Is London expensive? Real daily costs for hotels, food, the Tube and sights, plus free museums, cheap eats and when to go — a practical London budget guide.
London has a reputation as one of the most expensive cities in Europe, and for hotels that reputation is earned. But it's also a city where many of the best things — world-class museums, huge parks, markets, riverside walks — cost nothing at all. Here's what a trip really costs, and where you can save without missing out.
The short answer
Yes, London is expensive — mainly because of where you sleep. Accommodation is the single biggest cost, and it's high all year. Food can be cheap or very pricey depending on how you eat, transport is reasonable if you use contactless and the daily caps, and the big national museums are free.
Prices below are approximate ranges in pounds sterling (GBP, £). They change with the season and demand, so always check current prices before you go.
Typical daily costs
Approximate ranges per person, per day, excluding flights.
| Budget | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (hostel bed / simple hotel, shared room) | £30–70 | £90–200 |
| Food (meal deals, markets, pub dinner) | £20–35 | £45–90 |
| Transport (Tube and buses, within the daily cap) | £5–10 | £8–15 |
| Sights (free museums + one paid attraction) | £0–35 | £35–80 |
| Total per day | £55–150 | £180–385 |
Couples sharing a double room bring the per-person stay cost down a lot — and in London, that matters more than anywhere.
Where the money goes
Accommodation
Staying in Westminster, Covent Garden or Mayfair is convenient but expensive. Better value is usually found a little further out on a good Tube line: King's Cross, Bloomsbury, Shoreditch, Southwark, or areas in zones 2–3 like Camden or Bermondsey. Check the walk to the nearest station — five extra minutes on foot can save a lot per night. Prices jump around school holidays, big concerts and December.
Food
London can be one of the best-value food cities in Europe if you know where to look:
- Supermarket meal deals — a sandwich, snack and drink from Tesco, Sainsbury's or Boots is the classic cheap lunch.
- Markets — Borough Market, Camden Market and Spitalfields have street food from around the world, often cheaper than a sit-down meal.
- Brick Lane and Whitechapel for curries, and Chinatown for good-value noodles and dim sum.
- Pubs — a main and a drink in a pub is usually cheaper than a restaurant, and the Sunday roast is worth one splurge.
- Watch out for restaurants right next to Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus — walk a few streets away and prices drop.
Tap water is free and safe to drink, and you can ask for it in any restaurant.
Getting around
You don't need an Oyster card any more: just tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone. Pay-as-you-go fares have daily and weekly caps, so however many journeys you make, you won't pay more than the cap for your zones. Use the same card or phone every time, or the caps won't apply.
- Buses have a flat fare and are often the cheapest way to sightsee — sit upstairs at the front of a double-decker through central London.
- Off-peak Tube fares are cheaper than peak, so starting a little later saves money.
- Walking is underrated: many central sights are closer than the Tube map makes them look.
- Black cabs are expensive; save them for late nights or heavy bags.
Sights
The free museums carry the trip, but a few paid sights are worth budgeting for:
- Tower of London — one of the pricier tickets, but it's half a day with the Crown Jewels. Buying online in advance is often cheaper.
- Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral — both charge for sightseeing entry. Attending a service is free, but it isn't a tour.
- The London Eye — paid, with queues. Book ahead and compare prices for different times.
- The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben — free to look at from Westminster Bridge; tours are paid and limited.
Combination passes exist, but they only pay off if you'll actually visit lots of the included paid sights in a short time. Add it up before you buy.
Free and cheap things worth doing
- The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A — free general entry (special exhibitions cost extra). Some suggest booking a free time slot.
- Sky Garden — free views over the City, but you need to book in advance and slots go fast.
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace — free; check the schedule, as it doesn't happen every day.
- Hyde Park, St James's Park and Regent's Park — picnic territory, and Primrose Hill has one of the best free skyline views.
- The South Bank walk from Westminster to Tower Bridge, past the Globe and Tate Modern.
- Columbia Road Flower Market on Sunday mornings and Portobello Road on Saturdays.
When is London cheapest?
- January to March (outside half-term holidays) is usually the cheapest time for hotels. It's cold, dark early and often grey, but the museums are calmer.
- April–May and September–October offer a good balance of mild weather and prices, though popular dates still fill up.
- June to August and December are the busiest and most expensive, with summer holidays and Christmas markets pushing up rates.
London weather changes quickly in any season — pack a light rain jacket whatever the forecast says.
A sample 3-day budget
For two people sharing a simple hotel room near King's Cross in autumn, a realistic trip per person might be:
- Stay: 3 nights at £50–90 each.
- Food: a meal deal or market lunch each day, one pub dinner and one nicer meal — around £30–50 a day.
- Sights: British Museum, National Gallery and Tate Modern free, Sky Garden booked ahead, Tower of London paid.
- Transport: contactless pay-as-you-go, staying under the daily cap.
That puts many travellers somewhere around £300–500 per person for three days before flights or trains.
If you'd rather not juggle all of this, tell Journey "3 days in London in November, £450 each, two of us, lots of free museums" and it plans every day hour by hour, with real places and a total that fits your budget. Say "make day 3 cheaper" or "swap the Tower for something free" and it changes the plan. Join the waitlist to try it first.
FAQ
Is London more expensive than Paris?
They're broadly similar, and both are among Europe's priciest cities. London hotels often cost a little more, but its many free national museums can make the sightseeing side of a trip cheaper.
How much money do I need per day in London?
Excluding flights, roughly £55–150 a day on a budget and £180–385 for a more comfortable trip. Where you stay makes the biggest difference.
Are London museums really free?
Yes — the major national museums, like the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern and Natural History Museum, have free general entry. Special exhibitions are paid, and some museums ask you to book a free time slot.