2 week trip to london cost

How Much Does a Trip to London Cost? (2024 London Trip Budget)

London’s reputation as one of the most expensive cities in the world is well-earned, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by families and budget travelers all the way to luxury aficionados. If you are wondering, “how much does a trip to London cost?”, we’ve got your answers.

After planning our own 7 days in London , and helping numerous other families plan a trip to London, I’ve done a ton of research into hotel options, activities, and ways to cut costs on your London trip budget (check this post for ideas of free things to do in London with kids .)

If you are still debating where to go, also check out our budget guides for Italy , Paris , Greece , Portugal, Ireland , Japan , and Iceland .

London Budget assumptions

To help you create your London trip budget, this post outlines pricing for two adults and two children between the ages of 6-11, traveling in the summer, and spending a week in London (six nights, seven days). If you are traveling in the off-season or not with a large family, your costs will undoubtedly be lower. When planning your own London trip budget, make adjustments as needed to suit your specific travel companions and travel style.

I’m going to assume that this family is traveling in the summer months, since that is when most families travel, although London would also be a great spring break destination and we also enjoyed visiting London for Christmas . This budget also isn’t for budget travelers, but rather for small families that are comfortable sharing a family-size room in three to four-star accommodations.

London Trip Cost

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own.

Remember to keep in mind the exchange rate when looking at rates listed in British pounds. I use xe.com to convert currency. To figure out how much is a trip to London, I included the following elements:

• Airfare from a major U.S. airport hub
• Hotel/Accommodations (6 nights in family-friendly, mid-range accommodations)
• Tours/Entrance Fees (for a mix of self-guided and private family tours and activities)
• Transportation within London and to/from the airport
• Food (including one special high tea)

Souvenirs/Miscellaneous

• Travel insurance

While it used to be common to find airfare between the U.S. and London for $500 per person, those prices have gone up recently, especially for summer travel. If you book at least six months in advance or travel during shoulder seasons, you can find airfares under $750 if you are willing to connect (typically through Iceland or Dublin using Iceland Air or Aer Lingus). However, direct flights in the summer will cost closer to $900 per person.

This is certainly the time to redeem frequent flier points or credit card points to cover flights. If you have flexibility on your vacation time, I recommend subscribing to an airfare deal site such as Going or Dollar Flight Club to look for sales and sign up for deal alerts.

If you want to find the best way to accumulate points and miles through credit card spending and sign up bonuses, I’d suggest downloading the  Travel Freely app  to track your credit cards and learn how to earn points.

Heathrow Airport is a major global hub for most international airlines, but you may find deals on budget airlines such as Play or Norse Airlines to Stansted or Gatwick airports.

Total airfare cost: $2700 (4 people x $900 per person)

Accommodations

The two biggest factors in determining hotel room costs will be space and location. If you’d like two adjoining rooms or a family suite in the immediate central part of the city at a four or five-star hotel (we loved the Atheneum Hotel & Residences ), plan to spend $900 – 1,500 per night. If you have the budget, you’ll be within walking distance to many attractions with luxury hotel services like a concierge, on-site fine dining, etc.

However, if you’re willing to stay in one of London’s charming neighborhoods, just a short tube ride away from the immediate center of the city, then not only will you save money, but you can often find more spacious accommodations like apartment-style hotels or wonderful vrbo rentals . Just keep in mind that some of these will require a minimum of a 5-7 night stay.

The average cost per night for four-star accommodation or apartment rentals in areas like South Kensington (we also loved the Royal Garden Hotel ), Notting Hill, and Little Venice is approximately $300-600 per night.

Find accommodations options in London:

Just be careful when booking stand-alone rentals… ask for the exact address or closest major cross street so you can map it out. If you’re outside the T1 London Tube area, you’ll pay more for transportation and waste precious time each day traveling into the city. See my tips for booking Airbnb or other vacation rentals .

Total accommodation cost: $3,600 (based on $600 per night for 6 nights)

Tours/Entrance Fees

Investing in a Blue-Badge guide for half-day tours or a walking tour is a great splurge and a perfect way to explore some of London’s most popular attractions. The cost of a private family tour is usually around $300-400 for a half-day experience.

These guides can make the history of London come alive for you and your children. My two favorite attractions to invest in a guide are the British Museum and the Tower of London . We also enjoyed having a private tour of Westminster City .

If a private guide is too much of a stretch, spend the extra few pounds to supply each member of the family with an audio guide at major attractions. Many have dedicated children’s versions.

The other sightseeing expense that adds up quickly when visiting London is entrance fees. Expect to spend $15-60 per person to enter places like the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, London Eye , and the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio .

Keep your eye out for family passes when booking tickets in advance. Most attractions offer a discount for families that will include admission for two adults and two to three kids for one discounted amount.

If you plan on visiting quite a few attractions in just a couple of days, the London Go City Explorer or the London Pass can also be a money saver!

Luckily, most major museums are free (the British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, etc.), as are all the large parks (Hyde Park, St. James, Regent’s Park, and the Olympic Park). So pair pricier activities with free options throughout the week.

Total tour/sightseeing cost: $1,200 (based on two private tours of $300, plus $100 per day for six days in additional entrance fees)

Transportation

Airport Transfers

The Heathrow Express is a great value and only costs about $10-15 per person when purchasing an advance ticket for a specific day of travel (flexible tickets are more.) The ride takes 20 minutes and takes you directly into Paddington Station, from which you can usually hail a reasonably priced taxi to take you to your accommodation. It is a bit of a long walk within Heathrow from one terminal to the other but it is worth it for the cost and time savings. Plus, children aged 15 years and under travel free in Express Class when accompanied by a paying adult.

Otherwise, arrange a driver in advance for about $150-200 through your hotel concierge. Taxis to and from the airport can sometimes be much pricier as traffic is so unpredictable in that part of the city.

London Tube

Taking the tube is not just a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to get around London, it’s frankly an integral part of the London experience. Invest in a Visitor Oyster card for each adult and any child over age 10, as it will reduce the per-ride cost compared to individual tickets.

If you have seven days in London , a day trip or two out of the city is fun. Train tickets to places like Oxford, Windsor, or Bath usually price out around $40-60 per person roundtrip. Be sure to book in advance for the best rates. If you decide to hire a driver, expect costs to be $500-1,000 for a full day of service.

Total transportation costs: $400 (based on using public transportation)

Food expenses can be difficult to budget for any destination, both because it can vary so drastically based on personal preferences and because it’s hard to know what your family will want to eat each day. Personally, I like a mix of quick, convenient food and sit-down, upscale dining, and London offers options at both ends of this spectrum.

This is typically included in a hotel stay. Otherwise, plan to hit a grocery store (small shops are prevalent throughout the city, look for chains like Waitrose and Sainsbury) and stock up on some basic supplies to keep in your room and apartment. Be sure to try a full English breakfast at least one morning of your trip… you likely won’t need lunch it’s so robust!

You can score some great savings at lunch if you duck into a grocery store and take advantage of their package deals. Most grocery stores offer a sandwich, drink, and a bag of crisps (potato chips) for around $4-7. Pick up some fruit or prepared veggies to share, and you can feed the whole family for around $40. Plus there are quick service Pret a Manger shops on nearly every corner.

If you’ve got access to kitchen facilities, then once again you’ll find great savings at the grocery stores. Most offer high-quality, upscale pre-made food that only requires you to heat and serve (think roasted chicken dishes, veggies, potatoes, and dessert).

This is often less than $30 for a healthy, satisfying meal that requires little effort. Takeaways are also fairly inexpensive, and it’s a fun way of trying the more ethnically diverse food like Indian and Thai, or the famous fish n’ chips! that London is known for.

When to Splurge

London has some outstanding restaurants, and I love to have a nice sit-down meal at least a few times during a week-long trip, balanced out with casual, cheaper fare. And don’t forget to indulge in afternoon tea!

While it typically prices out between $40-60 per person, many hotels will offer discounts or complimentary tea to their guests. Also, know that you’ll be served lots of food during the experience, so I encourage people to make their tea bookings for later in the day, and it will double as dinner.

Total food cost: $1,330 (based on free hotel breakfast, $40 for lunch x seven days, and $150 per day for dinner x seven days)

I have a strict rule with my kids that the trip itself is the treat, not all the kitschy souvenirs found in the gift shop of every major attraction. But London is a great place to shop for specialty items.

One of my favorite places to go for souvenirs or gifts is Fortnum & Mason, where you can buy some of England’s legendary tea and biscuits, perfectly packaged to bring home. And a stop at Hamley’s toy store is also a fabulous experience for the whole family to enjoy. We also enjoy browsing the many floors and departments at Harrods.

Total souvenir cost: $200 (based on each family member spending $50 while on the trip)

Travel Insurance

I would recommend protecting your trip with travel insurance . Pricing varies depending on your level of coverage, age, trip costs, and more. However, I would use $300-500 as a rough estimate.

Total Cost for a 7-day Family trip to London: $9,830

Bottom line is that the trip to London cost for a family of four would cost approximately $9,830 , or about $350 per person, per day . Your family could certainly spend less if you can utilize airline miles, score a great accommodation deal, cook your own meals, or focus your time on the free activities and landmarks in London instead of the pricier places to go.

That said, London is an expensive city, so it can be a challenge for families with an extremely tight budget. If you want an English countryside experience, I found very affordable inns and food in Northern England this past summer during my Hadrian’s Wall walking trip.

How much does it cost to go to London?

Visiting london read more:.

• 7 Day London itinerary
• 5 Festive things to do in London at Christmas
• Ultimate fan guide to Harry Potter attractions in London

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: November 18, 2023

1 thought on “How Much Does a Trip to London Cost? (2024 London Trip Budget)”

Love your transparency with the costs it is so helpful for those planning.

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Cost of a Trip to London, GB & the Cheapest Time to Visit London

The average price of a 7-day trip to London is $2,002 for a solo traveler, $3,596 for a couple, and $6,741 for a family of 4 . London hotels range from $77 to $351 per night with an average of $148, while most vacation rentals will cost $280 to $590 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to London City Airport ( LCY ) are between $752 and $1,157 per person for economy flights and $2,360 to $3,631 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $68 to $138 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit London, GB

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to LCY and stay in a London hotel:

• January 8th to March 18th
• April 16th to May 27th (except the week of May 7th)
• September 24th to December 9th

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in London is usually late January and early February .

Average London Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit London for a week is $1,484-$3,209 ($212-$458 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $68 to $138 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $438 to $1,007 for economy

Lodging : $95 to $96 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $168 to $206 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit London for a week is $3,026-$5,482 ($432-$783 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $136 to $276 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $876 to $2,014 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit London for a week is $4,796-$9,746 ($685-$1,392 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $272 to $552 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,752 to $4,028 for economy

Lodging : $190 to $192 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $235 to $309 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to London

How cheap can you make a vacation to London? The cheapest trip to London is about $114 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 1% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $21 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $67.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit London for a week is $795-$1,931 ($114-$276 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $33 to $66 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $67 to $77 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $21 to $51 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit London for a week is $1,464-$3,400 ($209-$486 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $66 to $132 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit London for a week is $2,868-$6,800 ($410-$971 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $132 to $264 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $134 to $154 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $32 to $71 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very difficult to travel to London cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury London Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in London.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit London for a week is $3,189-$12,141 ($456-$1,734 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $150 to $304 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,077 to $2,225 for first class

Lodging : $177 to $351 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $590 to $1,298 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit London for a week is $5,316-$16,494 ($759-$2,356 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $300 to $608 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,154 to $4,450 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit London for a week is $10,632-$29,874 ($1,519-$4,268 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $600 to $1,216 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $4,308 to $8,900 for first class

Lodging : $354 to $702 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $826 to $2,077 per night for a preferred vacation rental

London Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in London is much higher than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in London due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

London Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on London hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in London.

Flight Costs to London

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $1,157 average in early to mid June to a low of $752 in late January and early February. Median flight price is $879. These prices are based on millions of flights. For London our data includes 251 originating airports, and 85 airlines. The area has average variance in price compared with other locations. Flying to London from an airport like Stewart International ( SWF ) in Newburgh/Poughkeepsie, NY (the United States) for an average $10,336 trip fare will obviously cost a lot more than from an airport like Edinburgh ( EDI ) in Edinburgh (the United Kingdom) at an average of just $124.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Monday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In London, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $406, so you can easily save about 54% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around London can easily cost $490 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $33 per person. Private tours can cost $988 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other London Guides

Travel costs nearby.

• Tower Hamlets, the United Kingdom
• London City Centre, the United Kingdom
• St James, the United Kingdom
• Covent Garden, the United Kingdom
• Soho, the United Kingdom
• West End, the United Kingdom
• Fitzrovia, the United Kingdom
• Holborn, the United Kingdom
• Bloomsbury, the United Kingdom
• Mayfair, the United Kingdom

Travel Costs in Popular Places

• Mt. Hood National Forest, the United States
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Cape Town, South Africa

The Cost of Travel in London: My 2024 Budget Breakdown

How has it taken me so long to get around to writing a budget breakdown for London?

London is everything to me.

I was born in this incredible city and spent the first 23 years of my life exploring everything it has to offer. Even now, over a decade after leaving to travel the world, I consider London home and return every single year to spend my summers strolling its streets. I spent several weeks there last summer, and have already booked my tickets for this year’s trip!

Whether you’re a local or a tourist, it’s impossible to run out of things to do and see in this magnificent place. A list of things to do would stretch into the hundreds, if not the thousands; my top restaurant recommendations would require months to visit them all. You could spend a week in London doing nothing but visiting world-class museums and leave with just as many left on your to-do list. And that’s before I even dive into the countless day trips that are up for grabs around the U.K.

And all of this wonder? Yeah, it won’t be a surprise to hear that it comes at a steep price.

London is expensive, but there are plenty of ways to keep your budget to a minimum — when I returned to the city after backpacking in Southeast Asia, I was still able to keep my costs low by staying in hostels and eating the delicious street food. But if you’re all about that luxury life? London is unlike anywhere else in the world, with so many world-class hotels and restaurants to dip into.

Today, I’m going to be sharing exactly how much you can expect to spend on a trip to London. Prices are in USD and GBP.

How to Save Money on the Cost of Accommodation in London

As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer. And when you see the price of some of the accommodation in London, you might just be able to find said time!

Couchsurfing  exists in the UK– and, of course, London — and lets you stay with a local for free, sleeping on their sofa and enjoying a local’s insight into life in their country. It’s not the most comfortable of living situations, but if your budget is tight and you don’t mind roughing it, it’s worth sending out a few requests to hosts to see if anything comes of it. You can search for potential hosts on the Couchsurfing site .

Housesitting  is another option. This is where you take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and usually look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees: you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and when you go there.

If you do have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while.  Trusted Housesitters  is the best site for getting started with housesitting — they usually have hundreds of housesits available for London at any one time, so it’s well-worth having a look to see if any coincide with your travel dates.

I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation: you just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available.

The Cost of Accommodation in London

The best hostel in London: YHA London Oxford Street (dorms $45/£35 a night, private rooms $141/£110 )

Want to visit London on a budget and still stay in the heart of the action? Well, you can’t get much more central than right beside the city’s premier shopping street, and YHA London Oxford Street lets you stay there for as little as $45/£35 a night! That’s assuming you’re happy to stay in a dorm, of course, but even if you aren’t, private rooms are still very reasonably priced. Despite the affordability, you still get a quiet building, clean rooms, individual lights and power sockets beside each dorm bed, and the option of an inexpensive breakfast each morning. You can also buy drinks and light meals onsite, but of course there are about a thousand eating and drinking options nearby as well! Everything is within walking distance or a short tube ride away, so if all you’re really looking for is a cheap, clean place to lay your head in central London, this is definitely the place to do it.

The best budget hotel in London: The Lilac Door ( $167/£130 a night)

The Lilac Door is an adorable, family-run bed and breakfast in Dulwich Hill that’s an affordable yet charming place to stay in London. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but as always with a B&B, it’s the hosts that make or break it. In this case, they definitely make it: not only were they super warm and welcoming, but the breakfasts I had there were exceptional. They had no problem catering for dietary requirements like gluten-free or vegetarianism, but if you’re not limited in what you can eat, you have so many options, from a full English to a huge spread of croissants, yoghurts, and omelettes. There’s plenty to see and do nearby, including the well-known Dulwich Picture Gallery and Crystal Palace Park, while a bus or overland train gets you into the centre of the city in about 40 minutes.

The best mid-range hotel in London: Blackbird ( $277/£216 a night)

It’s no surprise that you’ll need to up your budget a bit if you want to stay closer to the heart of London: with that in mind, Blackbird offers impressive value. Honestly, I was surprised to find out that it’s actually a pub first and accommodation second: it’s a very upscale version of the classic “pub with rooms” that you find all over the UK. The rooms are clean and spacious for the area, with all the amenities you need for a few days in the city. Food (and drinks) at the pub downstairs are definitely a step above traditional pub fare, and with breakfast included, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to sample it! In terms of getting around, you’re in a great location: Kensington Palace and Hyde Park are a lovely half-hour stroll away, and the hotel is basically over the road from Earls Court station, with regular tubes that can whisk you directly to Covent Garden in 20 minutes or Heathrow airport in 40 minutes.

The best high-end hotel in London: Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection ( $555/£432 a night)

Ever since I stayed in one of Marriot’s amazing Autograph Collection hotels in Seoul last year, I’ve been keeping an eye out for the chance to do it again. The stylish design, exceptional staff, and attention to detail was unlike anything I’d experienced before, and Bankside Hotel brings all of that and more to London’s bustling South Bank. You couldn’t ask for a better location, less than a five minute stroll from the Tate Modern and the Thames, and an easy walk or short cab or tube ride to everything you’ll want to see in central London. As you’d expect, the rooms are super-quiet and the amenities are top-notch, from remote-control blackout blinds to marble bathrooms, and the artwork around the hotel is quirky without being tacky: not an easy balance. In short, if you’re happy to spend a bit extra to make your stay in London especially memorable and comfortable, Bankside is the place to do it!

The Cost of Transportation in London 

Your first travel experience from London is going to depend a hell of a lot on which airport you choose to land at. Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, or even London City: all are potential options, but only London City is anywhere close to the centre of the action. It’s a small airport that mostly services flights to nearby European countries, so you’ll likely be flying into somewhere else, which means a solid hour of public transport to get into central London.

Yeah, it’s a pain in the ass.

Other than London City, Heathrow is the only London airport that’s serviced by the Underground, which means it costs as little as $7.20/£5.60 to get into the central city. It takes about an hour, though: if you want a faster journey, the Heathrow Express zips between the airport and Paddington station in 15 minutes, and costs $26/£20 if you book in advance .

All the other airports are further out and require a bus and/or overland train journey into central London. Gatwick has an express train service that takes about half an hour and costs $30/£22.90 . If you’re traveling at an off-peak time and don’t mind if your journey takes a bit longer, just take a non-express service from Gatwick instead; it’s under half the price.

Stansted also has an express service, which takes about an hour and costs $30/£23 . Cheap advance fares are sometimes available that cost as little as $13/£9.90 , but there are only a limited number available and they sell out quickly. Check the website just in case, though! Luton doesn’t have a direct train service, so you’re looking at a fairly painful 90 minute bus journey there, for $17/£13 .

Once you’re in London, though, moving between attractions is a breeze. You’ll often be able to walk from one to the next, but if not, there’s a diverse range of public transport options available. Buses, underground and overground trains, light rail, trams, and even boats criss-cross the city, and most of them are integrated into a single payment system.

Prices vary depending on the type of transport and how far you’re going, but expect to pay $2.25/£1.75 for a bus ride (with free transfers for an hour) and $3.50/£2.70 for a single tube ride in zone one. Daily fare caps apply, so you won’t pay more than $11/£8.50 per day for journeys in zone one and two.

Note that those prices and caps apply only if you’re using a contactless card: either a credit or debit card, Apple or Google Pay on your phone, or an Oyster card that you can buy and top up at ticket machines and counters at major stations. Cash tickets can be noticeably more expensive.

The London Overground is a more recent addition, using existing railway lines to cover a wide area that generally wasn’t well served by underground routes. There’s also the Docklands Light Railway, or DLR, an innovative driverless option that starts at Bank station and heads out through the old London dock area on a few different routes towards Greenwich, London City Airport, and elsewhere.

When you tire of the railway and bus system, hop on a boat instead. The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a unique way to skip the (often) chaotic London transportation scene and enjoy the beauty of the Thames River. It’s rarely the fastest way to get around, but it’s definitely the most scenic, and a lot cheaper than paying for a Thames cruise. The river is split into three fare zones: Oyster/contactless cards are accepted and kids under five ride free. An adult single zone fare starts at $8/£6.20 .

As a rule, you’ll likely end up taking the tube most of the time, a bus for shorter trips or where the tube doesn’t run to, and then the occasional overground train, tram, or boat. Unless you’re heading to Greenwich or flying in or out of London Airport, you probably won’t take the DLR much or at all.

If you’d prefer to power your own explorations, there are many dockless bike share systems in London as well. The biggest is Santander , which has over 12,000 bikes around inner London and a handy $4/£3 day pass option that includes unlimited rides of up to half an hour each.

The Cost of Food in London

Yeah, I’ll point directly at the elephant in the room right now: English food has a terrible reputation.

Jellied eels, spotted dick, and toad in the hole are often called out by visitors to my homeland, with many still believing the British cuisine of the pre-millennium is still in favour. That couldn’t be any less true today!

London is one of the greatest cities in the world for eating these days, and you’re going to have so many delicious meals while you’re in town.

Let’s start with the breakfasts. Even if you’ve never come across any other British food before, you’ve probably heard of the full English: a breakfast smorgasbord of bacon, eggs, potatoes, sausages, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, and grilled tomatoes is a well-known way of setting yourself up for the day. It’s probably also a good way of setting yourself up for a heart attack if you have it all the time, but fortunately continental options of cereal, yoghurt, and fruit are commonplace, along with avocado toast and other lighter fare.

If breakfast isn’t included in your room rate, expect to pay around $15.50-19.50/£12-15 for a full English at a good cafe, and $8-11.50/£6-9 for a continental option. You might get tea or coffee with that, but if not, it’ll be around $2/£1.50 for a cup of milky tea, $2.50/£2 for a basic brewed coffee, and $4/£3 for a good latte or flat white. Avocado toast normally runs about $13-15.50/£10-12 .

Lunch is usually a relatively light meal, and you’ve got endless options. It’s pretty much impossible to walk more than a block in central London without seeing somewhere selling sandwiches, from the infamous supermarket “meal deals” of a sandwich or wrap plus a drink and crisps/chips, through chain sandwich stores like Pret a Manger with a wider range and somewhat higher quality, to specialist delicatessens. Fillings like egg mayo or cheese and pickle are common, but there’s a huge variety. Expect to pay around $5.25/£4 for a supermarket meal deal, and $4.50-7.75/£3.50-6 for a wrap or sandwich elsewhere.

If you’re after something heartier (and still have room left after that full English breakfast), many pubs and restaurants have weekday lunchtime specials. Keep an eye out for signboards as you walk around: these specials typically change regularly, but can offer a significant saving over having something similar for dinner. I recently paid $24/£18.50 for ham, eggs, and chips plus a pint of cider at a pub in inner London, which is about what it would have cost without the drink later in the day.

One of my favourite London activities is afternoon tea and I’ve been fortunate to have sampled over a dozen of the city’s offerings in my lifetime! It’s a fantastic tea-based tradition in this country; a multi-hour experience, during which you’ll sample sandwiches, scones, cakes, pastries, cocktails, and tea. Perfect for a special occasion! There are so many different options available to suit a range of budgets. My personal favourite options are:

• For a luxury afternoon tea: The Lanesborough afternoon tea ( £80 /$100). A high-end option in one of London’s fanciest hotels. The staff were amazing and their cakes are some of the best I’ve had.
• For a wow-factor afternoon tea: Peter Pan-themed afternoon tea at the Shard ( £70 /$88). You’ll have the best views in London at this one. I loved sitting beside the window and gazing out across the city.
• For a fun, themed afternoon tea: Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea at the Sanderson ( £65 /$82). This is a London classic, with Alice in Wonderland-themed treats. I’ve been to this one three times as it makes for a great place for first-time visitors to the city!
• For a budget afternoon tea: Tapas-themed afternoon tea at Map Maison ( £28 /$35). I really enjoyed this afternoon tea in East London and thought it offered amazing value for money. It’s Spanish-themed, so expect lots of delicious jamon .

If you’re near a pub at lunchtime on a Sunday, be sure to stop in for a Sunday roast. Most pubs that serve food offer it, and it’s a real British institution. There’s usually a choice of two or three meat-based options and a vegetarian/vegan version, along with roast potatoes, vegetables, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding that you absolutely have to try at least once. Expect to pay $18-23.50/£14-18 for it.

You’ll have even more choice about what to eat and drink for dinner than at lunchtime, but to give just a few examples:

• Fish and chips: $10-18.75/£8-15
• Steak and chips: $18.75-37.50+/£15-30+
• Indian curry: $15-25/£12-20
• Pizza: $12.50-22.50/£10-18
• Glass of house wine at a pub: $6.25-10/£5-8
• Cocktails at a fancy bar: $15-22.50+/£12-18+

Those prices really can vary a lot, though, based on which part of the city you’re eating in and how fancy the establishment is. London caters for all budgets!

After you’ve eaten your way through the city it’s ok to step outside the traditional English cuisine to taste the many flavours from all over the world. With so many people from all over the world choosing to make London their home, it’s hardly surprising that their country’s cuisine also makes an appearance. If you’re craving almost any type of food at all, chances are there’s a restaurant that serves it.

