Quick answer: London runs about EUR 170 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: May-June and September - mild weather, long daylight and parks at their best; pack a rain layer regardless.
What things actually cost
| flat white | 4 EUR |
| pub pint | 7 EUR |
| tube fare in Zone 1 (contactless) | 3.20 EUR |
| fish and chips | 15 EUR |
| Tower of London entry | 39 EUR |
| major museums | free |
Eat well for little
- Fish and chips at a proper chippy14-17 EUR, ask for it with mushy peas
- Borough Market street foodgrilled cheese toasties or salt beef bagels, 8-12 EUR
- Sunday roast at a pub20-25 EUR, book a table, they sell out by 2pm
- Curry on Brick Lane or in Tootingaround 15 EUR for a main and naan
- Beigel Bake on Brick Lanesalt beef beigel for about 7 EUR, open 24 hours
Money mistakes to avoid
- Paying for attractions when the biggest museums (British Museum, Tate Modern, Natural History) are completely free
- Buying paper travel ticketsjust tap a contactless card on the tube, fares cap automatically at about 10 EUR a day
- Underestimating distances'central London' spans miles, so group each day's sights by area instead of criss-crossing
- Booking a hotel far out in Zone 4+ to save moneythe commute cost and time usually cancel out the savings
Transport without the tourist tax
From Heathrow, the Elizabeth Line reaches central London in about 35 minutes for roughly 15 EUR. In town, tap contactless on the tube and buses; fares cap around 10 EUR per day, and central sights cluster close enough to walk between many of them.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day London itinerary.