Most day-trippers and tourists associate London with an expensive treat, but this only applies if you follow the tourist trail. By heading slightly off the beaten track, into the heart of ‘true’ London, you will find all sorts of fascinating places to explore, shop, and dine without damaging your wallet.

South East London is an area that spans the suburbs of Woolwich to Brixton and from Waterloo to Crystal Palace. It is a place to head if you fancy a location that has plenty to offer in-between.

Whether you would like to spend an evening in one of the traditional pubs found down one of the cobbled lanes, or perhaps the brand-spanking new ‘vertical city’ is more up your street, or even taking in the sights down the River Thames, then there is something for everyone to enjoy without the huge expense.

Secret Shopping Havens
South East London is home to some incredible unique shops, a far cry from the glitzy mainstream outlets found in the centre of London, these businesses might be slightly kitsch, but they have everything from clothing to board games.

If you’re interested in vintage, clothing there is no better place to stop than 360 Degrees Vintage at Greenwich Market. Although once a market stall, this is now the biggest shop in the market.

You can get your hands on just about anything from the early 1900s right through to the 1980s, with items that can set you back anywhere from between £25 to £75. Due to its hip marketing, 360 Degrees Vintage has become a London shopping destination for many celebrities.

Vintage clothing isn’t all that South East London has on offer; Compendia Traditional Games – also in Greenwich Market – has just about every game imaginable. With the sole intention of bringing families back together, Compendia stocks a huge range of both battery and non-battery powered games.

Head over to Peckham High Street and you will find one of the most unusual corner shops around called Persepolis. This Iranian-owned store sells everything from musical instruments and CDs to Iranian food products. Owner Sally also sells a cookbook called Persia in Peckham.

Cheap Eats & Drinks
Dining out in South East London can definitely be done on a shoestring; this area is home to some of the London cafes and restaurants, which sell the most delicious home cooked food.

For the first meal of the day, there is no better place to stop than Blue Monty, which is famous in the local area for its ‘full monty’.

The fry up will probably be the highest quality breakfast you’ve ever tasted from a local cafe, with chunky slices of toast, thick Cumberland sausages, and crispy bacon all lovingly adorned with tomatoes, eggs, mushroom, and whatever else you would like to add. Although not the cheapest in London, it does offer the best value for money at £6.95.

Next, on the agenda is lunch, and where better to stop off away from all the hustle and bustle than Magdalen, a simple yet quaint restaurant on Tooley Street in London Bridge, one of the hotspots for the Olympic Games. The set lunch, served between 12pm and 2.30pm is an absolute bargain, at just £15.50 for two courses, or £18.50 for three.

The restaurant uses the very best sourced British ingredients to serve incredibly high quality food, but in a comfortable and romantic atmosphere.

There are so many places to choose from for dinner, but the trendy urban Italian restaurant Zucca is my favourite pick. This place is incredibly slick, there is no place for naff decorations or overly flowery surroundings and it is complete with its white plastic tables for a real minimalist feel.

Anything on the menu is delicious, whether you opt for pasta, chicken, breads, dessert or coffee, everything is as good as the next. It may not be homely in decor, but it certainly is a bargain, with the main meals ranging from £14.50 to £14.95.

Arts & Attractions
There are plenty of things to do in South East London without breaking the bank, including a trip to the museums. These museums aren’t the little stuffy museums found down some back alley, these are the country’s finest, and they can all be visited for free.

You can choose from the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum.

You may not instantly associate the National Theatre with a cheap day out, but they put on free concerts 6 days a week at 5.45pm, and 1.45pm on a Saturday. All sorts of acts including jazz and folk bands perform on Southbank next to Waterloo Bridge.

Whatever your fancy, South East London is thriving with unique locations and places of interest which won’t break the bank.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.