2 Days in London with Kids Budget: Honest Breakdown of Every Dollar

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April 28, 2026

“How much did you spend in London?” It’s the question I get asked most when people find out we lived near London for years, and the honest answer? Our London budget for 2 days with kids came to £1,454.66 (about $1,847). But here’s what really matters: what that money actually bought us.

“How much did you spend in London?” It’s the question I get asked most when people find out we lived near London for years—and I finally have the answer: our complete London budget for a family of 4 came to £1,454.66 for 2 days. But the number alone doesn’t tell you much. What matters is what that London budget actually bought us.

And the answer everyone wants? A number.

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However, the problem with that number: our “budget” London weekend looks nothing like someone else’s luxury trip. The family eating at Pret A Manger every meal spends differently than the family hitting Michelin-recommended restaurants (guilty). The people staying in a hostel have different costs than those booking a family room at a hotel.

So instead of giving you a useless average, I’m giving you exactly what we spent on our last London trip.

This is our complete 2 days in London with kids budget breakdown.

Every. Single. Expense.

Hotel, transport, attractions, food (including that £131 dinner at a Michelin-recommended restaurant), coffee, ice cream, souvenirs. All of it.

You can see what we prioritized, where we splurged, where we saved, and decide what works for YOUR family.

Want the full experience? This post covers the money. For the stories, the mishaps, and what we actually thought of everything, read our complete 48-hour London guide with age-specific recommendations, realistic time estimates, and honest reviews of every attraction.

Family of 4 dining at Hoppers London - Michelin recommended Sri Lankan restaurant included in London budget breakdown

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Before we dive into the detailed breakdown, keep this in mind: our London budget reflects a mid-range travel style. We weren’t staying in hostels or eating at McDonald’s every meal, but we also weren’t dropping £500/night on hotels or taking taxis everywhere. This is what a realistic London budget looks like when you want real experiences without going broke.

Quick Trip Overview

📅 Trip Length: 3 nights / 2 full days in London (July 16-19)

🕐 Actual Time: Arrived evening July 16, departed morning July 19

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Who: Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids age 9)

🏨 Where We Stayed: Novotel Greenwich (family room)

🎯 What We Did: London Eye, Royal Observatory Greenwich, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, British Museum, Kensington Palace, plus parks and wandering

🍽️ Food Style: Mix of Michelin-recommended restaurants (2 nights), Netflix “Chef’s Table: Noodles” restaurant (1 night), casual lunches, coffee shops, and ice cream stops

💰 Total London Budget: £1,454.66 (without airfare – see detailed breakdown below with real-time USD conversion)

London Budget Summary: Where the Money Went

Here’s the big picture before we get into every receipt. This is where our £1,454.66 actually went:

London family budget breakdown showing accommodation, attractions, transport, and food costs for 2 days
Category Total Cost (GBP) Total Cost (USD)* Per Person % of Budget
🏨 Lodging £468.77 £117.19 32%
🍽️ Food £461.99 £115.50 32%
🎡 Attractions £331.20 £82.80 23%
🚇 Transport £192.70 £48.18 13%
💷 TOTAL £1,454.66 £363.67 100%

* USD amounts calculated using current exchange rates. Rate: 1 GBP = $1.27 USD. Last updated: Loading…

Key Takeaways from Our London Budget

The biggest surprise? Food and lodging tied for our largest expenses at 32% each. Attractions (which included the London Eye, Royal Observatory, and two palaces) was only 23% of our total budget. Transport was the smallest category at just 13% – proof that London’s Oyster Card system really works.

Now let’s break down each category so you can see exactly where the money went:

Lodging: £468.77 Total (32% of Our London Budget)

The single biggest line item, but strategically chosen to save money overall.

Complete Breakdown:

Item Cost (GBP) Cost (USD)* Notes
Novotel Greenwich Family Room
(3 nights: July 16-19)
£468.77 Includes breakfast for 1 adult (kids eat free)
LODGING TOTAL £468.77 £156/night for family of 4

How We Kept Our London Budget Low: The Greenwich Strategy

In fact, this was our biggest money-saving decision. Hotels in Zone 1 (central London) were running £450-600/night for a family room during peak season. Meanwhile, Greenwich (Zone 2) saved us roughly £900-1,350 over 3 nights.

The trade-off: Extra 15-20 minutes on the DLR to get to central London attractions. However, the DLR runs frequently, kids ride free, and honestly? Greenwich itself became one of our favorite parts of the trip.

