Even for a non-techie, the world of mobile apps can be a genuinely exciting one.

Constantly developing, expanding and responding to a demanding, connected public, apps are good for so much more than just Tinder. So which are the best free travel apps for travelling around the UK? BudgetTraveller reveals the top 20 travel apps.

1. Skyscanner 

The Skyscanner app helps to compare flight, hotel and car hire prices across all your favourite travel booking sites. With the calendar view you can check on the best dates to save on travel and filter search results to find the right flight. Track flights with price alerts options to book at the right time. Alternatively search for travel deals, anywhere, at any time. With the help of the interactive map, compare hotel prices across the grid and find the best value car hire in the city of your choice . Rest assured that you will be booking with travel partners trusted by Skyscanner. 

2. Airbnb

Not a UK focussed app per se but Airbnb is a nice way to find great value accommodation and also very quirky local experiences across the UK. I’ve use them a few times recently and had a great experience every time. If you are new to Airbnb , signup using this link to get £25 off your first booking.

Why do you need it?

With over 600,000 listings across 30,000 cities, AirBnB not only offers a great alternative to hotels but also caters to a potentially unique experience at your favorite destinations.

Stand-out feature:

Thanks to the map search, even if you have a vague idea about the area, you could easily search the neighborhood of your choice and check out the rooms that fit your budget.

3. Kabbee

Visiting London? Need an economic cab? Avoid the expensive Black Cabs and book a minicab. The only problem is that these cabs cannot be hailed from the street. Enter Kabbee , a cracking app that gives you an instant quote from 60 competing minicab firms in London, along with user reviews and ratings. You can then pick your choice ( save as a favourite for later) and choose to pay by cash, credit card or via their prepaid account facility.

Why you need it?

It offers surprisingly cheap rides no matter if you need an airport transfer or you’re just travelling around the town. It selects the right cab for you from over 70 London fleets.

Stand out feature:

For airport rides, Kabbee is nearly 25% cheaper than Uber and 35% economical than Addison Lee.

4. Around Me

Want to find the nearest ATM machine or petrol station? AroundMe identifies your GPS position and will help you discover the nearest bank, bar, petrol station station, hospital, hotel, movie theatre, restaurant, supermarket, theatre and taxi.

Why need this app?

Fast, easy and accurate, Around me is your day to day companion to quickly find out information about your surroundings.

Stand out feature:

For every desired information or listing, you could view its location on a Map, route from where you are, and even email the information to a friend in need.

5.UK Bus Checker

With the UK Bus Checker you can travel from A to B in UK with ease. The app brings you smart journey planning, live transit times, and detailed route maps for all of Great Britain.

With the advanced support for train, bus, tram, ferry, underground, and much more, this has got your journey covered. It only requires you to pinpoint your location and unveil the magic: You can locate the nearest bus stop, routes or the scheduled time of the bus.

Why you need it?

With the real-time information available for more than 40 towns and cities across the UK, It helps to track a bus near you within a flash of a second.

Stand out feature:

Live and scheduled departure times for all 300,000+ stops and stations in Britain.

6.Omio 

For travel farther afield, Omio is your best bet with options to book train, bus, flight or even ferry tickets. Omio has a user base primarily in Europe although it works for the US and Canada as well. 

Omio has associations with over 1000 reputable travel companies from rail companies like Eurostar, National Rail, DB – Deutsche Bahn, Amtrak and lots more. You can book bus tickets with National Express, Flixbus and air travel with budget airlines like Ryanair, Easy Jet and more. Providing international customer service support, Omio is an efficient way to organise travel seamlessly and securely. 

7. Busradar

Busradar describes itself as search engine for bus trips in the UK and Europe. Navigating long distance bus routes – the app is the perfect way to search for bus routes from particular locations at specific times. One bonus of the app is that you can compare journey durations and rates of multiple bus providers at the same time. Some of the bus providers linked to the app are Flixbus, Eurolines, Megabus, OUIBUS and more. 

8. BlaBlaCar

BlaBlaCar is a car pooling app whereby you can search for ongoing rides near you that will drop you at your desired location. Sharing the riding costs is pocket friendly and with the option of riding to thousands of destinations – there just might be a useful ride starting from just around the corner. 

Apart from carpooling there’s an option of finding a bus too via BlaBlaCar Bus. The benefit of the app is that it offers long distance carpooling options as well, say from London to Paris. 

