You’ve walked over the Millennium Bridge (and are sure you felt it wobble slightly!).

You’ve been to the Tate Modern. One of the few affordable galleries in London (it’s free), and in the beautiful Bankside power station building.

Had some really good fish and chips, as well as some really bad ones.

Got up early to visit the city’s choice of markets: Portobello for antiques and second-hand clothes, Columbia Road for flowers, Borough Market for fine foods, and Camden for alternative clothing and crafts.

Had an afternoon pint in a pub hidden in an alley in Central London that Dickens, Nelson or Chaucer once (allegedly) frequented.

Bought the cheapest thing you can find in Harrods (luxury London department store) just so you can get a carrier bag with the Harrods logo on.

Travelled on the tube enough to not want to do it again (except for the Jubilee Line).

Walked through the quickly-changing East End of London.

Been so determined to appreciate London’s nature that you have swum in the ponds at Hampstead Heath despite the fact that it was raining.

You’ve vowed never to go back to Oxford Street to shop on a Saturday afternoon.

Tried to walk along the River Thames, but got distracted by so many things (St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Golden Hind ship, the London Eye…) that it took a whole day.

Looked over London from either Parliament Hill or Primrose Hill and felt truly impressed.

Picture of Millennium Bridge, London originally posted by peter pearson

London, UK is a world’s top travel destinations. Covent Garden, Soho and Westminster are some of its most popular tourist areas, but if you want to see like the real Londoners live and eat great cheap food away from the tourist crowds the East End of London is really worth a visit.

East London is well known for its many chip shops and curry houses, but if you are looking for a bit of variety (and traveling on a budget) here are a few suggestions of where to start: five cheap and tasty East End eats that aren’t fish and chips or curry!

1. Tas Firin (109 Bethnal Green Road)

Tas Firin, just off Brick Lane, offers a wide selection of Turkish food. Everything I’ve had there has been delicious – especially the lamb kofka and pides (a kind of Turkish style pizza). The hummus and mezes are also great and there’s also a big choice for vegetarians. The food is made in front of you in this licensed family-run restaurant, and the service has always been great. It’s quite popular so there can be queues at weekends. Get there early and sit in the window to watch passers-by before the rush begins!

2. The Stingray Globe Café (109 Columbia Rd.)

The Stingray Globe Café, does big pizzas for £5!! There’s a wide range of toppings and styles of pizza (the calzones are always delicious), complimented by a good selection of cocktails as well. There’s plenty of seating – inside and out. Its Columbia Road location means that it gets pretty busy on Sundays when the flower market is on. Apart from that Columbia Road in general is very quiet so you’re pretty much always guaranteed a seat. If not – they also do take away.

3. Columbia Road market

Columbia Road (but only on Sundays) is worth checking out for breakfast too. There’s a stall amongst the flower stands selling the most mouth-watering breakfast rolls (sandwiches) all day long. Any combination of eggs, bacon and sausage will set you back a mere £3 -£4. This place is pretty well hidden, but it’s worth asking (or, alternatively following the scent) as there is nothing better to eat while you meander round the flower market on a cold Sunday morning.

4. The Prospect of Whitby (57 Wapping Wall)

The Prospect of Whitby is hidden in a much untrodden part of East London. The cobbled streets of Wapping which run along the Thames offer a number of good pubs, but I believe this to be the best. Dating back to 1543, it was a famous meeting place for smugglers. The clientèle these days are often suited types working in the city, meaning it gets pretty busy at during lunchtimes and immediately after work. However, I think it’s worth fighting through the crowds to get a seat on the two-tiered decking looking over the river. Getting here at the right time ensures a really beautiful view of Canary Wharf glittering in the setting sun. The food is quite cheap and tastes great. I’d recommend the nachos every time.

5. Brick Lane Beigel Bakery (159 Brick Lane)

Brick Lane Beigel Bakery, serves a selection of bagel sandwiches and pastries very cheaply. There are people who swear by salt beef, gherkin and mustard bagels and those who prefer a simple cream cheese and smoked salmon. Make your own mind up by checking this place out at any time of day or night as the shop is open 24 hours a day. It’s quite an East End tradition to get a bagel at the end of a night out and maybe this’ll encourage some more adventurous choices of fillings! Can get very busy, but there are always plenty of colourful people in the line with you.

Photo of the Prospect of Whitby pub, London originally posted by racingtiger

With such a variety of places to eat and drink in Brighton, UK, it might seem like a daunting decision. To make things easier, here’s a selection of pubs you can’t go wrong with:

1. The Great Eastern, Trafalgar St.

This is the smallest pub in Brighton, yet doesn’t feel crammed. The walls are lined with book shelves and a lot of people come here to read papers in the afternoon, giving it a laid-back atmosphere. Music is also on the mellow side. The roasts and Bloody Marys (boasting 11 ingredients) are worth checking out on Sunday afternoons, as is the Frangelico (hazelnut and herb liqueur) on a cold evening.