💡 ⚠️ ✈️ 💰 💡 Pro Tip: Book a hotel with breakfast included where kids eat free. We paid for 1 adult breakfast (included in room rate), kids ate free. This saved us roughly £30-60 on breakfasts over 3 days. Not fancy, but filling and convenient—and one less decision to make in the morning.
💡 Pro Tip:
Book a hotel with breakfast included where kids eat free. We paid for 1 adult breakfast (included in room rate), kids ate free. This saved us roughly £30-60 on breakfasts over 3 days. Not fancy, but filling and convenient—and one less decision to make in the morning.

Worth it? 100% yes. The location trade-off was minimal, and we saw everything we wanted to see.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. We’d book the same area (Greenwich or nearby) every time.

Attractions: £331.20 Total (23% of Our London Budget)

Four paid attractions plus souvenirs – and honestly, we could’ve spent way more here.

Complete Breakdown:

Attraction Cost (GBP) Cost (USD)* Notes
London Eye
(2 adults, 2 kids)
£118.00 Specific time slot, no fast pass
Royal Observatory Greenwich
(2 adults, 2 kids)
£72.00 Includes planetarium access
Royal Historic Palaces Membership £125.00 Covered Tower of London & Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace Souvenirs £16.20 Victorian dress-up photos
ATTRACTIONS TOTAL £331.20 £82.80/person

Royal Historic Palaces Membership: The Smart Buy

In hindsight, this was one of our best money decisions. For £125, we got access to both Tower of London (normally ~£75 for a family of 4) and Kensington Palace (normally ~£70 for a family of 4). That’s £145 worth of tickets for £125, plus we got open entry (no timed slots).

Furthermore, the open entry saved us when we stayed at Kensington Palace for 3 hours instead of our planned 90 minutes. The kids loved the Victorian dress-up experience and we didn’t have to rush.

💡 ⚠️ ✈️ 💰 💡Pro Tip: If you’re visiting 2+ Royal Historic Palaces sites (Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, etc.), buy the membership instead of individual tickets. You’ll save £40-50 AND skip timed entry restrictions. Must buy 3+ business days in advance.
💡Pro Tip:
If you’re visiting 2+ Royal Historic Palaces sites (Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, etc.), buy the membership instead of individual tickets. You’ll save £40-50 AND skip timed entry restrictions. Must buy 3+ business days in advance.

London Eye: Worth It (Once)

£118 for 30 minutes. Let that sink in.

That said, our 9-year-olds loved it. The views are incredible. Additionally, it’s iconic. And doing it with friends made it special.

Would we do it again? Probably not. After all, we’ve done it twice now with kids (plus once before kids). Next trip, that £118 goes toward another Michelin dinner or a different attraction.

Budget alternative: Sky Garden is FREE with advance booking and has similar (arguably better) views.

What We Skipped (And Don’t Regret)

We could’ve easily spent another £200-300 on attractions. Here’s what we skipped:

What we did instead: British Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum – all completely FREE. We only spent 1 hour at the British Museum on this trip, but it’s world-class and didn’t cost us a penny.

Transport: £192.70 Total (13% of Our London Budget)

The smallest category, and proof that London’s public transport system really is efficient and affordable.

Complete Breakdown:

Item Cost (GBP) Cost (USD)* Notes
Stansted Express
(2 adults, 2 kids round-trip)
£93.70 Airport to Stratford, open return
Oyster Card
(Tube, DLR, buses)
£64.40 3 days of unlimited travel with daily cap
Black Cab Ride
(Shadwell to British Museum)
£34.60 Splurge for the experience
TRANSPORT TOTAL £192.70 £48.18/person

London Budget Transport: How Oyster Cards Saved Us Money

Oyster Card: The Transport MVP

For £64.40 total over 3 days, we had unlimited access to the Tube, DLR, and buses for our family. In other words, that’s roughly £16/day for a family of 4.

Moreover, the Oyster Card caps your daily spending (currently around £8-9/adult for Zones 1-3), which means after a few trips, the rest are free. Kids under 11 travel FREE with a paying adult.