9. Met Office

Need the weather forecast? The Met Office’s forecasts can be a hit and miss affair but nevertheless their official weather app  is still a handy app for those visiting the UK.

The app gives you updated forecasts, 5 day forecasts plus weather maps and satellite images.  It uses 10 million weather observations to verify its forecast. So, now you can easily decide whether you’ll be visiting the museum or having that picnic in the park.

Why you need it?

The Met Office is an indispensible tool that helps you plan your vacation with its world-leading weather forecasts from 1 hour to 7 days ahead.

Stand out feature:

Check out the real time Weather Warnings with the interactive warnings map for all the locations across the UK.

10. ViaMichelin GPS navigation and traffic

No matter if you are planning for a weekend trip or a long vacation in the UK, ViaMichelin and its user-friendly app offers you the luxury of optimizing your route based on traffic conditions.

This app is a great option if you want to wander around the streets, free spirited. It helps you keep track of the real time traffic and assists you in reaching your destination at the right time. All you’ve got to do is: Establish your position with the help of Geo-location on the interactive, fluid and clear maps and unveil the all new 3D navigation that guides you home. Even if you are behind the wheel, the app helps you calculate your car and bike routers quickly and accurately from your current position.

Why you need it?

Loaded with the goodness of a GPS navigation system, this app guides you through traffic with a voice guidance integrated with 3D Michelin mapping.

Stand out feature:

Alerts that warn you of the Hazardous zones (over 30,000 in Europe) and real-time information about the traffic jams, slow-downs and much more.

11. Uber

Imagine a ride-sharing app that provides you with the luxury of fast and reliable cabs in the major cities of UK. One of the easiest ways to hail a licensed cab in London, Uber gives you the flexibility to pay with both credit as well as cash, with receipts mailed to your inbox.

With Uber on your phone, there’s no need to park or wait for a taxi or a bus anymore. Just request a ride and your driver will be at your doorsteps in just a few minutes. What’s more? You could track the progress of your cab on a live map.

Why you need it?

Because cabs are expensive, walking all day long is tiring and figuring out an unfamiliar public transport network could be really difficult.

Stand-out feature:

You can track your ride on the map, watching your driver roll towards you. Moreover, the in-app fare-splitting makes it a value for money.

12. Bolt

Bolt is another transportation app providing fast and affordable rides to customers across the world. They promise low rates and you can pay for the ride in the app itself. With 100% carbon neutral rides – this mode of travelling is pocket and eco-friendly at the same time.

13. Worldpackers

Worldpackers is the revolutionary app that enables you to travel around the world in exchange for volunteer services, which will in turn provide you with a host of learning and travel experiences. Have life-changing experiences, learn new skills and leave your impact around the world. The app will help you to travel and experience the world safely and with the support of Worldpackers. 

14.Google Translate

Google Translate is the app that brings over 100 languages to your fingertips. With the option of translating between 108 different languages by copy pasting text and then tapping a translate icon. 

Offline translation is a bonus feature along with the option of drawing text characters rather than typing. A handy phrasebook enables you to save favourite words and phrases for future reference. Google translate is useful not only for the person wanting to learn a new language but for travellers, wanting to immerse themselves into the foreign landscape. 

15. Google Maps

Google Maps is probably one of the most comprehensive GPS navigation apps out there with the added provision of finding local suggestions of upcoming events, places to eat and fun activities. The app provides maps of over 220 countries and pins down millions of businesses and places of interest. Real time GPS navigation is possible with rerouting based on live traffic and closure information.

16. GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is your place to book tickets to the world’s most visit worthy attractions. Skip lines at museums and top sights like The Colosseum, Eiffel Tower, London Eye and the Sagrada Familia and find the best tours in favourite cities. Book with a few clicks and receive instant confirmation and tickets. With over 40,000 activities to choose from, this app is your ticket to ride. 

17. Heathrow airport guide app

Even though you hardly ever fly from Heathrow in your life, the Heathrow Airport Guide app makes an ideal travel-buddy by bringing you everything you need just when you need it.

From live flight updates to reserving a parking slot to keeping you updated on the latest offers in nearby shops and restaurants, this app makes your journey easier with travel notifications and prompts, no matter where in the world you happen to be.

Why you need it?

