I am always looking for things to do in Ealing on a budget, as I live here and I don’t always feel like taking the Elizabeth line into town. But my short mooches in the suburbs (even the Queen of the Suburbs as Ealing is affectionately known) don’t warrant huge expenditure. If I am going to spend the big bucks, I prefer to do it at the Royal Opera House or a plush restaurant in Piccadilly rather than splashing out on an overpriced cake in a nondescript cafe. So here is how I plan a luxury day out in Ealing.
From Arctic Reindeer to Cheap Ealing Cake Tubs
This Luxe on Less thing isn’t new to me. Back when the internet was still dial-up, my favourite pastime was dismantling extravagant travel itineraries — think £3,000 Arctic adventures involving igloo building, husky sledging, and reindeer meat — and reassembling them into £300 DIY odysseys.
These days, I apply those same budgeting and planning skills to everyday life in a quiet West London suburb. My guiding mantra?
“Nothing good was ever achieved by sitting on the sofa.”
If you are a fan of budget luxury, you may enjoy our post on 20 free and cheap things to do in London.
A Leisurely Luxe on Less Day in Ealing
Today, instead of racing around town, I slowed down. No grand plans. No rushing. Just a gentle meander with Ealing as my backdrop — ideal for anyone looking for budget-friendly things to do in Ealing.
A £2 Ealing Charity Shop Find
First stop: the Children’s Society Shop on Pitshanger Lane, Ealing. I popped in on a whim and emerged with a £2 book on making sweets and chocolates. Unnecessary? Entirely. But it will sit nicely among my extensive cookery book collection, and the truffle-making recipe is in my horoscope. It’s worth noting that this shop has the best and cheapest second-hand books in Ealing.
The Children’s Society, Ealing
129 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, London, W5 1RH
www.childrenssociety.org.uk
Tel: 020 8998 1512
Silver Screenings at Ealing Picturehouse
I wandered over to the new Ealing Picturehouse and discovered they run budget-friendly Silver Screenings for over-65s — usually midweek matinees with tea and biscuits. Worth noting for future lazy, local afternoons when I am looking for things to do in Ealing..
That said, I remain loyal to the Monday morning senior screenings at the Regent Street Cinema. How much cinema can one woman watch?
Ealing Picturehouse
Ealing Broadway Centre, W5 5AH
www.picturehouses.com/ealing
Tel: 020 8108 3620
Regent Street Cinema
309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW
www.regentstreetcinema.com
Tel: 020 7911 5050
We have done a deep dive into luxury London cinemas on the cheap. Read to find out how to bag a cut-price cinema ticket.
A Bao Bun Misstep
Lunch was an experiment: bao buns from a new Korean place. £6 for the experience. The dough was bland, the filling sparse, and the red sauce a bit clingy. The decor was all poured concrete and questionable ambience. Still — better than being £30 down and full of regret.
The Jam, the Cream, and the Cake Tub
I picked up jam and cream at Marks & Spencer, then wandered into Flying Tiger int he Ealing Broadway Centre. I triumphed in resisting their notepads (I am decluttering, after all).
But the day’s real treat? A gloriously decadent cake tub from Heriot’s Patisserie: layers of sponge, cream, berries, sauce, and macarons — £5. Enough for two. Eaten solo. Half saved for tomorrow. This was the highlight of my budget things to do in Ealing experiment.
Heriot’s Patisserie
62 South Ealing Road, W5 4QA
www.heriotscakes.com
Tel: 020 8840 2565
The Single-Item Trick
The idea came from an American YouTuber with a horde of children: when they ate out, each child could choose just one item. No burger and fries and soda. Just one. It forces prioritisation, saves money, and curbs calories.
Plus, the quiet thrill of dipping into multiple places — a pastry here, a coffee there — feels wonderfully decadent, even if the staff would prefer you ordered a full meal and left a tip.
Freedom Pass Glory
Transport? Free, thanks to the Freedom Pass — the unsung hero of senior living. Ealing’s walkability, green spaces, and charming streets make it easy to explore without spending a penny.
Luxe on Less vs Luxe for More: Top Things to Do in Ealing
Their Day (Full-Price Living)
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Bus fares: £3.50
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Lunch (drink, main, bao buns): £30
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New book from Waterstones: £17
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Grocery top-up (plus unused extras): £20
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Cake and coffee at a Japanese bakery: £13
Total: £83.50
My Day (Luxe on Less)
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Bus fares: £0 (Freedom Pass magic)
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Bao bun experiment: £6
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Cookery book from charity shop: £2
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M&S jam and cream: £4
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Cake tub from Heriot’s: £5
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Tiger: browsed, spent nothing
Total: £17
Final Thoughts on Things To Do in Ealing Budget Edition: Luxe Doesn’t Mean Lavish
Same suburb. Same ingredients. Very different outcomes.
The difference?
I let Ealing entertain me, not fleece me — and I still came home full, inspired, and smug.
Ealing may not shout about its budget pleasures, but scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find plenty of ways to live well for less. It’s still the Queen of the Suburbs, after all.
Useful Links
Flying Tiger Copenhagen
Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, W5 5JY
uk.flyingtiger.com
Tel: 020 8579 7553
Marks & Spencer, Ealing Broadway
Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, W5 5JY
www.marksandspencer.com
Tel: 020 8840 5040