The Cost of Activities, Tours, and Entrance Fees in London

Where to even begin? There’s so much to do in London that I could write an entire article for each and every activity.

We’ll start things off with the big hitters.

When it comes to paid activities within the city, the London Eye is one of my favourites.

I’ve been for a ride on this giant observation wheel three times now — once in the morning, once at sunset, and once in the evening — and it’s one of my favourite places to take friends who are new to the city. It’s a great first destination in London, in my opinion, as it gives you a sense of the size of the city and where the attractions are in relation to each other. I recommend going at sunset, as at this time, you’ll still be able to make out the monuments but also get to watch the city start to light up. Prices come in at £32 for a standard ride or £51 to skip the line and enjoy a glass of champagne onboard . As somebody who has spent over an hour queueing to board the Eye, I recommend the latter if you can afford the extra cash.

The Tower of London is another iconic location that you have to check out. You can catch a glimpse of the famous Crown Jewels while you’re there, of course, but that really is just the beginning: after all, there’s over a thousand years of history inside those stone walls!

Churches and museums grace nearly every corner, enlightening history fanatics of the centuries old religious presence and modern art spirit that lives there. Most of the to-dos are best seen by simply walking through them. Big Ben, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge are all a sight to be seen and an opportunity to capture that ‘London pic’.

Piccadilly Circus is London’s version of Times Square. It’s busy, brightly lit and full of people. But most importantly, it’s free. Yes, people watching at the circus is totally free of charge and totally worth it. For all you night owls, take notes. Pubs, Broadway productions, restaurants and clubs will keep you happily vibing until the wee hours of the morning if you so choose. 

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens is a beautiful way to see a different side of London. Picnics, bike paths, swans, blooming gardens and a memorial walk pathed with history are all features of this must-do. There are no costs associated with this, but there are vendors scattered around eager to serve you a coffee or lunch to accompany you on your stroll. 

And day trips?

After you’ve wandered every museum, toured every church, and sat in every pub (which means you’ve spent 50 years in London!), it’s time to explore more of the U.K.

Oxford and Oxford and Cambridge offer a portal back in time with winding cobblestone roads, thousand-year-old churches, and universities that hold both clout and tradition. Stonehenge is a mystery worth digging into during your time here. Just short of a three-hour drive from London, you will find a pile of rocks strategically placed. By whom? No one knows. Day trip tours start at $89/£69 .

The Cost of Travel Insurance in London

If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill to pay at the end of it.

In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance  will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use  SafetyWing  as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to London. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re more affordable than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

With SafetyWing, you’ll pay  $1.50 a day  for travel insurance.

How Much Does It Cost to Travel in London?

Travelling on a mid-range budget like I was, my costs were as follows:

Accommodation:  $195/ £152 per day between two people ( $97.50/£76 each) Transportation:  $9/ £ 7 per day Food:  $57 /£44.50 per day Activities:  $48 /£37.50 per day

Total amount spent per day: $211.50/£165

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Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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44 comments.

We spent a couple of weeks pre-Christmas in Brixton two years ago (in a very cute Airbnb also!) and I fell in love with it. The first night our host sent us to Brixton Market for dinner, and we ate ALL THE DUMPLINGS at Mama Lan’s and after that we pretty much loved being in that neighbourhood. I wish we could afford to live in Brixton full-time – you and Dave don’t fancy going halfsies on a house for us all to share, do you?!

Um, yes, we absolutely do! :-D

I was wondering why on earth you were having conversations about candy, sidewalks, friends, pants, restrooms, drapes, parking lots , and jelly. Seemed like odd/trivial topics of conversation! ….Until I realized that those are all Americanisms and, being American, I didn’t even realize that there could be a second meaning to that sentence :D

Hahahaha! That made me laugh so hard.

I just ate my oatmeal breakfast, but after reading this article and looking at your photos I think I need to eat something that contains fat. I should have stopped reading after a title, cause I knew this would happen to me.

Hahaha! I should have added a warning to the top of the post as well ;-)

I lived in London for two years and didn’t venture to Brixton once. Now I’m kicking myself! But I’m a north of the river girl and you can definitely eat your way around Archway…

It’s funny how England has a reputation for having terrible food, but one of my favourite things to do there these days is eat!

Aww what a lovely story! I should have timed reading this better though – it’s 5pm and I’m starving now ha ha! A friend of mine used to live in Brixton but I haven’t been for years – sounds like there’s some amazing places for food – I’m gonna have to pay it a visit next time in in the city I think…

Definitely do so, Keri! Brixton Village is so incredible for eating :-)

Brixton is totally going on my travel list! Also, just looking at those photos makes me hungry (and I have just finished dinner…)

Then my work is done! :-) Glad you enjoyed the post!

Lauren!! You absolutely have to go to Ms. cupcake – its a vegan bakery…..everything they make is to die for! X

Ah, amazing! Will add it to my list :-D

I have only been to London once and never made it to Brixton. However I did spend a day at Camden Market and had an amazing time there.

I love Camden Market! Lots of fun and great for people watching :-)

I got so hungry from reading this post and looking at pics :)

It took me longer than usual to write it because I kept having to head out to grab some food!

My God, Lauren – these photos! Arghghghgh, it’s only 9:20am here and I’m now ridiculously hungry!

I’ve always wanted to try out the mad-hatter’s afternoon tea. Have seen loads of my friends go and then paste the photos all over Facebook. Definitely one to add to the list for when I’m back home next!

Brixton sounds like a food-lover’s dream come true. I love the idea of having a ‘local’ currency, too, in order to help support local businesses. Brilliant.

Haha, sorry! I’ll be writing a post about the mad-hatter’s tea party next week and sharing lots of photos :-)

I live here!! And it’s AWESOME! I love all the places you mention. Would also recommend Spanish… Brindisa, Gremio de Brixton, Boqueria… Or for slightly smarter meals go for Salon or Naughty Piglets. If you want cocktails there’s Shrub and Shutter (although that’s gotten more expensive recently) or the Beast of Brixton. Gremio does good cocktails too. I love the food in Brixton – I’m a triathlon blogger but reviews of Brixton restaurants always seem to creep onto my blog because I just want to give them a big shout-out – so I am so pleased you have done too!!

Yay! I’m glad I could do it justice :-) Thanks so much for the suggestions — I’ve added them all to my list of where to check out when I return (and maybe hopefully move there!)

Yum, the food pictures look delicious! Being in your hometown with a traveller’s mindset is the best thing! I’ve rediscovered my own country recently as well and I’m happy to live at home. Also wandering around with a camera makes you appreciate all the sights you would normally miss!

It makes such a difference, doesn’t it? I was even admiring the lampposts as we were walking around London recently haha!

As a born-and-bred Londoner for 27 years (I moved to Manchester 6 months ago), I’m almost ashamed to say that my only experiences of Brixton have mostly involved underage drinking and various emo gigs at the Academy. I’m travelling at the moment and trying to plan a Christmas visit home with my boyfriend and I think it’s safe to say that eating my way through Brixton is now firmly on my list! …as well as the rugby!

Hahaha! Yes, definitely add Brixton to your list! And the rugby was so. much. fun!

P.S. I love your Taiwan post!

Forget about the food in Brixton and drag Dave down to the O2 and watch a live band. Having just been to see Garbage play the 20th anniversary of their debut album I can definitely recommend it.

Loved the book by the way and from your blog over the years I’m guessing there is more to come ;-)

Ha! Our music tastes don’t align all that often. I’m all about classic rock and he loves grunge. One of the the great things about London, though, is how many people play there! I’d be going to gigs all the time if I lived there :-)

And thank you! So happy to hear you enjoyed my book :-D

That Honest Burger looks and sounds amazing. I will definitely have to check it out on my next visit to London! I’ve never spent much time in Brixton, and now I’m wondering how in the world I missed it.

It’s definitely worth visiting! :-)

Oh wow! I could probably live there too with all that food, and you are right they are not that pricey for London. I lived in the UK for almost 5 years around 12 years ago and haven’t been back since. I remember that I was always complaining about the weather (!) but now I kinda I miss it, especially during the hot and dry season here in Indonesia. And I also miss the prawn cocktail crisps!

Prawn cocktail crisps: so good! It surprises me how much I miss the weather, too.

Oh yum, I could eat everything in this post. Looks like you had an amazing month!

http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com

It was definitely a month of eating! :-D

This has been so helpful. My friends live near Brixton, this article pushed me to get my friends to explore Brixton more. We’ve had great experiences at Mama Lans and Okan. Thanks for posting this!

So happy to hear that, Laura! :-)

Looks like you guys had a fabulous time. Can I explore London with you?? LOL!! Why would you have to fake an American drawl? That is so terrible. Granted I think Brits can fake an American accent better than anyone. You sound even better than Americans do and I am American. LOL!!! Can’t wait to see what your new year of travel brings.

Haha! I fake the accent because nobody can understand my British accent and I get fed up with having to repeat myself 50 times only to have people ask me why I didn’t just pronounce it the American way. Americans usually can’t even understand me when I say my name!

Congratulations on your success with Dave. I have always felt that no matter where you go, home is home. I love food blogs, and yours was that and more. The apartment is stunning, and the food looks delicious. The Mad Hatter’s tea is one party I want to go to. You must have had such a delightful time. Prawn cocktail crisps sound so yummy.

Thanks so much!

I just love Brixton one of my favourite areas in London always check it out for the Jamaican food to be found there. As for Borough market what a heavenly place for a market fan like me. I adore a good farmer’s market and am hoping to collect guest posts on markets around the world.

Yes! I definitely need to head back there for an eating holiday soon :-)

It was interesting reading about your experience in Brixton. I would be interested to visit the place too if I ever go back to London, though I would not be interested in trying out most of the food. Perhaps, I could get a nice flat too that have a nice little kitchen that I can try out my cooking skills.

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Easy London Budget Calculator: How Much Does it Cost to Visit London? 

How much does it cost to visit London? That all depends.

A lot of estimations out there are outdated, have the wrong average prices for hotels, and don’t factor in things like what attractions you want to see or what your dining style is. 

Plus, a London trip budget pre-pandemic looks a lot different from a London trip budget post-pandemic. Prices have changed dramatically. 

To give you a better idea of your real London trip budget, I’ve created a London budget calculator for you using the most up to date pricing. 

Take it from someone who lives here and spends (too much) everyday: sticking to a budget in this city is hard but it can be done!

I want you to be able to visit our incredible city with a realistic sense of how much things cost and make the most out of your time and money here. 

Let’s calculate your London trip budget!

London Budget Calculator for 2024

Use the London budget calculator below, and read on to find out how I came up with these figures and how to save the most money.

Keep in mind these are estimated figures and it’s only to give you a realistic idea of how much things will cost.

Your total spend in London may be more or less because there are so many factors that I can’t include all of here.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit London in 2024? 

To create my London budget calculator, I pulled real-life, current 2023 prices for everything from attractions to hotels from their actual websites.

For figures where I needed averages, I analyzed a sample of current prices and came up with the most accurate average price I could. 

Below may contain some affiliate links, for which I may receive. small commission if you make a purchase. It doesn’t cost you anything extra!

Accommodation Cost in London

Looking for the average cost of accommodation in London, I came away unsatisfied. The numbers looked too low to me, so I did my own research and analyzed the data.

To calculate the average prices of Airbnbs and hotels in London, I needed real figures of actual listed properties. So I took a sample from each category, ran the numbers, added average fees, and came up with a good representation of the average cost.

You can see my full breakdown of the average costs of hotels and Airbnbs in London in my post here. 

What’s the Average Cost of Airport Transport in London? 

To calculate the average cost of private airport transfers in London, I sampled prices from Uber and several private car companies that you can book ahead. 

• Average price of Public Transport from London Airports (not calculated in above calculator; add to total if you’re using this method): £12.50pp (Underground) – £25pp (Express trains)
• Average price of UberX from London Airports: £60
• Average price of private car from London Airports to Central London: £120
• Average price of private van or people carrier from London Airports to Central London: £200

🤑 Money Saving Tip:

Take public transport from London airports ! It’s so much cheaper, plus fast and efficient.

The only time I wouldn’t do this is if you are a large family with a lot of luggage. Navigating the tube or trains with lots of bags isn’t ideal, as not everywhere has step-free access and lifts.

What’s the Average Cost of Daily Transportation in London? 

Daily transportation costs within London can vary widely depending on which method of transportation you want to use.

I needed to do a little estimating here, as the cost of Uber, taxis, and private cars totally depends on how far you’re going, what traffic is like (bad, generally) and which company you use. 

For public transport, prices are divided by zone and capped per day depending on how many zones you travel through, though most tourists don’t generally go outside of Zone 3. 

• Average cost of public transport per person per day: £9 ( using an Oyster card or contactless payment method)
• Average cost of using some public transport and some private (some Uber or Taxis per person per day): £25
• Average cost of using only private transport (taxis & Uber only) per person per day: £60  

🤑 Money Saving Tip: 

Use public transport in London! It’s fast, efficient, and completely affordable. Use CityMapper or Google Maps to get easy to follow instructions from place to place. 

What’s the Average Daily Food Cost in London?

Other than accommodation, food may be your second largest expense in London.

I’m not going to lie: I cringe at our grocery and restaurant bills in London. But there are ways to keep it affordable.  

To pull real data, I created a bunch of sample checks from real London cafes, restaurants, grocery stores, pubs, and coffee shops.

I also went through my own family expenses for food, and averaged all of these numbers out to a rough estimation.

• Average daily cost of budget dining in London (sticking to only fast-type food, grocery stores, and cheap restaurants and takeaways. Not including alcohol): £26 per person
• Average daily cost of mid-range dining ( some cheap restaurants, some more expensive, not including alcohol ): £55pp
• Average daily cost of fine dining ( not including alcoho l): £130 pp

Picnics are your very best friend in London to keep eating affordable.

UK grocery stores have a much larger selection of prepared foods than other countries do, so it’s quite easy (and cheap!) to pop into a grocery store and create your own ready-to-eat meal. Take it to a park and have a lovely lunch! 

For restaurants, stay off the high street . In touristy areas, go away from the crowds to find hidden gems, or enjoy a lovely food hall.

If you want to experience afternoon tea, here’s my full list of afternoon tea on a budget options!

London Trip Budget: Attractions and Day Trips

In my London budget calculator I have plugged in the current 2024 per person attraction ticket prices. Children’s tickets are usually only a few pounds less.

For the London Eye, for example, adult tickets are £38 and children’s are £34. Not much difference.

Keep in mind that there are so many attractions and museums in London that are totally free! These are just the most popular paid attractions you might want to see.

For day trips , I have found prices from tour companies that offer these day trips including transportation.

It may be cheaper if you book your own trains and navigate these day trips on your own. 

🤑 Money Saving Tip

Take advantage of all of the free museums that London has to offer! Consider booking day trips yourself and not using a tour company to save the most cash.

You can also potentially save money on attractions using the London Pass or similar program. 

London Trip Budget: Final Tips

How much does it cost to visit London? I hope if you’ve used my London budget calculator you now have a better idea of how much you’ll need to visit our incredible city.

Keep in mind that accommodation cost in London will by far be your biggest expense, but there are tons of ways to maximize your hotel or Airbnb budget.

More on Budgeting for London 

31 Costly London Tourist Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Is the London Pass Worth it? Analysis & Easy Calculator

What NOT to do in London: The Truth About these 15 Tiring Tourist Traps 

Is Tipping in the UK Expected? A Super Simple Guide

Is the London Pass Worth it? Use the Calculator

Your Ultimate Guide to a Family Trip to London on a Budget

The Perfect Ladies Day Out in London: 3 Itineraries for Every Budget

The Best Thrift Shops in London: 7 Areas to Score the Best Second Hand Bargains

What’s the Closest Country to London? 10 Incredible Trips to Take Today 

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here .

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London is quite possibly the best city in the world. But that “best” comes with a price tag. It’s also one of the most expensive cities to visit in the world. But there are many ways to have a vacation and a trip to London doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. 

After living in London and having friends visit as well as now traveling back as much as we can, we’ve learned a bit about how much a trip to London costs as well as ways to save without sacrificing those dream vacation vibes. 

Using all of the estimates we’ll dive into below, a trip for two to London in 2024 will cost $6,087 for a week . But that’s just a starting point. We’ll give you different budget options for your trip so you can better estimate how much a trip to London will cost you. 

Don’t miss some of our best London travel planning resources: Our London Travel Guide has everything you need to know for your trip. Learn about taking the Tube in London , you’ll be using it a lot! You won’t want to leave before checking our London Packing List . Decide whether a day trip to Paris is worth it on your London vacation.

How Much Does a Trip to London Cost (2024 prices)

To estimate how much a trip to London costs, we’re going to look at 5 major categories: Airfare, Hotel, transportation, Food, and Activities. We’ll estimate how much it costs for two people to visit London for one week, but give you all the details so you can adjust the estimates to fit what you’re looking for. 

We’re also looking at dates in June 2024, which is not quite the top of the peak season (July is!), but it’s a month where you’ll usually have lovely weather and prices that are high but not outrageous yet. 

Note: we’re using the exchange rate of £1 = $1.25

Airfare Costs: San Francisco to London

To start off with our trip costs, we’re tackling one of the biggest costs: airfare. We pulled estimates from San Francisco for a direct flight. While there are definitely cheaper months to fly, this is a good baseline estimate. 

For a 7 day return flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to London Heathrow (LHR) in June 2024, you’re looking at an average price of $1,300, per person with taxes and fees. 

We selected a very basic economy seat departing June 9 and returning June 16, 2024 for a total of $1,305 on British Airways. Other airlines like Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus prices were pretty comparable. 

Total flight cost: $1,305 per person, or $2,610 for two people.  

Hotel Costs

London has so many different accommodation options that span a wide range of budgets. You can stay really far out of the city center and save a lot of money, you can find a single room with a twin bed if you’re a solo traveler or you can stay at an uber luxury hotel and have all of your needs catered to. 

So if you’re looking for a place to save money on your trip, booking cheaper accommodation is a great place to start. 

As far as costs go, Visit Britain reported that in the first six months of 2023, greater London saw the average daily rates of hotel rooms of £187 per night ($234). 

Going along with our June 2024 trip, we have prices for seven different hotels in central London: 

For our cost calculation, I’m going to use the Sydney House Chelsea as it’s mid-priced for central London and we loved our stay at this boutique hotel. 

Total hotel cost: £1,524 or $1,905 for six nights

Check out all our favorite hotel options here .

Transportation

While London is an expensive city to visit, getting around London doesn’t have to be expensive. Public transport is one of the best ways to get around and we love taking the tube , bus, and train. You may have noticed renting a car did not make the list, see our Should You Rent a Car in London for details.

If you’re using an Oyster card or a contactless credit card to get around London (which you should!) there is a daily cap of £8.10 when you’re riding the tube or the bus in Zone 1 and Zone 2 in London. And as most of the sights that you’ll be seeing are in Zone 1 and Zone 2, that means the most you’ll spend on public transport for the day will be £8.10 per person. That’s a great deal! 

If you’re using a contactless credit card, just make sure each person uses the same credit card all day, so you don’t get charged the daily cap on two different cards. 

To estimate total costs, we’ll assume that two people will be hitting the daily cap on their contactless card riding the tube and the bus around London for six days. 

Getting around London will cost £97.20 over six days, or $122.

To and From Heathrow Transportation Costs

There are several different ways you can get to central London from Heathrow Airport and costs vary widely. We’ve done them all depending on how much luggage we have and whether we’re traveling with our kids or riding solo. 

In order from most expensive to least expensive, your options include:

• £80 for a Black Cab (estimate)
• £60  for Private Car Service Addison Lee (estimate)
• £55 for uber (estimate)
• £25 per person Heathrow Express
• £13.30 per person Elizabeth Line (tube)
• £5.60 per person Piccadilly line (tube)

For our estimate, we’ll assume that you’re taking the Elizabeth Line to and from Heathrow Airport for £13.30 per person (£26.60 roundtrip), for two people, or £53.20 total.

Total transportation cost estimate: £97.20 + £53.20 = £150.40 or $188

Food Cost in London per Day

London has a thriving food scene and you’ll want to take part in it! Whether you’re ducking into a Chippy (fish and chip shop), stopping for a pint at a pub, or hitting up a trendy Soho restaurant, the food in London is great.

And unlike Switzerland which has staggeringly high restaurant prices, prices in London are in line with any big city. You can find well-priced places like food markets and food halls, upscale options, and everything in between. 

Per day you can expect to spend £75 per person on food, with a moderate budget. 

To get there, we expect that you’ll pay £15 for breakfast, £20 for lunch, and £40 for dinner, on average. 

You can spend less and you can spend more. If you want to gauge how much you’ll spend, here are some examples of what we’ve recently spent eating out in London. The prices below are per person! 

• Pizza Dinner at Franco Manca: £17 per person
• Dishoom Dinner: £45 per person
• Pub lunch: £25 per person
• Breakfast at Gail’s: £ per person
• Afternoon tea: £40 per person

A good way to save money on food is to eat at pubs! Read our London Pub Guide for details on visiting pubs.

Total food cost for two people: £900 or $1,125 (£75 per person, per day for six days)

London has so many wonderful free activities. Museums ! The Royal Parks! Sky Garden!

But some things are worth paying for. 

If you’re following our free one-day itinerary in London, you’ll pay for entrance to the Tower of London (£37) and Tower Bridge (£12.30). And for us, paying that to see it was worth it.

Some other example costs include:

• London Eye: £25.50
• Buckingham Palace entrance: £19.50 per adult
• St Paul’s Cathedral entrance: £23
• Westminster Abbey Entrance: £27
• Churchill War Rooms: £30
• Harry Potter World ticket: £53.50 per adult
• Hamilton Theatre tickets: £54 per person

For the sake of estimating, we’ll assume that two people are going to pay for two different London activities or attractions that cost £30 per person, for £120 total spent ($150) on activities during your trip. 

For a full list of the free museums in London, see our article on the 12 Best Museums in London . Plus you won’t want to miss London’s hidden gems (with lots of free options!)

If you’re in London for a week you do have time to squeeze in a quick day trip outside of the city. Maybe a quick train ride to Windsor, or a visit to Cambridge to go punting in the river? 

To save money, book those rail tickets well in advance! Some examples of train costs include: 

• Return ticket to Windsor from London: £13.60
• Return ticket to Cambridge from London: £43.90
• Return ticket to Oxford from London: £12.00
• Return ticket to Bath from London: £46.00

We’ll assume you’re going to make a one-day trip to Windsor, spending £13.60 per person on a train ticket and £30 per person on an entrance ticket to Windsor Castle. 

The total cost for a day trip to Windsor is £87.20, or $109

How Much Does a Trip to London Cost for One Week?

Using all of our estimates from above, a trip to London for two people for one week will cost $6,087.

Of course you can spend a lot more or a lot less on your trip, depending on how you like to travel. Prefer the backpacking/hostel route? You could probably easily slash $1,500 or more from the bill. Or if you want to step up your comfort, there are plenty of ways to spend another $2,000.

How Much Does a Trip to London Cost: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

We don’t all travel the same way or on the same budget, so what does this one-week trip look like at a variety of different price points? We’ve put together some different budget options. 

For the budget traveler, we grab cheaper hotel and food options, as well as cut out a day trip and any paid activities. That doesn’t mean you miss out! But you’ll need to get creative. For example, instead of touring Westminster Abbey, go in for Evensong when it’s free. 

The midrange trip is what we already covered above.

Looking for a little luxury? We’ve upgraded the hotel, and transportation options, and added in a bigger food budget. Grab a room at the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, add in afternoon tea at the Ritz (£144 for two), a few more splashy dinners, and a private day tour. Book private transportation to and from Heathrow, and enjoy!

How to Cut Costs on Your Trip to London without Sacrificing Fun

While a trip to London is expensive, there are some ways to trim back on your trip to London costs without it feeling painful.

Travel in the Shoulder Season

The most expensive time to visit London is June and July. The summer months usually see a big surge in visitors thanks to better odds of having sunny weather. So if you’re traveling during those months, expect to pay a premium!

If you’re looking for deals, you can find great prices during the winter months, but you’ll have to contend with the dreary weather. If you love the rain and cold and plan to spend most of your time in museums, this can be a wonderful option. 

But if you’d prefer to steer clear of the coldest and wettest months and you are hoping for cheaper prices, the shoulder season is the time to go. Aim for a trip in May, September, or October. You’ll usually find moderate weather and lower costs. And in my opinion, fall in London and the Cotswolds is extremely underrated. 

Related read: check out the best (and worst) time to visit London so you get your timing right .

Book With Points

If you want to seriously cut costs without sacrificing anything, booking part of your trip with points is a solid option. And you don’t need to be a hard-core travel hacker or a million miler frequent fliers to pay for part of your trip in points. 

We strategically open credit cards throughout the year to qualify for sign-up bonuses. Those sign-up bonuses are usually enough to pay for our flights to Europe (in points!) and a few nights at a hotel. 

And we always make sure to pay off our balance in full each month, because no amount of free travel is worth credit card fees, interest, or debt. 

To learn how to book with points and step-by-step guidance on getting a free hotel stay, check out our BookedWithPoints.com for details.

Book Your Travel Early

The earlier you book the more deals to be had! Trying to book last-minute trips can be prohibitively expensive and can throw your travel budget out of whack. Plus, when you book early you have better options as more things are available!

We try to book at least six months out to find the best rates and availability. While you can still find deals closer to your travel, you’re rolling the dice with last-minute deals. We’ve sometimes done well planning last minute (we scored a great deal on a last-minute apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower), but we usually end up paying more. 

