A man managed to score free food and amenities at a luxury hotel during his two-day stay in London, thus fulfilling his mission of not spending anything for the entire duration of his stay.
George Redfern, a 21-year-old influencer from Wirral, Merseyside, set himself the challenge of travelling around the capital for 48 hours without spending a penny. But it wasn’t easy.
Despite enjoying a spa in a 4* hotel, a free stay at a hostel and McDonald’s burgers, George was forced to walk 50,000 steps to reach these places as he could not afford to spend money on the metro or taxis.
Although she spent quite a bit of time during the challenge, she said the “thought of not knowing where to sleep” made it the “hardest thing” she had ever done.
“The hardest part of the challenge was finding a place to sleep and thinking about not knowing where to sleep,” George said in a YouTube video.
George Redfern (pictured), 21, got free food and luxury hotel amenities during his two-day stay in London (pictured in one of two spas at a 4* hotel)
The influencer from Wirral, Merseyside, set himself the challenge of travelling around the capital for 48 hours without spending a penny (pictured with a friend)
At the Holiday Inn Express in Southwark, enjoy an English breakfast with fried bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, baked beans, hash browns and a banana, courtesy of the house.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done: not knowing what’s going to happen next.”
George decided to see if he could survive in London, a city considered one of the most expensive in the world, for two days without spending money, and began his mission on August 3.
He arrived at Euston station at 9.03am and headed to the Premier Inn at Westminster Abbey, where he cleverly managed to get a free cup of coffee while he planned his day.
The next part of his mission required finding food, so he set his sights on the Holiday Inn Express London Southwark. There he enjoyed an English breakfast of fried bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, baked beans, hashbrowns and a banana, courtesy of the house.
George, who needed somewhere to sleep that night, managed to sleep in the lobby of the Generator Hostel in Shepherd’s Bush.
As his challenge had clearly been successful so far, he took things to the next level and brazenly snuck into the 4-star Park Plaza Hotel in Waterloo, where he enjoyed a dip in the pool and even used the sauna.
For those wondering how he managed to accomplish the incredible feat, he shared his step-by-step plan, which apparently involved a bit of luck.
“Before I started the challenge, I thought it would be best to dress up so people would have a certain perception of me,” she said.
George recorded content from his adventure trip which he shared on YouTube.
‘I walked past it (the Park Plaza hotel) at the beginning and normally in 4 star hotels there is someone at the door, but there was scaffolding on the building and that was the reason there was no one at the door.
‘I was waiting to see what other people were doing before I got into the spa, and then an old lady walked by and walked into the spa, not talking to anyone.’
George decided to do the same and walked past the distracted receptionist before jumping into the pool for a swim and sitting in the sauna.
George realized that finding something to eat for free might be tricky, but he had an idea up his sleeve.
“I went to different establishments and told them my family had ordered a bunch of food an hour ago and hadn’t received any burgers to make it look realistic,” she said.
He brazenly snuck into the 4-star Park Plaza hotel in Waterloo, where he enjoyed a dip in the pool and even used the sauna.
George said his experience also made him reflect on the less fortunate who he says cannot afford a place to sleep or eat.
The resourceful lad finally managed to score a free burger at McDonald’s on Charing Cross Road after being turned away by a branch and a nearby Burger King in Leicester Square.
“I went to four stores and finally got a burger, which made me satisfied,” he added.
During the trip, George walked 50,000 steps in two days because he couldn’t afford to spend money on the subway or Uber.
She said she set herself the challenge of not spending to get out of her comfort zone and see what is possible without money.
Looking back on the challenge, George says it was the hardest thing he has ever done.
His experience also made him reflect on the less fortunate, who he says cannot afford a place to sleep or eat.
“I found it to be one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done in my life,” George said.
“It was so rewarding to get a spa day and free food, but you don’t realise how lucky you are until you’re left with nothing. I was gifted a The Dilly apple and I enjoyed every bite.”
‘The sad reality is that this is normal for some people and that’s why it gave me the idea to do a bigger challenge and raise money for homeless charities.’
George hopes to recreate his no-spend challenge in Dublin or Liverpool in the future.
