How Much Does It Cost To Vacation In London
Vacationing in London is always a delight. From the bustling iconic Big Ben to the numerous pubs, there is never a dull moment. However 2018, beckons. You’ve booked your tickets, and booked your hotel in London; all that waits is a budget to follow suit. Well I haven’t done the same thing as most people and ran to Google for the answer, instead I’ve written a blog post on how much does it cost to vacation in London.
There are many reasons to vacation in London, but not all of them have to do with work. There are a lot of wonderful things you can enjoy while traveling abroad. That said, I’d like to share some of my experiences regarding vacations in this bustling city. Going on a vacation is one of the best ways to explore the world and learn new things about other countries. Don’t think that you have to stay at a hotel in order to enjoy dinning out or visiting museums. Visiting London for vacation is a milestone for most. It’s the most populated city in England and is rich in history. For those who find themselves sleeping on a couch, bunk bed, or air mattress this article will be very helpful for planning their visit to the British capital.
London is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world—there’s no doubt about that. But where does all this fame come from? Its history, of course! It was first founded by the Romans back in 43 AD under the name of Londinium and is home to a wealth of attractions, landmarks, and historical buildings.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit London? [Cost Calculator]
February 17, 2022 / No Comments
As you plan your trip to London, you’ve probably notice one thing: that place is expensive! London is one of the most expensive cities in the world – both for visitors and for locals who live there. (I can attest to both as I’ve spent a lot visiting and definitely ran out of money while living there!)
Having a good estimate for a London budget can go a long way to helping you actually make your trip a reality since you can know exactly how much you need to save and how much you’ll plan to spend.
Based on my many trips over the years and throughout the different seasons, I’ve come up with a good estimate for the cost to visit London. Read on to discover my estimates for the various costs associated with planning a London trip, plus a handy calculator where you can get a personalized estimate for the cost of your London trip.
How Much Does It Cost To Vacation In London
Average Cost to Visit London
The average price of a 7-day trip to London is $2,549 for a solo traveler, $3,898 for a couple, and $6,596 for a family, with the main components of cost being (1) flights, (2) hotels/accommodation, and (3) meals.
Flights range from $650 in the off season to $950 during the peak, summer season. London hotels range from $181 to $281 per night by season/day of week with an average of $231; the average nightly cost for vacation rentals and Airbnbs is $148 per night. You should budget between $50-$100 per day, per person for meals, depending on whether you choose budget dining options or splurge at fancier restaurants.
Read on for more details about the cost for each party size, or use my London cost calculator
Solo Traveler
The average cost for a solo traveler to visit London for 7 days is $2,749; here’s a breakdown:
- Flights to London range from around $650 to $950 per person.
- Hotels cost an average of $200 per night for a 3-star stay, or $1,400 for a weeklong trip.
- You should budget $300 to $600 for food and drinks during your 7-day solo London trip.
Couple
The average cost for a couple visiting London for 7 days is $2,749; here’s a breakdown:
- Flights to London range from around $650 to $950 per person, or $1,300 to $1,900 for a couple.
- Hotels cost an average of $200 per night for a 3-star stay, or $1,400 for a weeklong trip.
- You should budget $600 to $1,200 for food and drinks during your 7-day solo London trip.
Family (of 4)
The average cost for a solo traveler to visit London for 7 days is $2,749; here’s a breakdown:
- Flights to London range from around $650 to $950 per person, $2,600 to $3,800 for a family of four.
- Assuming everyone stays in the same room, hotels cost an average of $200 per night for a 3-star stay, or $1,400 for a weeklong trip.
- You should budget $900 to $1,800 for food and drinks during your 7-day solo London trip.
Peak vs Shoulder Season in London
As flights are one of the biggest expenses in planning your trip, one of the biggest factors that affects the cost to visit London is the season you visit.
During the peak season (summer), flights are about 46% more expensive than the off season (spring/autumn). It might also surprise you to learn that winter in London (especially around Christmastime) costs almost as much as summer – only about 15% less.
Also, if you want to save on flights but have your heart set on a specific season you want to visit London, the best way to save is by booking your flights in advance.
