How Much Does it Cost to Visit London in 2023? [Cost Calculator]

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.

This post was originally published in February 2022, and was updated most recently in January 2023.

Average Cost to Visit London

The average price of a 7-day trip to London is $4,000 for a solo traveler, $5,550 for a couple, and $7,900 for a family, with the main components of cost being (1) flights, (2) hotels/accommodation, and (3) meals.

In 2023, flights range from about $700 in the off-season to over $1300 during the peak, summer season. London hotels range from $270 to over $450 per night by season/day of week with an average of $350; the average nightly cost for vacation rentals and Airbnbs is $209 per night. All of these costs are substantially higher than in 2022 – you should budget about 33% more if you want to visit London in 2023 compared to previous years.

For one more important cost to keep in mind, 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

Peak vs Shoulder Season in London

As flights are one of the biggest expenses in planning your trip, one of the biggest factors that affect the cost to visit London is the season/month you visit.

During the peak season (summer), flights are about 46% more expensive than in 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 45-55 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 75%.

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 $375 per night during sunny May, June, and July, while it falls as low as $275 per night during grey, rainy January and 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 $113 per night on Airbnb, and having an entire house averages $243 per night.

Putting that all together, you can expect to spend about $209 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.

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!

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!