London is a dream trip for every schooler, student, or adult, but the prices are high. So, how much money on average do you really need for a week in the city? In this post, we create a 7-day budget-friendly trip covering every detail. We'll also share a clear and stress-free plan for what to do if you run short on cash. Let's define the cost of living in London in 2025 and how expensive your trip to the heart of England can be.
Is London Expensive in 2025?
Yes, it is. Among the world's most expensive cities in 2025, London is 13th. An average tourist can spend around £100-£250 per day, budget backpackers can get by on £70-£90 a day, and luxury travelers easily burn through £300 or more.
Several factors drive the high cost of living in the UK. Accommodation is often the biggest expense for travelers, because London rent prices average about £190 per night. Transport fares are also among the priciest in the world after recent fare hikes. Everyday life in London is costly for locals, too. Expenses for a single person living in the United Kingdom can easily reach £3,000-£3,500 per month, so the salary needed to live in London should be even higher.
But is London expensive both for people living there and travelers? As visitors, you're not paying average rent in London or utility bills. Your costs will come from short-term expenses like hotels, transport passes, attraction tickets, and dining out. And the city offers plenty of ways to control those costs.
London 7-Day Trip Budget Breakdown
Now let's get into the weekly London itinerary and what you can expect to spend each day:
Day 1
You arrive in London! Suppose you fly into Heathrow Airport around midday. Rather than spend £25 on the Heathrow Express train, ride the London Underground into the city. The Piccadilly Line ride to central London takes about an hour and costs roughly £5-£6 with an Oyster card. Once in the city, check into a hotel in the 1-2 Zone. Many hotels in London take a card for incidentals, and they might place a hold of £50-£100 on your card. This sum will be refunded later if not used.
Keep Day 1 light and low-cost. Spend the afternoon walking around your neighborhood to get your bearings. Walking is free, and central London is easily accessible on foot. Pick up a quick late lunch from a grocery store or café, such as a Tesco Meal Deal, for around £4-£5.
For your first night, head to a nearby pub for fish and chips and a pint. Expect to pay around £12-£15 for the fish & chips and about £6-£7 for a pint of beer. If beer isn't your thing, a glass of wine is usually £7-£10. Take a walk past Trafalgar Square or along the Thames — it's free and beautiful.
Day 2
After a rental process and a good night's rest, Day 2 is for major historical landmarks. Start with the Tower of London. Admission is about £35 for adults and £18 for children. Get a rich tour of British history (the Crown Jewels, tales of medieval kings and prisoners, etc.). Book tickets online in advance if possible.
For lunch, hop over to Borough Market near London Bridge, a foodie heaven full of vendors. Choose something like a famous £5 portion of fish and chips or a deli sandwich. Walk along the South Bank of the Thames, pass by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, street performers, and enjoy great views of St. Paul's Cathedral across the river.
Then, head to Westminster. Many iconic sights here are free to view: you can marvel at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from the riverside, and walk around the back of Westminster Abbey. If you want to go inside, it's about £27 for entry. Let's say on this itinerary you skip the paid Abbey tour and instead pop into the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square, which is free to visit.
Tonight, treat yourself to a West End theatre show. Budget about £50-£70 for a decent seat at a popular show. If that's too steep, you can find same-day discount tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square or via TodayTix for around £20-£30. Before the show, grab a quick dinner at a West End restaurant for £20-£25.
Day 3
Start with the British Museum, which is completely free to enter. You'll easily spend half a day here, walking through exhibits like the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and Greek Parthenon sculptures. Then, grab a "meal deal" again or a quick bite at a Pret a Manger by finding sandwiches for around £5 to £7.
Stroll through the Covent Garden and Leicester Square area in the afternoon. Covent Garden often has street performers and offers plenty of fun window shopping. It's a good day to enjoy one of London's royal parks, which are also very beautiful.
