Families wanting to visit London for a weekend of sightseeing face paying hundreds of pounds to visit iconic tourist attractions, up from just pennies 50 years ago.
This year, which one? Travel analyzed how prices for tourist attractions have soared since its first edition in 1974, revealing how the cost of a day in the capital has far outpaced the rate of inflation.
A ticket to the world-famous Kew Gardens cost just 1p (9p in today’s money) in 1974, and now its price is rising to between £12 and £24 per adult.
In 1974, admission to the Tower of London cost 10 pence, the equivalent of 90 pence today. But visiting in 2024 will cost a staggering £34.80 per adult, an increase of 3,767 per cent.
Entry to Madame Tussauds wax museum cost 75 pence, or £7 in today’s money. But an advance ticket now costs £33, or £42 if bought on the day, a 500% increase.
Meanwhile, popular booking websites like Booking.com advertise three-star hotel rooms at eye-watering prices.
A two-night weekend stay at the three-star Holiday Inn Express in Newham, London, for a family of four, costs £491, in a single room with a double bed and a sleeping sofa.
Or the four-star Radisson Blue Hotel in Tower Hamlets, east London, for a weekend costs £1,344. The bedroom suite has a double bed and a sofa bed.
This year, which one? Travel analyzed how tourist attractions have skyrocketed in price since its first edition in 1974
London’s tourist attractions have hit customers with the biggest price rise in 50 years, according to Which? analysis of march of this year
A ticket to Kew Gardens (pictured) cost just 1p (9p in today’s money) in 1974, and now its price has skyrocketed, ranging between £12 and £24 per adult.
The city’s tourist attractions have hit customers with the biggest price rise in 50 years, according to Which? analysis from March of this year.
London Zoo, which previously cost 80 pence (£7.20 in today’s money), costs £27 per person during off-peak periods and up to £33 at weekends, a 358 per cent increase based on ticket of weekend.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Everyone should be able to afford a day in the country’s capital, but our research found that people are increasingly having to dig deeper to afford entry to some of London’s best-loved attractions.”
Boland recommended booking in advance rather than buying at the door to get the cheapest price, while also looking for discount schemes.
“Plus, many of the UK’s top attractions can still be enjoyed for free – in London, some of our readers’ favorite examples include the RAF museum and even a tour of the Houses of Parliament, which can be booked in advance through your MP”. said.
As for hotels, although expensive, which ones? explained that they remain the cheapest alternative to renting vacation rentals in the city.
On Booking.com, a two-bedroom apartment in Camden is advertised for £876 for two nights for a family of four with two children.
In 1974, admission to the Tower of London (pictured) cost 10 pence, the equivalent of 90 pence in today’s money. However, if you visit in 2024, you’ll pay a staggering £34.80 per adult.
London Zoo (pictured), which previously cost 80p (£7.20 in today’s money), costs £27 per person during off-peak periods and up to £33 at weekends, an increase of 358 per cent based on weekend ticket.
While admission to Madame Tussauds cost 75p (or £7 in today’s money), a ticket in 2024 will cost £33 if purchased in advance, and can go up to £42 if purchased on the day.
A stay at the three-star Holiday Inn Express in London would cost a family £491 for a two-night weekend stay in a single room with a double bed and sofa bed.
A family of four can stay at the four-star Radisson Blue Hotel in Tower Hamlets for a weekend for £1,344
Vacation rentals in London tend to be more expensive than hotels. A two-bedroom apartment in Camden is advertised for £876 for two nights for a family of four with two children.
A cheaper alternative is a one-bedroom apartment in Tower Hamlets for £544, which offers a double bed and a sofa bed.
A cheaper alternative is a one-bedroom apartment in Tower Hamlets for £544, which offers a double bed and a sofa bed.
Mr. Bowland said: “While many of us might assume that holiday rentals will outperform hotels in price, last time we checked we discovered this is not the case, with the average cost of a hotel room in Greater London being significantly cheaper than a rental of a room.
‘Comparison sites can be a great tool for finding accommodation, but once you’ve found a place you like, we always recommend booking direct to get the best price.
“If you pick up the phone, there’s a good chance you can negotiate additional savings or even a nice perk like a free breakfast.”
The expert also advises to carefully consider the dates you choose to visit and try to avoid traveling during important events, as they can often “drive up accommodation prices.”