Book your Tower of London and Crown Jewels ticket, explore the fortress at your own pace and visit historic exhibitions. Free cancellation up to 24 hours.
View experienceHow much money do you need for London per day?
For one adult, without major luxuries but travelling with a reasonable level of comfort:
Very tight budget: £75–£120. Reasonable mid-range: £140–£230. Comfortable: £260–£400+.
These ranges include accommodation, food, transport and the occasional visit, but London costs change a lot depending on the season. With hotels, the difference between January and June can be huge; in 2025, very high average hotel rates were recorded in the city, with especially expensive peaks during high-demand months. businesstravelnewseurope.com
Accommodation in London: the expense that shapes the trip most
If you are travelling alone and want to save money, a hostel bed may be the most sensible option. If you are travelling as a couple, a simple double room can sometimes be better value than two hostel beds in a central area.
As an honest guide: hostel or very basic room, £35–£80 per night. Simple, well-connected hotel, £110–£190 per night. Comfortable hotel in a central area, £200–£350 per night. High-end hotel, from £350, and considerably more on peak dates.
The most common trap is paying too little to sleep too far away. Budget accommodation in London can cost you time, energy and extra transport money if it is poorly connected. For a first trip, it is usually worth staying close to a convenient Underground line, even if you are not right in Westminster.
The most common trap is paying too little to sleep too far away.
Public transport in London: easy to manage
Public transport in London works well and allows you to get around without a car. For most travellers, the easiest option is to pay with a contactless card or mobile phone. The daily cap for travelling in zones 1–2 is £8.90, and the weekly cap from Monday to Sunday is £44.70. Transport for London
The bus is slower, but very useful for saving money and seeing the city from the window. The adult bus and tram fare is £1.75, with unlimited journeys within one hour thanks to the Hopper fare. Transport for London
Food: between supermarkets, pubs and markets
Eating cheaply in London is possible, but not always memorable. Budget travellers can get by with simple breakfasts, supermarkets, fast-food chains and the odd market. Travellers who want to enjoy the city a little more should set aside money for pubs, Indian food, food markets and the occasional special restaurant.
A realistic guide: simple breakfast, £4–£9. Supermarket or meal deal, £4–£7. Fast food or casual meal, £9–£16. Pub or mid-range restaurant, £18–£35. Special dinner, £45+.
The key is not to improvise every meal in the most central areas. Eating next to a major attraction usually costs more and does not always taste better.
The key is not to improvise every meal in the most central areas.
London attraction tickets: where money disappears without you noticing
London has plenty of free things to do, but its star monuments are expensive. The Tower of London starts at around £37 per adult. Historic Royal Palaces
Westminster Abbey is around £27.13 for an adult ticket on certain dates in 2026. Westminster Abbey
St Paul’s Cathedral lists adult tickets at £27 outside promotional periods. St Paul’s Cathedral
And the London Eye uses variable pricing: online tickets usually start from around £29, while buying on the day can cost considerably more. The London Eye
This means that three major visits can cost more than several days of transport. It is worth choosing carefully: you do not need to go inside everything to feel London.
Three major visits can cost more than several days of transport.
The best way to save: free museums in London
One of London’s greatest virtues is that some of its best museums have free entry. The British Museum, for example, states that admission is free. British Museum
You can also spend entire days visiting galleries, parks, markets, neighbourhoods and walking routes without paying for tickets.
For a smart budget, combine one major paid attraction with several free experiences: the British Museum, the National Gallery, the South Bank, Hyde Park, Camden, Notting Hill, Greenwich or a walk from Westminster to Tower Bridge.
Budget for 3, 5 and 7 days in London
London in 3 days. A short trip concentrates expenses. You can make the most of it, but accommodation carries more weight. Tight budget: £225–£360. Mid-range: £420–£690. Comfortable: £780–£1,200+.
For 3 days, I would set aside money for one or two important tickets, not for an endless list. London is better enjoyed on foot than by rushing from ticket office to ticket office.
London in 5 days. Five days give you more breathing room: free museums, neighbourhoods, markets and the occasional urban excursion. Tight budget: £375–£600. Mid-range: £700–£1,150. Comfortable: £1,300–£2,000+.
This is the most balanced length for a first-time visitor to London. It gives you room to spend more on one day and make up for it with free plans on another.
London in 7 days. A week can be expensive, but it also lets you save better: less rushing, more supermarkets, more walks, more free museums and less anxiety about seeing everything. Tight budget: £525–£840. Mid-range: £980–£1,610. Comfortable: £1,820–£2,800+.
Over a week, the weekly pass or weekly transport cap can help if you concentrate your journeys in zones 1–2. Transport for London
Who is London expensive for?
London can disappoint those expecting a cheap last-minute getaway, families who want to enter many paid attractions or travellers who need a central hotel, daily restaurant meals and frequent taxis. It can also be tiring: distances are long, the Underground is crowded at peak times and the weather can make an already tight budget feel even greyer.
How to travel to London on a budget without ruining the experience
The best strategy is simple: stay somewhere well connected, use public transport, book only the attractions that genuinely excite you, alternate restaurants with simple meals and leave time for walking. London does not need to be consumed like a catalogue. Sometimes, its best memory comes free: golden light over the Thames, a musician in Covent Garden, the silence of a museum room or rain tapping against the windows of an old pub.
London does not need to be consumed like a catalogue.
Verdict: how much money should you take to London?
To travel without stress, budget at least £140–£230 per day per person for a mid-range trip, sharing a room or choosing simple accommodation. You can do it for less, but it requires clear compromises. With more, London becomes comfortable, though not necessarily more authentic.
The city is worth it if you accept its price before you arrive. It is not a destination for improvising every expense, but for choosing well. London can be expensive, yes, but it is also generous: it charges a lot for accommodation and for some icons, but it gives away museums, parks, streets, history and urban scenes that stay in your memory long after you have forgotten the price of the hotel.