I spent two days in London without spending a penny – I managed to get a free luxury spa day and hotel accommodation, but it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done

A man has cheated his way through free food and luxury hotel amenities during a two-day stay in London, completing his mission and spending £0 on the entire trip.

George Redfern, 21, an influencer from Wirral, Merseyside, set himself the challenge of touring the capital for 48 hours without spending a penny. But it wasn’t easy.

Despite George enjoying a spa at a 4-star hotel, free hostel stays and burgers at McDonald’s, he still had to walk 50,000 steps to get to these locations because he couldn’t afford the subway or taxis.

Although he thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, he said the “thought of not knowing where to sleep” made it “the hardest thing” he had ever done.

“The hardest part of the challenge was finding a place to sleep and not knowing where you were going to sleep,” George said in a YouTube video.

George Redfern (pictured), 21, feasted his way through free food and luxury hotel amenities during his two-day stay in London (pictured in one of the hotel’s two 4* spas)

The influencer from Wirral, Merseyside, set herself the challenge of touring the capital for 48 hours without spending a penny (pictured with a friend)

At the Holiday Inn Express in Southwark he enjoyed an English breakfast with fried bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, baked beans, hash browns and a banana – on the house

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done: not knowing what’s going to happen.”

George decided to see if he could survive two days in London, one of the most expensive cities in the world, without spending any money. On August 3, he set out on his mission.

He arrived at Euston Station at 9.03am and headed to the Premier Inn at Westminster Abbey, where he conveniently managed to grab a complimentary 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, sausage, scrambled eggs, baked beans, hash browns and a banana – on the house.

George, needing a place to sleep for the night, found lodging in the lobby of The Generator Hostel in Shepherd’s Bush.

With his challenge thus far clearly successful, he took it a step further by brazenly sneaking into the 4* Park Plaza hotel in Waterloo, where he enjoyed a dip in the pool and even used their sauna.

For those wondering how he achieved this 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 wise to dress nicely so that people would get a certain image of me,” he said.

George recorded content from his adventurous journey which he shared on YouTube

I walked past it [the Park Plaza hotel] In the beginning, and this usually applies to 4* hotels, there was someone at the door, but there was scaffolding on the building and so there was no one at the door.

“I was just waiting to see what the other people were doing to get into the spa, when this grandma just walked by and entered the spa without talking to anyone.”

George decided to do the same and walked past the receptionist – who was distracted – before jumping into their pool and sitting in the sauna.

George realized that finding free food might be difficult, but he had an idea up his sleeve.

“I went to several outlets and said my family ordered a bunch of food an hour ago and they didn’t get a hamburger, to make it sound realistic,” he said.

He sneaked brazenly into the 4* hotel, the Park Plaza in Waterloo. There he enjoyed a dip in the pool and even used their sauna

George said his experience also made him think about the less fortunate who he said cannot afford a place to sleep or meals.

The resourceful boy eventually 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 on Leicester Square.

“I went to four stores and ended up having a burger that I was happy with,” he added.

During the trip, George walked 50,000 steps in two days because he couldn’t spend money on the subway or Uber.

He said he set himself the challenge of not spending anymore, to step outside his comfort zone and discover what is possible without money.

Looking back on the challenge, George says it was the hardest thing he’s ever done.

His experience also brought awareness to the underprivileged, who, according to him, cannot afford a place to sleep or meals.

“I found the challenge one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” said George.

“It was very rewarding to get a free spa day and free food, but you don’t realize how lucky you are until you go without. I got a free apple, The Dilly, and I appreciated every bite.”

‘The sad reality is that for some people this is the norm and that’s why I got the idea to take on a bigger challenge and raise money for charities that work with the homeless.’

George hopes to host his no spend challenge again in Dublin or Liverpool in the future.