Last year we rented an apartment in London for a month and we were able to get such a good deal by booking it nine months in advance. Had we booked later than that, the price of the stay would’ve been far too expensive. 

Stay a Bit Further Out

While staying in central London is extremely convenient, it’s also very expensive. Thankfully, London has a very easy public transport system that can get you anywhere you want to go. If you’re having trouble finding hotels that are in your price range, there are so many great options if you want to stay outside of the city center. 

To keep things easy, make sure you’re booking a hotel that is on the tube line or a train line. For example, you can book a well-priced room at the Spread Eagle Pub in Wandsworth, which is just a quick train ride to Clapham Junction or London Waterloo. Or the Lodge Hotel in Putney which is just a quick 5-minute walk from the East Putney Tube stop. 

Rein in Food Costs

I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again: London has great food. And what’s more, London has great food at a range of price points. Eating in London does not need to be an expensive affair. Grab a coffee and a Bircher Muesli for breakfast from Pret. Eat at a food market for lunch (check out a list of our favorite food markets in London) or a museum cafe. Enjoy £5 cream tea rather than a full afternoon tea. And grab a kebab for dinner. Jordan and I used to get a takeout kebab all the time for dinner when we lived in London and it was a cheap and filling £15 meal for the two of us. 

Eating in London can be as expensive or inexpensive as you make it. 

Use Our Free Guide

Do you know what else can be expensive? Losing a day of your trip thanks to bad information or bad planning. We have you covered with our free download: an easy one-day tour of London. Download the walking tour that we used to send all of our friends and family on when we lived on London. Beautiful sights, great food, interesting history — it’s all here!

THE BEST 1-DAY LONDON ITINERARY

If you have limited time in this capital city, don’t miss out. Our one day itinerary takes you to great spots on an easy walking tour of London. Download to your phone and take it on the go.

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Is London Expensive? London Trip Cost Guide in 2024

Last Updated on December 14, 2023

by Maggie Turansky

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Is London expensive to visit? Though it is one of the most diverse and dynamic cities on earth and has so much to offer visitors — from an incredible history to world-class museums to an incredible restaurant scene to some of the best theatre in existence — London also has a reputation for being quite a pricey destination. So how much will a London trip cost?

While London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, it is possible to visit on a budget with an average trip to London costing £75-245 per day (roughly $95-310 USD).

You can budget at the lower end if you’re staying in budget accommodation, cooking your own meals and visiting mainly free attractions. A higher budget is required if you prefer to stay in nicer accommodation and want to eat out regularly.

Having lived in this incredible city for a few years, I gained some great insight into the general costs associated with travelling to London.

Table of Contents

London Trip Cost Guide

This guide will break down prices across accommodation, transport, food, activities and entertainment to help you understand how expensive is London and where you can potentially save some budget.

Accommodation Prices

The first aspect of any London travel budget that you need to consider is the cost of accommodation as it is likely to take up the biggest percentage of your average cost of a trip to London. I am going to be frank here; traditional accommodation options in London can be expensive. This includes even the budget traveller strongholds of backpacker hostels.

And if you want to stay in a hostel dorm in or around Central London (and you don’t really want to be far from the centre because you will inevitably end up spending quite a lot of time on public transport if not), then you can expect to pay at least £35 per night for that privilege.

If you’re travelling as a couple or with a friend, you might think you can save money by getting a private room in a hostel. However, Central London hostels tend to be just as expensive as a budget hotel, with prices clocking in at around £150 for the most basic of rooms.

It might seem a bit fruitless to expect to save any money on accommodation in London, however, this doesn’t have to be the case. Enter: Airbnb.

While entire private flats on Airbnb in London can be quite expensive, nevermind the fact that there is a considerable amount of controversy surrounding them (ie. they’re driving up rent prices and contributing to a housing crisis for people who actually live in the city – there is already and incredibly high cost of living in London), renting a private room through Airbnb is an incredibly popular and cost-effective way to cut down on your overall trip cost.

On average, a private room on Airbnb located in or close to Central London will start around £75 per night, depending on the location. If you are splitting this cost between two people, it can actually work out to be quite affordable to stay in London.

Of course, you’re not going to get all of the amenities associated with staying in a hotel or hostel, however, you do get the added benefit of seeing exactly what it’s like for locals in London (it’s not nearly as glamorous as you might think!) while saving money at the same time.

For those looking to stay in a hotel while in London, expect a budget to mid-range hotel to start at around £1050 per night a bit outside of the centre and going up to about £200 in Central London. For a high-end stay in the centre of the city, don’t expect to pay anything less than £250-300 per night.

Transportation Prices

London is HUGE and a surprisingly large amount of visitors don’t seem to realise this. However, this will become immediately apparent as soon as you leave the airport (any of them) and realise it takes at least an hour to get to Central London.

So basically, you’re going to be spending some money on transportation unless you are keen to walk about 20 miles each day.

Getting from the airport to Central London

The first thing you need to consider when it comes to transportation costs is getting to Central London from the airport. Greater London is served by a whopping six different airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City, and London Southend — only two of which (Heathrow and City) are actually technically IN London.

It is most likely that you will begin your trip at Heathrow or Gatwick Airport, which is where the majority of long-haul flights arrive. However, if you’re coming to London from elsewhere in Europe and are flying a budget airline such as Ryanair, Easyjet, or Wizzair, you will probably fly into Stansted or Luton.

We travelled frequently and our trips were mostly limited to these airports when we lived in London. Though we have flown in and out of Southend a couple of times, we have yet to have the opportunity to travel through London City and I’m not even sure which airlines operate out of it.

There are trains from all airports that serve most major London stations and it is almost always less expensive to book these trains in advance. Make sure to do your research before you arrive to find out the best route to your accommodation and book try to book your train at least one week ahead of time in order to get a good deal. Expect the journey to cost around £15-20 one way. It is also cheaper to book a return ticket.

If you are flying into Heathrow, however, there is another option for transport into the city that, for some reason, is rarely marketed toward tourists. You might have only read that you have to take the Heathrow Express from the airport, which goes from the airport to Paddington Station in about twenty minutes. This is fast, yes, but it’s also quite expensive — even if you book in advance.

It is also extremely likely that you’re going to need to transfer to the bus or underground in order to reach your accommodation unless you’re staying in Paddington itself — and you really shouldn’t be if you’re trying to save money.

The best option to get from Heathrow to Central London is to take the Piccadilly Line (which is dark blue on the tube map) of the underground. It might take more time, however, it will save you a considerable amount of money (it will cost roughly £4 depending on the time/day you’re travelling).

There are signs for the tube around every Heathrow terminal and you can’t miss it. Take this time to purchase an Oyster Card (you will have to pay a £5 deposit, which you can get back upon returning the card when you leave) and load some money on it as well. You also can use a contactless credit or debit card in the same way. This is your ticket to affordable transport all around London.

Cost of transport in London

Once you’ve figured out how to get from the airport into Central London, you’re going to need to factor in the cost of actually getting around London. As I mentioned earlier, London is a massive city and it is entirely unlikely that you can see everything you want on foot.

Luckily, the British capital has an excellent public transport system that will get you everywhere you need to go. However, it just so happens to be one of the most expensive in the world.

Your best bet to combat high travel costs is to invest in an Oyster card, which you can get at any tube station and top off with however much money you might need. The benefit of using an Oyster card vs purchasing single-journey tickets or travel cards is that the Oyster has daily travel caps .

You can also use a contactless credit or debit card in the same way, and save your £5 for the Oyster card. Contactless cards are still subject to the same caps as Oyster cards.

This means if you are travelling within zones 1-2 in the transport system (and it is highly unlikely that you will travel beyond that) the maximum amount of money you will be charged per day is £8.10. When one single tube journey costs around £2.80, this can be a significant amount of savings if you are going to take more than three trips in a day.

Another way to save money on transit is to take the bus wherever possible. Any journey on the iconic red double-decker buses in London costs £1.75 no matter where in the city you are going. Another benefit is that if you need to change buses on your journey, you won’t be charged the £1.75 fee again if you switch within an hour.

A great way to keep on top of all of the best routes to your destination and to weigh the expenses of them is to use an app called CityMapper. This is what most Londoners use to get places and it can be invaluable to tourists as well.

Another tip to save money while travelling in London is to avoid taking black cabs whenever possible. These taxis, though iconic to London, are notoriously expensive and I know very few locals who use them frequently.

If you need to get somewhere and public transport isn’t running (say it’s after midnight or there’s a tube strike), then use Uber or Bolt. These ride-sharing apps are considerably less expensive than the traditional cabs. Keep in mind that if there are public transit issues, fares may be inflated.

All in, you really shouldn’t have to spend more than £10/day on transport when you’re visiting London, factoring in the cost of getting to and from the airport.

Food Prices

As one of the most international cities in the world, London has a thriving food scene and it is possible to get cuisine from nearly every single country in this one city. It is time to shed any preconceived notions about British food when visiting London because the restaurant and street food scene here is absolutely fantastic. It can, however, greatly impact your overall London trip cost.

While London is home to some of the greatest restaurants in the world, these can come with a steep price tag. It is, however, entirely possible to enjoy some of the best cuisine that London has to offer while still maintaining a tight travel budget.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to limit your eating out (in a restaurant, at least) to once per day. Stop by a supermarket and pick up some things for breakfast to make at your accommodation, or stay somewhere that offers breakfast in the room rate.

For lunch, the best way to save money is to take advantage of “meal deals” from local supermarkets. These include pre-made sandwiches, a packet of crisps or popcorn, and a drink all for around £5 depending on where you’re shopping.

All major supermarkets offer these, but it is worth noting that Waitrose tends to be more expensive (they’re the posh supermarket). We would recommend looking at Sainsbury’s, Co-Op, or Tesco.

Street food can also be affordable and London is blessed with a seemingly endless amount of street food markets. The most popular for tourists would likely be Borough Market near London Bridge, which is open every day but Sunday, and has so many food stalls that it can be incredibly hard to choose what to eat.

Other popular markets include Brick Lane (open weekends), Broadway Market (open Saturdays), KERB Camden (open daily), and Southbank Centre food market near the London Eye (open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).

A street food meal can be more expensive than a meal deal from a supermarket, but you do get more option and a higher quality of food. Expect to pay around £5-10 for a meal from a food market.

If you want to eat out in London — and you should, there are a number of great restaurants in the city — follow the advice I say for literally every single city in the world: don’t eat anywhere near a main tourist attraction.

Restaurants like these are catered directly toward tourists and can cost more than 20% more than a restaurant catered toward Londoners and savvy visitors such as yourself. Eating away from tourist sites can really cut down on your overall cost of a trip to London.

If you do go eat out, expect a main dish at a mid-range restaurant to cost somewhere around £12-15 and a starter to cost around £8-10. Add about 10-20% to that if you’re eating at a higher-end place.

All in all, you really don’t need to break the bank if you want to experience the food culture of London. You can expect to spend around £15-20 per day if cooking the majority of your own meals and closer to £30-40 if having one or two mid-range meals out per day.

Activity Prices

Now that we’ve covered such basic needs as food, shelter, and transportation, it’s time to cover the cost of actually doing things in London.

There is a ton to do in this amazing city and, luckily for travellers, a vast majority of it doesn’t have to cost a lot. Sure, tourist attractions in London like Madame Tussauds , the London Eye , and the Tower of London can charge quite a bit to enter, some of the most famous and best museums in the world are completely free.

These include the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Science Museum among numerous others. If planning on visiting a number of the paid attractions, the London Go City Pass can save money on entry fees.

You could easily spend a number of days hopping from museum to museum in London and only spend money on your transport and food for the day.

Another great and affordable sightseeing option in London is to take a free walking tour. There are myriad tour operators throughout the city that offer different free tours through various boroughs and neighbourhoods. While the tour themselves are free, you do need to tip the guide — usually around £10-15 depending on the quality and length of the tour.

There are also a number of paid walking tours you can take — such as an East End street art tour — that won’t break the bank either, usually these clock in at around £20 depending on the operator. Often, it can be cheaper for you to book the tour online in advance, so make sure to do your research beforehand.

If you’re keen to go to the theatre while in London, note that West End tickets can be very expensive. However, there are definitely ways to get around the steep price. If you don’t mind sitting in the nosebleed section, it can actually be quite affordable — the cheapest tickets often cost around £30.

Another fantastic way to save on West End theatre is to enter a ticket lottery. Many of the top shows offer these where you can enter in to win some of the best seats in the house for around £20. How shows run lotteries differ, however, it can be worth doing a quick Google search of “west end show” + “lottery” to find out the process for whatever you might want to see.

Another great way to save on theatre is to look away from the West End. There are fantastic productions all throughout London and it can be a lot cheaper than staying in the main theatre district. Some theatres, such as the Hampstead Theatre in North London, offer £10 tickets to those under 30 and they have incredible production quality and some big-name actors as well.

All in all, though, if you’re planning on keeping your average London trip cost low, you don’t really need to budget more than £10-15 per day on activities.

Entertainment Prices

Now we come to the last factor you need to consider in your overall London holiday cost: entertainment. London has a famous nightlife and pub culture and no visit to the Big Smoke is complete without sampling it.

Well, unfortunately for budget travellers, booze prices in London can be exceptionally high. While that should stop you from heading to a cosy pub and grabbing a beer, it is worth knowing that a pint will set you back around £5-6 in Central London, often more depending on what kind of beer it is.

London is also famous for its cocktail bars, however, a cocktail in the city will set you back considerably more than a pint.

If you head to one of the hip, subterranean, speakeasy-style cocktail bars that have become so popular in London over the past few years, expect to pay around £12-15 per drink. Oftentimes, it is more depending on the esteem of the bar and where it is located.

If you want to have a great London drinking experience without breaking the bank, consider purchasing your booze from the supermarket or liquor store. A bottle of beer will cost around £1.50-2 and a decent bottle of wine will cost around £10-15.

If the weather is fine, find a place in a park or a bench along Regent’s Canal or River Thames and enjoy your drink while watching London go by.

Not only do locals do this kind of thing frequently, but your bank balance will also surely thank you as well. One of the best ways to cut down on your overall trip cost is to limit how much and where you drink alcohol.

All in, if you want to enjoy a few drinks daily while visiting London, then plan to budget about £10-20 per person per day for this.

Average London Travel Cost

The above factors considered, here is how much you should expect to spend per person per day if you’re spending a week in London. This is assuming you are travelling as a couple so are splitting some costs and doesn’t include any pre-trip expenses (like investing in a good coat for London !) If you are travelling solo, expect some things (namely accommodation) to cost a bit more.

Accommodation:  £35-150/night

Transport:  £10-20/day

Food:  £15-40/day

Activities: £5-15/day

Entertainment:  £10-20/day

Overall, you can plan to spend an average of around £75-245 per day while visiting London. The lower costs will apply if you’re staying outside of the centre in budget accommodation and cooking most of your own meals. While the higher end will apply for travellers who wish to stay in nicer accommodation and eat out around once per day.

Many people think that London is an expensive place to visit and fail to do the proper research on how to adequately budget. If you are smart about where you spend your money and how you travel, your total travel costs can be minimal.

Are you planning to visit London? Have questions about the prices? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

The Perfect Cambridge Day Trip from London Itinerary

The Perfect Seven Sisters Cliffs Walk from London

Richmond Park Walks: A Perfect London Day Hike

About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Thank you for all the wonderful information. I will be using your suggestions on my trip to London in June. Darlene

This has been one of the, if not the most helpful travel blogs I have read for London. Thank you so much!

Thanks, Lilly! I’m so happy you’ve found this helpful 🙂

Incredible information. Thanks.

Love the information and the ideas thank you

Planning on living in London for a while and this helped a lot with the preparation. It’s made me a lot more excited to live in a different city. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

So happy that I could help! Hope you have a great time living in London 🙂

Going to travel to London this August. Thank you Maggie. Your page answered ALL my questions and now I have a better attitude and peace about this trip.

Happy I could be of help, Kenneth! Hope you have a great trip 🙂

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• Travel Planning Guide

How much does a trip to London Cost?

How much money should you budget for your trip to London?

How much does a weekend trip to london cost.

• How much does a five-day trip to London cost?
• How much does a one-week trip to London cost?
• Hostel Prices
• Hotel Prices

The Cost of a Trip to London

A journey to London will usually cost from $89 to $688 for an individual and $179 to $1,375 for two people. The mid-range tends to hover around $240 (£190) per person daily, as calculated from our travel cost data from fellow travelers covering food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation expenses. This is a fairly wide price range, and your individual expenses will vary by the level of luxury and travel style that you choose. For those seeking a balance between comfort and budget, booking standard accommodation and eating at typical restaurants, your expenses will be close to this calculated average. Read on for a detailed breakdown of travel expenses by category and a comprehensive overview of accommodation and activity costs tailored to your visit.

For budget travelers in London, planning for around $89 (£70) per day should cover essentials such as accommodations in hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and engaging in various activities. If you're a mid-range traveler, setting aside around $240 (£190) per day would allow for more comfortable stays in typical hotels, dining at regular restaurants, and exploring a diverse range of popular attractions. Luxury travelers, on the other hand, should consider a daily budget of approximately $688 (£543) to accommodate higher-end hotel stays, dining at nicer restaurants, and indulging in more exclusive private tour options. It's important to note that these price ranges are derived from our extensive travel cost data for London, which is based on valuable insights from other travelers as well as hotel and tour data provided by travel companies. For a more detailed breakdown of travel costs, you can refer to our comprehensive travel cost data for London .

On average, travelers spend around $720 per person during a three-day trip to London. This average includes expenses for sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. To align with this average price range, consider opting for mid-range hotels and dining at mid-level restaurants, while also allocating funds for entry tickets to popular attractions. For those seeking a more budget-friendly approach, it is possible to find lower-cost accommodations, dine at less expensive restaurants, and explore free activities. Also, many visitors choose to spend a higher travel budget, as London offers a range of high-end hotels and restaurants for those seeking a more luxurious experience.

How much does a five day trip to London cost?

With five days in London, you can expect to spend about $1,200 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.

How much does a one week trip to London cost?

Most visitors spend between $625 and $4,814 for a one week trip to London, with the average being $1,680 . This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in London. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.

Hostel Prices in London

With more than 60 hostels in London, the average price is $27 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $6 and the most expensive is $54. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in London here .

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in London.

• $39 for a dorm bed at Wombat's City Hostel London in London more details
• $37 for a dorm bed at Palmers Lodge - Swiss Cottage in London more details
• $28 for a dorm bed at Astor Museum Inn in London more details

Hotel Prices in London

Based on our calculations from available hotels in the London, the average price for a hotel room is $126 per night. To save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by amenities and location. Check out more details from our analysis of hotel prices in London here , and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.

Croham Park Bed & Breakfast

Batty langley's.

Should you do a tour in London?

Many visitors enjoy the convenience of booking tours and activities while they visit, and London has a wide array of things to do. These activities often include knowledgable guides and unique experiences. Tours range in price from $5 for the Soho's Contribution to Health Care History Walking Audio Tour to $954 for the London Art Deco Private Tour .

• British Museum & National Gallery of London Guided Tour - Semi-Private 8ppl… Viator $ 206
• British Museum & National Gallery of London Guided Tour - Semi-Private 8ppl Max: $206
• Winston Churchill's London and The Churchill War Rooms - A Private Tour. : $246
• The National Gallery of London - Exclusive Guided Museum Tour: $116
• A craft beer tasting tour of the Bermondsey Beer Mile: $64
• Working Women of the East End Walking Tour: $39
• Booze, Brothels & The Bard: A Walking Tour of London's Bawdy Borough: $26
• Palaces, Parliament & Power: A Walking Tour of London's Royal City: $26
• Afternoon Tea Bike Tour: $117

More for London

If you're planning a trip to London, UK, check out these other informative travel guides.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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2 Weeks in the UK: 6 Itineraries

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The UK is my first dream destination. In College, I got quite obsessed with British books covering stories of the Medieval UK. Since then, I wanted to see castles, churches, and historical sites.

I finally had the chance to go. Even though with a limited time of 14 days, I planned to make every moment count. I’m hoping that his itinerary can assist you in creating your UK travel plan as well.

One thing that many people get confused about is the meaning of the UK and how each members of it are considered a country.

The United Kingdom (UK), comprised of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland , has long been one of Europe’s most well-liked travel destinations. The country’s diversified landscape and interesting cultural heritage play a significant role in its charm.

The best places to visit in the UK range from its many top-notch art galleries and museums to its exquisitely preserved castles. Spending 2 weeks in the UK means seeing historical sites, war-related museums, bustling cities, film locations, and of course, scenic nature.

The UK is in western Europe and bordered by the Irish Sea, the North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. Quite often, the entire United Kingdom is referred to as Britain.

>> EXTRA READ: 2 weeks in Europe – 6 itineraries

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING THE UK

One important thing you should know about the UK that many people actually get wrong is that the UK is composed of four countries; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. This means that visiting the UK for two weeks, there’s so much to experience.

To not overwhelm you, below are some things you should know when planning your trip to the UK and how to make this vacation perfect.

When is the best time to go to the UK

The best time to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) depends on several factors, including the type of activities you’re interested in and the weather. Overall, UK receives a lot of rain throughout the year.

Spring (March to May) is generally considered an excellent time to visit the UK , as the weather starts to warm up, and it’s a great time to explore historical attractions as the flowers bloom. April is the least rainy month, so take advantage of that.

Summer (June to August) is the peak tourist season , and it’s also the warmest time of year in the UK which is best for water sports and beach vacations. However, there might be some unexpected rain showers.

Autumn (September to November) is another excellent time to visit the UK. The crowds thin out, and the weather is generally mild and pleasant, making it an ideal time for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. But remember that the right season is coming up, so expect more rain during these months.

Winter (December to February) can be a less popular time to travel to the UK, as it’s cold and some places shut down. Still, it can also be a magical time to visit, especially if you’re interested in winter sports and cosy pubs.

The UK doesn’t really get much snow, and during winter, it rains a lot, especially in January.

Are 2 weeks enough for the UK

14 days in the UK is doable. Enough planning allows you to maximise this timeframe and see 3-4 cities. This also goes down to your choice of transportation to ensure that you don’t waste time and do not feel like your travel itinerary is cramped and too busy.

Luckily, the UK has some decent public transportation, making travelling from one city to another convenient. I will discuss this more in the next section below.

Getting around

There are lots of ways to get around the UK. The most convenient would be to use the train system . The good thing about the trains in the UK is that it connects big cities to rural areas. It’s also a scenic way to travel and comfortable since you can walk around to stretch your legs.

Another option is by bus, which is the cheapest . But it can also be the slowest due to the number of stops along the way. Some bus companies offer hop-on and hop-off services, but most are only available in big cities when visiting multiple attractions.

Car rental is another popular choice . Although I only recommend this when you’re venturing out of the big city. What I mean is that renting a car to travel around the London area is not a good idea. The traffic will just waste your time, and the cost is much higher.

On the other hand, renting a vehicle to discover national parks such as the Peak District or hiking in Scotland and Wales is a fantastic way to travel. Having a car lets, you travel from point A to B to C in your own time at your own pace.

Language and currency

English is the primary language in the UK . But you also have the regional languages, such as Welsh, which is spoken by 20% of the population in Wales. There’s also Scottish Gaelic is spoken by 1% of Scotts. Irish is spoken by a small minority in Northern Ireland.

BSL, or British Sign Language, is also a recognised official language . If you know ASL, you might be able to use it to communicate. It won’t be as accurate, but it could get you by.

When you’re in London, you’ll hear so many languages too. From Spanish, German, Chinese, Polish, French, Urdu, and Bengali, just to name a few. Remember that as you move between regions, the accent of the English language changes and can be hard to understand at times.

The pound or GBP, is the main currency in the UK . You’ll also hear it being referred to as Sterling Pounds, and the sign is £. Payment by card is the most preferred option around the UK, although cash is still common.

It’s best to carry some cash with you at all times, especially if you plan to go to rural areas. There should be ATMs almost anywhere. However, most of the machine’s withdrawal limit is around £200 ($275)-£500 ($680) depending on the ATM bank and your bank.

Visitors who wish to travel to the UK must hold a passport from the US, Canada, many parts of Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and the EU. You can stay for up to 6 months.

If your country is not mentioned, you must apply for a UK visitor visa in advance.

What is the average cost for 2 weeks in the UK

It can be hard to give an exact cost of a 14-day trip in the UK. This is because the costs in different cities are very different. Accommodation in London is one of the most expensive in the world, but it’s not the same cost in Cardiff or even Edinburgh.

But to give you an average range, an estimate of $2,500 is a decent budget for 2 weeks in the UK. Accommodation is the most expensive and transport cost and entry fees are the most affordable. With this budget, you can have a private room in a mid-range hotel.

If you’re on a tight budget though, you still have to plan the cost to be about $1,800 , and you’ll have to stay in dorm rooms most of the time.

Regarding a luxury trip, put the estimated cost down to $4,000 to enjoy some four to five-star hotels, private tours, and high-end restaurants.

These costs are for an individual person and don’t include your flight to the UK and back home, travel insurance, or other travel gear.

Other basic travel tips

If you’re unsure where to book flights and travel insurance, the list of travel services below is my personal collection.

From booking tours, flights, and hotels, to arranging an airport pick-up and car rental – these are my go-to travel sites. Some of these tools even allow me to cancel the booking at the last minute for low to zero fees.

