A seven-day London trip typically runs £750–£2,200 per person, depending on lodging, meals, transport, and paid sights.
Planning money for a week in the UK capital doesn’t have to be guesswork. Below you’ll find real numbers you can plug in, a clear daily plan, and smart swaps that cut spend without cutting the fun. All prices are in pounds and based on paying with contactless or Oyster on public transport, booking standard attractions, and eating at everyday spots.
Seven Days In London: Trip Cost Breakdown
Start with the big buckets: where you sleep, what you eat, how you move, and which sights you pay to enter. The ranges below reflect typical rates in central areas in shoulder season. Peak events can push rates up; winter sales can pull them down.
| Category | Low Spend (Per Week) | Mid Spend (Per Week) |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging (shared or budget hotel) | £280–£420 | £560–£840 |
| Meals & Drinks | £140–£210 | £245–£350 |
| Transport (zones 1–2 cap) | £45–£55 | £45–£55 |
| Sights & Tours | £80–£130 | £150–£260 |
| Extras (souvenirs, tips, small fees) | £40–£70 | £60–£120 |
| Estimated Total | £585–£885 | £1,060–£1,625 |
How We Built These Numbers
Lodging Assumptions
For the low range, think basic private rooms, hostels with small dorms, or last-minute deals in zone 2. The mid range covers well-rated midscale hotels or private rentals in central postcodes. Prices swing with school holidays and big events; booking early or staying Sunday–Thursday can shave costs.
Meal Planning
Budget eaters can do breakfast from a bakery or supermarket meal deal, grab a street-food lunch, and sit down for dinner at a pub or casual spot. That pattern lands around £20–£30 per day. The mid range adds a nicer dinner or two and coffee stops, so plan on £35–£50 per day.
Moving Around The City
Tap a contactless card or use an Oyster and you’ll hit daily and weekly caps in central zones. The adult cap for zones 1–2 is £8.90 per day, and £44.70 for Monday–Sunday calculations. That neatly matches a one-week stay focused on central sights. Bus rides are cheaper and count toward the cap. TfL fare capping shows the current caps and how they work.
Attraction Pricing
Paid sights vary, from free museums to higher-priced historic venues. A blockbuster like the Tower of London now starts around the mid-£30s for adults, with concessions and special offers on select days. Check the official page for dates and tiers: Tower of London tickets.
What A Day Actually Costs
Here’s a realistic daily spend if you stick to central areas:
Low Daily Pattern
- Breakfast: supermarket meal or pastry (£3–£5)
- Lunch: street food or quick-serve (£7–£10)
- Dinner: pub main and soft drink (£10–£15)
- Transport: capped in zones 1–2 (£6–£9 depending on travel spread)
- Attractions: mostly free museums; one paid sight every other day (£8–£15 averaged)
Total: roughly £35–£50 per day, not counting lodging.
Mid Daily Pattern
- Breakfast: café set or hotel continental (£6–£10)
- Lunch: market plate or sit-down (£10–£15)
- Dinner: casual restaurant with drink (£18–£28)
- Transport: same zone cap (£6–£9)
- Attractions: one major paid sight or guided tour on several days (£18–£35 averaged)
Total: about £60–£90 per day, before lodging.
Sample 7-Day Plan With Costs
Use this as a plug-and-play template. Swap sights freely, as many top museums are free, and walking between landmarks in central London saves money.
| Day | Plan | Estimated Spend* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, Thames walk, pub dinner | £20–£45 + lodging |
| 2 | Westminster, free museums, park time | £25–£50 + lodging |
| 3 | Tower of London, Borough Market | £40–£70 + lodging |
| 4 | South Kensington museums, show or night walk | £30–£80 + lodging |
| 5 | Greenwich day: Observatory hill, markets | £25–£60 + lodging |
| 6 | Camden & Regent’s Canal, Hampstead Heath | £20–£45 + lodging |
| 7 | Portobello or Columbia Road market, farewell meal | £30–£70 + lodging |
*Spend includes transport, meals, and any paid entry that day.
Airport Transfers: What To Budget
From Heathrow
The fastest rail option, Heathrow Express, lists a standard one-way at £25 walk-up, with advance singles from £10 on select trains. The Elizabeth line is slower but cheaper and counts toward daily caps once you reach zone 1–2. Taxis cost more and get stuck in traffic at peak times.
From Gatwick, Stansted, Or Luton
Expect £10–£25 on dedicated airport trains if you book ahead, higher at the gate. Coaches cost less but take longer. For two travelers, advance rail often beats rideshares on both time and price.
