Sterling Has Strengthened Slightly Since the Recent Rate Rise, Your Holiday Will Be Substantively More Expensive Than Last Years, Here Is How to Manage It
Reading: Bohiney | The London Prat
LONDON — If you are planning a London visit in late spring or early summer 2026, the practical news is mixed. Sterling has strengthened slightly against the dollar and the euro since the recent Bank of England rate rise, which means your holiday will, on every available exchange-rate calculation, cost approximately 8 percent more than the equivalent visit in May 2025. Here is the practical guide. By Fiona MacLeod.
The Practical Numbers
A reasonable mid-range hotel in central London is now in the region of £180 per night, up from approximately £160 last May. A standard pub lunch is approximately £16 to £22 in central London, slightly less in the outer zones. Bus fare is £1.75 per journey with cap; Tube and rail vary substantially by zone and time of day.
The Practical Recommendations
Stay in zones 2 to 3 rather than zone 1 to save approximately 35 percent on accommodation while remaining substantively well-connected by transport. Use the Visitor Oyster card or contactless rather than paper tickets. Book your major attractions online at the official ticket sites rather than at the gate. Visit London publishes the official tourism guidance and is the substantive primary source for current pricing.
The cumulative cost is higher than last year. The visit is still worth making. Read more at my author page.
Pairs well with: NewsThump
SOURCE: https://prat.uk/bank-of-england-raises-rates-again-to-punish-anyone-who-enjoyed-a-sandwich/