PINNED MAP OF TOP THINGS TO SEE IN THE UK

Click the icon on the top right to enlarge the map. Credit: map data: Google

2 WEEKS IN THE UK ITINERARY

If you want to see as much of the country as you can while you’re there but aren’t sure where to begin, here are six of my best 2 weeks in the UK itineraries to give you some inspiration. Each of these well-known trips will provide you with a fresh perspective on this beautiful and lush country.

But one thing they all have in common is that you’ll definitely leave with a profound appreciation of all that makes the United Kingdom unique.

When planning an itinerary , keeping your desired type of travel in mind is crucial. Keep in mind that these are only general recommendations, and you don’t have to follow them strictly. Feel free to modify them in a way that will give you the most enjoyable trip possible.

It would be a good idea to plan your trip to start and end in London since many international flights go through there. But let’s say you finish in Edinburgh, that’s not a big problem either since most UK capital cities have a large international airports.

Itinerary #1: England only

First up is two weeks in the UK itinerary, specifically for England, which includes all of the finest attractions in the nation.

You can travel quickly and see a new location every day, but if you’d prefer a more leisurely tour, you should generally plan on spending a few days in some of them, especially considering travel time.

Since many locations are just as lovely, it was pretty challenging for me to decide which ones to include, but this route offers you a nice variety. You can follow this itinerary below or check out our 2 weeks in England itineraries .

London for 5 days

London is an extraordinary place to start your trip or even spend an entire 14 days. T here is so much to see, food to eat, things to do, and shows to watch . First, for history lovers, make sure you have the historical sites listed.

This includes everything related to the Monarchy. Whether you’re a fan of the Monarchy or not, it’s undeniable that a lot of the UK or England’s history revolves around the Monarchy, which is a big part of the British Empire.

Make sure to visit the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and Kensington Palace, just to name a few. You can book combo tours to make sure you see all these places in one day. This is an awesome way to make the most out of your time in England.

Big Ben and Trafalgar Square are among the most well-known sites in England. Aside from that, The Tower of London offers plenty to see and do, including the magnificent Crown Jewels exhibition, the Royal Mint, and exhibits on executions.

If you’re travelling with kids, look into kid-friendly events like “Knights School” and other engaging programs that give fascinating insights into the castle’s history.

Day trips from London

There are also many day trips from London , including Europe’s most famous prehistoric site – Stonehenge. I highly suggest purchasing a ticket in advance to ensure admission. You can also visit Bath/Costowld or Cambridge.

If you only have time for one royal attraction, Windsor Castle is the best choice which is one of the Royal Family’s residences that routinely welcomes guests when the head of the Monarchy is away.

Northern England for 3 days

Northern England is located in the Midlands and consists of many cities and lots of remarkable towns, such as Manchester, Liverpool, York, Newcastle, Leeds, and Sheffield , to name a few.

The best way to explore this area is by choosing one city or town as your base and travelling from there.

This is also the region you want to be in if you like hiking and plan to visit the Peak and Leak District. If the season is correct, you can even go wild swimming, picnic, and camp inside the National Park.

For those who are fans of football and the Beatles, Northern England should be on your two weeks in the UK itinerary.

South of London for 3 days

South of London, you will find the remarkable Royal Pavilion and the charming city of Brighton. Apart from that top attraction, you must also add High Weald AONB to your list.

Remember the National Trusts list, including BAteman’s Scotney Castle, Smallhythe Place, and Nymans.

This region is best explored with a rented car, although public transit is also well-placed here. There are definitely guided tours you can join, which will take you to multiple locations in one day.

Choose between Brighton, Eastbourne, and Crawley as your base . Crawley is right next to Gatwick Airport, which is ideal if you prefer to stay near the airport for your next flight.

West England for 3 days

West England is the destination for surfing, seeing magnificent cliffs, and doing more outdoor activities. North Devon ( and Cornwall are the two top surfing spots in this part of the UK. You can base yourself in Plymouth or Exeter.

Exploring will be much easier if you rent a vehicle to drive yourself around than relying on public transit. If you don’t feel like doing that, you can do also sign up for guided tours where a tour guide and a transit are included.

Dartmoor Nation Park is one of the best spots in West England. But don’t forget to discover the National Trusts in this region. To name a few, you must check out Baggy Point, Heddon Valley, Woolacombe, Arlington Court, and Castle Drogo.

Itinerary #2: Wales and Northern Ireland

Wales and Northern Ireland are great destinations for travellers, offering a wide range of activities, historic sites, and natural beauty. They have also been featured as filming locations for popular TV shows and movies , making them an even more exciting destination for fans.

If you’re into photography, this list of beautiful places in North Wales will be a great spot. Many top sites, such as Snowdonia, Trefor Sea Stacks, and South Stack Lighthouse, are featured.

Wales for 7 days

Pembroke Castle, the birthplace of English King Henry VII in 1457 and featured in the romance film “Me Before You”, has breathtaking views over the coast and the old town.

Don’t forget to check out Carmarthenshire County Museum and St. Peter’s Church . Laugharne Castle, a historic fortress from medieval times that saw action during the Civil War, is another landmark in the vicinity.

Northern Ireland for 7 days

The Giant’s Causeway, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Irelan d, is mainly known throughout the world for its blocks of layered basalt. Many treats are along the Causeway Coast, including Portstewart and Portrush’s stunning dunes and beaches.

By taking a short 10-minute journey to the west and passing through the charming community of Bushmills, you can reach the Dunluce Castle, also featured in “Game of Thrones”. You can also plan a trip that covers only Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for 2 weeks .

Getting from Wales to Northern Ireland

The most popular and quickest way to travel from Wales to Northern Ireland is by plane. The main airports for travel between the two countries are Cardiff Airport in Wales and Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland.

There are several direct flights per day from these airports, and the flight time is usually around 1 hr 20 min.

Itinerary #3: England and Scotland

England and Scotland both provide an outstanding balance of urban and outdoor experiences , making them ideal destinations for those who want to explore busy cities and enjoy hiking, and outdoor activities.

If you have 2 weeks in the UK, you definitely have to visit at least 2-3 countries and try out two different things. What I mean by this is you can visit busy cities, but don’t miss out on exploring nature’s beauty and going for a hike or wild swimming.

England for 8 days

With 12 of the country’s major lakes and more than 2,000 miles of trails waiting to be explored, the Lake District National Park is a must-visit destination for travellers to England. Here, you can visit numerous falls in the park, including the highest mountain in England known as Scafell Pike.

On the other hand, among the best routes in The Cotswold is along the Cotswold Way , which offers stunning sights of the Vale of Evesham and the Severn Valley.

If you love history or are fascinated by the British Empire, there are many well-preserved historic locations around England.

The must-see ones are Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall, Wall Roman Site, Jirby Hall, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Broadway Tower, Tower of London, and many castles.

Scotland for 6 days

Loch Lomond is a favourite day trip in Scotland since it offers plenty of open space for hikers, water activities, and an abundance of salmon and whitefish as bait for fishing.

Located at the southern end of the loch , you can enjoy various outdoor activities, such as playing golf on the lakeside of Cameron House.

Take a tour down Loch Ness to see some of the most amazing highland scenery, including the majestic ruins of Urquhart Castle, where you can experience the romantic side of Scotland – not to mention the interesting story of the Loch Ness monster.

And if you’re not familiar with the Loch Ness monster story, a very critical part of Scotland’s identity, stop by one of these best bookshops in Edinburgh and get yourself a copy.

Getting from England to Scotland

Flying is the fastest option to arrive from England to Scotland, and it typically takes around 1 hr 10 min to come from London to Edinburgh. Another option is to hop on a high-speed train from London to Edinburgh, with an average journey time of 4-5 hr.

Itinerary #4: England and Wales

For those searching for remarkable bays and dramatic sea cliffs, you’re in for a treat with your 14 days in the UK.

Some of the best beaches are found off the usual path, making up for an ideal retreat for individuals wanting solitude. Cornwall (England) and Gower (Wales) are both great destinations for surfing and are located near one another, making it easy to visit both places in one trip.

If you want to hone your surfing skills, head to the UK’s top surfing location, Fistral Beach. Another must-visit destination in England is Porthcurno Bay, which offers a secluded coastal cliff range and one of the best beaches in the country.

For surfers , families, and couples seeking a peaceful seaside getaway, Bigbury-on-Sea Beach is for you. But definitely check out Northern Devon and Cornwall for fantastic beaches and fun surfing waves.

Wales 5 days

Surrounded by turquoise water, golden sand beaches, and ragged cliffs, the Gower Peninsula in Wales is a must-see. This paradise is considered Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , which offers an abundance of activities, including hiking and surfing.

The area’s main attractions are the picturesque Rhossili Beach, Worm’s Head, and Three Cliffs Bay. For Wales, it’s best to stay in Cardiff or Swansea to have plenty of accommodation options.

Getting from England to Wales

There are no direct flights from Cornwall (England) to Swansea (Wales), but you can drive a car, with the most popular routes being the A30, M5, and M4. The road trip journey is around 3 hr 53 min, depending on the traffic situation.

Itinerary #5: England and Northern Ireland

Travel back in time and discover the mysteries of the past on a historical journey of the UK. With this itinerary, you’ll undoubtedly see the main historical sites rich with tales of how World War II affected England.

In addition, you’ll discover how “The Troubles” began during the centuries-long conflict in 1992 that followed the Catholic people of Ireland’s attempt to overthrow British control, which was dominated by the Protestant religion.

Check out Fan Bay Deep Shelter, where you can glimpse the tunnels constructed beneath the artillery battle during WWII. Located directly across from Pines Garden’s main entrance, The St. Margaret’s Museum houses several WWII-related relics, including period clothing and an air raid bunker.

The tunnels beneath Dover Castle , which served as an evacuation centre during WWII, are also open to the public. If you’re curious to see Cambridge and Oxford, there are day trips from London heading towards those areas.

Northern Ireland for 6 days

The Titanic Belfast , a spectacular landmark that commemorates Belfast’s maritime history and pays tribute to the RMS Titanic, is worth visiting. You can also swing by The Ulster Museum in Belfast, which houses exhibits about the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland cultural heritage.

Just a short drive from Belfast is home to Carrickfergus Castle, one of the country’s finest medieval structures that fended off enemies centuries ago.

Getting from England to Northern Ireland

To get from England to Northern Ireland , you can fly from Dover to Belfast, which takes around 1 hr 15 min. The closest airport to Dover is London Gatwick Airport, and from there, you can take a flight to Belfast City Airport.

Itinerary #6: Wales and Scotland

This trip takes you through the most scenic areas of England’s natural beauty , which have served as a source of inspiration for countless authors and musicians. Put your hiking boots on as we ramble around some of the best national parks and open spaces in the nation.

Wales and Scotland are both known for their incredible hiking trails and stunning landscapes, perfect destinations for outdoor enthusiasts and those who love to hike.

The fun Four Falls Walk includes the stunning Blue Pool, the Sgwd y Pannwr, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, and the Sgwd yr Eira, a famous hike in Wales. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast, a 14-mile stretch of picturesque that runs from Porthcawl to Aberthaw, has grown more prominent with hikers and cyclists due to its proximity to Dunraven Bay.

Scotland for 7 days

Scotland’s Northern Highlands is a must for those who enjoy golf, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and water rafting. With breathtaking views of the Trossachs National Park, you can hike up Ben Lomond if you prefer longer treks.

Then there is Ben Nevis, the tallest peak in Britain, which attracts hikers of all skill levels and can be reached in about 2 hr 30 min.

Getting from Wales to Scotland

When travelling from Wales to Scotland, I highly suggest taking a direct flight from Cardiff to Edinburgh as it usually takes approximately 1 hr 15 min.

From Edinburgh, you can take the train from Edinburgh Waverley railway station to Glasgow Queen Street railway station, which takes around 50 min to 1 hr. If you choose to drive, the quickest route is via the M8, which takes about 1 hr 15 min.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN THE UK

There are just so many things to do in the UK. The best way to sort that out is to know what’s important for you. Is it to see castles, go hiking, explore cities, or learn about history – perhaps you want a bit of everything.

This list will help you make a collection of activities you want to do, sites to see, and tours to book:

• Tower of London and Crown of Jewels – you can book a tour
• Tower Bridge and Big Ben
• Join a fun Harry Potter guided walking tour and get a ticket to Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio
• The British Museum
• Kensington Palace – you can join a sightseeing tour or a Royal high tea
• Buckingham Palace
• Book a spooky Jack the Ripper tour
• Westminster Abbey – hop on a boat cruise from Westminster to Greenwich
• The National Gallery
• London Eye – you can get a fast-track ticket to save time
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Stonehenge – you can get on a tour from London
• Madame Tussauds – visit one of the most popular museums in London, get your entry ticket
• Windsor Castle – get your admission ticket
• World War II – walking tour with a visit to Churchill war rooms
• Trafalgar Square
• The Shard – you can get a ticket to enjoy a panoramic view
• Book a dinner cruise at the Thames River

South and Southwest of London:

• The Royal Pavillion
• Leeds Castle
• Bodiam Castle
• Hever Castle & Gardens
• Hampton Court Palace
• Thorpe Park Resort
• Salisbury Cathedral
• Stonehenge – get your ticket here if you’re planning to get there on your own

North and northwest of London (Leeds/Liverpool/Manchester):

• Cadbury World
• Get a hop-on-hop-off bus for Liverpool – this includes a city tour and Beatles tour – or simply book The Beatles Story tour
• Shakespeare’s Birthplace
• Mersey River – book a cruise
• Dayton Manor Theme Park
• National Railway Museum York
• Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Northern Ireland

• Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre – get a self-guided tour
• Peace Wall Belfast – combine Peacewall and Mural in a tour
• Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum
• SS Nomadic – you can book a guided tour for SS Nomadic and Titanic Experience
• Titanic Belfast
• Vertigo Titanic Park
• Wall Mural – join a political taxi tour
• CS Lewis Square
• Game of Thrones – book a day tour that includes Giant Causeway
• From Dublin – there’s a package tour for Giants Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Belfast
• Have fun at Beer Bike tour in Belfast
• Giant’s Causeway – you don’t want to drive there, you can enjoy a luxury coach tour
• Get the hop-on, hop-off bus for Belfast
• National Trust – Divis and the Black Mountain
• Join the Bloody Sunday and Bogside Mural guided tour
• Museum of Free Derry
• Bishop’s Gate, part of the Derry Walls
• If you can spend five days in Scotland, check the itinerary on this 5-day tour to save you time and make the trip more convenient
• Edinburgh Castle – get your skip-the-line ticket
• The Royal Palace
• National War Museum
• Loch Ness – join a full-day Scottish Highlands tour or this tour
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Dean Village
• Hogwarts Express – ride the train from Inverness or from Edinburgh
• See more of the Harry Potter – HP guided walking tour
• National Museum of Scotland
• Arthur’s Seat – you can take the trail from Holywood Park
• St Andrews and Fishing Villages – check the tour price
• Calton Hill
• Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
• Craigmillar Castle
• Portobello Beach
• Don’t miss the spooky features – haunted underground and graveyard tour
• Duddingston Golf Club
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• Loch Lomond – you can enjoy an hour of boat cruise
• The Trossachs National Park
• Tease your taste buds with – chocolate tour and Scotch whiskey tour or food tour with drinks
• The Gatehouse
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery
• From Inverness – you can do a full-day tour to the Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle
• Stirling Castle
• Join the wandering tour of South Wales – read the reviews and check the price
• Caernarfon Castle
• Snowdonia National Park and Snowdon – book this tour with 3 castles visit or Snowdonia with Portmeirion tour
• Conwy Castle
• Llangollen – go on a whitewater rafting or canoeing tour
• Cardiff Castle
• Prembrokeshire Coast National Park
• West Wales – there’s a mystical tour you can join
• Harlech Castle
• National Trust – Bodnant Garden
• Barry Island – filming locations of Gavin and Stacey
• Swansea Castle
• The National Waterfront Museum
• Devil’s Bridge

MUST-TRY BRITISH DISHES, DRINKS, AND SNACKS

I’ve met enough Brits throughout my travels, and the dish I have to try in the UK is fish and chips. I won’t lie that they were wrong. Fish and chips is available worldwide, but this authentic one was worth the trip.

If you’re looking to try traditional British food, here are some dishes you shouldn’t miss:

• Fish and chips – battered and fried fish served with chips
• Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding – slow-roasted beef served with gravy and a large, fluffy Yorkshire pudding.
• Shepherd’s pie – a casserole made with minced lamb, vegetables, and mashed potatoes on top
• Bangers and mash – sausages served with mashed potatoes and gravy
• Toad in the hol e – sausages baked in batter and served with gravy and vegetables
• Cornish pasty – pastry filled with meat and vegetables, originating from Cornwall
• Ploughman’s lunch – hearty meal typically consisting of cheese, bread, pickles, and sometimes ham
• Full English breakfast – classic English breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, sausage, black pudding, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and baked beans
• Sticky toffee pudding – a sweet dessert made with dates and a toffee sauce, often served with vanilla ice cream
• Trifle – traditional English dessert made with layers of sponge cake, fruit, custard, and cream

When it comes to drinks:

• Tea: One of the most famous drinks in Britain, tea is typically served with milk and sugar
• Scotch whisky (especially in Scotland)
• Whisky (especially in Ireland)
• Sarsaparilla: A sweet, carbonated soft drink that is flavoured with sassafras.
• Square mile coffee
• Elderflower cordial

ACCOMMODATIONS

I’ve mentioned that hotels are expensive in the UK, right? That’s true especially for London, but in the midlands of England and some cities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you can still find affordable accommodations.

• Affordable: Hootananny Hostel or Dover Castle Hostel or The Phoenix Hostel
• Mid-range: Central Hotel or Keystone House or Studios2Let
• Luxury: The Londoner or The Ampersand Hotel or One Hundred Shoreditch
• Affordable: The Full Moon Backpackers or The Washington
• Mid-range: The Alma Taverns Boutique Suites or Arnor Manor Hotel
• Luxury: Leonardo Hotel or Number 38 Cliffton or Clayton Hotel
• Affordable to Mid-range: EI8HT Brighton or Selina Brighton or The Beach Hotel
• Luxury: Drakes Hotel or The Charm Boutique Hotel & Spa or Jurys Inn Waterfront
• Affordable: Piccadilly Central or YHA Manchester
• Mid-range: ibis Portland Street or Castlefield Hotel
• Luxury: Motel One or Maldron Hotel
• Affordable: High Street Hostel or Royal Mile Backpackers
• Mid-range: Wilde Aparthotels or Point A Hotel
• Luxury: The Balmoral Hotel or Market Street Hotel
• Affordable: easyHotel or Euro Hostel
• Mid-range: Point A Hotel or The Z Hotel
• Luxury: Native Glasgow or Maldron Hotel or Radisson Blu
• Affordable (Cardiff): BunkHouse
• Mid-range hotels (Cardiff): ibis Budget Cardiff or Cardiff Sandringham Hotel
• Luxury hotel (Cardiff): Lincoln House or Hotel Indigo
• Affordable (Belfast): Vagabond Hostel or Belfast International Youth Hotel
• Mid-range (Belfast): Tara Lodge or ETAP Hotel
• Luxury (Belfast): Ten Square Hotel or Titanic Hotel
• Affordable (London): Wombat The City Hostel or YHA London Central
• Mid-range (London): The Lilac Door or The Brownswood
• Luxury (London): Montcalm Royal or The Landmark London

SUMMARY OF 2 WEEKS IN THE UK

The UK, consisting of Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland, is a mix of classic and modern attractions to which any traveller will be drawn. If you are taking panoramic photos or snapping selfies, you can take Instagram-worthy shots in the UK.

The UK never falls behind when it comes to being one of the most popular tourist destinations globally. This area has many incredible things to see and do, including historical sites, hiking trails, and magnificent coastal views. Your 2 weeks in the UK will definitely be worthwhile.

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Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

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London price guide | calculating the daily costs to visit london.

How to estimate your budget for food, hostels, hotels, attractions, alcohol & more for visiting London on a budget.

London is a world-class city but It’s also one of the most expensive cities in the world. Luckily, hostels are reasonably affordable (at least for a major city) and there are plenty of great free museums. However, the cost of attractions and food prices will put a major dent in your budget.

In this London travel price guide, we’ll outline the estimated travel expenses for food, accommodation, attractions, alcohol, and other things that you’ll experience so you can better budget your trip to London.

This London Price Guide is part of our  City Price Guide Series  where we break down the travel costs of Europe’s most popular cities.

Average Daily Cost For Visiting London

It costs around £60-£95/day ($75-$115) to visit London comfortably as a budget traveler. These prices are based on what you’ll need to visit the city comfortably as a budget traveler.  

If you want to upgrade your accommodations, add another £40-£100/night depending on your stay. These prices also don’t include things like big nights out at the bar/pub, club entry fees, souvenir/clothing shopping, tours, random purchases, nicer food, etc.

Daily Cost of Budget Travel in London: £92 (Approx. $115)

• Attractions:  £20 (one paid attraction + any free museums)
• Breakfast: £4
• Dinner: £15
• Treat (dessert/beer/wine): 4
• Transportation:  £8
• Accommodation (hostel): £33/night

Daily Cost of Frugal Travel in London: £57 (Approx. $70)

• Attractions: £10 (visit one of the many free museums and do a free tour)
• Breakfast: £2
• Lunch: £6 (ethnic street food or takeaway shop fare)
• Dinner: £10 (cook your own meal in the hostel or cheap takeout)
• Transportation: £2.30 (single tube ride)
• Accommodation (cheap hostel bed): £23/night

London Attraction and Museum Prices

Good news… London has amazing museums and most of them are completely free. Bad news… all the other attractions are expensive. However, you might be able to save some money by using the London Pass if you plan on visiting multiple attractions. Read our London Pass Review for more information.

• Tower of London :  £29.90
• London Eye : £31-£53
• St. Paul’s Cathedral : £20.50
• Buckingham Palace :  £30-£33
• Westminster Abbey :  £27.00
• British Museum :  Free
• Victoria and Albert Museum :  Free
• National Gallery :  Free
• Imperial War Museum :  Free
• Tate Modern :  Free
• Natural History Museum :  Free
• Walking Tours: Free (but you should tip the guides) — £20+

Tip: Many attractions now offer online booking and there is often a small discount for booking online vs buying tickets at the door (and you get to skip the ticket line).

London Food Prices

England isn’t traditionally known for great food but London does have a world-renowned food scene—but that high-end food is a budget killer. Budget travelers will have to stick to the basics, and even then, the food isn’t cheap. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to cook for yourself as much as possible.

Check out The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To London On A Budget because it has a ton of great budget-friendly restaurants.

Budget Breakfast Prices in London: £ 3-£10

• Many hostels will offer a free, simple breakfast that normally consists of cereal, bread/croissant, and maybe milk, coffee, tea, or juice (some hostels will offer more and some less).
• A traditional English breakfast from a typical café will cost £6-£9.
• You can also find plenty of budget-friendly options at the bakery or grocery store. Croissants and other baked goods start at around £1.50. Coffee from a typical café will cost around £2.50-£4.

Budget Lunch Prices in London: £5-£15

• Super-budget travelers can make a super cheap lunch of bread, cheese, and fruit from any grocery store for a few pounds.
• Takeaway meals (like kebabs with fries) or similar dishes from a takeaway shop will cost about £7-£9.
• Check out street markets for pizza, falafel, tagines, burritos, curries, wraps, and sandwiches for £5-£9.
• A simple, yet filling and tasty, lunch from a local (i.e. non-touristy) restaurant will cost about £10-£15.

Budget Dinner Prices in London: £7-£18

• Budget travelers will want to seek out the many ethnic restaurants in London. It isn’t too tough to find a good meal for about £12-£18.
• McDonald’s combo meal (burger, fries, and a drink) will cost about £7.
• Fish and chips from a quality fish and chips shop will cost around £8-£12 for takeaway and a bit more to dine in.
• A simple, yet filling and tasty, meal from a local (i.e. non-touristy) restaurant will cost about £12-£18.
• Many of the options from the Budget Lunch section above also apply to dinner.

Drinks and Alcohol Prices in London

• Pint of standard beer out: £3.20-£6+
• Pint of beer from a grocery store: £1-£2
• A glass of the house wine at a restaurant: £4-£5+

Local-Favorite Budget Restaurants in London:

Here are a few budget restaurants that I pulled from our Guide To London On A Budget .

FISHCOTHEQUE

This traditional hole-in-the-wall joint is tucked under a bridge and serves up generous portions for a reasonable price. They’re a local favorite so it can get busy during lunch and dinner.

• Order of Fish and Chips: £15-£18
• See On Google Maps

Opened in 1982, this bustling award-winning shop serves up some of the best traditional fish and chips in London. Dine-in or takeaway.

• Order of Fish and Chips: £10-£14

GIGS FISH & CHIPS

Opened in 1958, Gigs obviously knows what they’re doing if they’ve survived this long in a city that seems to have a chippy everywhere you look. 

• Order of Fish and Chips: £9 (takeaway) – £14.50 (dine-in)
• See on Google Maps

REGENCY CAFE

Cheap, no-frills, delicious, and always busy (get there early to avoid a long wait). This authentic spot has been around since 1946 and is a local favorite.

• Full English Breakfast: Starts at £6.00

TERRY’S CAFE

Old-school, family-run cafe. Quality food for a good price. A local favorite since 1982.

• Full English Breakfast: Starts at £8.50-£12

Expect long lines and excellent Bombay-style comfort food at this popular restaurant. The prices are fair, the atmosphere is buzzing, and the quality of food and drinks is excellent. Many people say this is their favorite Indian restaurant in London.

• Main Dishes: £9-£15

Solid Italian-style pizza at a solid price. 