Fast, easy and accurate, the app keeps you updated with every bit of your flight information no matter if you’re on the way to, from or through the airport.

Stand out feature:

Simply scan your boarding pass and check your flight status even quicker.

18. Wiffinity

Today, roaming fee is so expensive that you could expect the CEO’s of telecom companies to buy a new cruiser every time you travel abroad.  How about a freebie Wi-Fi locator? That’s where Wiffinity comes in. An app that enables you to access Wi Fi while traveling worldwide, it helps you forget about the lavish roaming charges. Enriched with the goodness of a WIFI map, this app helps you stay connected to the internet thanks to the 600,000 hotspots across the world.

Why do you need it?

Easy to use and free of roaming charges, Wiffinity helps you navigate the WIFI hotspots offline using the WIFI map.

Stand out features:

The app could be used offline and lets you download maps without an internet connectivity.

19. PackPoint

There is only one word for this app, wow. Packpoint is your customized packing assistant that helps organizing and planning your trip through a list of packing essentials. It suggests what you need to pack in your luggage according to the weather at your destination, length of your travel, and activities (if any) scheduled during the trip.

All you need to do is feed the destination you’re heading towards, and it will build and organize your packing list on its own. What’s more? It also lets you share your packing list with your friends and family in case they also need help with packing.

Why you need it?

In the excitement to visit a much-awaited destination, one might forget to pick up a few things. PackPoint will organize a packing list and luggage checklist for your luggage that depending upon the destination you are visiting.

Stand out feature:

Customized checklist prepared exclusively according to your destination.

20. Prey Anti-Theft

Apparently, the world is not a perfect place, and thefts and burglary could take place even in some of the most picturesque destinations. A crook could just as easily sweep away your goods in Piccadilly Square as in a jam-packed restaurant. So, the question is how do you protect your precious belongings while traveling?

Prey Anti Theft is an app that keeps a close vigil on your digital accessories, helping you find your phone, tablet and laptop even after they’re gone. Your personal watchdog, Prey anti-theft works wonders to retrieve lost data completely and prevents any future loss by instantly locking the devices.

Why you need it?

Prey Anti-Theft is a tried and tested phone tracker that helps finding, locating and protecting your lost phone, tablet and laptop.

Stand out feature:

Enriched with the goodness of GPS Coordinates, this app gives an active pointer to the police to track your phone or other device.

Eat

21.The Fork

The Fork is a restaurant booking app with special offers providing substantial savings on special

meals. In fact it’s stated as being the leading online restaurant booking app in Europe, Latin America and Australia with over 80,000 eateries to choose from. With TheFork app, simply search for a restaurant by area, cuisine or budget and look up reviews and rating from fellow app users. It’s possible to make a reservation via the app, save up to 50% on meals and receive booking confirmation immediately.

22. EatWith

EatWith is the revolutionary app that enables you to discover a location through its gastronomy – more specifically to meet and eat with locals. Participate in cool events, experiences the tables of culinary chefs, go on a food tour with a local guide or even learn how to make the local food via a cooking class. Tapas in Madrid, wine and cheese nights in Paris and cooking classes in Rome – be immersed in the food culture of over 130 countries in the world and learn about each destinations best kept culinary secrets. 

23. Tablepouncer

Tablepouncer is a relatively new app (pictured above ) which is going live city by city across the UK. Available for both iPhone and Android, it’s perfect for last-minute dining, offering big discounts at restaurants on the same day or following day, allowing you to dine on haute cuisine at budget prices if you are spontaneous enough with your restaurant choices. Having started in Bournemouth, it now also covers London, Bristol, Bath and Southampton. Manchester and Liverpool are next on the cards.

Why you need it?

It lets you book last-minute tables at the top-rated restaurants in UK with huge savings of up to 65%.

Stand out feature:

Easy booking across 500 top restaurants, Refine your search with GPS filters.

24. Vouchercloud

Another personal favourite app I use a lot when I am in the UK is Vouchercloud. 

You can get some great deals on restaurants, takeaways, pubs and bars cinema, retail, days out, leisure and entertainment venues across the UK . All you have to do is download, register and then the app based on your location, will give you a bunch of local offers. The offers often consist of 2-4-1 lunch deals in popular but decent chain restaurants like La Tasca ( Spanish tapas restaurant) or Slug and Lettuce. Once you’ve clicked on the offer you like, you get a Voucher Cloud offer code which you the show to the waiter and boom, sorted.

