Is London expensive to visit?
London is a popular destination that is also moderately priced. It falls in the middle range of travel cost prices globaly with a daily average travel cost of $283. If we compare it to the rest of Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It ranks in the top 50% of cities in Europe for its travel costs. Its travel costs are comparable with places such as Lucerne and Paris.

London, England
How expensive is London?
For a trip to London, travelers spend on average $283 per day (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations from previous visitors. As this is an average cost, your individual spending may vary, especially since there's a wide range of accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment options here. If you stick to moderately-priced hotels and restaurants, as well as take advantage of some of free things to do in the area, you can stick close to the average budget. See more travel costs for London here to see how all of the average spending costs pan out.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to London?
On average, a weekend trip to London costs about $849 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a weekend trip costs $1,697.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to London?
A one week trip to London costs about $1,980 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $3,961.

London
Is it expensive to backpack in London?
With more than 60 hostels in the area, London is a popular backpacker destination for travelers looking to stay on a tight budget and have a fun time along the way. Here, hostels cost an average of $25 per night for a dorm bed, with private rooms being more expensive. (See hostel prices in London here.) It's also common to see a wide range in prices, as the cheapest hostels here cost $6, but the most expensive can be more than $51 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in London.
- $31 for a dorm bed at Wombat's City Hostel London
- $37 for a dorm bed at Palmers Lodge - Swiss Cottage
- $25 for a dorm bed at Astor Museum Inn
Are hotels expensive in London?
When we look at our analysis of hotel prices in London, we find them to be fairly typical and standard in comparison to the rest of the world. The average nightly cost for a hotel room here is approximately $126. The area boasts about 129 five-star hotels with an average rate of $375 per night. For those seeking a balance between comfort and affordability, three-star hotels offer an average rate of $110 per night, while two-star hotels provide an even more budget-friendly option at $71 per night.
Hotels by star rating in London
Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
---|---|---|
5 stars | 129 | $375 |
4 stars | 416 | $164 |
3 stars | 569 | $110 |
2 stars | 227 | $71 |
1 star | 20 | $79 |
No rating | 11 | $166 |

Big Ben, London, England
How expensive are sightseeing activities in London?
In London, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $42 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is more than the country's average of $36.
Name | Price | |
---|---|---|
The Natural History Museum | Free | more info |
The Tower Bridge | £13-27 | more info |
The Tower of London | £34 | more info |
Buckingham Palace | £50-100 | more info |
The British Museum | Free | more info |
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament | £20-32 | more info |
Westminster Abbey | £29 | more info |
The Top of the Shard | £28 | more info |
The National Gallery | Free | more info |
St. Paul's Cathedral | £21 | more info |
Trafalgar Square | Free | |
The SEA LIFE London Aquarium | £25 | more info |
The London Eye | £26 | more info |
Hyde Park | Free | more info |
Borough Market | Free | more info |
Camden Market | Free | more info |
- Hampton Court Palace private tour with an accredited expert guide: $264
- The National Gallery of London - Exclusive Guided Museum Tour: $113
- Working Women of the East End Walking Tour: $39
- A craft beer tasting tour of the Bermondsey Beer Mile: $63
- Hidden London E-Scooter Tour: $54
- Half Day Bible Study Tour Through the British Museum: $64
- Sussex Villages and White Cliffs Tour from London: $115
- Historic London Pubs Private Walking Tour: $213
Is food expensive in London?
In London, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $78 per day on food, which is less than the country's average of $81.
- Traditional English Walking Food Tour With London Food Tours: $97
- 3 Hour Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class in London: $116
- International Stand Up Comedy Showcase - Show & Dinner (Côte): $88
- Borough Market Food Tour with a Foodie Tailored to Your Tastes & Interests : $206
- Camden Market & Southbank Cycle Food Tour : $124
- London Cabaret Show and Dinner at Wonderville : $37
Is transportation expensive in London?
Exploring local transportation in London shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $34 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $38. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.
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.