Tip 21: Sushi!

If you're working late, or have had after-work drinks, and you're after a healthy and cheap meal, head to Itsu.

They do half-price on everything in store half an hour before closing. Get a cheap Japanese feed; sushi, noodles, soups, salads.

Most stores close around 8-9pm. For a store near you and opening (or closing!) hours, visit http://www.itsu.com/locations/shops/ 

Tip 12: A View From The Top

At 308 meters and 72 floors high, The Shard gives an unrivaled view of London. Because of this, it may be tempting to visit the viewing platform. But here is a hack - save the £25 and visit the atrium bar on the 31st floor for free! You don't need to book, and you can nurse a £4.50 glass of wine for as long as you like and take in the view. It's open til 1am, and the dress code is a smart causal. For more info check out their website http://www.aquashard.co.uk/. 

Tip 20: Easy London

City mapper’s mission? Make cities easier to use.

This app is invaluable for finding your way around London and much better than an A-Z. Trust me. You select a destination and it gives you every option available to get there including real time tube and bus times and costs. A personal favourite is the taxi option - you can justify taking a cab if you compare it to the time and cost of public transport. Plus, it remembers your favourite/frequent destinations so it’s not such a big deal if typing in your home address is not possible at the time.

Genius.

Tip 19: Probably the Best Pizza in London

Saying something is the "best in London" is a big call - but these words came from someone who has lived in Naples (which probably does the best pizza in the world).

Where can I find this pizza? Franco Manca.

Where is Franco Manca? The restaurants are in Tottenham Court Road, Brixton, Chiswick, Northcote, Stratford Westfield, and Balham.

What do they serve? Pizza - and that's pretty much it. (But you can buy beer and wine)

What makes it so good? The sourdough base and the limited, yet delicious toppings which are then wood-fired to perfection. They are traditional, rustic Italian pizzas. There are only 6 on the menu, and usually one or two specials.

How much are they? Here's the good part - they are really cheap! Pizza breads start at £4.50, and the most expensive pizza is about £7.50. I can barely finish one.

Can I book? Nope, you have to turn up, line up and wait. 2 is the best number to go in. You may have to wait a while, but it is worth it! 

Tip 18: Eggs with a view

Everyone must visit Duck and Waffle on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower for breakfast. Not only is the food phenomenal, but the view across London will take your breath away. The restaurant is a little more pricey for dining at other times of the day, but pop in for breakfast and you'll be pleasantly surprised at their egg offerings under £10.

You will need to book a table in advance, but I promise it is worth the effort of planning ahead. Breakfast is served until 11am on a week day and 9am on the weekend (after which the brunch menu kicks in and is just as tasty), and the menu is refreshingly original for the pounds you'll be parting with. Additionally, the glass lift is a thrill in itself as you rocket up 40 floors in what feels like 4 seconds.

This is a great place to dine regardless of if you are new to the city or not as it allows you to orient yourself with the skyline and fully appreciate the city you're about to fall in love with.

What's more, Duck and Waffle is open TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY. Next up I need to try their Late Night menu which is served between 12am - 5am...

There's no time to sleep in this city.

p.s: And yes, be brave and try the Duck and Waffle on the menu - it is surprisingly palatable!

Tip 17: Twickets

Cool Londoners go to gigs and even cooler Londoners use the Twickets app to get there.

Twickets is available on the app store and it syncs to your twitter account. The concept is simple, people list tickets (mostly to gigs but also sporting events and theatre/musicals) and they can only ask the face value or less, otherwise the patrol men at Twickets will remove the listing.

This is fantastic for last minute gigs that you think you've missed out on. You just tweet the seller and arrange delivery/payment offline or through a  private message.

Twickets; gigging made easy. 

Tip 16: A Cheap Date

If you're after a cheap and cheerful date - head up to Indian Veg in Angel. This place does a vegetarian Indian curry buffet for £5.50. The food is delicious and plentiful - there are salads, curries, rices, sauces and breads. It is BYO - and you can bring any booze you want, with no corkage. My boyfriend is a big meat eater, but he didn't mind the lack of meat as the food is so flavourful.

This is not the most romantic date place (think bright lights and poster with health facts on the wall), but it is cheap and delicious - and only a short walk from the tube station.  https://plus.google.com/104745545148601621089/about?gl=uk&hl=en

Tip 15: You snooze, you win...?

