Many of London's big museums are free, but hotels are expensive and the UK now charges US visitors for an ETA before they fly. The airport train, Tube fares, paid sights and restaurant service charges add up quickly.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central London →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($3,750) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($1,157, about 31% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $4,907 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
5 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $850 per traveler | Our estimate of a typical round-trip economy fare to London from a major US airport. Fares vary widely by city and season. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $300 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central London. Rates swing widely by season and area. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $85 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, pub lunches and one restaurant dinner a day, at about $85 per person. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| UK ETA | $27 per traveler | The UK government says an ETA costs £20, about $27. Source |
| Airport transfers | $80 for the trip | The Elizabeth line from Heathrow is £15.50 per person each way, about $80 for two people both ways. Source |
| Tube and bus fares | $10 per traveler, per day | Contactless fares cap at £8.90 a day in zones 1 and 2; our $10 a day sits just under that cap. Source |
| Tower of London and paid sights | $90 per traveler | A Tower of London adult ticket is £38; we add a second paid sight such as Westminster Abbey. Source |
| Restaurant service charge | 12.5% of the food | Many London restaurants add a 12.5% service charge, which is common practice rather than a law. Our estimate |
| West End show tickets | $90 per traveler | Our estimate of about $90 per person for a mid-priced West End seat. Prices vary widely by show and seat. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Many credit and debit cards charge about 3% on foreign purchases; cards with no foreign transaction fee avoid it. Our estimate |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a hotel and food, plan on about $3,750. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the UK ETA, airport trains, Tube fares, paid sights and service charges, it's closer to $4,900. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
Yes. US citizens need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before they travel, and it costs £20, about $27, per person. It's valid for up to 6 months, and every traveler needs their own, including children. Apply on the official UK government site or app, since other sites charge more. Source
The Piccadilly line on the Tube is the cheapest at £5.90 each way. The Elizabeth line is faster and costs £15.50, and the Heathrow Express to Paddington costs more. Black cabs often cost £70 or more. Source
Pay with a contactless card or phone and fares stop at a daily cap, £8.90 for zones 1 and 2. A single zone 1 ride costs £3.10 at peak times. Use the same card for every ride so the cap works. Source
Many are. The British Museum, National Gallery and Natural History Museum are free, though special exhibitions cost extra. Paid sights like the Tower of London, about £37, are where most of the cost is.