• Prices: £5.50-£8.50

GODDARDS AT GREENWICH (BRITISH)

This traditional pie mash restaurant has been around since 1890 and they serve up handmade pie & mash daily at a fair price. They have some nice traditional British desserts as well.

• Main Dishes: £5.50-£9

SÔNG QUÊ CAFÉ (VIETNAMESE/PHO)

Excellent Vietnamese place to get authentic beef pho at a great price. Super popular so expect a line.

• Main Dishes: £7.50-£10

London Transportation Prices

London is a big city so you’ll need to use public transportation a few times during your visit. Unfortunately, it can be kind of expensive and it can be a bit confusing because London has multiple travel zones which determine the price.

You should use an Oyster Card (a refillable travel card) or contactless payment as these methods greatly reduce the ticket price vs buying a single one-way ticket.

• Single One-Way Ticket:  £6.30
• Single One-Way Fare with Oyster Card:  £2.80 (peak), £2.70 (off-peak)
• Max Day Fare:  £8.10 (you’ll never pay more than £9.10 in a single day when using the Oyster Card)
• Heathrow Express (fast train between LHR and London— travel time 15min):  £22.50-£25
• London Underground (between airport and city — travel time 60min): £5.70
• Heathrow Connect (30min journey): £10.30
• Bus from LHR airport into the city (60-80min):  £6-£10
• Taxi LHR airport into the city:  £50 – £70

London Hostel, Hotel, & Rental Apartment Prices

London has plenty of hostels throughout the city and all the competition helps lower hostel prices—but you still shouldn’t expect cheap prices. Don’t expect much from budget hotels as most are small, rundown, and dingy. Apartment rentals can be a very attractive option if you’re traveling with two or more people.

Hostel Prices in London: £23-£47/night

The nightly price of a well-rated hostel in London starts around £30 per person—although many hostels raise their prices on the weekend. Remember, these prices are for a bed in a shared dorm room. Private rooms start are around £110-£160/night.  Check out the latest London hostel prices at  Hostelworld .

Here is a list of the top-rated hostels in London:

• Wombats City Hostel London
• Astor Hyde Park
• Astor Queensway
• Barmy Badger Backpackers
• MEININGER London Hyde Park

Check out The Savvy Backpacker’s guide to The Best Hostels in London to get a more in-depth look at London’s various hostel options.

Budget Hotel Prices in London: £90-£150 /night

Budget hotels in central London start around £70-£95/night but the quality will be low. A well-rated budget hotel in London starts at around £130-£145/night. Prices do rise if you book last minute—especially during the summer and Christmas.

We suggest checking out  Booking.com  to see hotel prices for your dates since they’re always changing.

Rental Apartment Prices in London: £90-£170+ /night

London has a lot of rental apartments throughout the city. They can be a good option for large groups or travelers who want a little more space (and a kitchen). On the other hand, you may also have to deal with inconvenient check-in processes and things like extra cleaning fees and service charges. For short stays, we prefer hotels/hostels but rental apartments can be a nice option for longer stays. Airbnb is always popular but you can sometimes find cheaper/better options on our list of  Airbnb Alternatives .

LEARN MORE ABOUT EUROPE TRAVEL COSTS

Check out our guide on  How Much It Costs To Backpack Europe  to learn more about budgeting your entire trip (including many more city price guides).

Be sure to also check out our London Travel Guide and our Guide to London on a Budget for more London travel tips.

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Related Reads

A backpacker’s guide to the best hostels in london | london hostels.

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From its rich history to its cosmopolitan vibe and diversity, you'll find tons of compelling reasons to be in the riverside city of London. Experience all this and more with a vacation package to London. Want to start exploring your surroundings? Buckingham Palace , Big Ben and Tower of London are just three of the leading places to visit during a trip to London. Stop dreaming and start doing. Check out the broad range of options on Expedia today and put your London vacation plans in motion!

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Where to stay in London

London City Centre

Iconic landmarks, a world-famous theater district, lively nightlife zones and superb shopping and art museums await in the heart of England’s capital city.

City of Westminster

Home to iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, this bustling borough offers world-class shopping on Oxford Street and Regent Street, as well as vibrant nightlife in Soho. With 27 Underground stations, it's well-connected and walkable for residents and visitors alike.

The City of London

The financial hub and ancient center of London, this area boasts historic sites like St Paul's Cathedral and Tower of London, and its iconinc bridges, including Millennium Bridge and Tower Bridge, make exploration easy.

Covent Garden

Discover a lively district with the Royal Opera House, street performances, and shopping at Apple Market. Explore historical sites like Theatre Royal Drury Lane and dine at renowned international restaurants.

Explore one of Europe’s busiest shopping strips, sing along at a musical show, or simply watch the world go by.

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Frequently asked questions, discover the most popular places to visit in london.

Once the private hunting grounds of a king, London's most famous park is today a place where everyone can enjoy gardens, monuments and music performances.

One of London’s most resounding landmarks is a treasured emblem of England.

Tower Bridge

An engineering marvel, this London icon spans both the River Thames and the ages.

What to do in London

London eye experience tickets, westminster abbey tickets, warner bros. studio tour - the making of harry potter from central london, other vacations you might like.

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• There are loads of types of vacations in London and the cost will depend on what type of trip you’re taking and for how long you’d like to stay. Here are the latest prices for a 3 night trip for 2 travelers: Top vacation $585; Family vacation $508; Romantic vacation $683; Luxury vacation $648; Budget vacation $360.

Why should you book a vacation package to London?

A time and money saving vacation package is the smartest way to enjoy London. It's generally more expensive to reserve rooms and book flights separately, so doing so simultaneously means better rates. Plus, you won't waste time matching room availability to flight times when you opt for London vacation deals.

When should you book a vacation package to London?

You'll normally find the cheapest London packages between November and January when average temperatures range from 39.2 to 48.2F. Beat the crowds and save money by choosing May and catch events like the Chelsea Flower Show or the Museums at Night festival. Although it's peak season, good London travel deals can still be found from June until September. Plan your trip to coincide with top sporting events like Wimbledon or music festivals like BST Hyde Park.

Where should you stay in London during your vacation?

For any vacation type in london:.

Located in fashionable Clerkenwell, The Rookery is a smart choice for vacations in London. This chic but friendly hotel is under one hour from Heathrow by London Underground and well connected by train and bus to other main airports.

Try London Wembley International Hotel if you're looking for versatile London package deals. Ideally placed for music and sporting events at London's famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena, the hotel is also easily reached by taxi, bus or train from the main airports.

For family vacations in London:

The Premier Inn London Hampstead is just 2 minutes from Hampstead Heath, 10 minutes by tube from the West End and Oxford Circus, and easy to reach from all London airports. Take the tube to Hampstead from Heathrow or the overland train service to Paddington Station before completing your journey by taxi.

Little Bullocks Farm in Stansted, Essex enjoys a quiet rural setting and offers excellent four star service. Plus, it's just 6 minutes by taxi from Stansted Airport and easy to reach from central London via Liverpool Street Station.

For romantic vacations in London:

With its prime location on Piccadilly and opulent rooms and suites, the Ritz London is a great choice for couples searching for romantic London travel packages. Take a taxi from the airport to arrive in style or board trains at all four main airports.

Although it's located in the heart of London's vibrant West End, the Sanderson is a calm and tranquil base for couples. Noted for its luxurious decor and excellent services, the hotel is easy to reach from any London airport by rail or taxi.

For luxury vacations in London:

The Sheraton Grand is one of London's most elegant hotels. Located in upmarket Mayfair, the famous art deco building occupies a prime spot on Park Lane. Upon arrival at the airport you can take a taxi directly to the hotel or hop a train to central London.

Opt for trendy Chelsea and the stylish Sloane Square Hotel for a memorable London getaway. It's just a short walk from the famous Saatchi Gallery and is easy to reach by taxi or train from any of London's airports. Sloane Square station is nearby for those traveling via the underground from Heathrow Airport.

For budget vacations in London:

The Astor Museum Hostel is a friendly hostel right next to the British Museum. Just a few minutes walk from Oxford Street, the hotel can be reached by underground from Heathrow or by rail or bus from other London airports.

Looking for inexpensive London package deals? Try Villa Verde Gatwick, a friendly and comfortable hotel just a few minutes by taxi or shuttle bus from Gatwick Airport.

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How Much Does it Cost to Go to London (A Budget Planner for your Trip) 

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: May 5, 2024

If you want to head over to the UK capital, then you need to know how much to budget for what might be the first of many visits – or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. London has a reputation for being costly – so how much does it cost to go to London?

When you’re wondering how much does it cost to travel in London, this guide is here to help. We are from the UK ourselves, and have visited the capital many times over the years. So we’re very familiar with the prices of transport, food, entertainment and more in London. 

Want a quick answer? We recommend budgeting around £105 plus (about $130 in US dollars) per day, per person, after paying to get there. You can of course spend a lot more, or a little less, but our recent trip revealed this figure to be a good starting point. 

Of course the first thing you need to budget for when heading to London is getting there, so don’t forget to add that on top. Clearly we cannot cover that within this guide, as costs vary so much according to season, mode of transport and of course your starting point. But a simple online search should soon show up prices for the dates you want.

Harder to work out when planning a trip to London is how much spending money you’ll need while you’re there. Again how much you’ll spend on a trip to London, England can vary widely, but we are here to give you some guidance in that direction!

Read on to find out all about London prices, plus top tips to help you make the most of every penny!

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• Budget from £75 per person, per night (based on 2 sharing a room)
• A 3-star hotel in Zone 1 costs from around £150 per room per night

We recommend budgeting for your London accommodation at the same time as working out the cost of your transport to London. You’ll probably be paying for it then anyway, and that ensures you’ll have a roof over your head for the duration of your stay in London. 

Though you may be tempted to stay further from the city centre to cut costs, we have one word of advice here. Don’t! By staying centrally you can save heaps on transport, and time is also on your side. Anywhere in zone one is a good bet: you don’t have to book into a five-star Mayfair hotel. 

Outside of peak times such as summer and Christmas, a night at a three-star hotel in London in zone one can cost from around £150 per night. This is per room rather than per person, so two adults would pay £75 per night each for accommodation in this case

Prices can rise steeply during periods of high demand such as Christmas. For the most luxurious London properties, room rates can cost thousands of pounds per night. So it’s really down to you and what you’re prepared to spend. 

Read – Where to stay in London: area and accommodation guide

• Budget from £10 per day, per person (based on buying supermarket food).   
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner at a cafe or restaurant costs from about £10 per main course, but you can save money by buying food from the supermarkets scattered across the city.

The price of food in London is another factor that’s subject to vast variations. You could spend hundreds of pounds per day, per person on eating out at upmarket restaurants. Or you could live solely on food bought in supermarkets and spend as little as £10 per day. 

In reality, most people are going to be somewhere between these two extremes. Breakfast may be included with your hotel’s room rate, or you may need to pay separately for it. If you do want to dine at the hotel each morning, it’s best to pay for a bed and breakfast rate when booking your accommodation. Then that cost is taken care of in advance. 

Each meal eaten at a cafe or restaurant is likely to cost £10 upwards per main course. Plus any starters, desserts, sides and drinks. For dinner, the figure is closer to £20 upwards. 

You can save a lot of cash by eating out just once per day. And if you want to eat somewhere fancy, set lunch menus often offer far better value for money than an a la carte dinner menu. For your other meals and snacks, you can simply pick up sandwiches and other items on the go – there are great value supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco all over the capital.

Eating in areas abundant in ethnic restaurants – such as Chinatown near Leicester Square or Brick Lane in East London – can also save you money. You may also enjoy the more authentic experience. Try asking hotel staff where they recommend if you want to eat like a local. 

Another great place to eat is at a food market like Borough Market. Prices aren’t always cheap, so do shop around between stalls!

Read – Our guide to eating in London

• Budget from £5 per day, per person (based on 2 zone 1 tube trips per day), plus the cost of getting to your hotel. 
• Adult single fares within zone 1 cost £2.50, and a tube ticket from Heathrow to central London costs £5.50. Save cash by walking as much as you can and visiting attractions in the same area on the same day. 

London is a big, sprawling city – which is why we recommend staying in zone 1 to save on time and travel costs. In some cases you can walk between areas and attractions: Covent Garden isn’t very far from Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, for example, or you could walk from Knightsbridge to Oxford Street via Hyde Park. Westminster isn’t far from the South Bank and London Eye . And so on. 

Planning your itinerary can thus pay dividends when it comes to saving time and money. Visiting attractions in the same area can save a lot on transport costs – as can walking. 

At the time of writing (May 2024), a single adult fare within zone 1 costs £2.70 (off peak) when paying by Oyster or contactless card . This is better value for money the further within the zone you travel. Some stations are very close together, so always consider whether you could walk if you want to save cash!

The other cost to factor in is getting from the airport into London. Taxis can be very expensive. There are express train services for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

If you arrive at Heathrow, as many international travellers do, the cheapest option is to take the Piccadilly Line tube. It takes around an hour to reach central London, and the current cost (May 2024) is £5.60 via contactless or Oyster card. 

TIP If you prefer to pre-book a transfer (as we always do) to reduce the stress of transferring from the airport to your hotel after a long flight, we recommend booking with our preferred partner Riz of XFA Cars

• Budget from free to hundreds of pounds per day (based on what you want to do). 
• London attraction prices vary a lot. Exploring areas and visiting museums and parks is free, however. As a guide, a London Eye ticket costs from £32.50 per person. 

So how much does it cost to go on the London Eye , and other big city attractions? Costs vary hugely, and what you spend on these is a matter of personal preference and budget.

Perhaps surprisingly for such a touristy city, London has a lot of free attractions. Its public parks and museums could keep you occupied for days, and are free to enter. Even watching the Changing of the Guard or seeing the Christmas lights is free (unless you book a guided tour). 

Entry to the Tower of London costs around £30 per adult, or pay £32.50 for a trip on the London Eye. Our top tip regarding London attractions is to book these before you go via GetYourGuide . Then what you want to do is all paid for, ensuring you don’t miss out! They don’t cost any extra, and you can cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund. 

Click here to book London attraction tickets in advance

• Budget anything from nothing to tens or hundreds of pounds per day. 
• Drinks cost from £5 upwards in London pubs, while a cinema ticket will set you back about £12 plus. 

If you want to paint London town red by night, then ‘guv it’s gonna cost ya’ as they say in these parts. A pint of lager will cost from £5 upwards, and a glass of wine more. Cocktails are a lot more expensive. 

Cinema tickets will cost you around £12 to £15 or more. If you want to see a show in London, book as early as you can for the cheapest seats. Again, this also means the cost is taken care of before you go. 

Budget planning for London – The verdict

The best way to plan your London spending is to book and pay for what you can before you go. So once getting there is taken care of, book your accommodation and your attractions tickets before you arrive. 

This way all you’ll need to budget for is the day-to-day costs of food, transport and entertainment. What these cost varies widely, as with hotels, but here’s a brief rundown for your reference:

• Accommodation – Book before you go and budget from £75 per person per night.
• Food – Budget from £10 per day plus.. 
• Transport – Budget about £5 per day plus one return tube trip within zone 1.  
• Attractions – Book before you go and budget about £30 per major attraction. 
• Entertainment – Budget as much per day as you think you’ll need. 
• Accommodation + attraction tickets – from about £90 per day for both (minimum based on sharing a 3-star hotel room and doing one paid attraction every other day). 
• Food + transport + entertainment – from about £15 per day for all three (minimum based on supermarket food, one return tube trip per day and NO entertainment). 
• Accommodation + food + transport + attractions + entertainment = £105 per day minimum per person – up to as much as you can afford!
• Book a central hotel in zone 1
• Walk as much as you can each day 
• Take the tube from Heathrow into central London 
• Visit attractions that are close together on the same day
• Take advantage of free London attractions including parks, museums and more
• Eat out at food markets or in ethnic areas rather than expensive hotel restaurants
• Buy as much food as you can in the supermarkets all over London and dine out less
• Book and pay for accommodation and attraction tickets before you go so you don’t miss out and can budget more easily (consider purchasing the London Pass )
• Allow more money than you think you’ll need – you may only visit once in a lifetime and prices are always rising
• Don’t forget to factor in any gifts, souvenirs or special items you want to buy for friends and family – or yourself

There’s no doubt about it – London is a pricey city. But it IS so worth it! Plan in advance and you really can save so much time and money. 

Don’t forget that London’s fine parks and world-class museums are free to enter – and wandering around seeing the sights costs nothing. Even iconic events like the Changing of the Guard are free to the public – and there’s no charge for gazing at the London Eye, Buckingham Palace or Tower Bridge either!

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An Extensive Estimate of a Trip to London Cost

by Writer MC

March 6, 2023

A city is sometimes defined as more than just the convenience of modern life. The sediments of time and its iconic landmarks are the mighty forces that polish the city over the trickling of time. London is a city that enjoys a rich history. It was first settled by the Romans in 47 A.D., and was first named as Londinium .

As the wheel of history moved onward and with the change of dynasties ruling over it, the London of today is truly a time capsule. It is a city that has witnessed the ups and downs of prehistory up to the modern and contemporary day. From locations that helped shape the course of history to modern architectural feats, London is an indispensable city to admire. That is why planning a trip to London and its cost ahead of time can really build a solid foundation for the fun adventures it offers.

Breath-taking Views of the Big Ben / Source: Trip.com

How much do flights to London cost?

Busy London Heathrow Airport Before Take-off / Source: Trip.com

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Like any international travel, an exciting trip to London begins with booking flights ✈️ . The price of plane tickets is volatile and often varies. The number of passengers, the airport of departure, baggage requirement, the time of flight, layovers, and different airlines all affect the recommended flight budget. Usually, a direct flight means a slightly higher price range and is slightly easier on the passenger since there is less need to adapt to jet lag.

For those who are already living in Europe or North America, a trip to London would be so much easier compared to the time and budget needed for Asian travelers 😉 . There are three major airlines: oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance , but there are also some major affiliated airline companies ready to go, like American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, IBERIA, Jetblue Airways, Lufthansa, etc.

During the tourist off-season , flight prices are usually lower 😍 . Suppose the flyer currently resides in New York. A direct flight to London would usually take approximately nine hours on average without any trouble caused by special weather conditions. 👉 A trip to London's cost ranges from US$600–US$900 . Therefore, any traveler should plan their schedule ahead based on their available budget and time.

What kind of accommodations should any traveler expect during their trip to London cost?

London Cheval Three Quays / Source: Trip.com

An international flight can be seriously exhausting. Upon arrival, the one thing that you would want is to get a restful sleep in a nice and quiet hotel 👍 . Booking a hotel in advance is in compliance with the local custom and often cuts the most out of a budget.

Before decidedly clicking the button to place the order for a hotel, savvy travelers must do their due diligence and gain a better picture of all the potential resorts based on popularity, price range, location, star rating, guest rating, etc 🤔 . People can choose the place of stay based on property type, hotel facilities, services, or even bed types.

Luckily, as London is one of the most popular travel destinations, there is a long list of accommodations ready to make the trip to London more accessible to anyone interested ❗️❗️ .

Best Hotels in London

Tower suites by blue orchid, cheval three quays at the tower of london, mondrian london shoreditch, 100 queen’s gate hotel london, curio collection by hilton, pan pacific london, business travel, club quarters hotel st paul's, london, the grand at trafalgar square, doubletree by hilton london heathrow airport, andaz london liverpool street, family friendly, moxy london heathrow airport, dorsett shepherds bush london, central park hotel, novotel london canary wharf, doubletree by hilton hotel london - tower of london, some tasty dishes during the trip to london and its costs.

Typical British Breakfast of Beans and Toasts / Source: Debora Cardenas@Unsplash

Being a cultural melting pot that houses people from all over the world, London is more than just a quiet and quaint place that is home to more than 9 million people 😳 . It is also a place that accommodates all sorts of taste buds of people from all over the world. A wide variety of cuisines from A–Z, dietary restrictions, or even the MICHELIN Guide can really ease the nerve of a first-time visitor in a foreign land. During your trip to London, feel free to check out all sorts of eateries to explore the local food culture 😆 .

During the past few years, the global COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant impact on many brick-and-mortar stores all over the world. Local restaurants, on the other hand, have been affected in more ways than one. The rents and overheads for running a restaurant without sufficient customer volume to break even added more insult to injury. This forced many business owners to do more deliveries and cut costs to the bones. After relevant restrictions have been lifted thanks to the invention of vaccines and drugs, many restaurants have re-opened their business to welcome the new normal.

The Milestone Hotel Afternoon Tea / Source: The Milestone Hotel & Residences

Gladly, some still take precautionary cautions even if the COVID restrictions have been lifted 😭 . Therefore, anyone who has a taste for local cuisine should check in advance with the business owner and then set out for the place in mind and have an authentic experience during their London trip 😍 .

What makes suitable souvenirs at the end of the trip to London cost for friends and families?

Concession stand that sells souvenirs for the London trip / Source: jossie hu@Unsplash

Have you ever had a major headache shopping for souvenirs before flying back home? Keychains, refrigerator magnets, or t-shirts with local colors make handy and popular souvenirs but can sometimes be kitschy keepsakes. In order to capture that British touch, people have to scout for the best ones across London. From the down-to-earth local pop-up flea markets to the high-end Oxford Street and Leicester Square, there are plenty of quintessentially British souvenir shops that can make the entire trip to London cost worthwhile.

👉 Drinking tea would have to be one of the most fundamentally British activities. It has become so important in British culture that they have even designated a specific time of the day for it, called tea time . The British taste buds have a strong liking for brewed tea. Some prevalent brands like Fortnum & Mason and Whittard of Chelsea . These can be considered two of the top dogs over other competitors. From the overall taste to its aesthetic packaging, they are practically pieces of art ready to be taken home.

👉 For those who are price-sensitive, supermarket tea brands also make an equally good choice as souvenirs. Since tea usually comes in lightweight packets, they won't take up too much baggage weight.

King's Cross Station & Platform 9 3/4 / Source: Sarah Ehlers@Unsplash

For those who have relatives who are avid Harry Potter fans, pay a visit to the gift shop located at King's Cross Station . Platform 9¾ would make any Potterhead go nuts. There are free photo ops, and the gift shop right next to it is styled to resemble Ollivander's wand emporium, where you can get lost in the world of magic and bring back home some authentic paraphernalia that makes great mementos.

👉 For those who have finer tastes, opting for perfumes and colognes is also a good idea. The city has a few niche perfume stores scattered all over town. You can also visit the duty-free store located at the airport. Since all airports have regulations in regard to the maximum capacity for fluid, usually, it should be around three fluid ounces (100 ml) per bottle. For those who have fickle tastes, small perfume gift sets allow them more choices that will help them find their holy grail.

Downtown London bookshops / Source: Noralí Nayla@Unsplash)

👉 Lastly, for culture lovers, a museum gift shop is another viable option for finding meaningful gift items. For book lovers, discovering the bookshops in London is like a treasure hunt. All the nooks and crannies of London might have rare editions of items hiding from plain sight Thus concludes the treasure hunt for souvenirs during one's trip to London cost so that everyone can get the most out of it.

How does one get out and about in London?

Iconic signs of London tube / Source: Will H McMahan@Unsplash

London Buses / Source: Dave kim@Unsplash

Some top-notch landmarks when traveling to London

👉 If you are a museum fanatic, then you are in for a treat. London is the home to some of the most renowned museums in the world.

1. The British Museum

A small peak at the British Museum / Source: Roman Fox@Unsplash

TheBritish Museum was first founded in 1753 and opened its doors in 1759. It was the first national museum to cover all fields of human knowledge and is open to visitors from all over the world. Founded by the enlightenment of ideals and values, driven by the insatiable curiosity for the world, all the artifacts here are silent witnesses of human history.

The British Museum houses almost four and a half million objects and more than two million records. With the different themes and cultures of its collection, there lies the universal values and fascinating stories that transcend the bounds of time. The gallery is divided into the lower floor, ground floor, and upper floors, which exhibit splendid and glorious civilizations since the dawn of human history. Thanks to the great strides of modern technology, we are able to explore the different historical relics from different regions.

The British Museum / Source: Trip.com

2. Tate modern art museum

Outside Tate modern art museum / Source: Jay Mullings@Unsplash

3. Victoria and Albert Museum

Fossils at Victoria and Albert Museum / Source: Ming Han Low@Unsplash

For the history buff and art lovers out there, feel free to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum . The museum was founded with a sole mission, which is to educate and inspire its visitors. It was designed to educate designers, manufacturers, and the public about art and design. Prince Albert, as the founder and initiator of the 1851 Great Exhibition, aims to drive the British industry's standard internationally. It sowed the seeds which brought more of the art and sciences to the public.

To this end, he pooled all the proceeds from the Exhibition to be used for the development of art and science education. It was first founded in South Kensington and was known as the South Kensington Museum for over 40 years, and was later relocated and renamed after Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, as a way of remembering and commemorating the vital role of Prince Albert for this fine establishment that people get to enjoy today. General admission is free and requires no booking. People can also contact its staff for assistance with regard to its accommodations for disability and access to the museum.

4. Trafalgar Square

The majestic bronze lions by Sir Edwin Landseer at Trafalgar Square / Source: Tânia Mousinho@Unsplash

If all the indoor museums are a bit too stuffy for you, and you would like to learn history out in the open, then Trafalgar Square is the place. It is situated near the London tube stations of Leicester Square and Charing Cross. During the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, when the British troops, with 27 ships, had successfully defeated 33 French and Spanish vessels, British naval supremacy all over the world for centuries to come was established after this battle. It was an amazing feat as they won with inferior numbers. This square was hence established as a way to commemorate this monumental battle, featuring Nelson's Column–a sculpture named after the great Admiral Horatio Nelson, who valiantly died in the battle while leading the British troops to victory.