Columbia Road will always be one of my favourite places in London and there is no better time to visit than on a Sunday when the road fills up with every bloom imaginable and the friendly traders make it a proper East London market experience.

If you don’t have a particular flower in mind the best time to go is around 1.30 as by this time the market is wrapping up and you will score the best deals in town whilst refining your bartering skills.

Afterwards, skip along Shoreditch High Street and into Hoxton Square and I guarantee that by this time on a Sunday, the line will be manageable for the Breakfast Club and you will be able to enjoy some first-class fare with your bunch of flowers fragrancing your meal.

The Columbia Road Flower Markets start at dawn on a Sunday and thin out around 2pm. 

Tip 14: The Book of Mormon for £20

You have to live under a rock not to know about The Book of Mormon (the musical, not the trilogy to the Bible). It's notoriously good, but also notoriously expensive. Tickets are around £90, but what you might not know is that every night they give away 21 tickers for just £20!

You have to turn up between 5pm and 5.30pm and enter your name into a ballot (bring your own pen, it's easier). You have to circle whether you want 1 or 2 tickets. All entries go into a gold barrel, and they are drawn at 5.30 on the dot - so you must be there to collect them with ID.

I was really lucky last night as they gave away an extra 10, and there was only about 30 people waiting around, so my odds were good.

All the ballot tickets are for the front two rows; the view is really good.

The show starts at 7.30 and ends at 10pm with a half hour intermission. Tube to Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus (depending on which way you are coming from); it is in the middle of the two.

It's well worth going in the draw if you have a delegate who can get there early enough! The show is fantastic!

Tip 13: Cycle the canal

If you're not overly confident on the road sans bike helmet, it's often tricky to know where to ride a Barclay bike to and from. One of my favourite routes is to ride along the canal from Little Venice to Camden. This is a lovely traffic-free route and you can wave at the Zoo animals at ZSL on your way past. Dock your bike in Camden and then explore the Camden Lock Market. Such a fun day outing! 

The nitty gritty: You pay £2.00 for 24 hour access and then between 30mins and 1 hour costs £1.00 and then up to 1 hour 30mins costs £4.00, up to 2 hours costs £6.00 etc etc. Just make sure you dock your bike properly so that the green light flashes so you don't incur excessive costs. Any problems, just call the helpful hotline and someone will get you sorted in a very timely fashion. 

Tip 11: Sweat for free

Sweaty Betty sells amazing (but pricey) women’s workout gear; with boutiques dotted all over London. While the price tags will make your eyes water (£49 for a running t-shirt), there are bargains to be had - they offer free workout classes for Sweaty Betty members.

To become a member all you have to do is sign up in store - no purchasing necessary! Each boutique has its own timetable and each class is run by a fitness professional, so you’ll be in good hands. Classes include Yoga, Tabata, Pilates, Zumba and running clubs.

You  just ring the day before, membership card in hand, and book yourself in. It's that easy - and that free!

But please keep it to yourself, otherwise the classes will be booked up when we call...

Visit their website for more info: www.sweatybetty.com.

Tip 10: London in your inbox

Londonist is an amazing website which covers all things London. In my mind, by far their best feature is their daily emails at 7am straight to your inbox. The email contains a list of fun and slightly off-beat things to do that day as well as a good cause of the day and the daily blood drive location. It suggests gallery openings, lunchtime lectures, gigs, and theatre and comedy amongst other things.

Plus, the weather report is rather unconventional and always makes me laugh.

Subscribe and see a different side to London. 

Tip 9: Go LATE

As a museum and gallery buff, I like to frequent the amazing world-class museums in South Kensington, but not during daylight hours. At the end of every month, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum all hold LATE events. At a typical LATE, you will find live music, cocktail bars and pop up food stores. Entry to the main galleries is free and the event is adults-only, so you can have a play at the launch pad without having to queue with the kids.

Check out their websites as they often have special themed evenings too.

Natural History Museum: Last Friday of the month
Science Museum: Last Wednesday of the month
Victoria and Albert Museum: last Friday of the month

Plus, the National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery and scores of other independent galleries also have their own late night openings so do a Google search!