2. The Setting Sun, Windmill St.

It took me a long time to discover this pub, as it is hidden in a residential part of the city. For this reason it is usually filled with locals. Although you can spot the occasional punter who deemed the steep walk up to the pub and its beer garden a worthwhile price to pay for a refreshing pint and the incredible view of the sunset over Brighton and the sea.

3. The Basketmakers Arms, Gloucester Rd.

This pub is also slightly tucked away, but this time in the busy North Laine area. The food is very good here, as is the selection of beers and ales and it can get very busy at lunch times. Early evening, after a hard day of shopping in the Laine, is the best time to come and explore the tobacco tins lining each and every wall. Many of them contain notes written by previous punters and there’s always a space to leave your own.

4. The Fortune of War, Kings Rd. Arches

The pub’s prime location on the beach between the two piers makes this a very handy place to get a drink. In the summer the beach acts as its beer garden, but the Fortune of War has much more of a laidback feel than other nearby beach bars. This place is obviously great in summer, but the pub is worth visiting when it’s cold too – especially if you arrive early evening to grab one of the seats in the upstairs window, looking out onto the beach and the fading sun.

5. The Freebutt, Phoenix Place

The Freebutt is loud and grungy and that’s before the live music is even played. It’s a must if you’re looking for live bands and a great atmosphere, but a place to avoid if you want a quiet drink. This legendary Brighton venue is also constantly being threatened with closure, so go while you can. The Penthouse bar upstairs is more like a lounge and free to get in. Again, it’s loud and grungy but the djs play music you won’t hear anywhere else in town.

6. The Shakespeare’s Head, Chatham Place

This pub has is all – beers, ales, outside seating, board games, and 11 different kinds of bangers and mash. I suggest getting a pint, a seat, picking your type of sausage (vegetarian options available), potatoes, vegetables and gravy, and playing Connect Four while you wait for it to arrive.

Photo originally posted by Meemal

Most people go to Brighton, UK, for a day-trip or a weekend getaway, so have a short amount of time to cram a lot in.

Here are my top 5 attractions not to miss out when visiting Brighton:

1. Go for shopping in North Laine

The North Laine area of Brighton is always vibrant and exciting, especially at weekends. More independent shops, cafes, and bars line four small streets than exist in most other cities. You can shop for anything – from alternative clothes, music, food and books to organic shoes, tattoos and fancy dress outfits. When you need sustenance the choice is again very wide – greasy breakfasts, gourmet burgers, Indian food, and pizzas, as well as numerous coffee houses, juice bars and pubs. On a sunny weekend, the North Laine is the place to be (second to Brighton Beach of course), when the streets are pedestrianized and people come from all over to sit outside at their café of choice. Brighton wouldn’t be the same without it.

2. Eat oysters and tapas in South Laine

Despite lying just over the road, the South Lanes differ dramatically from the North Laine. The series of winding alleys are home to a range of more up-market shops and cafes. Although this is where people come to shop for jewelery and eat oysters and tapas, that shouldn’t put you off if you’re on a bit more of a budget holiday – the lanes are a really nice place to let lost in on your way from the North Laine to the sea.

3. Visit Brighton Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence dating back to the early 1800s that bears more resemblance to a wedding cake than a castle! Its exotic architecture is home to an array of state rooms that you can visit. Alternatively, you can find a spot in the Pavilion Gardens amongst numerous buskers (who are actually usually pretty good jazz musicians rather than men with guitars bashing out Coldplay) along with everyone else and admire the architecture from there.

4. Drink a pint of beer in a local pub

Find a pub nestled in the North Laine area and order a pint of Harveys ale, which is brewed in nearby Lewes.

5. Stroll along Brighton beach.

Take a walk along Brighton beach. I’d suggest starting off at the Mock Turtle, an old fashioned tea shop in Pool Valley for a tea and cake and then walking it off via the new pier for some tacky seaside fun. Walking along the beach and past the beautiful skeletal old pier, you’ll pass some really stunning regency architecture, as well as Embassy Court – a newly refurbished 1930s apartment building. If you’re feeling active, I’d recommend walking further down the beach promenade into Hove where you’ll pass brightly colored beach huts which are used daily and some even inhabited by celebrities. Shortly after the beach huts, you’ll come across Marrocco’s Pizza – a family run café right on the beach. Although neither the menu nor the decor seem to have changed much in 40 years, that’s not such a bad thing. It has a very friendly atmosphere and sell delicious pizzas, ice creams and coffees. A welcome reward!

Photo of Brighton Beach originally posted by Mikelo