💡 ⚠️ ✈️ 💰 💡Pro Tip: Oyster Card vs. Travel Card decision depends on your plans. Oyster has a daily cap and charges per trip until you hit it (great for families making 4+ trips per day). Travel Card is a flat fee for unlimited travel for the day/week. Both save significant money vs. contactless or paper tickets. Oyster requires a £7 deposit but you can reuse it on future trips.
💡Pro Tip:
Oyster Card vs. Travel Card decision depends on your plans. Oyster has a daily cap and charges per trip until you hit it (great for families making 4+ trips per day). Travel Card is a flat fee for unlimited travel for the day/week. Both save significant money vs. contactless or paper tickets. Oyster requires a £7 deposit but you can reuse it on future trips.

The Black Cab “Experience”

£34.60 from Shadwell to the British Museum. We took it specifically so the kids could experience a classic London black cab.

Worth it? Unfortunately, the kids forgot about it five minutes later.

In contrast, the Tube would’ve been £0 (covered by our Oyster Card daily cap), taken 15 minutes longer, and gotten us there just fine.

Would we do it again? Nope. Instead, that £35 goes toward ice cream next time.

Stansted Express: The Necessary Splurge

£93.70 for a family of 4 round-trip from Stansted Airport to Stratford (where we connected to the DLR).

Is there a cheaper option? Yes. National Express coach is about £40 total. However, it takes 1.5-2 hours vs. 47 minutes on the train, and with jet-lagged kids, the extra £50 was worth it.

Budget alternative: On the other hand, if you’re flying into Gatwick or Heathrow instead of Stansted, transport to central London is actually cheaper (£10-25/person depending on method).

Food: £461.99 Total (32% of Our London Budget)

Tied with lodging as our biggest expense – and worth every penny.

Here’s where we splurged, and honestly? This was intentional. We’re a foodie family. Consequently, two Michelin-recommended restaurants plus one Netflix “Chef’s Table: Noodles” spot was non-negotiable.

Nevertheless, we also balanced it with casual lunches, chain restaurants, and strategic coffee/ice cream stops.

London Budget Food Costs: Day-by-Day Breakdown

Xi'an hand-pulled noodles at Master Wei London - Netflix Chef's Table Noodles restaurant

Day 1 (July 16): Arrival Evening

Meal/Snack Cost (GBP) Cost (USD)* Notes
Master Wei (Dinner) £70.00 Xi’an Chinese – Netflix “Chef’s Table: Noodles”
DAY 1 TOTAL £70.00
💡 ⚠️ ✈️ 💰 💡Pro Tip: Master Wei is Xi’an Chinese cuisine featured on Netflix’s “Chef’s Table: Noodles.” We love Chinese food, and our boys speak Mandarin so it’s great for language practice. No reservations needed when we went (though we waited 30 min in line), but it’s gotten more popular—book ahead if you can.
💡Pro Tip:
Master Wei is Xi’an Chinese cuisine featured on Netflix’s “Chef’s Table: Noodles.” We love Chinese food, and our boys speak Mandarin so it’s great for language practice. No reservations needed when we went (though we waited 30 min in line), but it’s gotten more popular—book ahead if you can.

Day 2 (July 17): Full Day in London

Meal/Snack Cost (GBP) Cost (USD)* Notes
Pizza Express (Lunch) £35.70 Standard UK chain—quick and easy
Champagne and Fromage £37.13 Champagne flight for adults
Artfix (Coffee & Cake) £12.50 Mid-afternoon pick-me-up
Hoppers (Dinner) £131.22 Sri Lankan – Michelin-recommended
Dark Sugars (Ice Cream) £13.50 Best chocolate ice cream EVER
DAY 2 TOTAL £230.05
💡 ⚠️ ✈️ 💰 Real talk: Hoppers is Michelin-recommended and EXCELLENT. But it’s Sri Lankan cuisine with lots of spice. They do have a few non-spicy options for kids, and our adventurous eaters did well. If your kids only eat chicken nuggets, pick a different restaurant.
Real talk:
Hoppers is Michelin-recommended and EXCELLENT. But it’s Sri Lankan cuisine with lots of spice. They do have a few non-spicy options for kids, and our adventurous eaters did well. If your kids only eat chicken nuggets, pick a different restaurant.