Flights are typically at their cheapest about 80 days before departure – so start searching for your flights about three months before you want to visit. Flights get much more expensive as your departure date approaches, rising almost 40%.
All this to say – don’t wait to book your flights, as they won’t get cheaper!
My favorite tool for finding London flight deals is Kayak. If your dates are flexible, there are some really cool services that keep an eye out for flight deals from your home city – and you can occasionally get a great deal on London flights that way. Check out Dollar Flight Club and Scott’s Cheap Flights to signup for those services.
Accommodation Costs in London
Hotels are the other big expense you’ll face when planning your London trip, and unfortunately I’ve never found a cheap way to save much on this part of planning.
As you might guess based on the seasonality of flight costs, hotels are also more expensive in the summer months than during other parts of the year. Typically, a 3-star hotel is about $281 per night during sunny June and July, while it falls as low as $181 per night during grey, rainy February.
Hotels are at their cheapest during the winter (unlike flights), while spring and autumn costs rise quickly and stay high (also unlike flights).
If you’d rather try and save by using a vacation rental or Airbnb, that’s definitely an option. I never look at shared rooms, but private rooms average $76 per night on Airbnb, and having an entire house averages $217 per night.
Putting that all together, you can expect to spend about $146 per night.
Food & Drink Costs in London
One other important cost to consider is food and drink – after all, London has an incredible dining scene and there’s way more to try than just British food (London has every ethnic cuisine you might want to try!).
To estimate food and drink costs in my London cost calculator, here are the breakdowns:
- Takeaway meals: £5-£8
- Pub meals: £6-£10
- Restaurant meals: £20-£40+
- Pints: £2.50-£3
Assuming you have one of each of these each day (i.e. takeaway from Pret for breakfast, pub for lunch, restaurant for dinner with a pint…), your food costs will range from around $40-$85 per day.
To make this more reasonable, I assumed that budget-conscious travelers would spend $50 (£35) to $100 (£70) if you want to splurge on nice meals and other food experiences like afternoon tea – per day.
The Cost for Tours & Excursions in London
One last expense you might want to consider is for tours. You actually don’t need to spend anything on tours to have a great time in London; most museums are free and you can enjoy lots of attractions from the outside without paying admission.
If you do choose to spend money on any tours or attractions, I recommend buying the London Pass. It gets you free admission to many popular London attractions and helps you save a ton if you do want to go inside some of the attractions that charge admission.
If you choose to spend on tours, attractions, and excursions, I recommend setting aside about $200 for that part of your budget.
London Travel Cost Calculator
Ready to get a more exact estimate for your trip? Use my cost calculator below to come up with a personalized London budget.
London Travel Costs
Party Size
How many people are traveling in your group?1234
Season
When do you plan to visit Alaska?SummerSpring or AutumnWinter
Days
How many days do you plan to visit Alaska?- Select value – 5 Days (4 Nights) 6 Days (5 Nights) 7 Days (6 Nights) 8 Days (7 Nights) 9 Days (8 Nights) 10 Days (9 Nights) 11 Days (10 Nights) 12 Days (11 Nights) 13 Days (12 Nights) 14 Days (13 Nights) 15 Days (14 Nights) 16 Days (15 Nights)
Meals
What kinds of meals do you plan to enjoy?- Select value – Budget-Friendly Mid-Range Splurge
Tours
Do you plan to do guided tours each day?- Select value – Yes No
Total Estimate
Party Size0
Season$ 0.00
Days$ 0.00
Meals$ 0.00
Tours$ 0.00
Total Description$ 0.00
If this is giving you some sticker shock, no worries. Check out my London Budget Bundle, which includes a London Savings Planner and my 20-page Affordable London eBook with 30+ tips to help you budget and save for your London trip. Best of all, it won’t break the bank!
Buy the London Budget Bundle for $9
While London isn’t a cheap destination, there are certainly ways to spend less – by planning your trip at the right time and taking advantage of the tips I suggest. Have any other questions about how much it costs to visit London? Let me know in the comments!
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VALERIE
Valerie fell in love with London on her first trip to the city way back in 2011. Since then, she spent a year living in London and visits as often as she can. Join her to explore my favorite city on earth and learn everything you need to discover the best London has to offer!
