Quick facts
Prices verified · March 2026- Cost per day
- Backpacker€74/person/dayMid-range€268/person/dayLuxury€649/person/day
- Best time to visit
- Spring (April–June): Pleasant (12–20°C), parks in bloom, long days.
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Why Visit London
London is one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. With 9+ million inhabitants and 300 languages spoken, it offers world-class museums (most of them free), a thriving food scene and a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring (April–June): Pleasant (12–20°C), parks in bloom, long days.
- Summer (July–August): Warmest (18–25°C), many outdoor events and festivals.
- Autumn (September–November): Beautiful foliage in parks, 10–18°C.
- Winter (December–February): Cold (2–8°C) but spectacular Christmas lights and January sales.
How Many Days Do You Need in London?
Three full days covers the essentials without rushing: the Westminster icons, the Tower and the City, and the museums and markets. Five days lets you add Greenwich, a day trip (Oxford, Bath or Windsor) and time to simply sit in a pub.
This is the three-day route we use, built so each day stays in one area and avoids crossing the city twice:
| Day | Focus | Route |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic London | Big Ben & Parliament (09:00) → Westminster Abbey (1.5h) → Changing of the Guard (11:00) → St James's Park → lunch in Soho → National Gallery (2h) → Covent Garden → West End show (19:30) |
| 2 | The City, Tower and East End | Tower of London (09:00, 2.5h) → Tower Bridge → Borough Market for lunch → Tate Modern (2h) → Millennium Bridge & St Paul's → Shoreditch and Brick Lane |
| 3 | Museums and markets | British Museum (10:00, 2.5h) → Camden Town for lunch → Regent's Park → Notting Hill and Portobello Road → classic pub |
Tip
Start day 1 at Big Ben by 09:00. The Changing of the Guard at 11:00 does not run daily, so check the schedule the night before and swap days if needed.
Top Attractions
Iconic Landmarks
- Tower of London: 1,000 years of history and the Crown Jewels. Entry £37.
- Buckingham Palace: Changing of the Guard at 11:00 (not daily). Interior visits in August–September for £30.
- Westminster Abbey: Royal coronations and weddings since 1066. Entry £31.
- Big Ben & Parliament: London's iconic clock tower. Parliament tours £30.
Free Museums
- British Museum: Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, Parthenon sculptures. Free.
- National Gallery: Masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Da Vinci. Trafalgar Square. Free.
- Tate Modern: Contemporary art in a former power station by the Thames. Free.
- Natural History Museum: Blue whale skeleton, dinosaurs and gems. Free.
- V&A Museum: The world's largest decorative arts museum. Free.
Info
Most of London's national museums are completely FREE. Only temporary exhibitions charge admission. This includes the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, V&A, Natural History and Science Museums.
Neighbourhoods
- Soho: Restaurants, bars, West End theatres and vibrant Carnaby Street.
- Camden Town: Alternative market, international food stalls, live music.
- Notting Hill: Colourful houses on Portobello Road, antiques market on Saturdays.
- Shoreditch: Street art, hipster cafes, vintage shops and nightlife.
- Greenwich: The Prime Meridian (free), royal park and skyline views from the observatory.
- South Bank: Thames-side walk from the London Eye to Tate Modern.
Getting Around
- Oyster Card / Contactless: Zone 1–2 journey costs £2.80. Daily cap of £8.50.
- Tube: 11 lines, runs 5:00–00:30 (24h on some lines Friday and Saturday nights).
- Bus: Iconic red double-decker. Same Oyster pricing. Bus 11 is a free "tour" through central London.
From airports:
- Heathrow (LHR): Piccadilly Line £5.50 (55 min) or Heathrow Express £25 (15 min to Paddington).
- Gatwick (LGW): Gatwick Express £19.90 (30 min to Victoria) or Thameslink £12 (45 min).
- Stansted (STN): Stansted Express £19.40 (47 min to Liverpool Street) or National Express bus from £8.
Tip
Use your contactless bank card directly on the Tube — it works exactly like an Oyster Card with the same daily cap. No need to buy a separate card.