Trafalgar Square / Source: Trip.com

However, the history of this place doesn't just stop there. It was formerly known as Charing Cross, which was used as a guiding point to measure distances across the city and was literally a landmark throughout the city's history. It was used as a place for meet-ups for the locals and is now used as a place to celebrate New Year's Eve.

👉 During the brief trip to London cost, one can make acquaintance with some locals for some of the best places that the locals would frequent so as to gain an authentic experience during the trip.

How much does it cost for Wi-Fi & communication during one's trip to London cost?

Red telephone box designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott / Source: Nick Fewings@Unsplash

Sim card / Source: Andrey Metelev@Unsplash

✅ For those who accidentally ran out of their portioned data plan and are in dire need of the Internet, here are some ways around it.

Wi-Fi / (Source: Jadon Kelly@Unsplash

👉 First,use the Wi-Fi of the hotel where you currently reside. For most people, when they are planning their trip to London cost, the living situation should be at the top of the list. Some booking sites now provide a one-stop-shop experience for travel, meaning that people can book their flights and their stay in advance online and just ride the plane, grab a cab, or take an airport shuttle to the inn. Since the hotels of the 21 st century are mostly equipped with high-speed Internet connections, enjoying the comfort of the hotel and dealing with all the urgent matters that require the Internet is the easiest solution.

👉 Second, when you are outside, in tunnels, or in the tube stations, it was announced that tube customers will be eligible for free Internet connections by late 2024. People can then easily use the Internet to initiate and receive phone calls and texts, surf the wonderful web, or scroll through social media to pass the time during transport. Since this is free, the cellphone can automatically search and connect to it just as if they are above ground. This service also requires no charge at all from Transportation For London (TFL), provided that the device in question has already signed up with the major communication services providers, like Virgin Media, Three, EE, O2, and BT Mobile. By then, through authentication, people can seamlessly register and log onto the Wi-Fi networks for seamless connection as a tourist during the trip to London cost.

👉 Third, for those who are out and about but are nowhere near a tube station or a tunnel, then it might be time to treat yourself to a cup of coffee or tea and leave for the nearest coffee shops since they usually have nice Internet connections. In fact, many people piggyback off the Wi-Fi and spend a day studying or writing there. The quaint ambiance there makes it a great place to address the need for the Internet or sort out the days ahead while still in town.

How much does it cost for a passport during one's trip to London cost?

Passport for travel / Source: ConvertKit@Unsplash

A passport is a vital piece of paper when traveling abroad since it usually entails some key information about you and can be used to get in or out of travel destinations. In the nick of time, one can use it to contact the local embassy for humanitarian aid or policy refreshers. Therefore, it is vital for anyone traveling abroad. Usually, the passport fees can be further divided into two categories: 1. The British citizens who are applying for the passport for out-of-state travel or business trips. 2. Foreign nationals whose destination is the U.K.

✅ For the first type, based on the applicant's age, the number of passport pages, or the means of application (online or paper), the fees may vary extensively. Any U.K. citizens looking for trips abroad can visit the official website for detailed information about the paperwork and fees for application. But the ballpark price for its application starts from free to as much as £104.

The London Eye / Source: Trip.com

✅ For the second type, foreigners who seek entry to the U.K. will need to search the official website or consult insiders for the required paperwork for passport applications. Since people from all over the world would like to have a taste of the great London city, naturally, the ballpark price range for a passport varies a lot as well and would be deemed unilateral to single out one country. So people might need to do some field research for it before embarking on the trip to London cost.

On top of a passport, people would also need a visa for entry. It can be said that the passport and the visa are two tightly-linked buddies that cannot live without each other. A passport is futile without a visa, and vice versa. This is especially vital for those who are trying to gain entry to the U.K. since there are lots of rules and regulations for it too. The official website has listed the detailed steps for choosing a visa, preparing one's own application, proving one's identity, and getting a decision on one's application. Before one is out of state, sorting out the paperwork is quite important. To be responsible for one, anyone should pay their due diligence so as to avoid unnecessary troubles abroad because by then, the situation might be even more befuddling and can cause emotional stress in troubled times.

The rough estimate for two nights & three days as the entire duration of the trip to London cost

Crunching numbers for the trip to London / Source: Mika Baumeister@Unsplash

Here are some pointers before choosing a hotel room.

👉 For starters, try not to choose hotels that are too close to the railway stations or airports, since there is naturally a lot of noise both before departure and after arrival. Also, try to avoid the noisy parts of town or those that sit right on the side of a street if you prefer silence and tranquility over the hustle and bustle of modern society and if you highly value personal privacy. Since some would expect their trip to London to be free of trouble, a little precaution should be in order.

👉 Then, the neighborhood is another vital factor at play here. The general safety and stability of the surrounding neighborhood can really make or break the sense of security for travelers. The surrounding can help the visitor feel safe, helping them have a better first impression of the place or even the country on their first trip to London.

Bulgari Hotel London / Source: Trip.com

👉 Besides, the location of the hotel during one's short period of stay should be carefully planned. The visitor should have a meticulous itinerary of the London trip planned before leaving for London, and in fact, the hotel should be the center of all the activities and events since spending too much time on transportation is obviously tedious. It would be more like traveling abroad to end up in traffic jams and wasting a huge amount of precious time only to be stuck with the locals in transport. Granted, for some, that would be fun too. After all, it is a great way to observe the customs and outlooks of society. But for those who intend on visiting as many landmarks as possible, that is terrible news. So try to find an optimal location that has convenient public transport and shares close proximity to the place in mind. This will make the trip to London worthwhile.

👉 On top of that, price is obviously an important factor to take into consideration when planning travels. Normally the price should be the direct reflection of the services that one is eligible to enjoy during one's stay. However, due to factors like popularity and location, there definitely would be more expensive hotels that offer the same quality as cheaper ones in other places. Remember, just because a room is less expensive, it doesn't necessarily mean that it has bad service or unsatisfactory living conditions.

Corinthia London / Source: Trip.com

👉 Furthermore, always check out the detailed info before making hasty decisions. When you are trying to book a room on the website in advance, there usually are a lot of strings attached. Like whether the room has breakfast included, and if so, what kind of breakfast is available? Is it continental or a buffet? Whether the hotel offers free cancellation within a certain period of time or not? If not, what kind of cancellation fees should one expect before one embarks on a trip to London? There are many strings attached, so it would be wise to dig deeper before hitting the "book now" button.

👉 In conclusion, it could be a time-consuming task to choose a suitable hotel room that checks all the boxes mentioned above without breaking the bank. But the truth is, during one's time abroad, it's all about compromises and whether or not one is willing to bend the rules a bit to fulfill the major expectations during one's stay. Overall, suppose that there are two adults sharing a room for two night & three days trip in London during the low travel season. The starting price would be around $80 before tax for the trip to London cost.

Windsor Castle / Source: Trip.com

To elaborate on this topic in an orthodox fashion, it's better to break down the relevant fees into several aspects for convenience.

👉 First, check out the price for the paperwork application before departure. As mentioned above, if the visitor does not have any valid paperwork and is not eligible for compensation, then this is the first expenditure that is necessary for the trip to London.

👉 Second, after the relevant paperwork is all done, it's time to think about the plane tickets. Check and compare prices between different airline companies and choose one that meets your budget. It would be cheaper if the visitor booked the tickets in advance. It's best to steer clear of the holiday season since it will be expensive and crowded. Thinking outside the box is the key to planning a satisfactory trip to London.

Chinatown / Source: Trip.com

👉 Third, plan a food budget for the entire trip. Since the foreign cuisine might not agree with your stomach, you can bring some food from back home as long as you don't break any rules of your destination country. However, thanks to globalization, you can practically buy anything, even abroad. Well, with a heftier price tag, of course. For savvy tourists, searching for coupons either online or from the local newspaper can greatly cut down food expenditure without compromising the taste and quality of food and your budget for the London trip.

👉 Fourth, book a hotel in advance and choose it carefully, as mentioned above, for the trip to London cost.

St James's Park / Source: Trip.com

👉 Fifth, plan the route of the visit. With a clearly-stated itinerary for the trip to London cost, naturally, one must plan the touring route and check out if the spot in mind requires any admission fees or if there is something in particular that one has in mind and if the places require a small amount fee such as for special artworks on display, for example, then double-check and document the price. In this case, the transportation fees should fall into this category. Using a spreadsheet (written or digital) to record the fees and requirements for each project is very straightforward and leaves no room for error.

👉 And finally, make a budget for souvenirs. Try to figure out the likes and dislikes of the key family members or close relatives. If you have been entrusted with shopping for something that they need, then bring them back safe and sound. Since this is not something that can be fixed entirely in advance, then it's better to estimate the budget needed for souvenirs and leave some leeway for something extra when you are actually shopping for souvenirs near the end of your trip to London.

Tips for saving money during one's trip to London cost

Save small money / Source: micheile dot com@Unsplash

For transportation

For souvenirs.

👉 Usually, the old and musty book stores hidden in the street corner is another great place to treasure hunt goodies. Most items sold in stores are in relatively good or acceptable condition. This way, every party involved can utilize the stuff and squeeze more use out of them. However, be sure to check that the person on the receiving end is okay with second-hand stuff.

March through May when the weather is nice, and there are a lot fewer tourists.

From July 29th, 2022 to May 6th, 2023. The Championship Play Off will take place on May 29th, 2023, at Wembley Stadium, London.

There are currently no COVID-19 restrictions in the U.K. Check out the official website for detailed updates.

£10,000. One must declare cash of £10,000 or more to the U.K. customs before entering Great Britain and its affiliates. Check out here for detailed info.

Approx. there are more than 1,200 high streets spanning across London. Here are some for reference. And for detailed info, please check out here.

Table of Contents

• 1. How much do flights to London cost?
• 2. What kind of accommodations should any traveler expect during their trip to London cost?
• 3. Some tasty dishes during the trip to London and its costs
• 4. What makes suitable souvenirs at the end of the trip to London cost for friends and families?
• 5. How does one get out and about in London?
• 6. Some top-notch landmarks when traveling to London
• 7. How much does it cost for Wi-Fi & communication during one's trip to London cost?
• 8. How much does it cost for a passport during one's trip to London cost?
• 9. The rough estimate for two nights & three days as the entire duration of the trip to London cost
• 10. Tips for saving money during one's trip to London cost

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Jetsetting Fools

Travel Far. Discover More. Spend Less.

15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary

Welcome to JetSetting Fools, here you will find our best travel tips for destinations worldwide. Some of the links on this site are Affiliate Links and if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. For more information, read our Disclosure Policy .

When my mom and sister revealed their zealous plans for their 15-day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary, I was curious how they planned their European trip (and, to be honest, I was skeptical that they would be able to pull it off). Creating a 15 Days in Europe Itinerary to these top three cities is no easy feat. 

Although we have visited all three destinations over multiple trips, we have never been to all three in a short two weeks. Intrigued by their ambitiously planned London, Paris, Rome tour, I wanted to know exactly how they devised their route and the details of their day-by-day itinerary. 

Why Plan a London, Paris Rome Trip? 

A London, Paris, Rome vacation is a bucket list trip. These cities rank as top worldwide destinations – alongside places like New York City , San Francisco and Bangkok . The difference is that London, Paris and Rome are relatively close together, which allows travelers to see all three in a short amount of time…but only with a solid trip plan. 

Unlike me, who wants to travel to eternity, my family approached their trip as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit these cities. It would be Tracy’s (my sister) first trip to Europe and Dianne’s (my mom) second trip (although, it would be her first time to London and Rome). They packed their 15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary to the brim…and then heaped on a bit more for good measure.

How To Plan a Trip from London to Paris to Rome

I was fascinated, not only by the sightseeing they were able to accomplish with their 15-day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary, but also by how efficiently they were able to do so. For the first-time traveler to Europe or for the traveler who only anticipates ever going once, it’s an ideal itinerary that succinctly hits all the major sights and then some.

Breaking from our typical style of travel tips, we are presenting a Q&A regarding their diligent planning and execution of their trip abroad. Because they had detailed documentation, they are sharing their pre-trip preparation, experiences abroad, post-trip thoughts and a detailed account of their 15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary Day-by-Day (including links!).

Fellow travelers planning self guided tours of London, Paris, Rome can use the tips from their experience to help plan their own perfect European trip. We also recommend using Travel Planning Printables to help you stay organized and reading our guide to plan your European Vacation !

Are There London, Paris, Rome Tours?

Absolutely! While it is possible to plan your own 2-Week London, Paris, Rome vacation (and my family is proof!), it does take an enormous amount of time and effort to create a seamless trip plan. 

Travelers can opt to tour London, Paris, Rome with a professional sightseeing tour group. The London, Paris, Italy vacation packages are planned by professionals – so all you need to do is show up and enjoy the sights! 

Young travelers – aged 18-35 – can start by searching Contiki . The company specializes in travel for young adults and offers fun and affordable London, Paris, Rome tour packages. 

Travelers of any age can find a Rome, London Paris vacation package with a reliable company – like Trafalgar Tours . 

Before scoffing at a tour for being too expensive, we recommend pricing out the London, Paris, Rome vacation packages versus the cost of planning your own 15 Days Europe Tour Itinerary to see the cost difference. 

If you do decide to plan your Rome, Paris, London trip on your own, read on for detailed trip planning tips! 

London, Paris, Rome Itinerary: Pre-Trip Preparation

Pre-trip preparation is key to planning a trip to London, Paris and Italy – and they shared some of the steps they took to ensure their trip went off without a hitch.

How did you decide where to go and how much time to spend in each place?

Our European vacation was nearly three years in the making. A year and a half prior to the trip, we started checking out travel books from the library. Tracy read them cover-to-cover. Eight months out, we began researching flights. Five months prior to departure, we were booking accommodations.

We discussed our itinerary at length. We were constrained by Tracy’s limited time off work, but were determined to fit as much as we possibly could into our trip. We focused on the must-see cities and their best-known sights.

We originally created a London, Paris Italy Itinerary that included Florence and Venice. However, in the planning stages, we felt the time we would have to spend actually traveling between the cities was too much. We settled on Europe’s Big Three: London, Paris and Rome – with five nights in each city.

What luggage did you carry? Were you happy with what you packed?

We debated whether a backpack or suitcase would be better to tour London, Paris, Rome. Although I have traveled through Europe with a backpack before, we decided to use roller suitcases for this trip. We each had one large checked roller bag and a carry-on backpack. Our carry-on backpacks served as a daypack as we explored the cities.

We knew our 15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary was ambitious and wanted to make sure we were as prepared as possible, so we ended up bringing things that we didn’t use. In our packing list , we packed too many shirts and warmer clothes (as we traveled in the autumn) and a lot of just-in-case medications. However, we are still glad we had them with us and wouldn’t have left anything behind.

Did you buy or use any specific travel gadgets or guides?

We purchased adapters and a converter. The adapters were essential, but the converter did not work properly and it turned out we didn’t really need one.

We always used our money belts and bra stashes and were glad we purchased them for our trip. Since we are not seasoned travelers, it made us feel more safe to have our money and important documents with us at all times and concealed beneath our clothing.

The guide book we used was Rick Steves’ Best of Europe . We tore out and carried only the information we needed for the cities we were visiting.

Of the entire trip, what were you most looking forward to?

We were really intent on checking off all the sights on our list. It might end up being my (Dianne’s) last trip and Tracy’s only trip to Europe. We didn’t want to miss a single sight that appealed to us.

London, Paris, Rome: Experiences By City

Travelers who plan a 2-Week London, Paris, Rome Itinerary will want to consider what they want to experience in each city. 

What London sights did you see?

The British Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, The Monument, Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, Thames River Cruise, Greenwich (Royal Observatory and Maritime Museum), Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament (and viewed sessions), 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Covent Garden, Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park (including the Princess Diana Memorial), Wellington Arch, Westminster Cathedral and the National Library.

We did not see the Natural History Museum or walk Abbey Road. We could not Visit The Sky Garden because, while it is free to enter, prior reservations are required and we hadn’t made them.

What was the food like in London?

We ate a variety of food in London , from high tea to street food. We most enjoyed the food in Chinatown. Our high tea experience (which included sandwiches, sweets and a prosecco finish) was one of our most memorable dining experiences.

Where did you stay in London?

We stayed at the European Hotel for its close proximity to King’s Cross Station (which provided access to the entire city and even the Chunnel to Paris). The hotel offered a complimentary traditional English breakfast that included a lot of protein, which was a nice way to start the day. The rooms were much smaller than we had anticipated…and the bathroom was shockingly small, but sufficient. Also, the electricity and wifi were sometimes unreliable.

Any other recommendations for London?

The best way to see a lot of the city in an economical way is to purchase a weekly National Train paper pass. It allows visitors to use 2-for-1 vouchers for all the major sights – as well as transportation on the Tube and buses.

What were your highlights of London?

The Tower of London (with the Beefeater’s Tour), Kensington Palace and high tea.

Find more tips for sightseeing in our complete London Itinerary !

Paris, France

What sights did you see in Paris?

Musee du Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Musee d’Orsay, Musee de l’Orangerie, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles Chateau and Gardens (including the Grand and Petit Trianons of Marie-Antoinette’s Estate), Moulin Rouge (including a show), Notre Dame Cathedral and Tower, Sainte Chapelle, Conciergerie, The Latin Quarter, The Pantheon, Luxembourg Gardens, St. Sulpice Church, Seine River Tour, Trocadero Gardens, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Parc du Champs de Mars, Hotel des Invalides (Tomb of Napoleon), Musee Rodin, Montmartre, Sacre-Coeur, Pigalle (red light district) and Saint-Martin Canal.

What was the food like in Paris?

We ate quick food on-the-go a lot in Paris. Our favorite place to grab breakfast and lunch was at Paul, a bakery which has multiple locations. We had street crepes a few times and especially liked the Nutella crepes at Montmartre.

The Saint-Martin Canal neighborhood offered a wide variety of quaint cafes and restaurants. Our two favorite meals in the area were a savory buckwheat crepe at Lulu’s Creperies and a wild boar and chestnut stew at La Patache.

Where did you stay in Paris?

We stayed in a charming flat in an old building on the Saint-Martin Canal, which we found through Airbnb . It was nice to have the extra space and a washer/dryer (as we needed to do laundry by then!). It was well-situated in a residential neighborhood, but close to Gare de l’Est where we could access the Metro.

Any other recommendations for Paris?

We highly recommend the Paris Museum Pass (not to be confused with the Paris Pass). It offers entry into all the major sights in and around Paris at a reasonable cost. With the pass, we could enter certain sights to see just the highlights and not feel like we had to stay to get our money’s worth.

The best value for transportation around Paris is the weekly (calendar week only Monday through Sunday) Navigo Pass, which was good for the Metro, buses and trains (even the train to Versailles and the airport!).

What were your highlights of Paris?

Sainte Chappelle, Conciergerie, Musee Rodin, and the Tower of Notre Dame.

Read about our tips for sightseeing in this Paris Itinerary !

Rome, Italy

What sights did you see in Rome?

Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese Gardens, Villa Medici, Circus Maximus, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, Victor Emmanuel and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. John Lateran, Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), Capitoline Museum, Bocca della Verita, Trastevere neighborhood, Piazza Santa Maria, Basilica di Santa Maria, Tiber Island, the Old Jewish neighborhood, Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona.

We did not make it to Ostia Antica nor Ostia di Lido (the beach on the Mediterranean).

What was the food like in Rome?

Hello Gelato! We ate gelato every day, because when in Rome… We also ate a lot of pizza, both at sidewalk cafes and where they scissor-cut the slices and sell them by weight.

Our best meal was at a little family-run restaurant in the Trastevere neighborhood. The chef used family recipes that had been handed-down through several generations.

Where did you stay in Rome?

We stayed in a small B&B in a very safe neighborhood, Salario, on the north side of the city. It was recently renovated and spacious. However, due to our delayed flight and unclear directions to the B&B, our late arrival (after midnight) resulted in a deplorable welcome from the host. Unfortunately, encounters like that are carried throughout the rest of the stay and sadly gave us a negative impression of Romans in general.

Any other recommendations for Rome?

What we would NOT recommend is the OMNIA Pass. We thought it would speed up our sightseeing by eliminating standing in long lines, but it never worked out that way. It was expensive ($109), included things we didn’t use and although it promised front-of-line entry, required longer waiting times than those with regular entry tickets.

Alternatively, we could have purchased the combo pass to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill (Cost: $13.50) from the shortest ticket lines at the Palatine Hill entrance on Via di San Gregorio and then we could skip the ticket line at the Colosseum.

In addition, we could have bought our ticket to the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, online (Cost: $22) and skipped the lines there, too. (The OMNIA Pass could possibly be to an advantage in the high season, though).

What were your highlights of Rome?

St. Peter’s Basilica and the many ruins throughout the city, although the most impressive were those at the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. We really enjoyed the time we spent walking through the Rome neighborhoods and piazzas.

Find more tips for sightseeing in our Rome Itinerary !

European Trip Thoughts

Before planning your London, Paris, Rome tour, these are a few things you might want to consider. 

How much did you spend on your European Trip? Did you have a budget? Did you stick to it?

The total cost of our trip was $2550 each, just $50 more than we had budgeted. That amount includes everything we spent during our vacation – the flight and all transportation abroad, accommodations, food, drink, tours, passes, entertainment, souvenirs…everything!

We researched and carefully determined how to do our trip on a budget without missing any of the sights we wanted to see. For hardcore sightseers, like us, we found the city passes to the sights and public transportation passes to be quite beneficial financially.

We also were able to find entertainment deals on major websites (like Viator  and Get Your Guide ). We weren’t on a mission to spend as little as possible, but we were budget conscious and feel that the price we paid was well-worth the trip.

It should be noted that we found majorly discounted airline tickets from Toronto rather than from our home city in the United States. Therefore, we tacked on a mini-vacation to Canada on each end of our European trip, which is also included in the total cost of the trip (which, all-inclusive, was still less than if we had paid the more expensive airfare from our home city).

What about your European Trip exceeded your expectations?

We were pleasantly surprised that everything went pretty much according to plan, but perhaps that is because we were so diligent in our planning. The specific sights that exceeded our expectations (although, not necessarily top-of-the-list things to do) are:

London – The British Library, the National Gallery, House of Commons session, afternoon tea

Paris – Sainte Chapelle, Musee Rodin, Conciergerie

Rome – Palatine Hill, Capitoline Museum

What were your biggest disappointments on your European Trip?

London – Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. We spent too much time there and even though we arrived an hour and half before the event, we were unable to get close enough to really see. While standing in the sea of people, we felt like prime targets for pickpockets!

Paris – The interior of Versailles Chateau. It was over-crowded with a lot of people elbowing their way through. The rooms everyone was pushing to see were pretty, but not all that impressive to us for the hassle involved in seeing them. However, the Mesdames section, the gardens and the Trianons were worth seeing.

Rome – The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. After spending several hours in the Vatican Museum, we were underwhelmed by the time we got to the Sistine Chapel. The small area was packed and a booming voice coming from speakers reminded guests that pictures were not allowed (although many blatantly disregarded the message and took photos anyway, which we thought was quite rude). We were expecting to be wowed, but instead felt like cattle being corralled. It wasn’t the experience we were anticipating.

What did you find difficult about traveling in Europe?

The language barrier in Paris and Rome made communication in those cities trying, especially as we were there for such a short time and had a full itinerary planned.

Rome was also an extremely difficult city to get around in using public transportation. The buses were always crowded and the Metro stations were few and far between. It would have been better if we had stayed closer to the sights or near a Metro station.

What was easier than you thought it would be?

The lines to get into the sights were not as long as we had anticipated. Of course, it helped that we were traveling in the shoulder season (mid-October).

What would you have done differently on your Trip To Europe?

We would have planned our travel between cities for early morning as it would have made getting acquainted with the new city much easier. More specifically, we would not again plan to arrive to a city after dark.

Also, it would have been extremely beneficial to have been able to use our mobile phones. We should have purchased an international data plan or purchased a WiFi pocket device for our time abroad so that we could have used them when we really needed to.

Additionally, we wish we had planned more time to simply walk the neighborhoods, relax in the parks and piazzas and enjoy people-watching from the cafes.

15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary Day-by-Day

Prices indicated are in U.S. dollars and were accurate at time of trip; entry fees and tickets indicate the cost per person, accommodations indicate the total cost of the lodging. If cost is not listed, it is a public, outdoor space or a sight viewed only from the outside.

Day 1 – Arrive in London

Arrive in London mid-morning.

• Purchase public transportation passes ( National Rail Paper Tickets , weekly pass, $46, passport picture required – 2-for-1 vouchers printed prior to travel) and check in to the European Hotel ($620 for 5 nights)
• Late Lunch on the go
• The British Museum ( Free )– Highlights: Rosetta Stone, mummies, pill display
• St. Paul’s Cathedral ( Entry Fee: $26, used 2-for-1 pass| Time: 3-4 hours ) – Highlights: whispering wall on balcony, tower, Princess Diana’s wedding, Florence Nightingale
• Lunch on the go
• Tower of London ( Entry Fee: $35.25, used 2-for-1 pass | Time: 3 hours ) – Highlights: crown jewels, torture chamber
• The Monument to the Great Fire of London 1666 ( did not enter )
• Self Guided London Pub Crawl and Dinner 
• Shakespeare Globe ( did not enter, Entry Fee: $19.50 ). 

