Cheapest way to travel from London to mainland Europe

Hey everyone, I'm planning a backpacking trip for next month and I'm trying to figure out the absolute cheapest way to get from London to mainland Europe. I've looked at budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet, but baggage fees and getting to the outer airports sometimes kill the deal. Are international buses like FlixBus or taking the Eurostar during a sale better options, or is hitchhiking/ridesharing still a thing? Would love to hear your experiences and hidden budget hacks!

FlixBus is usually the cheapest upfront cost, especially if you take the overnight coach and ferry combo to Paris or Amsterdam, but the travel time is brutal. Make sure to check out some tips for first-timers before you book anything long-distance.

Eurostar sales can actually beat budget airlines if you need a lot of luggage and are traveling city-center to city-center, but you have to book weeks in advance.

Don't sleep on the ferry from Dover to Calais combined with local trains or hitching on the other side. It's old school, but it can be surprisingly cheap.

Ryanair is fine if you only pack a small backpack that fits under the seat. The moment you add a cabin bag, the price doubles.

BlaBlaCar is still a thing for ridesharing across the Channel, though finding a driver going all the way from London to mainland Europe can take some patience and flexibility.

If you are heading further east after arriving in mainland Europe, you'll definitely want to look at a good winter packing guide to keep your luggage light and avoid extra airline fees.

Honestly, taking the train to Newhaven and the ferry to Dieppe is a gorgeous route and often cheaper than the Dover ferries if you book foot-passenger tickets.

Watch out for hidden costs with budget airlines. Stansted Express or Luton airport buses add up quickly unless you book them way ahead of time.

FlixBus takes forever because of border controls and the ferry crossing, but if you're on a strict backpacker budget, saving that night's hostel fee by sleeping on the bus is a major hack.

Eurostar Snap is a great feature if you are flexible with the exact time of your train. You can get heavily discounted tickets on off-peak routes.

I tried hitchhiking across on the ferry once. It's totally doable, but drivers are a bit more hesitant nowadays due to strict border security at the port.

EasyJet out of Gatwick is sometimes cheaper to get to than Stansted depending on where in London you live, so factor tube fares into your calculations!

If your ultimate destination involves chasing winter landscapes, you might want to look into scenic northern routes after you cross the Channel.

Take the Megabus/FlixBus to Paris. It's tedious, but I did it for 25 quid last year. Just bring neck pillow, earplugs, and lots of snacks!