so you are sure to find something that interests you here.

As well as permanent displays, you may wish to head to the gallery in 2012, as a number of temporary exhibitions are being held. Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People, for instance, will be held until July 22nd giving visitors the chance to see 14 portraits of people painted between the 16th and 17th centuries, whose identities remain unknown.

There are so many opportunities to enhance your knowledge of art history, so why not book a trip to London today and you can walk around some of the city’s best galleries with ease?

With London Summer Olympic Games 2012 around the corner, Rio Olympics 2016 are getting closer.

York can certainly be a captivating choice when searching for weekend breaks in England and while you may want to visit famous attractions such as York Minster and the JORVIK Viking Centre, there are also several less well-known gems in the city that should not be missed.

One place that is certainly worth a visit is the Quilt Museum and Gallery. The first museum in the country to be dedicated to quilt-making and textile arts, the cultural institution holds a fascinating collection of items from the 18th century right through to the present day.

Various items of clothing – such as bonnets, dressing gowns and skirts – can be viewed at the museum, as can banners and quilts. It is also home to a silk coverlet made in 1718, the earliest known dated piece of British patchwork.

A mixture of both temporary exhibitions and permanent collections can be found here, with various shows by contemporary craft-makers taking place throughout the year.

The museum, which is located in St Anthony’s Hall, is open all year round from Monday to Saturday, so there should be plenty of opportunity to visit it while on a holiday to York.
Stopping by the Museum of the Royal Dragoon Guards can also make for a fascinating afternoon out.

Located on Tower Street opposite Clifford’s Tower, the museum gives visitors an insight into the history of the Yorkshire-based armed regiment from its inception in 1685 right through to the modern day.

There is also a multimedia area where you can watch a number of short films looking at the regiment’s history, as well as its present work. A wide range of military uniforms are on display, including 17th century jackets, ceremonial cloaks and modern helmets, as are paintings from artist Edward Payne, who served with the Dragoons during the second world war.

You can also stop by the gift shop, which sells various books and other items of regimental memorabilia. Admission for adults is £2, while senior citizens and children pay £1 for entry.

York is well-known for its historic architecture; even the cheap hotels in York can be found in some impressive ancient buildings, however you can get a greater sense of the city’s medieval splendour by visiting Barley Hall. Once used by the Nostell Priory monastery and the former home of lord mayor William Snawsell, the oldest parts of the property date back to about 1360.

While it was obscured by an office block in the latter stages of the 20th century, the development has since been restored to replicate what Snawsell’s home would have looked like in 1483.

The exposed timber frames and high ceilings of Barley Hall can give a real insight into what life was like hundreds of years ago, as the development also features what it is thought to be the only horn window – which is made from flattened pieces of animal bone – in England.

Permanent displays of medieval artefacts and costumes can be viewed, while there are also annual changing exhibitions and one-off events taking place. It is open seven days a week all year round, although visiting hours are reduced in the winter months.

Entrance to the hall costs £4.95 for adults and £3 for children. However, your ticket will be treated as an admission donation that will entitle you to free entry to the attraction for 12 months after you visit, so will be able to go on repeat trips to Barley Hall for free!

To see some more of the city’s archaic architecture, visit Fairfax House. Situated in Castlegate, the Georgian townhouse is said to contain one of the finest collections of English 18th century furniture in the world. A range of exhibitions and events – such as music and comedy shows – are held throughout the year, so there is plenty for you to see.
Entrance is £6 for adults and £5 for concessions; however like Barley Hall your ticket includes free admission for a year.

If you’re in need of a breather, stop by one of the two branches of Betty’s tearooms that are located in the city. Here you can tuck into a range of scones, biscuits and other sweet treats, as well as a cup of tea or coffee, before checking out some of York’s other fantastic attractions!

Whether you’re a London veteran or looking to visit for the first time, the most visited city in the world is far from being known as the cheapest. However, if you know when, where and how to visit, you can then enjoy this leading global city without going home with a lighter wallet.

Here are the top things that you can do to keep your London visit down in price, and hopefully leave you with more money to enjoy more of what London has to offer.

And if you want to explore the city for more than a day, check out various different cheap London hotels to keep costs down in that area too.

The London Pass

London’s smart card is a little steep to buy initially, however, depending on what you plan to visit; this card could save you a small fortune. You can buy a pass for 1 to 6 days, and each day will cost £70 per adult and £40 per child.

This may seem pretty pricey, but when you discover that it will grant you access to over 55 of London’s attractions, each with hefty entry prices, you can then see the potential savings.

These passes count days based on calendar days and not the time you decide to use them, therefore if you use your pass at say 5pm on a Saturday, then Saturday is counted as your day, so get a good head start on the day to make full use of the pass.

Artist’s point of view

London is home to a number of impressive museums, including places such as the Tate Modern, the V&A and the British Museum. And for people interested in seeing some rare Picasso artwork, then head to the Gagosian Gallery in Kings Cross. As impressive as these museums are, the best thing is that none of them will ask for a penny.

A picnic in London

Eating out in London can either be quite expensive or of reasonable value, depending on where you visit, but you’ll be bound to wherever it is you choose. Why not enjoy the sites of London from one of its many free parks with a picnic? As long as the weather stays kind, you’ll also be able to save yourself a bit of cash along the way.

Alexandra Park is the perfect northern stop, with great views of the city and with easy access to the award winning Alexandra Palace Farmers’ market; here you can pick up almost anything for your picnic.

Changing of the Guard

If you happen to be visiting on certain days, then it’s worth seeing the ceremonial display of the changing of the guard. This military tradition of the Queen’s Guards changing takes place on specific days at 11:30am. It is the best time to visit Buckingham Palace, as it takes place in the forecourt.

Street entertainment

You’ve probably walked through many cities and found people displaying their talents for your entertainment. The same can be said for London, however the West Piazza of the Covent Garden Market is London’s home to the street performer, here you’ll find many licensed performers looking to entertain you every afternoon.

There are usually some very talented people who come here and often have masses of crowds enjoying their shows. Each performer has had to pass an audition to display their talents here, and they are free for you to enjoy.

The Mayor’s Thames Festival

By far the best free event London has to offer is the Mayor’s Thames Festival. From the 11-12th of September every year, the festival offers many performances, an architectural walk along the foreshore with the weekend closing the festival with an impressive fireworks display. 2010 also saw St. Katherine’s Dock being the host of many vintage boats.