Where Your Budget Stretches
Pick The Right Base
Staying near a frequent Tube line or the Elizabeth line trims travel time and makes it easier to pop back for a rest. If prices spike in zone 1, look at zone 2 areas on direct lines to your must-see stops.
Mix Free And Paid Sights
London’s big hitters—British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Science Museum—have free general entry. Pay for a couple of heritage sites or tours you care about, and thread in free landmarks like Buckingham Palace views, Piccadilly Circus lights, and riverside walks.
Eat Well Without Overspending
Markets are your friend. Borough, Maltby Street, Portobello Road on weekends, and street-food halls across the city deliver flavor without white-tablecloth prices. Chain cafés offer meal deals; pubs often run lunch specials.
Line-Item Benchmarks You Can Use
Transport Benchmarks
- Zones 1–2: £8.90 daily cap; Monday–Sunday cap £44.70.
- Heathrow Express: £25 standard single walk-up; cheaper if booked ahead.
- Contactless works across Tube, buses, trams, DLR, and more; bus fares are lower and count toward caps.
Food Benchmarks
- Bakery breakfast: £3–£5
- Café set: £6–£10
- Quick-serve lunch: £7–£12
- Pub main: £12–£18
- Sit-down dinner with drink: £18–£30
Attraction Benchmarks
- Big museum general entry: free
- Tower of London adult: around mid-£30s
- Churches, viewpoints, or special exhibits: £8–£25
- West End show (upper circle or day seats): £20–£60+
Ways To Cut The Bill Without Cutting Joy
Travel Smart
- Group your sights by neighborhood and walk more between them.
- Travel off-peak when you can; caps are the same, but trains are quieter.
- Use buses for short hops; they’re frequent and cheap.
Book Sights Strategically
- Buy timed tickets in advance for popular venues to lock in lower tiers.
- Watch for combo tickets that bundle a river cruise or nearby site.
- Keep at least half your schedule free for museums and parks that don’t charge.
Eat Like A Local
- Grab supermarket meal deals for travel days and picnics.
- Hit markets at lunch; share plates to sample more for less.
- Tap water is free and safe; ask for it at restaurants.
Budget Examples For Different Travelers
Solo On A Tight Budget
Seven nights in a hostel pod or basic private room (£280–£420), low daily food plan (£140–£210), central transport cap (£45–£55), two paid sights (£40–£60), and modest extras (£40–£70). Total lands around £545–£815. Add airport transfers as needed.
Couple Aiming For Comfort
Midscale hotel for seven nights (£560–£840 per person if sharing a £1,120–£1,680 room), mid daily food plan (£245–£350), central transport cap (£45–£55), four or five paid sights and a show (£150–£260), plus extras (£60–£120). Expect £1,060–£1,625 each.
Family Of Four
Two doubles in a midscale hotel or a two-bed rental can spread the cost. Kids often get reduced entry, and many museums have free family trails. Cooking a few meals at home brings food costs down. A realistic week sits in the £2,800–£4,500 total range for the group, before flights.
Frequently Missed Costs
- Phone data: add an eSIM or roaming pack in advance.
- Card fees: use a card with no foreign transaction fee if you’re coming from abroad.
- Luggage storage on check-out day: £5–£10 per bag at staffed locations.
- Tips: service charge appears on many bills; extra tipping isn’t expected beyond that.
Seasonal Price Swings You Should Expect
School holidays, summer events, and festive weeks push nightly rates hardest. Early spring and late autumn often bring softer prices, while January is usually the calmest month. Weekends cost more than midweek in central areas, and same-day bookings near big matches or concerts can spike. If dates are fixed, lock lodging first and plan the rest around it. If dates are flexible, check the week before and after your target—moving by a few days sometimes trims hundreds from a seven-night stay.
Where To Stay For Value
Pick neighborhoods with fast links and plenty of food choices. South Bank, Paddington, King’s Cross, and Shoreditch give you quick access to major lines and walkable clusters of sights. In many of these spots, you’ll find modern budget chains alongside independent hotels and serviced apartments. Rentals can be great for families who want a kitchen; factor in cleaning fees and longer minimum stays when you compare. Aim for places within a 10-minute walk of a Tube stop so you don’t eat into your day with long transfers. If you’ll be out late, favor areas with night buses and frequent trains.
Putting It All Together
If you book a central, clean room, eat well at markets and pubs, and choose a few paid landmarks, the math is straightforward. Plan on £750–£1,200 for frugal comfort, £1,200–£2,200 if you want more restaurants, shows, and higher-priced sights. Keep your card tapped for the caps, use free museums to balance the week, and you’ll leave with a full camera roll and money left in your wallet.