 Why you need it?

Avail a number of deals, offers and coupons with the app’s huge selection across hundreds of restaurants, retailers etc.

Stand out feature:

GPS-optimized search to explore the best offers near you.

25. Hungryhouse | Order takeaway online

UK is THE takeaway nation with the average Brit spending £1320 a year on takeaways. It is an essential UK dining experience plus a great way to save money on eating out.

HungryHouse app is brilliant for ordering a takeaway. They have a strong presence in all the key UK cities. You can choose from 7000 interactive menus. Menus are saved as you browse, available in offline mode in the event you need to have a look when not connected to the internet.

Why you need it?

Hunger could strike anytime and anywhere. With over 7,000 menus to choose from, this app is a one-stop solution to satisfy your taste-buds.

Stand out feature:

Choose your favorite delivery time as per you convenience with a One-tap order.

26. Foursquare

Often neglected, the much improved Foursquare app which started out as a check-in game where users compete against friends to earn points for their check-ins has now turned into a far more useful, practical moneysaving app. Using the ‘explore nearby’ function and then checking ‘best nearby’ tab, you can find the best restaurants, shops within your current location based on your GPS location.

The ‘Specials’ tab allows you to find discounts and freebies within your vicinity.

So if you check-in at a location you can often get 10% discount on your meal or purchase while if you become the Mayor of that location, in certain locations the Mayor gets some cool freebies like a free drink or coffee.

Why you need it?

With the app’s wholesome city guides and positive tips, you could lead to your perfect spot anywhere in the world. What’s more? Keep track of where you you’ve been and where you want to go, all in one place

Stand out feature?

The ‘Join a community’ feature lets you find people who love to explore just like you and seek out hidden gems with them.

27. Expensify + Trail Wallet ( £1.99 )

It’s all too easy to overspend while travelling: estimating exchange rates as you shop, eating out several nights in a row, picking up the tab for friends. There are a range of apps to deal with exactly this problem and which allow you to record your expenses.

I’ve used the Expensify app previously and this handy, especially for business travellers, or for someone that likes to keep close tabs on what they are spending while they travel. With Expensify you can scan receipts, add hours you have worked, add expenses manually, add mileage and create invoices and expense reports. Drawback- If you have a lot of expenses to record, it can be time consuming to use this app and it takes a few seconds to record each item.

One of the best apps for tracking your daily expenditure and sticking to your budget while travelling is Trail Wallet. (Pictured above)

It’s simple and has an intuitive user-friendly interface. The app allows you to set a daily budget and then tracks your spending toward that. Trail Wallet has all has all the practicalities covered: supplies the current exchange rate ( 218 local currencies listed. Dependent on internet connection) , organises your spending by category, expenses tracking plus you can export your expenses via .csv file. The app also creates colorful pie charts to help visualise your spending.

Trail Wallet is one of the best expense tracking apps for the budget, rather than the business traveller. It is the only app here which isn’t free, but at £1.99, it’s well worth it.

Why you need it?

To manage your travel budget effectively.

Stand out feature:

It features report management, receipt tracking in addition to mileage and time tracking. Moreover, you can snap a photo through SmartScan and it would be redirected to Expensify itself.

28. Travelspend

Travelspend is a great travel expense tracker that lets you to manage trip budget and even split travel costs among family and friends. You can quickly add expenses on the trip, analyse spending and stick to your budget more effectively that way. Trip expenses can be shared with friends and all spending data can be exported as a single file. 

Use the discount code OFFER2024 to get 50% off the first year of the annual Travelspend Premium subscription.

29. The National Trust

Last but not least, I definitely recommend downloading the National Trust App. It allows you to discover the beauty of Britain’s countryside from the comfort of your phone highlighting 585 of the must-see places in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, fom coastlines to countryside and everything in-between. You can search by postcode or location and browse the interactive “favourites” list with hi-res images.

Why do we need it?

Your guide to the amazing day outs at historic houses and buildings protected by the National Trust throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Stand out feature:

Regular alerts about the range of events hosted by the National trust throughout the year.

Agree or disagree with my top 20 travel apps for visiting the UK? Please leave your feedback and tips below for your favourite apps when travelling across Britain. Thank you.