Make it a trip · London, United Kingdom
What London costs
once you land
Real prices, from the airport ride to a room for the night, each with where we found it. Checked October 2026, around Central London, Zone 1.
Prices as the source quoted them.
Dorm bed, three cheap meals, getting around, a coffee, two beers and water.
Private room, a cheap lunch, dinner out (your half), a coffee, two beers, two rides and the top sight.
Half a villa or 4-star room, two meals out, a coffee, two beers and the signature experience.
Arriving
-
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation Fixed
For AU, NZ, US, CA, NL, DE, FR, SG passports.
Rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026. Valid two years on the same passport. Apply on GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app only.
Sources: VisasNews, UK ETA fee (2026-04), The Flight Club, UK ETA rise (2026-03)
£20 -
Heathrow to Zone 1 on the Piccadilly line Fixed
Tap a contactless card, about 50 minutes. The Elizabeth line is faster for £15.50 and the Heathrow Express costs much more.
Sources: Railway News, TfL fares from March 2026 (2026-02), The London Weekly, 2026 fares (2026)
£5.90 Book an airport pickup -
No visa or ETA needed Fixed
For IE passports.
Irish citizens travel freely under the Common Travel Area.
Source: Service Public, UK ETA (2026)
Free -
Free
Getting around
-
Tube ride in Zone 1 Fixed
Off peak and peak, with contactless. A bus ride is cheaper at a flat fare.
Sources: London Drum, contactless fares (2026), Top Tip London, contactless cards (2026)
£3 to £3.10 -
Daily cap, Zones 1 and 2 Fixed
Tap the same card all day and you never pay more than this. No pass to buy.
Sources: Travjoy, London fares guide 2026 (2026), London Drum, contactless fares (2026)
£8.90 -
Small car hire, per day Range
Only for trips out of town. Central London has a daily congestion charge and very expensive parking.
Sources: Cheapflights UK, London car hire (2026-08), Cheapflights UK, Enterprise London (2026)
£14 to £24 Compare cars
Eating and drinking
-
Meal at a cheap restaurant Many reports
A curry, a burger or a pub lunch. Market stalls and supermarket meal deals cost much less.
Source: Numbeo, London (2026-10)
£20 -
£8
-
Dinner for two, three courses Many reports
A mid-range restaurant, without drinks. Many add a 12.5% service charge.
Source: Numbeo, London (2026-10)
£80 -
Cappuccino Many reports
Chains and independents charge about the same.
Source: Numbeo, London (2026-10)
£4.30 -
Pint of lager at a pub Many reports
A pint is 568 ml. Wetherspoons pubs charge a lot less.
Source: Numbeo, London (2026-10)
£7
At the supermarket
-
Water, 1.5 litres Many reports
Tap water is safe, and restaurants must give it free if you ask.
Source: Numbeo, London (2026-10)
£1.40 -
£2.20
-
Beer, half a litre, to take away Many reports
Supermarket price. A third of the pub price.
Source: Numbeo, London (2026-10)
£2.40 -
Greggs sausage roll Range
£1.35 in most shops. Some central London stations charge more.
Sources: LBC, Greggs prices (2026-01), inkl, Greggs sausage roll price (2026-01)
£1.40 to £1.70
Doing
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Tower of London Fixed
Adult ticket, Crown Jewels included. The big museums like the British Museum are free.
Sources: Ian Visits, Tower of London (2026), ArtVisitGuide, Tower of London tickets (2026)
£37 Get tickets -
West End show Range
The cheapest seats average about £31; the median ticket sold is £56. Day seats and the TKTS booth in Leicester Square save more.
Sources: The Stage, West End ticket survey (2025), BroadwayWorld, West End ticket prices (2026-05)
£31 to £56 Get tickets -
Stonehenge coach tour Range
A half day from Victoria. Check whether the Stonehenge ticket is included; some cheap tours leave it out.
Sources: Golden Tours, Stonehenge tours (2026), London Toolkit, Stonehenge tour (2026)
£61 to £65 Book the tour
Everyday
-
Launderette, wash and dry Range
An 8 kg self-service wash is £5 to 8 and drying £3 to 6. A service wash starts at about £15.
Sources: Laundryheap, cost of laundry in London (2026), Laundryheap, launderette directory (2026)
£8 to £14 -
Coworking, day pass Range
Mainstream operators. Some spaces start at about £16, and Mayfair sites charge over £100.
Sources: One Coworking, London day passes (2026-05), Hashnode, London coworking day pass 2026 (2026)
£35 to £45
Sleeping, per night
-
Hostel dorm bed Range
From about £28 in central London. Weekends cost more.
Source: VisaETA, budget London 2026 (2026)
£28 Find a hostel -
Budget chain hotel room, from Range
Travelodge from about £85, Premier Inn Hub from about £95. Small but clean, and fine for two.
Source: VisaETA, budget London 2026 (2026)
-
Four-star hotel Many reports
Average 2026 rate. Sunday nights and January are the cheapest times.
Source: ETA Visa UK, London hotel prices (2026)
£210 Find a hotel -
One-bedroom holiday apartment Many reports
Average Airbnb rate. Zone 2 areas like Clapham cost much less than Soho or Covent Garden.
Source: BnBCalc, London (2026-05)
£219 Find an apartment
Prices change. Fixed fees come from official or widely reported figures; ranges are what travellers and operators report for 2026. Some links are affiliate links: they never change what you pay. How we make money.
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