Tip 8: Winter is Coming

With the heat wave long gone, it's time to bundle up for winter. We recommend a down jacket - it's so much warmer than wool and often lighter to lug around. I had a wool coat last winter and was constantly cold - my house mate had a down jacket to her knees and was snug and smug. But that's not the tip! My tip is - if you are a small or extra small (man or woman), then try going down to a kid's size XL. Not only are they cheaper, but there is no VAT on children's clothes! My boyfriend looked at a North Face jacket for £320 that was a little too big. He found the same XL boy's jacket for £180!  

Tip 7: Living Safely

When we moved to London, one thing we wouldn't compromise on was being safe as we walked home from the tube at night. Apart from asking around, and finding out what the "vibe" of the area is, there isn't a lot you can do to find out how safe an area is (as safety can be an objective thing). One way to verify you area is to check our http://www.murdermap.co.uk/murder-map.asp. This map will show you how many murders have happened in your area, how they happened and when. Worth a look - even if you are not planning on moving.

Tip 6: The Big Easy Lobster

Want a big, delicious lobster without the big, delicious price? The Big Easy in Chelsea does a £20 deal where you get a whole large Canadian lobster, fries, salad and a margarita or beer! You also get to choose  your own delicious sauce. The atmosphere is great, and it's always packed so book ahead. The deal is available any day of the week. 

Tip 5: Freeze Ready Meals

Life in London can be busy, and often you'll find yourself doing something after work - be it a pub quiz, a "gig out East", or an exhibition. You may find you don't always have time to cook a meal, and eating out is an expensive option. A handy tip is to always have a few Ready Meals in the freezer that you can heat up quickly and eat before you go out. Places like Tescos and Sainsbury's often have bargain isles where you can get a Ready Meal for around £1 - grab them while you can, and store them away for when you need them. I usually have a lasagna, garlic bread and a pizza (for when you come home drunk) in there. These are also great options for lunches at work (as long as you have a microwave).

Tip 4: Be Entertained

Movie are grossly expensive in London -good seats at a central theatre can cost up to £16.50 (and that doesn't include popcorn). Why pay that when movies are so easily attainable in other ways? A better way to spend your evenings (and money) is on live comedy. There is so much in London, and it is so good. The Comedy Store in Leicester Square has great stand-up nights for between £15-20 from Thursday - Saturday. I have been a number of times and couldn't recommend it highly enough. Great place for a date too! Their improv was also really funny.

Tip 3: Bus About

It's very easy to get caught up in the hype of the tube - after all it is great, and it can get you almost anywhere in London. But this often means the humble bus gets overlooked. Buses in London are great, especially for new comers, for a number of reasons;

1. They are actually cheaper than the tube, and are a flat rate. You can go all over town for ₤1.60
2. You can orientate yourself. Being above ground means you can see how everything joins together -- and you start to learn how close tube stops really are to each other
3. They aren't as slow as you may think. Given, rush hour will be slower, but bus lanes make everything much quicker. 

I recently told my newcomer flat mate about the bus, and he screwed his nose up and said he liked the tube as it was easy and he knew exactly where he is going. Well, the bus is easy too and you actually do know where you are going as you are above ground. A great app for using the bus system is called London City Mapper. Give it a Go.

Tip 2: The Key(ring) to Cheap Pizza

Pizza East is a great Italian restaurant with a rustic feel; there is one in Shoreditch, Portobello and Kentish Town. Pizzas range between £8-£14 - BUT - if you own one of these keyrings, you can get a 50% discount off your entire bill (drinks included).

The Shoreditch restaurant offers this deal on a Monday night, and the Portobello on a Sunday (I'm not sure which nights the other ones does). All you have to do is go in (on a night the offer isn't on) and ask to apply for a keyring - you don't even have to buy anything.

Always book ahead if it is deal night as it will be busy! I went to the Porotbello one with friends, we all got drinks, pizza and a desert and it came to £9 each. Bargain. And the food is amazing.

Tip 1: Covent Garden Trick

If you need to go to Covent Garden and you are taking the Piccidilly or Northern line, get off at Leicester Square and walk. The stations are a 4 min walk apart, and the trouble with the Covent Garden station is the only way up is in a lift. These can get stupidly busy, especially on weekends, and you end up waiting for ages underground. So, save yourself time and frustration, get off at Leicester and walk!

P.S It's Covent Garden C-O-V-E-N-T. Not CoNvent - you will not see nuns walking around their backyard.