Day 3 (July 18): Final Full Day

Meal/Snack Cost (GBP) Cost (USD)* Notes
18 Grams (Coffee) £7.80 Near Greenwich DLR exit
Bao Spot (Lunch) £37.40 Casual Asian near British Museum
Mr. Whippy (Ice Cream) £8.00 British soft-serve before London Eye
Caffè Nero (Coffee) £3.65 Standard UK chain
Bancone (Dinner) £78.19 Italian fresh pasta – Michelin-recommended
Amorino (Gelato) £26.90 Flower-shaped gelato
DAY 3 TOTAL £161.94
Bancone London fresh pasta dinner - Michelin recommended Italian restaurant
💡 ⚠️ ✈️ 💰 💡Pro Tip: Bancone is Michelin-recommended Italian with incredible fresh pasta. They have an unwritten kids’ menu (pasta with butter or marinara). Even with 4 people ordering adult meals and drinks, this was our LEAST expensive nice dinner. Highly recommend.
💡Pro Tip:
Bancone is Michelin-recommended Italian with incredible fresh pasta. They have an unwritten kids’ menu (pasta with butter or marinara). Even with 4 people ordering adult meals and drinks, this was our LEAST expensive nice dinner. Highly recommend.

Food Total & Analysis:

London Food Budget: Breaking Down the £462 We Spent

FOOD TOTAL (All 3 Days) £461.99 £115.50/person

The Michelin Strategy: Worth It?

Two Michelin-recommended dinners (Hoppers £131.22 + Bancone £78.19) = £209.41 of our food budget. In fact, that’s 45% of our food spending on just 2 meals.

Worth it? For us, absolutely. We’re a foodie family who plan trips around restaurant reservations. Furthermore, both were excellent, and at these price points, WAY cheaper than comparable restaurants in the US.

However, having adventurous eaters for kids is a must. Otherwise, if your kids only eat plain pasta and chicken fingers, save your money and hit UK chains like Pizza Express, Wagamama, or Nando’s.

Where We Saved on Food:

What We’d Do Differently:

✅ Keep the Michelin dinners – Both Hoppers and Bancone were excellent value compared to US prices.

❌ Skip one ice cream stop – Three ice cream purchases in 3 days (£13.50 + £8.00 + £26.90 = £48.40) added up. We could’ve cut one.

✅ Grocery store snacks – We didn’t do this on this trip either, but hitting Tesco or Waitrose for portable snacks (£20-30) would’ve prevented some of the “I’m hungry NOW” purchases.

Our London Budget in Action: 2-Day Itinerary & What We Spent

Here’s exactly how we spent our 3 days in London – the good, the chaotic, and the “why did we think we could fit that in?” moments.

Day 1 (July 16): Evening Arrival

Arrived: Evening (flight from elsewhere in Europe – Stansted Airport)

Transportation:

What We Did:

Dinner: Master Wei (£70)

Evening: Settled in, prepped for the next day

Time to bed: Early (travel exhaustion)

Day 2 (July 17): Greenwich + Tower of London

Breakfast: Hotel (included in room costs – 1 adult, and kids eat free)

Morning: Greenwich Exploration

National Maritime Museum playground in Greenwich - free playground for kids

Lunch: Pizza Express (£35.70)

Afternoon: Tower of London

Evening: Dinner at Hoppers

Dinner: Hoppers – Sri Lankan cuisine (£131.22)

Dessert: Dark Sugars for the BEST chocolate ice cream ever (£13.50)

Evening: Walked back to hotel via Tube/DLR, boys crashed early

Day 3 (July 18): British Museum + Kensington + London Eye

Breakfast: Hotel (included in room costs)

Morning: Black Cab + British Museum

Morning Coffee: 18 Grams near Greenwich DLR exit (£7.80)

💡 ⚠️ ✈️ 💰 Pro Tip: 18 Grams is RIGHT by the DLR exit (not entrance) in Greenwich. Perfect coffee stop before heading into central London. Small shop, excellent coffee.
Pro Tip:
18 Grams is RIGHT by the DLR exit (not entrance) in Greenwich. Perfect coffee stop before heading into central London. Small shop, excellent coffee.

Mid-Morning:

British Museum Greek galleries - free family attraction

Lunch: Bao Spot (£37.40)

Afternoon: London Eye + Kensington

London Eye view of River Thames and Westminster - family attraction

Evening: Dinner at Bancone

Dinner: Bancone – fresh pasta (£78.19)

Dessert: Amorino gelato (£26.90)

Evening: Tube/DLR back to hotel, boys crashed early

Late night: Packed for morning departure

Day 4 (July 19): Departure Morning

Breakfast: Hotel (included in room costs)

Morning:

London Budget Reality Check: What We Splurged On vs. Where We Saved

Let’s talk about where the money went. And whether it was worth it.