Day 3 

• Changing of the Guard ( Free ) – Tip: Arrive by 10 a.m., expect crowds
• Thames River Walk (especially lively during summer and over Christmastime in London !)
• Cruise with City Cruises from Westminster to Greenwich ( Ticket: $23 roundtrip, used 2-for-1 pass )
• Lunch: Street vendors on Greenwich Dock
• Royal Observatory and Astronomy Center ( only entered the free portion )
• National Maritime Museum ( Free )
• Return cruise to Westminster
• Big Ben and walking tour of Westminster sights
• Walk Westminster Bridge
• London Eye ( Entry Fee: $31, used 2-for-1 pass )
• Piccadilly Circus
• Dinner: Lido Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown (crispy seaweed and crispy duck)

Day 4 

• Westminster Abbey ( Entry Fee: $29 regular, senior discount $24.50 | Time: 1-2 hours )
• Tower Bridge ( Entry Fee: $13, used 2-for-1 pass )
• Potters Fields Park
• Houses of Parliament ( in-session, Free ) – Highlights: House of Lords ornate room, quite entertaining session in House of Commons
• Number 10 Downing Street
• Trafalgar Square
• National Gallery ( Free, accepts donations ) – Highlights: Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh
• Covent Garden
• Dinner: Nags Head Pub (beef pie and chicken pie)
• Royal Opera House ( did not enter )
• Kensington Palace ( Entry Fee: $25.25, used 2-for-1 pass | Time: 1-1.5 hours ) – Highlights: Stories of royal family – especially Queen Victoria, king’s and queen’s apartments, fashions of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana
• Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens – Highlight: Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
• High Tea with prosecco finish  ( Cost: $120 | Time: 3 hours )
• Wellington Arch ( did not enter, but walked under arch – which, at one time, only royalty could do! )
• Westminster Cathedral ( Free )
• The British Library (also known as National Library) ( Free ) – Highlights: Magna Carta, bibles, Beatles, sheet music of Bach, Beethoven, Handel
• Dinner on the go

Day 6 – Travel from London to Paris

Mid-morning Chunnel to Paris ($60); arrive mid-afternoon, purchase public transportation pass ( Navigo Decouverte weekly pass : $29, includes activation fee, 3cm x 2.5cm passport-type photo required), purchase Paris Museum Pass (4-day pass, $90) and check into Airbnb apartment ($462 for 5 nights) in the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood.

• Walk the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood
• Dinner: Lulu la nantaise – Creperie (buckwheat crepes)
• Musee du Louvre ( Entry to the Louvre Museum included with Paris Museum Pass ) – Highlights: Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Napoleon’s Apartments
• Tuileries Garden
• Walk  Pont des Arts Bridge (also known as Love Locks Bridge)
• Musee d’Orsay ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass ) – Highlights: Impressionists
• Musee de l’Orangerie ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass ) – Highlights: Monet murals
• Place de la Concorde
• Grand Palais ( did not enter )
• Walk the length of Champs-Elysees (eat crepes along the way!)
• Arc de Triomphe ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass )
• Dinner: La Patache in the Canal Saint-Martin area (bison stew and wild boar stew)
• Palace of Versailles ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass ) and Gardens  ( Free ) – Highlights: chapel, hall of mirrors, Mesdames quarters
• Lunch in the gardens (baguettes from a vendor)
• Marie-Antoinette Estate  and Grand Trianon ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass )
• Dinner on the go: Paul Bakery at Gare de l’Est
• Moulin Rouge Show with Champagne ( Ticket: $127 ) – Highlights: comedy skits, stunts, dancing
• Notre Dame Cathedral ( Free )
• Sainte Chapelle and Conciergerie  ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass )
• Walk The Latin Quarter (on a guided tour or self guided walk )
• The Pantheon ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass )
• Luxembourg Gardens
• St. Sulpice Church ( Free )
• Boat trip on River Seine with  Vedettes du Pont Neuf (Ticket : $16 ) Tip: food in waiting area for the boat not recommended, poor tour guide, but lovely night cruise
• Tower of Notre Dame Cathedral ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass | Time: 1.5 hours ) – Highlights: gargoyles, bell tower
• Trocadero Gardens
• Food on the go
• Eiffel Tower ( did not climb )
• Parc du Champs de Mars
• Musee de l’Armee (also known as Hotel des Invalides) ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass ) – Highlights: Tomb of Napoleon and Napoleon’s horse
• Musee Rodin ( Entry included with Paris Museum Pass ) – Highlights: The Thinker, Gates of Hell
• Walk Montmartre neighborhood
• Sacre-Coeur ( Free ) – Highlights: St. Peter’s side chapel
• Pigalle  (also known as the Red Light District)
• Dinner: La Patache

Day 11 – Travel from Paris to Rome

• Say au revoir to Paris with a walk along the Canal Saint-Martin – Highlights: boats traveling through the locks
• Train to airport; flight to Rome ($79); check in to B&B Espresso ($343 for 5 nights) in the Salario neighborhood.
• Walk the Salario neighborhood
• Metro to Vatican  to obtain OMNIA Vatican and Rome Card ($109)
• Piazza del Popolo
• Villa Borghese Gardens ($50)– Highlights: view from Villa Medici
• Dinner at a sidewalk cafe for pizza
• Circus Maximus
• Palatine Hill ( Entry included with the OMNIA Pass ) – Highlights: many interesting ruins and history
• Roman Forum ( Entry included with the OMNIA Pass ) – Highlights: Rome’s oldest road, the place where Caesar was killed, Temple of Vesta
• Colosseum ( Entry included with the OMNIA Pass ) – Highlight: standing inside the Colosseum
• Arch of Constantine
• Hop-on Hop-off Bus from Colosseum to Piazza Venezia ( Included with the OMNIA Pass )
• Victor Emmanuel Monument (also known as Altare della Patria) and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ( did not enter )
• Lunch (and gelato!) on the go
• Ruins at Largo Argentina
• Pantheon  ( Free )
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• St. Peter’s Basilica ( Free, audio guide included with the OMNIA Pass, did not climb the cupola ) – Highlights: high altar, hidden relics, La Pieta
• St. Peter’s Square – Highlights: 140 statues of saints that line the square
• Vatican Museums ( Entry included with the OMNIA Pass ) – Highlights: Egyptian artifacts, art by the masters
• Sistine Chapel – ( Entry included with the OMNIA Pass )
• Lunch at a sidewalk café
• St. John Lateran Church (San Giovanni in Laterano) ( Free, cloister admission included with OMNIA Pass ) – Highlights: Bishop Seat of Rome presided over by the Pope, cloister garden
• Holy Stairs (also known as Scala Sancta) ( Free ) – Highlights: climbing the same stairs (relocated from Jerusalem) that Jesus climbed (on our knees)
• Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli ( Free ) – Highlights: Ornate interior
• Capitoline Museums ( Entry included with the OMNIA Pass ) – Highlights: She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus, Marcus Aurelius, The Fortune Teller, Capitoline Venus, The Dying Gaul, Bust of Medusa, view of the Forum
• Capitoline Hill – Highlights: mayor’s office, drinking fountain, Michelangelo’s steps
• Bocca della Verita ( Free, but long line )
• Walk the Trastevere neighborhood
• Lunch: Polpetta (traditional Italian dishes)
• Fontana dell’Acqua Paola
• Fountain in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere
• Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere ( Free )
• Tiber Island
• Gelato on the go
• Walk the Jewish neighborhood
• Campo dei Fiori
• Piazza Navona
• Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
• Dinner on the go: Pizza by weight!

Day 16 

Bus to Airport, Flight to back to the USA!

Top Tips For Your London, Paris, Rome Trip

Planning a 15 Day Europe Itinerary to London, Paris and Rome is not an easy task. Although we have outlined a detailed trip plan, we have a few more tips that will help make planning your trip to Europe just a little bit easier. 

City Sightseeing Passes

City sightseeing passes can offer substantial savings for travelers who want to visit the top ticketed attractions. London, Paris and Rome all offer a variety of sightseeing pass options (and some are better than others).

London Sightseeing Passes

The National Rail 2-for-1 vouchers are a fabulous way to see London sights on a budget …unless you are traveling solo (or with an odd number of people) and not using public transportation. The London Pass is another city pass that might save you money.

In lieu of using public transportation, consider getting around London using Big Bus Tours , which makes stops at all the top London attractions. 

Paris Museum Pass

We highly recommend buying the Paris Museum Pass while sightseeing in Paris , as we think it is well worth the money and added bonus of skipping the line. 

Alternatively, look at the Paris Pass , which includes the Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and free public transportation, and might provide savings for your Paris trip . 

Rome Sightseeing Tips

We have yet to find a Rome sightseeing pass that we can recommend, as they don’t seem to offer the convenience and savings promised. Instead of spending money on a pass like OMNIA , organize your Rome sightseeing on your own.

Use the money you saved from buying a city pass and join a guided tour of the sights that are of most interest to you, like St. Peter’s Basilica , the  Vatican Museum , or the Colosseum . To get around the city, use the Rome Big Bus , public transportation or walk. 

As stated before, save time and money by purchasing the combo pass to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill (Cost: $13.50) from the shortest ticket lines at the Palatine Hill entrance on Via di San Gregorio and then use your combo ticket to skip the ticket line at the Colosseum. Additionally, buy your ticket to the Vatican Museums , including the Sistine Chapel, online and skip the lines there, too.

Where To Stay in Europe

Choosing the type of accommodations and where to stay for a 2-week, multicity European trip can feel overwhelming. With 5 days in each city, travelers can opt to stay in a hotel, but a short-term apartment might be a better option. 

The main factors to consider when making your decision are location, cost, ease of check in, cleanliness and comfort. For any short stay in a city, location is key. It is optimal to be either in the city center or close to a public transit line. 

Airbnb in Europe

In general, we have found that staying in apartments is often less expensive than hotel rooms – but that is not always true with short stays where fees can add up in a hurry. However, it may be worth it for the added benefit of a kitchen and, usually, more space. Airbnb is our go-to site for finding the best Europe holiday apartments.

Europe Hotels

That said, we would not discount staying in hotels. At most hotels in Europe, the front desk staff speaks English and – with long days of sightseeing – a kitchen may not be necessary. When looking for hotels in London , Paris and Rome , we always start our search on Booking.com . Budget travelers can search for Hostels in London , Paris and Rome .

Pro Tip: Before you get started, read our top tips for Booking the Best Hotels .

Getting To Europe

All three cities – London, Paris, Rome – are easily accessible via plane, train, bus or car. 

Our preferred method of getting anywhere is by flying (we are JetSetting Fools, after all!) and when we do need to purchase plane tickets, we start our search for the best deals on airline tickets on Skyscanner .

Pro Tip: Read all our Tips for Cheaper Airfare .

Getting Around Europe

To get from city to city when flights are not possible, we usually rely on public transportation and take trains or buses. In Europe, we use Rail Europe to find train tickets and our preferred bus company is FlixBus – as it is economical, clean and comfortable (sometimes with on-board wifi, seat-back entertainment, refreshments and a toilet).

Renting a Car in Europe

For this Rome, Paris, London Itinerary, it is not necessary to rent a car. In fact, when bouncing between any big cities in Europe, it is best to use public transit. However, for travelers interested in seeing sights outside the city center,  renting a car can often save time and money (especially when traveling with more than two people).

Top Tip: We share tips for getting the Best Car Rental here . 

Before You Go To Europe: What You Will Need

We have a few final tips on what you will need for your London, Paris and Rome trip! You can find our Packing Hacks and other advice on our dedicated Travel Packing blog page. 

Comfortable Walking Shoes

Anyone planning a 2-Week Trip to London, Paris and Rome will need a good pair of walking shoes to most comfortably see the sights. The best travel shoes are lightweight and comfortable. I like wearing versatile sneakers , while Kris prefers Merrell trail shoes . 

Travel Camera

We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your trip. Rather than relying on your mobile phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual travel camera for higher quality photos. We travel with a Canon Rebel (which takes amazing photos and is a great budget camera for beginners!) – and use an everyday 18-135mm lens .  

Maps and Guidebooks

It’s easy to get turned around in any foreign city! Make sure to have a good city map for London , Paris and Rome . Additionally, some travelers (like my mom and sister) like to use a trusted guidebook – like Rick Steves’ Europe .

European Trip Insurance

Travel insurance may cover lost luggage and trip delays, as well as illness or injured abroad . If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip to Europe, consider traveling protected with World Nomads .

Looking for more travel planning tips? Check out our detailed Guide to Planning a European Vacation and then head over to our Travel Planning page for our complete packing tips and other travel resources !

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Europe Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

From beautiful Paris to smoke-filled coffeeshops in Amsterdam, Oktoberfest to La Tomatina, Europe is a massive, diverse continent with an unlimited assortment of things to see and do. You won’t have any problem filling your time, whether you’re backpacking Europe for a few months on a budget or just spending a few weeks there on a well-earned vacation.

The continent boasts wonderful beaches, historical architecture, amazing wine, and tons of world-class festivals. Every country is incredibly different from the next too, providing limitless variety in what you do during your trip.

I first backpacked Europe in 2006 and was hooked immediately. I’ve been visiting every year since, have run tours around the continent, and even wrote a book on traveling in Europe . It’s a destination I love and never get tired of exploring.

This guide will give you an overview of Europe and the tips and tricks you need to start planning your trip. I’ve also written extensive travel guides to each country on the continent (linked below in this post) so you can get more in-depth information for your specific itinerary too!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Europe

Click Here for Country Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in europe.

1. Tour the Greek Islands

These islands are the mecca of summer beach fun and each is unique in its own great way. There’s Ios (beach party central with archeological ruins and awesome boat tours); Kos (ancient ruins and nature); Crete (Bronze Age ruins of Knossos, hiking, beaches, and wine), Santorini (iconic blue water, white buildings, and local wineries); Mykonos , (the upscale party island with beautiful beaches, villages, and sunsets), Naxos (best island in the Cyclades). Plus, Milos, Corfu, Lemnos, Zakynthos, and so many more! With hundreds of islands in the country, you can always find what you are looking for!

2. Ride the rails

Europe is famous for its international rail system. Rail passes like the Eurail Pass have been around forever and still make it very easy to get from country to country on a relatively small budget (and with lots of flexibility). Europe has some of the fastest trains in the world that travel up to an incredible 217 mph (350 kph). The whole continent is connected by trains and there’s a growing push for even more connections and long-distance, high-speed trains in order to reduce flying and help combat climate change. There’s nothing more quintessential than riding the trains in Europe and I encourage you to take as many trains as possible. It’s one of the best ways to see the continent.

3. Get lost in Paris

The “City of Lights” is everything people say it is. I fell in love with it the first time I stepped foot in Paris . The city is just magical. You have a ton of museums, cafes, jazz clubs, famous art, and beautiful architecture. I love just strolling around the streets of the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) or Montmartre neighborhood as it makes for a breathtaking day. Another one of my favorite things to do here is just sit in the Jardin des Champs-Élysées park and picnic like the Parisians. For something a bit different, check out the famous Catacombs and Paris Sewer Museum. With so much to offer in the way of culture, history, and gastronomy, it would take years to see everything here but you can still get a good feel of the city in a few days.

4. Go city hopping

There are so many amazing cities in Europe that we’d need a top 100 to list them all. Here are some of my personal favorites and must-see cities: London is rich in history, culture, and the famous Big Ben clock; Edinburgh is a vibrant medieval city with cozy pubs and a famous castle with a huge New Year’s Eve Party; Amsterdam has cozy coffee shops and canopied tree-covered canals; Berlin has a wild party scene, street art, and the Berlin Wall; Barcelona has tapas, beach, and unique Gaudi architecture; coastal Lisbon has colorful tiles, old tramcars, cobblestone streets and plenty of fresh seafood; Prague has a beautiful intact Old Town, incredible architecture and eclectic bars; Tallinn Estonia has beautiful medieval buildings with colorful roofs. Florence  is a mecca for Italian Renaissance architecture, art history, and gelato; Stockholm mixes medieval architecture and modern art and design. Crisscross the continent, take in the culture, and enjoy all the historic cities!

5. Hit the Alps

Whether you go skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer, the Alps hold some of the most breathtaking views in all the world. You don’t even need to be an expert hiker because there are mountain trails for all levels and crystal-clear Alpine lakes. Check out the spectacular Eibsee trail loop in Bavaria at the foot of Die Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain, for the clearest, multi-colored, sparkling lake you’ve ever seen. Or the Männlichen Kleine Scheidegg Panorama trail in Switzerland’s stunning green and snow-capped Alps. Or visit Italy’s Dolomites in South Tyrol for the scenic Seceda trail. The Alps have trails for every fitness level and in every season.

Other Things to See and Do in Europe

1. tour amsterdam.

I love Amsterdam so much that I lived here for a short period of time in 2006. Here cobblestone and brick streets weave around lovely canals as people ride their bikes to and fro. My favorite things to enjoy here are Amsterdam’s vibrant art and music scene and there are also a ton of interesting museums here like the Anne Frank House, FOAM, the history museum, and the hemp museum. Be sure you get out of the center into Jordaan and Oost with their wonderful outdoor cafes and fewer tourists. Also, a visit to Amsterdam wouldn’t be complete without a canal cruise to visit the many islands and there are many to choose from that include snacks and drinks, sunset cruises, live guided tours, and more.

2. Hang out in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city that goes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It truly could give NYC a run for the “city that never sleeps” title. Be prepared for late-night dinners and parties until dawn. Besides a great food and nightlife scene, there is a wonderful beach, tons of Gaudi architecture (including the fairytale-like Parc Güell, as well as the iconic Sagrada Familia , which has been under construction for over 100 years!), incredible food tours, one of the best history museums in the country, and lots of outdoor spaces. What I love about Barcelona is that when you’re ready to chill, you can wander around Parc de la Ciutadella and marvel at the majestic fountains, plant life, and buildings created from an ornate military fortress.

3. Visit Berlin

Hip and trendy Berlin is an energetic destination. It is one of Europe’s most affordable capital cities, with a vibrant music and art scene and a growing foodie movement. Be sure to spend some time learning about the city’s darker history via the many excellent museums, memorials, and landmarks. The East Side Gallery, a section of the Berlin Wall that’s now painted with murals, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe are two especially powerful reminders of Germany’s past. For all periods of German history, don’t miss the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum) – it’s one of the best history museums in the world. Once you’ve had your fill of history, relax in Berlin’s many green spaces, from Tempelhof Field, the site of a former airfield and popular local hangout spot, to Tiergarten, a tree-covered former hunting ground for 17th-century aristocrats.

4. Drink beer at Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a must for anyone going to Germany at the end of September. While not a budget option since beers now cost 15 € a maß, I love the energy and friendly camaraderie this event inspires. For two weeks, millions of people from all over the world gather for lots of beer, excitement, music, and wild fun. Watching thousands of people sing together, raising quart-sized beer mugs for endless toasts, and enjoying the general party atmosphere makes you feel good about the world. (Or maybe that’s just the beer?) Just be sure to book your accommodation well in advance and be prepared to pay top prices for them. If you don’t have an outfit, don’t worry, there are plenty of shops even at the main train station where you can buy a Bavarian dirndl dress and men’s lederhosen.

5. Experience London

Get a taste of English culture in diverse London . The museums here are some of the best in the world (most are free) and include the Tate, the British Museum, the City Museum, the National Gallery, the Historical Museum. There’s no shortage of iconic sights here as well, with Big Ben, the House of Parliament, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and of course, Buckingham Palace. I love London’s diversity because of the countless international eateries with great food and wonderful pub culture, perfect for after a long day seeing the sights. Head to Brick Lane on the weekends for some amazing food and craft markets. I prefer Paris to London, but there is something sophisticated and fun about London. Just watch those pints — London is not a cheap destination!

6. Get outdoors in Scandinavia

My favorite region in Europe is Scandinavia. The quality of life here is high, the people are beautiful and friendly, and the cities are clean and historic. Cycling the cities, taking canal tours, hiking the vast forested areas, archipelago hopping, enjoying fika (a Swedish coffee break), and warming up in saunas are just a few of the popular activities that await you here. True, this area of Europe is not cheap, but there are plenty of ways to reduce your expenses. Don’t let the high prices scare you away. Highlights for me include Copenhagen , Stockholm , Gotland, Norway’s fjords, and Lapland in Finland .

7. Get enchanted in Prague

Prague has an amazing history and is one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities I’ve ever seen. Highlights include the 9th-century Prague Castle, the magnificent Charles Bridge (built in the 14th century and one of the oldest standing bridges in the world), the 10th-century old square with its iconic astronomical clock, and the winding Jewish Quarter. Even if you only have a few days there don’t miss the free walking tour which is one of my favorites in Europe and the best way to learn about the Old Town and the tragic history of the city that went from thriving Bohemian capital of art, music, and literature to part of the Iron Curtain after WWII. Some of my favorite gems here include the fantastic black light theater shows in 4D and the one-of-a-kind medieval dinner show in an old tavern complete with musicians and jugglers not to mention hearty food and drinks. During the weekends it heaves with people enjoying the bars, cheap beer, and delicious food so try to visit during the week (and in the spring or fall) to beat the crowds.

8. Relax on the French Riviera

Here, you can pretend to live the high life for a little bit. Have fun in the sun, relax on the beach, swim in azure blue water, hobnob with the rich and famous, and sail on (or gaze at) gigantic yachts. As for cities, Nice is nice with its palm-tree-lined promenade, old town, and many art museums. If you want to go see how the rich and famous live, spend an afternoon checking out Cannes to soak up some glamorous vibes on La Croisette where they hold the famous Cannes Film Festival. The kingdom of Monaco with its tiny streets, beautiful buildings, and world-famous casino is just a skip away too.

9. Enjoy the great outdoors in Interlaken

Located in the beautiful mountains of Switzerland, Interlaken is a gorgeous place to unwind with fantastic hiking, delicious hot chocolate, and plenty of outdoor sports. The area is full of natural attractions to explore, including the St. Beatus Caves (complete with a legendary dragon), the cascading 500-meter-high (1,640 feet) Giessbach Waterfalls, the Jungfraujoch mountain railway (which leads to the highest train station on the continent), and a plethora of lakes (hence the town’s name). It’s a good alternative to all the cities and museums. Interlaken is also a popular party destination for backpackers and other young travelers. By far, my favorite scenic and visually stunning trail was the Oberberghorn panoramic hike, where you can wander the green mountain ridge ogling the amazing views and the turquoise-blue Brienzersee.

10. Experience history in Rome

In this thriving historical city, you can’t walk two feet without stumbling over a ruin, making Rome a history buff’s dream. Its tiny streets are perfect for wandering as you explore the Colosseum, see the Forum and Palatine Hill, visit the Pantheon, spend time in Vatican City, admire the Spanish Steps, and toss coins into the famous Trevi Fountain. The skip-the-line tickets can definitely be worth it so you don’t waste time waiting outside attractions. Rome also has amazing food (it’s Italy, after all) and nightlife. Visit the Trastevere area for a taste of “local” Rome and chill bars. It’s my favorite area in the city because you feel like you’re in a small village in the middle of a big city.

11. Hike around the Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is my favorite part of Italy. These five beautiful cliffside towns are perched near warm waters and beautiful olive and grape groves. There are wondrous and strenuous hikes in these hills; for a real challenge, take trail #8. Or just walk the coastline for something less difficult. Many activities here revolve around the coastline: kayaking, swimming, having a beach picnic or visiting the Technical Naval Museum. If you happen to be here in December or January, don’t miss the Nativity Manarola, the world’s biggest lighted nativity scene.

12. Tour Krakow

Krakow looks like it stepped out of a medieval postcard. It’s a hip, trendy, and youthful city that’s the center of education in Poland, meaning there are a lot of university students here. Most travelers come to party here (the vodka is cheap) but try to enjoy the city’s history and food besides just the bars. Walk the Royal Road through the Old Town to the 13th-century Wawel Castle, tour Schindler’s Factory (where Schindler saved over 1,200 Jews during World War II), and visit the sobering Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. You can also take a fascinating day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Wieliczka Salt Mine, a 13th-century mine with cavernous chambers, statues, chapels, chandeliers, and cathedrals all carved out of salt.

13. Visit the ruin bars in Budapest

The coolest nightlife in all of Europe is found in Budapest . Built in abandoned buildings, ruin bars feature funky art installations, repurposed furniture, and quirky decor. They are amazing, fun, and great places to meet locals, as people of all ages flock here. Open since 2001, Szimpla Kert is the original ruin bar and one of my favorites, along with Instant-Fogas Complex, which takes up an entire building and is actually many different bars in one. Don’t skip the ruin bars — they’re one of the most unique things about the city!

14. Explore Cornwall

The best part of England is outside London, yet unfortunately, not a lot of travelers leave London. Head west to the area of Cornwall for cheaper prices, welcoming locals, natural beauty, great hiking, rolling hills, plenty of medieval castles, and picturesque small towns. If you like biking, the Camel Trail from Bodmin to Padstow is worth the trip and you even pass by a local vineyard. It’s an easy way to spend a day (and it’s pretty flat so it’s not too hard to do.) Plus, I had the best fish and chips in Cornwall! Overall, it’s what you think of as “traditional England.”

15. Walk the Camino

El Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James) is an ancient pilgrimage route that stretches from France all the way across northern Spain. It is a 500 mile (800 km) trail that winds through incredible terrain, ending in Santiago de Compostela at the cathedral where St. James is supposedly buried. As a pilgrim, you get a “pilgrim’s passport” which allows you to stay in affordable pilgrim-only hostels, making this a surprisingly budget-friendly adventure. While it usually takes over a month to complete, you can just walk a section if you don’t have the time. To receive a “Compostela” (certificate of completion), you just need to walk the last 62 miles (100 km), which generally takes 4-5 days.

