Quick answer
A 7-night London and Edinburgh trip from India costs from about ₹1,45,000 per person on a budget, ₹1,90,000 mid-range and ₹3,80,000 for luxury, twin sharing, including return flights, the £135 UK visitor visa and insurance. London hotels are the biggest cost after flights. Free museums help balance pricey attractions such as the Tower and the Harry Potter studios.
United Kingdom at three budgets
Budget
Starting from
₹1,45,000
per person, twin sharing
3★ or budget chain hotels in zones 2–3 near a Tube line, contactless travel, free museums plus two paid sights, advance train to Edinburgh, one-stop flights.
Mid-range
Starting from
₹1,90,000
per person, twin sharing
Central 3★–4★ hotels, London 4–5 nights and Edinburgh 2–3, Tower of London, London Eye, Harry Potter studios, a West End show and a Highlands tour.
Luxury
Starting from
₹3,80,000
per person, twin sharing
4★–5★ hotels in Westminster, Mayfair or Kensington, private guides, first-class rail, premium show seats, non-stop flights.
Starting prices per person on twin sharing for 7 nights, reflecting typical market rates at the time of review. Peak dates (Diwali, Christmas–New Year, May–June school holidays) cost more. GST and TCS apply as per law on packages.
Where the money goes (mid-range, per person)
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights to London | ₹55,000–90,000 | Non-stops from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai; highest in June and December |
| UK Standard Visitor visa | ₹15,800–17,500 | £135 for six months from April 2026, plus optional visa-centre services |
| Travel insurance | ₹1,000–2,500 | Not required for the visa, but strongly advised; NHS hospital care is charged to visitors |
| Hotels, 7 nights | ₹53,000–86,000 | Twin share, 3★–4★; £130–210 a room a night |
| Train to Edinburgh and local transport | ₹9,000–18,000 | Advance LNER fare plus daily-capped Tube and bus travel |
| Attractions and day tours | ₹25,000–40,000 | Tower, Abbey, London Eye, Harry Potter studios, a show, Edinburgh Castle and a Highlands tour |
| Meals | ₹24,000–44,000 | ₹3,000–5,500 a day |
| SIM, tips and sundries | ₹3,000–6,000 | — |
Return flight fares from Indian cities
| From | Typical return economy fare |
|---|---|
| Delhi | ₹55,000–85,000 |
| Mumbai | ₹55,000–85,000 |
| Bengaluru | ₹58,000–90,000 |
| Hyderabad | ₹58,000–90,000 |
| Chennai | ₹60,000–92,000 |
| Kolkata | ₹62,000–95,000 |
Booked 4–8 weeks ahead outside peak holidays. Last-minute and festive fares run higher.
How to spend less without ruining the trip
- Mix one paid sight a day with London's free museums: the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, V&A and Tate Modern.
- Tap a contactless card or phone on the Tube; daily and weekly fare caps apply automatically, so you don't need a paper Travelcard.
- Book the London–Edinburgh train 8–12 weeks ahead; advance fares can be less than half the walk-up price.
- Buy West End tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square on the day, or choose midweek matinees.
- Stay near a Jubilee, Elizabeth or Piccadilly line station in zone 2 rather than in Westminster; rooms are 25–40% cheaper.
- Eat Indian in Southall, Wembley or Drummond Street, where a thali or dosa costs far less than a central London restaurant meal.
How much does a UK trip cost from India?
For a 7-night London and Edinburgh trip, budget about ₹1.9 lakh per person at mid-range, twin sharing, including flights, visa and insurance. Budget trips start near ₹1.45 lakh; luxury runs from ₹3.8 lakh. Figures assume late-2026 rates and £1 = ₹117.
Where does the money go?
On a mid-range trip, roughly:
- Flights: about 30–35%. London has more non-stop flights from India than any other European city, but fares spike in June and around Christmas.
- Hotels: 30–40%. London is one of Europe's priciest hotel cities; a central 3★ double runs £130–210 a night, and Edinburgh in August costs even more.
- Attractions: 15%. The Tower of London is £37–38 and the Harry Potter studio tour about £55–60, but many major museums are free.
- Food and transport: the rest. Indian food is everywhere and often good value.
Visa, insurance and TCS
The UK is not in the Schengen area. The Standard Visitor visa rose to £135 (about ₹15,800) for up to six months from April 2026. Standard processing is about three weeks; priority options cost extra. See our UK visa guide for documents.
Travel insurance isn't mandatory for the visa, but visitors pay for NHS hospital treatment, so cover is essential — especially for parents. Our travel insurance service can arrange it.
If you book a package through an Indian agent, TCS is collected on the overseas tour package at the rate in force when you pay. You can adjust it against your income tax or claim it as a refund; it shows in Form 26AS. GST appears separately on the invoice.
When is the UK cheapest?
January to March and November have the lowest hotel rates and fares. June, late July to August (UK school holidays) and the weeks before Christmas are the most expensive. Edinburgh in August, during the Fringe, can cost two to three times its usual rate. See the best time to visit the UK.
Load pounds on a forex card before you fly; our foreign exchange desk can arrange one. Most London places are card-only, so you need little cash.
For hotel areas see where to stay in London, and for the route these figures assume, browse our itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 7-day London trip cost from India?
What is the UK visa fee for Indians in 2026?
How much does the London Tube cost per day?
Is the UK more expensive than Europe?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