Where We Splurged (And Why)

🍽️ Michelin-Recommended Restaurants (£209.41 total for 2 dinners)

Worth it? Absolutely.

We’re a self-proclaimed foodie family who have been known to plan entire trips around restaurant reservations (don’t judge). Hoppers and Bancone were both excellent, and at these price points, they’re WAY cheaper than comparable restaurants in the US. However, having adventurous eaters for kids is a must.

Would we do it again? Yes. But if your kids only eat plain pasta and chicken fingers? Save your money and hit the UK chains.

🎡 London Eye (£118)

Worth it? For our family, yes.

Our 9-year-olds loved it. The views are incredible. It’s iconic. But £118 for 30 minutes, it’s not cheap.

Would we do it again? Probably not. We’ve done it twice now with kids (plus once before kids). It was great, and doing it with friends made it special. But for next trip? That money will go elsewhere.

Alternative: Sky Garden is FREE with advance booking and has similar views.

🏰 Royal Historic Palaces Membership (£125)

Worth it? 100% yes.

This covered Tower of London AND Kensington Palace. If you’re visiting both (which we recommend), the membership is cheaper than individual tickets. Better yet, you get to skip some lines.

Would we do it again? Our membership is good for the year, so yes. We’re already planning the next trip.

Where We Saved

🏨 Hotel with Breakfast Included

The Novotel Greenwich family room (£468.77) included breakfast for 1 adult, even better, kids eat free. As a result this saved us roughly £30-60 on breakfasts over 3 days. Not fancy, but filling and convenient.

The hotel isn’t in central London (Zone 2, not Zone 1). Other options were 3x more expensive during peak season. Even with the extra transit time, overall we saw everything we wanted.

🚇 Oyster Card vs. Contactless

We used an Oyster Card (£64.40 total) instead of paying per ride. For families making multiple Tube/bus trips per day, this caps your daily spending. Worth it.

🎟️ Free Attractions We Enjoyed

💰 Total Saved: Roughly £1000 by being strategic about hotel location. Not central, but close enough.

London Budget Per Person: The Real Cost Breakdown

Want to know how much this trip cost per person?

Total Spent: £1,454.66

Per Person: £363.67

Per Person Per Night: £121.22 (based on 3 nights)

What you get for that price:

  • 2 full days of sightseeing (July 17-18)
  • 1 arrival evening with dinner (July 16)
  • 3 nights accommodation
  • All transportation, attractions, and meals

That includes:

Not included:

London Budget Comparison: How Our 2 Days with Kids Stacks Up

Let me be clear: there’s no such thing as an “average” London trip. However, here’s how our spending compares to what you might see in other guides:

Category Budget Travel Our Trip (Mid-Range) Luxury Travel
Accommodation £40-60/person/day
(Hostels, budget hotels)
£39/person/night
(Family room at Novotel Greenwich)
£200-400+/person/day
(5-star hotels)
Food £20-30/person/day
(Pret A Manger, Tesco, cheap eats)
£38.50/person/day
(Mix: Michelin dinners + casual)
£100-200+/person/day
(Fine dining every meal)
Transport £10-20/person/day
(Oyster Card, buses)
£16/person/day
(Oyster + Stansted Express + 1 cab)
£30-50+/person/day
(Private cars, premium experiences)
Attractions £0-50/person/day
(Free museums only)
£27.60/person/day
(London Eye, Observatory, palaces)
£100+/person/day
(Private tours, VIP experiences)
TOTAL PER PERSON PER DAY £70-160 £121.22 £430-700+

What This Means for You

Understanding where your London budget falls on this spectrum can help you plan realistically. We landed squarely in the “Smart Budget” category – comfortable but not extravagant, strategic but not depriving ourselves of experiences we really wanted. Here’s what we prioritized:

If you copy our itinerary exactly, expect to spend £1,400-1,600 for a family of 4 for 3 nights.

Want to spend LESS?

Want to spend MORE?

What We’d Do Differently Next Time

Looking back at our London budget, these are the adjustments we’d make next time to either save money or get more value:

Skip Next Time

❌ The black cab ride (£34.60) – We took a cab from Shadwell Station to the British Museum. It was for the experience (and to show our kids how cool London cabbies are). Worth it? The kids forgot about it five minutes later. Ultimately, the Tube would’ve been fine. (Read the full story in our 48-hour London guide – it’s worth a laugh.)