16. Throw tomatoes during La Tomatina

By far my favorite festival, the largest food fight in the world happens during the last Wednesday of August in Bunol, Spain. What started in 1945 as a local brawl has turned into a massive event drawing tens of thousands of people from all over the world. For about an hour, everyone throws tomatoes at each other, leaving streets ankle-deep in tomato juice. Afterward, everyone walks down to the river, cleans off, and then heads to the town square for sangria and music.

17. Find Dracula in Romania

Not a lot of people visit Romania but this underrated country in Eastern Europe has undiscovered yet picturesque medieval towns like Brasov (home to “Dracula’s castle”), Sighisoara, and Sibiu; gorgeous beaches on the Black Sea; and incredible hiking in the Fagaras Mountains — all at dirt-cheap prices. Other major sights include frescoed Byzantine monasteries, the steepled wooden churches of Transylvania, the hip university town Cluj-Napoca, the post-communist capital of Bucharest, and the Danube Delta, a huge nature reserve.

18. Drink whisky in Islay

Whisky has a long history on Islay , an island off Scotland’s west coast. It’s been made there since the 16th-century — first in backyards and then, starting in the 19th-century, in large distilleries. Over the years, whisky from the island came to be considered a specialty and was used to flavor a lot of other blends on the mainland. There are currently nine working distilleries on the island, all located along the island’s shores, with Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Lagavulin being the most famous. Most distilleries here make single-malt Scotch, meaning that only one type of grain (barley) is used. My visit here was amazing and, even if you don’t like whisky, there are tons of good hikes and walks throughout this magnificent island.

19. Explore Iceland

Iceland is a magical country with majestic waterfalls, hidden hot springs around every corner, and sweeping vistas unlike anywhere else in the world. After my first visit, the country quickly became one of my favorite countries. With whale watching in the summer, the northern lights in the winter, and geothermal baths for soaking in year-round, there really is no bad time to visit! While Iceland’s main draw is the epic natural landscapes, it’s worth spending a couple of days in Reykjavik with its café culture, artsy feel, and brightly colored wooden row houses.

20. Sail the Croatian coast

With calm winds, short distances, a coastline littered with over 1,000 islands, and countless historical sites, Croatia is one of the world’s best sailing destinations. If you can, go during the shoulder season when you can find some great deals. Plan to stay at least a couple of days on one of the islands, with the most popular being Brac, Hvar, Krk, Cres, and Lošinj. However, don’t be afraid to get off the beaten path and explore some of the lesser-known islands such as Silba, Vis, and Lastovo. If you want to splash out and spend a week partying on a yacht, check out The Yacht Week, which hosts week-long parties, complete with DJs, from May-September. You can book a full boat to share with friends or just a cabin if you’re traveling solo. Prices start at 5,250 HRK per person and go up to 9,300 HRK.

21. Explore the Balkans

While the Balkans have become more popular with backpackers in recent years, it’s still largely overlooked by most budget travelers, despite being an extremely budget-friendly region. The Balkan peninsula is home to great (and again, overlooked) wine, beautiful medieval towns like Kotor and Mostar, stunning mountainous landscapes, beautiful pebble beaches, coffee culture, fresh, hearty yet inexpensive food, and museums covering the area’s history, including the most recent turbulent events of the early 1990s. I especially loved my time in Albania . Don’t miss the beautiful beaches in Ksamil, nicknamed the “Maldives of Europe’ as well as the mountain village of Gjirokastër, which was occupied by Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. The Balkans have so much to offer for every budget and every country has its unique cultural flavor.

22. Take a wine tour in the Loire Valley

Located in central France, the picturesque Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and stretches 280 kilometers (174 miles) along the Loire River. One of the major wine-producing regions of France, the area is home to some of the best wines in the world, with over 1,000 vineyards open to the public. Even those who don’t drink wine will enjoy the beautiful small towns, great food, and the region’s over 300 impressive chateaux. I loved the medieval Chenonceau Castle and Chateau Villandry and the small villages like Saint-Florent-le-Vieil. Spring and Autumn are my favorite times to visit because you can go biking and do outdoor activities when it’s not too hot and there are fewer people. It’s an area not to be missed.

23. See Fado in Portugal

Fado is an important musical tradition in Portugal , originating in Lisbon and stretching back some 200 years. The word “fado” likely stems from the Latin word for fate, and it’s very haunting, poetic, and emotional music. Most of the songs follow themes of loss and mourning, and the music was popular with the working class (especially sailors). Performances normally take place in restaurants during dinner. In Lisbon, head to Clube de Fado, Tasca do Chico, Parreirinha de Alfama, or Senhor Vinho.

24. Tour green Slovenia

Slovenia is one of Europe’s least-visited destinations, which is mind-blowing to me because it’s an amazing place to visit. Slovenia offers all the beauty of Western Europe but at a fraction of the cost and with a fraction of the crowds. Perfect for outdoor adventure lovers, Slovenia offers rugged mountains, untouched landscapes, fantastic ski resorts, plentiful wine, sprawling cave systems, incredible food, and postcard-perfect lakes, such as the famous Lake Bled with its castle on an island. I loved Piran, Slovenia’s often overlooked coastal Venetian-style harbor town that was actually founded 3000 years ago. Stroll around its beautiful windy cobble-stoned streets, beautiful plazas, and take advantage of the many affordable restaurants right on the water. Make sure to also spend a few days in the country’s capital, Ljubljana, known as one of the continent’s greenest and most livable cities. Take a river cruise to see the city and enjoy the friendliness of the locals.

  For more information on specific countries in Europe, check out the guides below:

• Albania Travel Guide
• Austria Travel Guide
• Belgium Travel Guide
• Belarus Travel Guide
• Bosnia & Herzegovina Travel Guide
• Bulgaria Travel Guide
• Czechia Travel Guide
• Croatia Travel Guide
• Denmark Travel Guide
• England Travel Guide
• Estonia Travel Guide
• Finland Travel Guide
• France Travel Guide
• Germany Travel Guide
• Greece Travel Guide
• Hungary Travel Guide
• Iceland Travel Guide
• Ireland Travel Guide
• Italy Travel Guide
• Latvia Travel Guide
• Lithuania Travel Guide
• Malta Travel Guide
• Moldova Travel Guide
• Montenegro Travel Guide
• Netherlands Travel Guide
• Norway Travel Guide
• Portugal Travel Guide
• Poland Travel Guide
• Romania Travel Guide
• Scotland Travel Guide
• Slovakia Travel Guide
• Slovenia Travel Guide
• Spain Travel Guide
• Sweden Travel Guide
• Switzerland Travel Guide
• Ukraine Travel Guide

Europe Travel Costs

Accommodation – Accommodation prices vary greatly by region. In Western Europe, hostel dorm rooms cost between 25-45 EUR per night, depending on the room’s size and the popularity of the hostel. I stayed in a 6-bed dorm in Berlin for 20 EUR, while the same one would have cost me around 45 EUR in Paris. A room in Paris costs on the higher end and a room in cheaper Athens costs on the lower end.

In Eastern Europe, hostel dorm rooms cost between 10-15 EUR per night depending on the size of the dorm room and the popularity of the hostel. The further east you go, the cheaper it gets. Expect to pay around 30-60 EUR per night for a private room that sleeps two.

In Scandinavia, hostel dorm beds cost around 25-45 EUR, while private rooms are 65-80 EUR. Budget hotels start around 85 EUR.

Most accommodations offer free linens, free Wi-Fi, and a lot offer free breakfast, but it’s important to check specific websites for exact amenities.

Campsites cost between 10-15 EUR per night for a basic plot for two without electricity.

Food – Food traditions in Europe run deep, stretching back centuries to become integral parts of each country’s culture. From baguettes in France to tapas in Spain, from hearty Eastern European stews and goulash to the fresh vegetables and olive oils of the Mediterranean, European cuisine varies as much as the countries themselves. Food prices differ greatly across the continent, so check individual country guides for specifics.

But no matter where you are, even in the more expensive countries, finding places to eat within your budget is easier than you might think. Throughout Western Europe, you can find small shops, street food stalls, or food trucks where you can get sandwiches, gyros, kebabs, slices of pizza, or sausages for between 3-7 EUR. These shops are most often found in train stations, bus stations, and main pedestrian areas, and offer cheap food alternatives that can have you eating on 12-17 EUR per day. Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 7-10 EUR for a combo meal.

Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Vietnamese eateries abound in Germany, while Indian food is incredible and everywhere in the United Kingdom. Meals at these restaurants usually cost between 8-12 EUR.

Restaurant meals in casual, traditional eateries generally cost around 13-25 EUR for a main dish and drink. Food is much cheaper in the east than in the west, and in the west, northern regions like Scandinavia and the UK are more expensive than southern countries like Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

In Eastern Europe, even if you are eating out for all your meals, you can still get by on a food budget of as little as 15 EUR per day.

For drinks, a pint of beer is 2-5 EUR, a glass of wine is 2-7 EUR, a cappuccino is 2-5 EUR, and cocktails range from 6-14 EUR.

If you eat out, do so at lunch and get the prix-fixe menu (two-course or three-course set menu). Restaurants offer this set menu during lunch, and with prices between 10-20 EUR, it’s a way better deal than the regular dinner menu. You can also get affordable lunches at outdoor markets. So many European cities have huge fresh food markets throughout town.

You can cook your own food for around 45-65 EUR per week. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, seasonal produce, bread, and some meat. You can save money by shopping at discount supermarkets like Profi, Lidl, Aldi, and Penny Market.

If you want to save big money on meals, head to one of the markets, pick up some cheese, wine, bread, meats, or anything else, and go to the park for a picnic. (Or grab a sandwich for later!) You’ll find the locals doing the same thing, and it’s one of the cheaper ways to get a true taste of local food.

Backpacking Europe Suggested Budgets

Prices for travel in Europe vary greatly depending on how far north, east, south, or west you travel. If you stick to the budget accommodations, food, and tours listed here and use all my tips on saving money, you need about 65-110 EUR per day in Western Europe, 40-50 EUR in Eastern Europe, and about 85-130 EUR in Scandinavia.

Those numbers reflect a traveler who stays in hostels, cooks some meals and eats out cheaply, enjoys a few drinks, and sticks to free and cheap activities like hiking, walking tours, and enjoying nature. This is your typical backpacker budget. You aren’t going to have a fancy time, but you aren’t going to want for anything either.

However, by getting tourist cards and rail passes, avoiding flights, occasionally Couchsurfing or camping, cooking all your meals, and not drinking, you can travel a lot cheaper. On this budget, you could do Western Europe on 35-45 EUR per day, Eastern Europe on 20-25 EUR, and Scandinavia on 50-65 EUR. That would require you to take a train or a bus or hitchhike everywhere, skip most museums, and limit how often you go out.

Generally, the suggested daily budget for Europe is 80-120 EUR. You can use the chart below to get an idea of how much you need to budget daily. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in EUR.

Europe Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Individual country guides have more specific information on how to save money in them but here are some general tips on cutting your costs while you explore Europe:

• Picnic – This continent has a lot of little shops where you can buy pre-made sandwiches or ingredients to make your own. Many supermarkets have delis as well where you can get food to go. Buy some food, eat outside, and watch the city and its people go by. It’s a much more enjoyable and cheaper way to eat.
• Eat local and cheap – Not into picnicking? Eat at local sandwich shops, pizza parlors, Maoz, Wok to Walks, and outdoor street vendors. Avoiding restaurants and eating at a lot of the local “grab n’ go” places gives you a taste of the local cuisine at a much cheaper price. If you’re really on a budget, use your creative cooking skills to prepare meals at the hostel as well.
• Stay with a local – Hostels can add up really quickly. If you don’t have any friends with whom you can stay, consider using Couchsurfing , which connects you with locals who let you stay with them for free. Plus, they tend to also have meetups to meet other locals and travelers. It’s a great way to save on accommodation and meet a local who can share their insider tips and advice.
• Camp in a garden – A very good camping service specific to Europe is Campspace , which allows you to pitch a tent in someone’s backyard for free or for a small fee (around 10-20 EUR). All of the garden owners have profiles that tell you what services and facilities they offer. Also, many countries allow wild camping (like Sweden), which can save you a fortune if you have a tent.
• Take the bus – Budget bus companies like Flixbus can take you across the continent for cheap. I personally feel it’s best for day travel as sitting up for an overnight bus isn’t really ideal for sleeping. It isn’t glamorous, but with tickets starting at 5 EUR, you really can’t complain!
• Get a Rail Pass – Eurail Passes have saved me hundreds of dollars. If you are traveling far distances and through many countries, they are a great deal.
• Take the free city tours – One of the great things about Europe is that you can find free walking tours in all the major cities. They can be a great way to see the city attractions, take in some history, and learn your bearings without spending any money. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Plan accordingly – Plan your trip around Europe so you avoid doubling back. Transportation is a big expense so proper planning can save you a lot of money (and time). Go in a straight line or a loop. Booking your accommodation ahead helps you save as well since cheap, good places unsurprisingly get reserved first. One thing I’ve learned is that waiting until the last minute means you get stuck with expensive places or cheap places no one wants.
• Fly cheap – If you know where you are going and a train won’t do, try to book flights early. You can often get round trip fares for as little as 5 EUR from many of the European discount airlines like Ryanair or Wizz. Many capital cities have smaller airports farther from the city with ‘inconvenient’ times but cheaper fares. Keep in mind you might need to factor in an early morning Uber or taxi if the busses aren’t running and you have an early flight!
• Drink less – Those 5 EUR beers add up. Hit happy hours or pick and choose when you party. Hostel bars are a good place to get cheap drinks or buy your alcohol at the supermarket. Plus, in Europe, it’s legal to drink outside in parks, plazas, by the lakes or rivers. You’ll find you can save a lot of money by not going to bars and clubs. Partying your way across the continent will destroy your bank balance in no time.
• Get a city tourist card – Many local tourism offices sell a tourism card for all their attractions, tours, and restaurants. This card gives you free entry and substantial discounts on all the attractions and tours in a city, free local public transportation (a huge plus), and discounts at a few restaurants and shopping malls. They save a ton of money. If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, get one of these cards.
• Rideshare – If you’re flexible in your schedule, use the ridesharing service BlaBlaCar to catch rides with locals between cities (or countries) by paying a small fee. It’s like Airbnb but for rides. I used this service in Switzerland and, not only did I save a lot of money, but I got to meet interesting people and learn about local culture and life. Drivers are verified and it’s perfectly safe, though sometimes rides cancel at the last minute (which is why you need to be flexible). Check their ratings first and try to use rides where the person has done many trips.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water is safe to drink in most of Europe, so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.
• Get a HostelPass – HostelPass is a discount membership for hostels in Europe. Members get 10-20% off select hostels around Europe, as well as perks like free breakfast or free drinks. There are discounts on tours and activities too. It’s a great way to save money if you’re bouncing around Europe as they have hostels in 18 countries around the continent.

Where to Stay in Europe

Europe has a ton of budget accommodation options. The individual country and city guides have tons of recommendations but here’s a short list of some of my favorite budget hostels and hotels around Europe:

• The Flying Pig (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
• Hotel 54 (Barcelona, Spain)
• Generator Hostel (Copenhagen, Denmark)
• Harcourt Hotel (Dublin, Ireland)
• Castle Rock (Edinburgh, Scotland)
• Ios Palm Pansion (Ios, Greece)
• Greg and Tom’s Party Hostel (Krakow, Poland)
• Largo da Sé Guest House (Lisbon, Portugal)
• Sophie’s Hostel (Prague, Czech Republic)
• The Yellow (Rome, Italy)
• City Backpackers (Stockholm, Sweden)

How to Get Around Europe

Public transportation – Transportation around most European cities is by tram, subway, or bus. Prices are typically around 2 EUR for a one-way ticket in Western Europe and closer to 1 EUR in Eastern Europe. Most large cities also have day passes available that offer unlimited public transportation. These passes are usually 5-12 EUR per day.

In large cities with international airports, there is usually a bus or train available that ferries travelers from the downtown core to the airport. Expect to pay around 5-15 EUR to get to/from the airport.

Bus – Buses are not quite as comfortable as Europe’s trains, although certain lines do have great amenities (like roomy seats and Wi-Fi). While buses are not the most efficient way to travel around the continent, they’re certainly dependable, reliable, and cheap. You can find last-minute rides for as little as 5 EUR. A route from Berlin to Munich is about 25 EUR, while Paris to Bordeaux can be as low as 10 EUR. Longer routes, like Amsterdam to Copenhagen, start at around 47 EUR.

Each country has its own national bus service, but some lines also take you long distances internationally. Megabus and Flixbus (which now owns Eurolines) are the most popular companies.

Train – Train travel is a great way to see Europe. Intercity train prices vary wildly from country to country, depending on whether you take the slow train or a high-speed train and how far in advance you book. For example, a high-speed train from Berlin to Munich costs around 38-60 EUR, Bordeaux to Paris is about 50-85 EUR, and Madrid to Barcelona ranges from 45-85 EUR. Non-high-speed trains and other intercity lines are a lot cheaper, generally costing about 40-50% of the price of high-speed trains. Eastern Europe inter-country trains usually cost between 45-100 EUR when the ticket is booked last minute. Short train rides of 2-3 hours within countries cost about 27 EUR.

To find routes and prices for trains around Europe, use Trainline .

You may also want to consider getting a Eurail Pass , which allows travelers to explore Europe by providing a set number of stops in a specific time period. These passes are continent-wide, country-specific, or regional. It can potentially save you hundreds of dollars.

Ridesharing/Car sharing – If your schedule is flexible, use a ridesharing service and catch rides with locals between cities (or countries). Drivers are verified and it’s perfectly safe. BlaBlaCar is the most popular.

If you’d rather rent a car yourself and find passengers to share a ride with, use Discover Cars to find the best car rental prices.

Flying – Budget airlines are so prolific that competition helps keep fares low. You can often find tickets where the fare is just 5 EUR round-trip! Companies like EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz, and Vueling offer mind-blowingly cheap flights throughout Europe. Book at least a month early to scoop up great deals.

Make sure that the airport they fly into isn’t too far out of your way (transportation from the secondary airport sometimes negates the savings from using the budget airline itself).

Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay to check your baggage on these cheap flights. It costs about 25-39 EUR for one checked bag. If you wait to pay for your luggage at the gate, you end up paying almost double. Travel carry-on only to avoid this added cost.

Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking in Europe is very safe, but it’s not for everyone. Hitching is quite common around the continent and I’ve met a number of travelers who have done it (I, myself, traveled this way in Bulgaria and Iceland). Some countries are very supportive (Romania, Iceland, Germany) while others may be a bit more time-consuming (Italy, Spain). HitchWiki is the best website for hitchhiking info.

Here are my suggested articles for how to get around Europe:

• 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe
• Are Eurail Passes a Giant Scam or Do They Save You Money?
• The Ultimate Guide to Finding Cheap Flights

When to Go to Europe

There’s no wrong time to visit Europe. Peak season is summer, when Europe gets crowded and August is the time most European families are at the beach so everything becomes more crowded and expensive. But the overall atmosphere and weather are great during this time, so it’s still worth visiting during peak season (just book your accommodation in advance — especially in August). Keep in mind it’s much hotter in summer so if you like AC, be sure to check that your hostel or hotel has it before you book. You can expect the most crowds in Western Europe. For this reason, I feel summer is a great time to visit the Balkans and the Baltics because many people head to the beaches in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece.

Shoulder season is spring and fall (April-May and September-October). It’s still warm during this time but there aren’t as many crowds and prices are cheaper. This is my favorite time to visit hotspot places like Spain, Croatia and Greece, where it’s still hot enough to swim in the sea but you have way more room on the beach. It’s also a good time to go hiking in the Alps in Germany, northern Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland because it’s cooler during the day so you’re much less sweaty on the mountain without shade. The weather is good, the crowds are smaller, and the prices lower.

Winter is from November to February but in much of Central Europe, it’s wet and cold until March or April. It gets cold, even as far south as it gets (like Greece). On the other hand, the Christmas season has Christmas markets and festivals galore! Even if it’s cold, this is a cultural tradition you can’t miss and why I love Europe in December. There is hot mulled wine, sweets, and plenty of hot snacks, which vary by country. One of my favorites is Prague because the Old Town Square is lit up with a gigantic tree with aromas of crispy cinnamon pastries and mulled wine. Berlin takes their Christmas markets very seriously, so there are around 80 different markets with special themes.

Winter is fantastic in Europe for skiing and snowboarding but it doesn’t have to break the bank if you plan carefully. While Switzerland and France are probably the most famous, they are also expensive, but there are plenty of budget winter options.

How to Stay Safe in Europe

Europe is very safe for backpacking and solo traveling, even if you’re traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. Violent crimes against tourists are very rare. In fact, some of the safest countries in the world are in Europe. (I wrote a whole article about how Europe is safe to visit right now .)

That said, there are scams and petty crimes you should watch out for, especially around popular tourist landmarks. The most important thing to be aware of is pickpockets in crowds and on public transportation. Zip your bags and don’t put your mobile phone in a jacket pocket where someone could quickly take it. This should be obvious but don’t flash your money to let everyone know you have a huge wad of cash.

When choosing a hostel, look for ones with lockers. It’s always a good idea to carry around a padlock or combination lock. Most hostels are safe and travelers respect each other and I’ve rarely seen things happen to people’s valuables. Nevertheless, I always think that prevention is better.

As anywhere, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). When at the bar, always keep an eye on your drink. Avoid walking home alone at night if you’re intoxicated.

For female travelers in particular, it’s always a good idea to have a bit of extra money on you just in case you need to take an Uber or taxi back by yourself so you don’t take unnecessary risks to save money. If you’re using apps to date people while traveling, please use common sense and meet in public places. Since I’m not a female traveler, please check out the numerous female bloggers who have first hand knowledge of this.

If you’re worried about scams, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you rent a vehicle, don’t leave any valuables in it overnight. Break-ins are rare, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Be aware that the UK drives on the left and that most rental cars in Europe will have manual transmissions unless you request otherwise.

When hiking, always bring water, sunscreen, and bandaids or foot plasters. There is nothing worse than being halfway up the mountain with a blister and nothing you can do about it!

Likewise, when at the coast, don’t forget not only to wear sunscreen! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people get burnt to a crisp the first day. Be sure to check the weather before you depart and dress accordingly.

If you do experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary to loved ones so they know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Europe Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

GO DEEPER: Nomadic Matt’s In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

While I have a lot of free tips on Europe, I also wrote an entire book that goes into great detail on everything you need to plan a trip here on a budget! You’ll get suggested itineraries, budgets, even more ways to save money, my favorite restaurants, prices, practical information (i.e. phone numbers, websites, prices, safety advice, etc etc), and cultural tips.

I’ll give the insider view of Europe that I got from years of traveling and living here! The downloadable guide can be used on your Kindle, iPad, phone, or computer so you can have it with you when you go. Click here to learn more about my book on Europe!

Europe Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more tips for your trip? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Europe travel and continue planning your trip:

The 7 Best Hotels in London

10 Scotland Road Trip Tips You Need to Know Before You Go

The Perfect 7-Day Croatia Itinerary

The 6 Best Hotels in Copenhagen

The 6 Best Hotels in Florence

The 7 Best Hotels in Madrid

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Renew early. Passport processing times  vary. And some countries and airlines deny entry if your passport expires in less than 6 months.

Determine if you can renew your passport

If any of the following are true, you cannot renew your U.S. passport and must instead apply for a new passport in person using Form DS-11:

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• Damaged, lost, or stolen. Learn how to report a lost or stolen passport.
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If none of the above situations are true, you can renew your U.S. passport. 

Can you renew an expired passport?

You can renew an expired passport, but only if it was issued within the last 15 years.

How to renew your passport and what documents you will need

Passports can only be renewed by mail, and the renewal process for passport books and cards is the same. You will select which type of passport you want when you fill out the application form. Online renewals are currently paused. Because it can take up to three months to process your application, it is important to renew your passport before it expires.

Typically, you will need the following items to renew your passport:

• You can fill out Form DS-82 online , or
• Download Form DS-82 and fill it out by hand, or
• Find your local passport acceptance facility or regional agency and pick up a copy.
• Passport photo
• Passport fee
• Your most recent passport - Your most recent passport will be mailed back to you separately after your new passport is mailed.
• Name change documentation, if necessary

Learn how to submit all your documentation and passport fees and where to mail them.

Check with the Department of State to find out the current processing times for passport renewals .

If you need your passport quickly

Learn how and where to get your passport fast for emergency or urgent travel or to get expedited processing. The time it takes for each varies throughout the year, and there may be additional fees. Use the fee calculator or chart.

Check the status of your passport renewal

Learn how to check the status of your passport renewal online . Or check its status by phone (call wait times may be long).

If you need to change your name or correct your passport

After you receive your renewed passport, if you change your name or find an error, you will need to get an updated one to reflect the change. The process, cost, and forms you need depend on how long you have had your current passport. Follow the steps from the State Department to change your name or correct your passport.

If you are outside the U.S.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate near you to request a passport while outside the U.S.

If you need help with your passport application

If you have questions about your U.S. passport, the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) can help. Get contact information for NPIC and find out when to contact them based on when you are traveling.

Be aware of passport expiration rules for your destination

Some countries and airlines will not allow a U.S. passport holder to enter if their passport expires in less than 6 months. 

Check your destination country's U.S. passport expiration rules on the  Department of State's country information page .

• On the left, search for the country name in the "learn about your destination" box.
• On that country's page, look for "passport validity."

LAST UPDATED: May 15, 2024

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