A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers London vs. Leiden for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit London or Leiden?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between London and Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: London or Leiden?

London

The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.

Leiden

Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Adventure Tours to United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden or London?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in London is £190, while the average daily cost in Leiden is £114. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for London and Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    London £123
    Leiden £66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    London £246
    Leiden £132
Compare Hotels in London and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in London or Leiden? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in London


Hotels in Leiden


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: London Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    London £26
    Leiden £22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in London

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:


  • Taxi Ride
    £15
  • Heathrow Express
    £18
  • Luggage Storage
    £8.00
  • London Map
    £1.29
  • Oyster Card
    £36
  • Train to Gatwick Airport (2)
    £22
  • Oyster Card
    £27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in London

Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Windsor Castle to/from Central London | Private Transfers: $68
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Bus Transfers: $148
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in London HTL-APT (LHR): $141
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in London HTL-APT (STN,LCY): $90
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in London HTL - APT (LGW,STN): $135
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from London City Center- to Gatwick Airport (LGW): $115
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from London Heathrow Airport(LHR)- to Central London: $112
  • Transfer in Private MPV from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Central London: $115
  • Transfer from London City Airport To Central London: $196
  • Transfer from Heathrow Airport to London or London to Heathrow: $120
  • Transfer from Heathrow Airport LHR to Central London by Sedan: $91
  • To Gatwick Airport: Private Transfer from Central London: $112

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into London or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden and London change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    London £34
    Leiden £33
Typical Food Prices in London

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:


  • Lunch at Starbucks
    £13
  • Tea
    £6.00
  • Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
    £39
  • Morning Tea
    £6.35
  • Pastry
    £5.00
  • Sushi Dinner for One
    £18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London

For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dinner and Live DJ at A Fancy Restaurant: $16
  • Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $34
  • Picadilly Circus: Hard Rock Cafe Set Menu Lunch or Dinner: $36
  • Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class: $40
  • Tea and Doughnuts: Borough Market Walking Food Tour: $44
  • Pizza Making Cookery Class: $52
  • Borough Market Flavors of London Food Tour: $66
  • Borough Bites, The London Food Tour: $66
  • NO DIET CLUB - Bike and Food tour in London !: $67
  • No Diet Club - Best food Tour in East London: $67
  • London Borough Market Small Group Food Tour: $69
  • African & Caribbean Food Tour in Multi-Cultural Brixton: $73

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    London £33
    Leiden £15
Typical Entertainment Prices in London

For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Two Tickets to a Concert
    £83
  • London Symphony Orchestra
    £34
  • London Pass
    £47
  • Comedy Show
    £8.00

Tours and Activities in London

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.

  • An Evening in London. Panoramic night Tour by Executive Luxury Vehicle: $228
  • Boogie Shoes Christmas Silent Disco Walking Tours London : $57
  • Boogie Shoes Silent Disco Walking Tours Christmas Special: $45
  • David Bowie "Golden Years" Walking Tour of Brixton & Soho: $32
  • Little Venice and Camden Walking Tour: $96
  • London (Camden Town) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
  • London Covent Garden: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour Medieval Legends, ghosts and fire: $10
  • The London Dungeon Admission Ticket: $37
  • Victoria and Albert Museum and Kensington Gardens Tour for Kids: $217
  • 'Cutty Sark' Entrance Ticket: $26
  • 'Downton Abbey' TV Locations and Blenheim Palace Tour from London: $220

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $27
  • Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
  • Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $33
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $163
  • Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.54
  • Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $318
  • Leiden City Tour with Live guide in Netherlands: $41
  • Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
  • Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
  • Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.58
  • Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $73
  • Walking City Tour with Live guide: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    London £15
    Leiden £22

Sample the Local Flavors in London

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:

  • Self Guided Audio Tour in London Old Pub Crawl: $7.59
  • Historic Pub Walking Tour of London: $13
  • 2-Hour Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $20
  • Haunted London Pub Walking Tour: $20
  • 1 Big Night Out Weekday Pub Crawl: $23
  • Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting of 4 Beers: $25
  • Clapham Pub Crawl in London: $25
  • Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour and Cocktail Ticket: $26
  • London Pub Crawl: $27
  • Guided Historic Pub Tour (London): $27
  • Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $28
  • Camden Pub Crawl & Bar Tour London: $31

Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:

  • Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
  • Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between London and Leiden, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Leiden.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is London Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, London or Leiden?

London has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of London and Leiden, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit London or Leiden?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit London or Leiden in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both London and Leiden. The summer months attract visitors to London because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

London is around the same temperature as Leiden in the summer. The daily temperature in London averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leiden this time of the year. London usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during summer. London gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, London usually receives less rain than Leiden. London gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    London 18°C (64°F) 
    Leiden 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit London or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to London as well as Leiden. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to London this time of year.

In the autumn, London is a little warmer than Leiden. Typically, the autumn temperatures in London in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Leiden averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, London often gets more sunshine than Leiden. London gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun.

London usually gets less rain in October than Leiden. London gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    London 12°C (53°F) 
    Leiden 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit London or Leiden in the Winter?

Both Leiden and London are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to London for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in London. In January, London is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in London average around 4°C (40°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

London usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during winter. London gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, London usually receives less rain than Leiden. London gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    London 4°C (40°F) 
    Leiden 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit London or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and London during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to London in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

London is a little warmer than Leiden in the spring. The daily temperature in London averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, London often gets less sunshine than Leiden. London gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun.

London usually gets less rain in April than Leiden. London gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    London 9°C (48°F) 
    Leiden 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Leiden and London

London Leiden
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (40°F) 52 mm (2 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 5°C (40°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 9°C (48°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 51 mm (2 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 16°C (61°F) 51 mm (2 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 51 mm (2 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 12°C (53°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)