❌ London Eye – It was great, but £118 for 30 minutes? We’ve done it 2 (and now 3) times total. Next trip, we’d use that money for another attraction or save it for more Michelin meals.

Do More Of

✅ Free museums – We only had 1 hour at the British Museum, but it was incredible and FREE. Next time we’d dedicate more time to this and other free museums. (See our complete museum guide with age-specific recommendations in our London itinerary post.)

✅ Free playgrounds – The playground at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich was AMAZING and totally free. In fact, our boys played there for over an hour. Next time we’d seek out more of these.

✅ Michelin-recommended restaurants – Notably both Hoppers and Bancone were excellent value compared to US prices. We’d absolutely do this again. (Read our detailed reviews and what the kids actually thought in our London with kids guide.)

✅ Grocery store snacks – We didn’t do this on this trip (big mistake). Next time: hit Tesco day one for snacks to prevent hanger meltdowns.

Add Next Time

Science Museum or Natural History Museum – Both free, both excellent for kids. Although, we focused on paid attractions this trip, we wish we’d made time for at least one.

More time in Greenwich – The playground, the observatory, the maritime museum, the park. We could’ve spent a full day here.

Money-Saving Tips We Actually Used

These aren’t theoretical – we actually did these things and saved money:

Royal Historic Palaces Membership – If you’re visiting 2+ Royal Historic Palaces sites (Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, etc.), buy the membership instead of individual tickets. Overall, we saved about £40-50.

✅ Hotel Breakfast – Book a hotel with breakfast included where kids eat free. We paid for 1 adult breakfast (included in our room rate), but the kids ate free. As a result, this saved us significantly vs. eating breakfast out every morning with a family of 4.

✅ Oyster Card vs. Travel Card – The Oyster Card has a daily cap on transport spending (great for families making 4+ Tube/bus trips per day), but there’s a £7 deposit. Obviously, it’s good if you’re planning to return to London and can reuse it. Otherwise, consider a Travel Card – it’s a flat fee for the whole day, week, or longer, with unlimited transport. Both save significant money vs. contactless or paper tickets.

✅ Lunch > Dinner for Nice Restaurants – If you want to eat at expensive restaurants, go for lunch instead of dinner. Same chef, same food, sometimes cheaper prices. (Ultimately we didn’t do this on this trip, but we do this quite often)

✅ Free Museums Are Actually Free – British Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum – all FREE. No tickets needed. Just walk in. This is huge for families.

✅ Grocery Store Snacks – We didn’t do this on this trip either, but on our first trip with kids we hit a Waitrose for snacks, fruit pouches, and high quality reusable grocery bags (for mama). Meltdown prevention kit stocked 🙌

London Restaurant Costs: From Michelin to Casual Dining with Kids

Let’s talk food. Here’s every place we ate, with honest assessments:

Dark Sugars chocolate ice cream London - best ice cream in London

Michelin-Recommended & High-End

Hoppers (Dinner – £131.22)

Bancone (Dinner – £78.19)

Master Wei (Dinner – £70)

Casual & Chains

Pizza Express (Lunch – £35.70)

Bao Spot (Lunch – £37.40)

Coffee & Treats

18 Grams (Coffee – £7.80)

Champagne and Fromage (Champagne + snacks – £37.13)

Ice Cream (Because Vacation)

Dark Sugars (£13.50)

Mr. Whippy (£8)

Amorino (£26.90)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 3-day London trip cost for a family of 4?

We spent £1,454 (approximately $1,850-1,900 USD) for 3 nights/2 full days in July 2024. This covered accommodation with breakfast, all transport, 4 major paid attractions, mix of Michelin-recommended and casual dining, coffee/ice cream stops, and souvenirs. You can do it cheaper (£1,000-1,050 with budget hotels and casual dining) or spend more (£2,500+ with luxury hotels and upscale restaurants).

What was your biggest expense?

Lodging at £468.77 (32% of total budget). Food came close at £461.99 (32%). Attractions were only 23% (£331.20) and transport was 13% (£192.70). If you’re trying to save money, focus on hotel costs or use points – our hotel was already budget-friendly at £156/night for a family of 4.

What’s the cheapest way to do London with kids?

Budget version: Stay in Zone 2-3 hotel (£70-90/night), skip expensive dinners and eat at Pret A Manger/Tesco (save ~£200-250 total), skip London Eye (save £118), focus on free museums. You’re looking at around £1,000-1,050 for a family of 4 for 3 nights. The free museums alone (British Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum) are worth the trip.

