Top Tips: How to Save Money on UK Travel

The cost of food can put a big dent in a small travel budget. But if you are clever, you can keep costs down - or even eat for free now and then. And you don't have to go on a diet to do it! There are plenty of hearty options for both carnivores and vegetarians, along with opportunities to see how the locals chow down. Go ethnic, go native, splurge on lunch. Find out more about how to save on food and drink in the UK.

Don't let the UK's reputation for expensive accommodations put you off visiting. You really don't need to spend $200 or more for a night in a grim and mediocre hotel when there are other options available. Be a flexible and confident negotiator and you'd be surprised at how far your money can go. Find out how to save on accommodations in the UK.

Entry fees for stately homes, castles and other attractions can really add up. The Great British Heritage Pass, a discount ticket you buy before entering the UK, provides free entry to all of the must-see attractions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for a knockdown, once only price. There are nearly 600 visitor attractions included in the discount ticket - I couldn't find anything worth seeing that wasn't on the list. Available in 4-day 7-day, 15-day or one month versions, for single adults or for families - admitting two adults and up to three children under 16 - it's exceptionally good value. You save even if you just visit a few of the attractions.

Discount passes for overseas visitors, offering free, unlimited entry to hundreds of UK landmarks and attractions, are a great way to save money on UK travel. Besides saving cutting costs, prepaid passes usually allow you to jump the queue at busy sites. Most also include a few extras - like useful guidebooks and maps. And you don't have to keep up with changing exchange rates - you know what you've spent before you go. Find out how to save money on UK travel with the best visitor discount passes I've found.

Train travel in the UK is faster, cheaper and easier than long distance road travel and British Rail travel with a BritRail Pass makes a lot of sense if your vacation plans involve crisscrossing the UK from one major city or region to another. A BritRail Pass is a prepaid pass sold outside the UK - you have to buy it before you leave home. It's valid for unlimited UK rail travel, during a specified period that you choose. It's especially useful for touring since you'll likely want few round trip tickets and one-way fares are often much more expensive than what the British call "return" fares. Find out how to save money on UK travel with a BritRail Pass.

If you are a member of the tribe who can't travel without time outs for retail therapy, recent UK shop prices can seem discouraging. Don't despair. Discount designer outlets, factory outlets and brand outlet shopping malls are popping up all over the UK. There are some excellent buys on designer and high street goods as well as inexpensive restaurants and coffee shops. Some discount malls even have extra destination features like landscaped gardens or shuttles to local attractions. Find out where to save money on UK shopping.

Megatrain offers extremely cheap UK train travel to some of the UK's most popular visitor destinations. You could travel to Bath, Salisbury and a clutch of other selected cities for as little as £1 plus a 50p booking fee - less than it costs to cross London on the Tube. If you are willing to be flexible about your time of travel - and committed to a specific train once you buy the ticket - you could be whizzing around England on regularly scheduled trains for next to nothing. Find out how to save money on UK travel with Megatrain.

Buses and coaches - the European term for inter-city bus services - are the cheapest way to get around the UK. Maybe you haven't taken a bus since your college days but don't worry - they are much more comfortable than they used to be. Some even have on board restrooms and snacks. The distances between key destinations in the UK are relatively short - so unless you travel from the south of England all the way to the top of Scotland in one go, you won't be taking overnight trips. Most journeys are a couple of hours or less. There are a lot of different services and some good online tools to find them. Find out how to save money on UK travel by hopping on a bus.

I'm always looking for ways to help UK visitors and travelers save money. Every week, the UK Hot Deals page is updated with the latest information on discounts, offers, deals, bargains, packages, freebies and insider tips. If you are planning UK Travel, why not bookmark the page and check back often for new ideas and last minute offers that show you how to save money on UK travel.