London

We lived in London long enough to stop paying tourist prices for anything. This guide is the version we send friends who are visiting for the first time and do not want to waste money.

Best time to go

May, June and September. December for the markets if you can handle crowds.

What it costs

£120–£200 a day for two paying for accommodation — a fraction of that on a sit.

What we'd actually do

The free museums, properly

Pick two, not six. The V&A and the Sir John Soane's Museum in one day is a perfect London itinerary.

Walk the Thames Path at dusk

Tower Bridge to Westminster on the south bank costs nothing and beats every paid viewpoint.

Markets on the right days

Borough midweek, Columbia Road on Sunday morning, Maltby Street on Saturday.

Where to stay

• Bermondsey and Borough — riverside, brilliant food, walkable to the centre
• Hackney and London Fields — where we lived, best for markets and pubs
• Bloomsbury — central, quiet at night, walking distance to museums

Things we wish we'd known

• Contactless caps your daily travel automatically — never buy a travelcard.
• London is one of the most competitive house-sitting cities in the world; apply within the hour and keep a strong profile.