What currency is used in London?

London uses the Pound sterling (GBP).

How much does a day in London cost?

Roughly $80-120 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $200-320 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in London?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in London without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

London travel guide

United Kingdom

A sprawling capital of free national museums, royal parks and neighbourhoods that each feel like a separate town. London is expensive, but its best days often cost little more than a travel fare and a picnic.

Essentials

Language: English
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Plugs: Type G, 230 V
Emergency number: 999 or 112
Tipping: Restaurants often add a 12.5 percent service charge; if not, around 10 percent is usual for table service, and tipping at the pub bar is not expected.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $80-120, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $200-320, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in London

Shoreditch: street art, vintage shops and a late bar scene on the edge of the City.
South Bank: a riverside walk past the Tate Modern, theatres and book stalls under Waterloo Bridge.
Camden: canal-side markets, live music venues and an easy walk to Regent's Park.

Getting around London

The Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and buses all accept contactless bank cards and phones, with daily fares capped automatically, so an Oyster card is optional. Buses do not take cash.

Best time to visit London

May to September for the longest days and park life, though rain is possible in any month.

Top things to do in London

Spend a morning in the British Museum or the Natural History Museum, both free to enter
Walk the South Bank from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, stopping at Borough Market for lunch
Climb Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath for a view across the whole skyline
Browse the Columbia Road flower market on a Sunday morning, then walk down to Brick Lane
Book a free slot at the Sky Garden for a view over the City from a rooftop garden

What to eat in London

Sunday roast: roast meat with potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, served in pubs on Sundays
Fish and chips: battered cod or haddock with thick-cut chips, best eaten from the paper
Pie and mash: a minced beef pie with mashed potato and green parsley liquor, an old East End staple
Salt beef bagel: thick slices of cured beef with mustard, sold around the clock on Brick Lane

Day trips from London

Oxford: college quadrangles, the Bodleian Library and riverside pubs, about an hour by train
Brighton: a pebble beach, the pier and the lanes of independent shops, about an hour by train
Bath: Roman baths and Georgian crescents in honey-coloured stone, about an hour and a half by train

Local etiquette

Queueing is taken seriously, and on escalators you stand on the right and walk on the left. On the Tube, let passengers off before you board.

Staying connected

Prepaid SIMs from the main networks are sold in supermarkets and phone shops, eSIMs work well, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés and museums, while mobile signal now reaches many Underground stations and tunnels.

Staying safe

Pickpockets and phone snatchers, sometimes on bikes or scooters, work busy areas such as Oxford Street and the West End, so keep your phone away from the kerb. Traffic drives on the left: look right first when crossing.

A local tip

Ride the top deck of an ordinary double-decker bus through the West End and Westminster for a sightseeing tour at the price of a bus fare.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in London on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in London for advice. We are new here, so if you live in London, you could be one of the first hosts.

Join free

Questions about London

What currency is used in London?: London uses the Pound sterling (GBP).
What is the emergency number in London?: In London, call 999 or 112.
When is the best time to visit London?: May to September for the longest days and park life, though rain is possible in any month.
How much does a day in London cost?: Roughly $80-120 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $200-320 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in London?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in London without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

More guides in Europe

All Europe guides · Every city guide