How much cash did you use?

None. We paid for everything on credit cards (earning points/miles). We brought our pound wallet with us (organizing multiple currencies is a lifesaver when you’re stationed overseas), but we didn’t touch it the entire trip. Credit cards are king in London.

Should we buy groceries in London to save money?

Admittedly, we didn’t on this trip (it wasn’t necessary). Based on our previous trips, budget £20-30 to stock up on portable snacks. It’s cheaper than panic-buying £8 ice cream when someone’s hangry.

Is the Royal Historic Palaces membership worth it?

Yes, if you’re visiting 2+ sites. We visited Tower of London and Kensington Palace, so the £125 membership saved us money compared to individual tickets. Plus you get open entry (no timed slots), which saved us when we stayed at Kensington Palace for 3 hours instead of our planned 90 minutes. Must buy 3+ business days in advance.

What’s the best way to handle money in London?

Credit card for almost everything (one with no foreign transaction fees and always choose the local currency when given the option). Oyster Card or Travel Card for transport – Oyster has a daily cap on spending (great for families making 4+ trips per day). Small amount of cash for emergencies. Get money from ATMs, not exchange bureaus. We earned points/miles on every purchase while keeping it simple.

How much should I budget per day for food as a family of 4?

Depends on your style:
Budget: £80-100/day (Pret A Manger, Tesco, casual chains)
Mid-range: £120-160/day (mix of casual and nice meals) – this is what we did
Splurge: £200+/day (nice restaurants for every meal)
Our average was about £154/day for food, which included 2 Michelin-recommended dinners, 1 Netflix “Chef’s Table” restaurant, casual lunches, and multiple coffee/ice cream stops.

What’s the biggest money mistake tourists make in London?

Three big ones: (1) Not using Oyster Cards or contactless payment for transport (paying per ride costs way more), (2) Only eating in tourist trap areas near major attractions instead of exploring local spots or chains, (3) Not taking advantage of FREE world-class museums. The British Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum are completely free and easily worth £100+ in value.

How does London compare to other European cities for family travel costs?

London is mid-range to expensive. Our £121/person/day would be around £80-100/day in budget-friendly cities like Lisbon or Prague, similar £110-130/day in cities like Paris or Barcelona, and £150-200+/day in expensive cities like Oslo, Zurich, or Copenhagen. The free museums give London an advantage – you can do a quality trip on a tighter budget than Paris or Zurich.

Should I book attractions in advance?

YES for: London Eye (timed tickets, can sell out), Tower of London (can sell out during peak season), any special exhibitions, dinner reservations at nice restaurants (especially weekends)
MAYBE for: British Museum (free but they manage capacity during busy seasons)
NO NEED for: Most other free museums (just walk in)

How much does London transport cost for families?

We spent £192.70 total for 3 days, which included Stansted Express train (£93.70), Oyster Card for Tube/DLR/buses (£64.40), and one black cab experience (£34.60). The Tube/DLR portion with Oyster daily cap was very affordable – kids under 10 travel FREE with paying adults. Budget £15-25/day per adult for transport, more if you’re taking taxis or coming from airports.

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The Bottom Line: Is London Worth This Cost?

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: London is one of the few major world cities where you can do an incredible family trip on a reasonable budget IF you’re strategic. The free museums alone are worth the flight.

Our trip cost £1,454.66 for 3 nights. That’s roughly £121 per person per day.

What does that get you?

Could we have done it cheaper? Yes.

Could we have spent more? Easily.

But this? This felt like the sweet spot. Good food, real experiences, happy kids. And we didn’t have to skip the things we actually wanted to do.

Planning your own London budget? Start with our numbers as a baseline. Our £1,454.66 for 2 days (about £121 per person per day) represents a comfortable middle ground between backpacker bare-bones and luxury excess. Adjust up or down based on your priorities, but know that this London budget gave us incredible experiences, happy kids, and zero regrets about what we spent read our complete 48-hour London guide here.

Remember: You won’t remember the spreadsheet. You’ll remember the experiences.

Like watching your kids try Sri Lankan food for the first time. Or standing at the prime meridian. Or watching your kids dress up in Victorian clothing in an English Castle. Completely worth it.

Family standing at Prime Meridian Greenwich - standing in two hemispheres

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Have questions about London costs or our itinerary? Drop them in the comments below!

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