Where to Stay in London
London is one of the world's most expensive cities for accommodation, so the neighbourhood you pick changes your budget more than the hotel category does. Four areas that work, from most central to best value:
| Area | Best for | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Bank / Waterloo | First visit, central location | £££ | Walking distance to the major attractions |
| King's Cross / St Pancras | Transport, hostels | ££ | Excellent links, including Eurostar |
| Shoreditch | Nightlife, younger crowd | ££ | Cheaper than the centre and full of character |
| Paddington / Bayswater | Quiet, Heathrow arrivals | ££ | Next to Hyde Park with a direct airport link |
Tip
Staying in zones 2–3 next to a Tube station is usually better value than a cramped zone 1 room: the daily fare cap means the extra travel costs you nothing beyond the cap.
Where to Eat
- Borough Market: London's most famous food market since 1014. Cheese, oysters (£1 each), artisan bread, raclette.
- Dishoom: Bombay-inspired Indian cuisine. The bacon naan roll at breakfast is legendary. £12–18 per dish.
- Flat Iron: Quality steak for £12 with salad. Frequent queues but worth the wait.
- Fish & Chips: Poppies in Spitalfields or The Golden Hind in Marylebone. £12–15.
- Sunday Roast: British Sunday tradition. The Grazing Goat or The Harwood Arms. £18–25.
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | £20–40 (hostel) | £100–180 (hotel) | £300+ |
| Food (per day) | £15–25 | £35–60 | £80+ |
| Transport (daily) | £8–10 | £15–25 | £40+ |
Hotels in London
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How to Spend Less in London
London is expensive, but a large part of what makes it worth visiting is free. These are the savings that actually move your daily budget:
- The national museums cost nothing. British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, V&A, Natural History and Science Museum are all free — only temporary exhibitions charge. Three museum mornings can save you £60–90 versus a city where they're ticketed.
- Same-day theatre at TKTS. The booth in Leicester Square sells that day's West End seats for up to 50% off. A £90 seat for £45 is common.
- Ask for tap water. It's free at every restaurant and cafe; say "tap water, please" and you won't be brought a bottle.
- Let the fare cap do the work. Contactless caps at £8.50 a day in zones 1–2, so once you've hit it, extra journeys are free — no need to plan around fares.
- Sunday roast instead of dinner out. A pub roast (£18–25) is a full meal, an experience, and cheaper than a comparable restaurant dinner.
Practical Tips
- Visa: EU citizens can visit for up to 6 months without a visa. Passport required (ID cards no longer accepted post-Brexit).
- Currency: British Pound (GBP). Cards accepted virtually everywhere.
- Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants (often added as "service charge"). Check the bill. No tipping at pubs — you order at the bar.
- Pub hours: Many close at 23:00 on weekdays, later on Friday and Saturday. Dinner service often stops well before closing.
- Plugs: Type G (three-pin). You'll need an adaptor.
- Weather: Always carry an umbrella or rain jacket. The weather changes fast.
- Pickpockets: London is safe, but keep bags closed on the Tube and around Oxford Street.
How much does 4 days in London cost?
Budget: £350–£500 without flights. Mid-range: £750–£1,200. London is expensive but the free museums help enormously.
Do I need a passport or will an ID card work?
Since Brexit, you need a PASSPORT to enter the UK. EU national ID cards are no longer accepted.
Is the London Pass worth it?
If you plan to visit the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and other paid attractions, the 3-day pass (£144) can save you money.
Is public transport easy to use?
Yes, London's Tube is very intuitive. Use Google Maps or the Citymapper app to plan routes.
How much does a trip to London cost?
Prices verified · March 2026| Duration | Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | €222 | €804 | €1,947 |
| 5 days | €370 | €1,340 | €3,245 |
| 7 days | €518 | €1,876 | €4,543 |
| 14 days | €1,036 | €3,752 | €9,086 |
A 7-day mid-range trip to London costs around €1,876 per person, excluding flights.
Prices are per person and don't include flights.
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