Free tool
London Trip Budget Calculator
Pick your days, group size and travel style. We'll estimate hotel, food, getting around and sightseeing in pounds, plus shows and attractions.
A London trip costs roughly £125 per person per day on a budget, £250 mid-range and £750 in luxury, sharing a room (our estimates). Hotels are the biggest cost, but many top museums are free and contactless fares cap at £8.90 a day in Zones 1–2. A West End show or the Tower adds £35–75. Use the calculator for your trip.
Daily costs by travel style
| Per day | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel (per room, per night) | £120 | £230 | £700 |
| Food and drink (per person) | £40 | £85 | £220 |
| Getting around (per person) | £9 | £12 | £60 |
| Sights and activities (per person) | £15 | £40 | £120 |
| Per person per day (sharing a room) | £124 | £252 | £750 |
All figures are our estimates (est.) in pounds, rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to London cost per day?
Our estimate is about £125 per person per day on a budget (sharing a room), £250 mid-range and £750 for luxury, covering a hotel, food, the Tube and a few paid sights. West End shows, the Tower of London and afternoon tea are extras you can add in the calculator.
Is London expensive for tourists?
Hotels and eating out are expensive, but many of the best sights are free: the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum, the V&A and the Royal Parks. Contactless fares cap at £8.90 a day in Zones 1–2.
How can I save money in London?
Fill days with the free national museums, eat at markets and pubs, buy a supermarket meal deal for lunch, use contactless so fares cap automatically, and look for theatre day seats and last-minute ticket booths.
Do London hotel prices include VAT?
Prices shown to UK consumers normally include 20% VAT, but always check the total at booking for city taxes or extras.
Where do these numbers come from?
They're our estimates, built from the price bands in our London guides, hotel booking sites, reviews and traveller reports, rounded. The daily fare cap is TfL's.
Sources and how current this is
Fares, rates and norms come from the official sources below unless marked as an estimate, and were checked in November 2026. Operators change prices, so check the source before you rely on a number.
- TfL — Adult rate prices 2026 (PDF) — £8.90 Zones 1–2 daily cap used in the budget style
Best estimates (not official)
Where no official figure was available, we use our best estimate from published reports, operator sites, reviews and traveler reports. These are marked "est." in the tools above; treat them as a guide, not a quote.
- Hotel, food, transport and activity costs per style — the price bands in our London guides, hotel booking sites, reviews and traveller reports, rounded
- Show, attraction and afternoon tea prices — typical 2026 prices on official ticket sites as reported; they vary by date
Related guides
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