Splitting expenses on a London trip - what to budget, how to settle up
Last updated by The EvenRound team.
Tube fares, gastropub roasts, and one West End matinee that needed booking weeks ago.
London weekend trips are dense: the Tube alone is £20–£30 per person across two days, theatre tickets run £45–£120, and even a casual gastropub Sunday roast hits £35 per person. The accommodation cost dominates: central hotels are £250+/night, so apartment shares for 4 are usually the only path. Splits get tricky when the West End wing of the group goes one way and the museum/market wing goes another.
Realistic per-person daily budget
Local currency: British pound (GBP)
| Category | Per person, per day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | £90–£160 | Zone 1–2 apartment for 4 split four ways; central hotels £240–£380/night. |
| Food and drinks | £55–£90 | Coffee £4, café lunch £14–£18, gastropub dinner £30–£50, pint £6–£7.50. |
| Transport | £10–£18 | Contactless daily cap £8.50–£16.30 depending on zones. Heathrow Express is £25; Piccadilly Line £6.30. |
| Activities and entrances | £15–£60 | Tate Modern (free), British Museum (free), Tower of London £35, West End matinee £45–£120. |
Common shared-expense scenarios in London
Recommended split mode for London
Sample 3-day itinerary with expense touchpoints
Best for groups of …
Best for groups of 4–6. Apartment sweet spot is 4; theatre groups bigger than 6 struggle to get adjacent seats.
Currency notes
Pound sterling (GBP). Contactless is universal - including on the Tube. Tipping is 10–12.5% at sit-down restaurants; not expected at pubs that don't do table service. The Heathrow Express is the fastest but most expensive route; the Elizabeth Line is £12.80 and almost as fast. Avoid Bureau de Change at the airports.
London's contactless infrastructure makes splitting easier than most cities - the bills are itemised, the Tube auto-charges, the gastropubs accept Apple Pay. Use the system.
Related guides
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