Britain on the Cheap

Yes, summer 2012 means Olympics in London, but for loyal royalists, it’s all about the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend June 2-4, 2012, marking Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne. VisitLondon has a new contest to win a five-night trip to help the sovereign celebrate. The winner will spend a night under the stars at [...]

Yes, Kate and William are frolicking in the Seychelles for their honeymoon, but they won’t forget all their old London haunts. Luxury Travel Bible.com has scoped out 21 of their fave spots, from his barber, Geo F Trumper, to her hair stylist, Richard Ward Salon, and a popular royal gastropub, The Ship. Check out her [...]

Fascinated by Catherine’s classical wedding dress? You can check out Sarah Burton’s creations for the fashion house of Alexander McQueen by swinging through the McQueen stores in Old Bond Street and at Bicester Village outlet center.    

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels is offering special Royal Wedding packages on April 29 London, starting at £155/$247 per person. The overnight stay includes full English breakfast at: Millennium Hotel London Mayfair, formerly an 18th-century mansion; Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge, in walking distance to the world’s largest department store, Harrods; The Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Millennium Bailey’s [...]

Save $31 and skip the same-old Christmas gifts this year with a shopping break at Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire. The restored 18th-century mansion near Aylesbury, owned by the National Trust, is a short drive from both Bicester Village, with its designer discount stores, and Waddesdon Manor, which stages a Christmas market selling speciality food, gifts [...]

If you’re booking an overnight holiday shopping expedition in London, Octopus Travel offers hotels at every price point. Oxford Street, with major department stores and shopping outlets, has both ends of the spectrum: Piccadilly Backpackers, a trendy hostel from £61/$96 per room per night, while the newly re-opened Savoy starts at £661/$1,058 per room per [...]

Hurry! Snap up a free Frommer’s mobile app guide to London from iTunes for a limited time. The app, usually $4.99, has regularly updated content with the latest reviews, prices and maps.

Eager to shop the Christmas markets? Octopus Travel is offering a package to the Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham, with 10% off a room at Jury’s Inn, Birmingham, from £60/$95 per night. Book by Oct. 20. The Christmas market includes hand-crafted local pieces as well as ethnic goods imported from all over the world.

Reader Jennifer Dorn shares another great cheap-and-cheerful tip, shopping at the Burberry Factory Shop. “A truly superb find!” she raves, “with great bargains on their fashionable raincoats and other merchandise.” The Burberry Factory Shop is 29-53 Chatham Place in Hackney, East London, a short bus ride or a long walk from the Bethnal Green tube [...]

Can’t wait for “Sex and the City 2” to unfurl on the big screen? SACO apartments is offering groups of four a girls’ weekend away in Birmingham for $372/£250, $93/£62.50 per person. The package includes one night in a two-bedroom apartment in the city, sleeping four, tickets for all four to see the new movie [...]