According to a new poll, London is less expensive than Caracas. But budget travel expert Benji Lanyado argues that it’s always been as cheap as you want it to be. If you want to play around with the poll data, head over to the Guardian Datastore

For years, London has been touted as one of the world’s most expensive cities. But a recent survey shows that its rip-off reputation is slipping. In a Mercer survey measuring the comparative cost of over 200 items in 143 cities, London dropped 13 places to number 16 in the world, falling below Paris, Hong Kong and Geneva (if you want to play around with the poll’s findings, find all of the data at the Guardian Datastore). Amazingly, the survey even claims that visiting London is better value than a trip to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

But as an avid budgeteer, I’ve never thought of London as being expensive. In fact, some of the best things to do in London are some of the cheapest.

You want superb food? Begin with breakfast at E. Pellicci’s on Bethnal Green Road, a quintessential east end fomica cafe where the Kray twins once plotted, and where the service is a charming as anywhere in the capital. For lunch, grab some bread and a couple of slices of cheese from Gastronomica in Borough, and dine al fresco by the Thames. For dinner buy a couple of the world’s most famous bagels – the salt beef varieties sold on Brick Lane. None of the above will cost more than a fiver. If you want to sit down somewhere, head over to Time Out, and search the nearest restaurants to you by price… there’s are bargains everywhere.

Kids in tow? Have a browse through the excellent Londonisfree.com – their bounteous listings are particularly good for families. If the weather’s good, corral your brood to the nearest park – London’s are some of the best in the world. Want a slice of rural England in the capital, herd them towards on of the city’s brilliant city farms.

Culture? One of our writers managed to stuff himself with the stuff for a full week, and did it for under £60. If you want freebies, most of London’s best galleries and museums – including the Tate Modern, the British Museum, the Serpentine – are free.

And you can even bag a bargain bed here. The recently revamped YHA St Pancras has slick double rooms from just over £50 per night. A few weeks ago, I stayed in London for £10 a night.

Am I talking rubbish? Or do you agree that London is full of bargains? If so… what are your top tips?

According to a new poll, London is less expensive than Caracas. But budget travel expert Benji Lanyado argues that it’s always been as cheap as you want it to be. If you want to play around with the poll data, head over to the Guardian Datastore

For years, London has been touted as one of the world’s most expensive cities. But a recent survey shows that its rip-off reputation is slipping. In a Mercer survey measuring the comparative cost of over 200 items in 143 cities, London dropped 13 places to number 16 in the world, falling below Paris, Hong Kong and Geneva (if you want to play around with the poll’s findings, find all of the data at the Guardian Datastore). Amazingly, the survey even claims that visiting London is better value than a trip to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

But as an avid budgeteer, I’ve never thought of London as being expensive. In fact, some of the best things to do in London are some of the cheapest.

You want superb food? Begin with breakfast at E. Pellicci’s on Bethnal Green Road, a quintessential east end fomica cafe where the Kray twins once plotted, and where the service is a charming as anywhere in the capital. For lunch, grab some bread and a couple of slices of cheese from Gastronomica in Borough, and dine al fresco by the Thames. For dinner buy a couple of the world’s most famous bagels – the salt beef varieties sold on Brick Lane. None of the above will cost more than a fiver. If you want to sit down somewhere, head over to Time Out, and search the nearest restaurants to you by price… there’s are bargains everywhere.

Kids in tow? Have a browse through the excellent Londonisfree.com – their bounteous listings are particularly good for families. If the weather’s good, corral your brood to the nearest park – London’s are some of the best in the world. Want a slice of rural England in the capital, herd them towards on of the city’s brilliant city farms.

Culture? One of our writers managed to stuff himself with the stuff for a full week, and did it for under £60. If you want freebies, most of London’s best galleries and museums – including the Tate Modern, the British Museum, the Serpentine – are free.

And you can even bag a bargain bed here. The recently revamped YHA St Pancras has slick double rooms from just over £50 per night. A few weeks ago, I stayed in London for £10 a night.

Am I talking rubbish? Or do you agree that London is full of bargains? If so… what are your top tips?