For dinner on Day 3, keep it budget-friendly. Head to a casual neighborhood eatery - for example, Bengal Village, a curry house on Brick Lane in East London, or a local Chinese restaurant. Get a delicious curry on Brick Lane for around £10-£12 per person! After dinner, consider catching some entertainment. There are often free comedy nights or music gigs in pubs.
Day 4
Get up early and head to Buckingham Palace. For most of the year, you can't go inside, but watching the Changing of the Guard outside is free. It usually happens around 10:45 am. If you skipped Westminster Abbey earlier, consider touring it today for £27.
For today's lunch, try a traditional British Sunday roast if it's Sunday at a pub. It's usually about £15-£20 for a big meal. If it's not Sunday or you want something lighter, hit Pret or Itsu for lunch. Then, take the Tube to Camden Town in North London.
Experience London's famous pub culture in a different way: a pub crawl or a night out in Soho. Join a pub crawl for around £20, including a few drink vouchers, or do it yourself. If bars aren't your thing, then see a movie at an independent cinema (~£15).
Day 5
Start with St. Paul's Cathedral in the morning. Entry costs about £23 for adults, which includes access to the Whispering Gallery and the dome for great views. If you're on a tight budget, note that you can attend a church service instead.
Have lunch at the Seven Dials Market or Chinatown, where you can eat well for £10-£15. Later, consider visiting Notting Hill and the famous Portobello Road Market. Tonight, go for something a little different: perhaps Afternoon Tea, which costs around £40-£60 per person. Or, have a normal dinner: maybe this is the night you try the famous Dishoom for £12-15. Ride a double-decker night bus for fun.
Day 6
With two days left, go to Greenwich in Southeast London. Take the DLR to Greenwich or an Uber Boat on the Thames for £7 with an Oyster. Greenwich offers a lot for free: you can straddle the Prime Meridian line at Greenwich Park, and the Greenwich Maritime Museum has no-pay entry as well.
Then, climb the hill to the Royal Observatory for nearly £16. By mid-afternoon, travel back into central London. If there's any major museum you've skipped, such as the Natural History Museum or the Victoria & Albert Museum, visit one now for free. Or enjoy another park like Kensington Gardens.
For the final night in England, you could do a Thames evening cruise or visit the London Eye. A standard London Eye ticket is about £32.50. A Thames river cruise is £15-£20 for a basic sightseeing.
Day 7
Your final day has arrived. Check out of your hotel in the morning, and don't forget to collect your Oyster card deposit refund. Many travelers keep their Oyster for next time, but if you're sure you won't need it again, get the refund at a station machine.
With a few hours before your flight, you might do some souvenir shopping. Therefore, head to Oxford Street or Regent Street for gifts and buy a magnet for £3, or a Harrods teddy bear for £30. You will spend approximately £20 on souvenirs for family/friends on this last day.
If you haven't had an English breakfast yet, this is a good chance: a classic Full English breakfast at a café is around £12. If you're flying from Heathrow or Gatwick, budget again for transportation, too. The cheapest is often the Tube or train with Oyster for £5-£6. This comes to about £450 spent during the week.
What About an Urgent Safety Net?
Despite your best London budgeting, what if you realize you're running low on funds? Use this plan:
- Rank. Calculate how much money you have left and how many days remain. Identify the required expenses and a minimum figure to set aside.
- Adapt. Review your plans and substitute free or cheaper activities. London has plenty of no-cost options: museums, walking tours, and beautiful churches.
- Back Up. When a pending hotel deposit ties up funds, a cash advance lets you cover a booking while you wait - for flights, trains, or other essentials.
- Communicate. If things are really tight, talk to your hotel; sometimes, they won't charge a penalty. Also, keep receipts; travel insurance may reimburse them later.
Make Your London Budget Smart and Trip - Unforgettable!
So, whether you're living in London temporarily or visiting the capital for a week, how much does it really cost in 2025? For a mid-range traveler, expect to spend roughly £60-£100 per day, in addition to your accommodation. As a visitor, you have the flexibility to enjoy the trip fully with almost any budget. Just use it smartly and feel every moment in this incredible city!