London
Paris
Anyone comparing London and Paris does so because within a radius of 344 km you have two capitals with direct flights from dozens of cities and a Eurostar link of 2h15.Both offer global icons: the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Tower Bridge in London, with world-class museums less than 3 km from their city centers.The differences show up in costs, transport and cuisine: in London the major museums are free, but the tube costs more (cap €9.50 zones 1–2); in Paris transport is cheaper (€8.65 per day zones 1–2), but the Louvre costs €22.The climate varies little: summer at 22–25 °C, winters around 3–8 °C.In this guide you’ll find firm prices, real times and the names of neighborhoods, restaurants and attractions to build an itinerary of 2 to 7 days.Each section indicates the winner, spending ranges in €, and practical tips with distances in km and minutes.
London vs Paris
| Feature | London | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget | London: budget with hostel in King’s Cross/Earl’s Court €30–45 per night, street/pubs meals (Borough Market, Greggs) €20–30, transport cap €9.50 (zones 1–2), 1 mid‑priced paid attraction €30–41 (e.g., Tower of London €41): total €90–125/day.Mid: 3* hotel in Paddington/South Bank €140–220, restaurants €35–55, transport €9.50, 1 premium attraction (London Eye €38–56): €230–340.Luxury: 5* in Mayfair/Knightsbridge €450–800, fine dining (The Ledbury) €120–200, taxi €30–60, total €700–1.200. | Paris: budget with hostel in Bastille/Montmartre €28–45, bouillon meals/L’As du Fallafel €20–30, Navigo Jour zones 1–2 €8.65, 1 museum €16–22 (Orsay €16, Louvre €22): total €80–120.Mid: 3* hotel in the 9th/11th arr.€120–180, bistro restaurants €35–55, transport €8.65, 1 icon (Eiffel Tower €18.10–28.30): €200–280.Luxury: 5* in Place Vendôme/Saint‑Germain €500–700, gastronomy (Septime) €110–180, taxi €20–40, total €650–1.050. |
| Top attractions | Top London: Tower of London €41 (2.5–3 h), Westminster Abbey €34 (1.5–2 h), London Eye €38–56 (30 min + 30–60 min queue), British Museum free (2–3 h).Alternatives: The View from The Shard €37–43 (1 h) and St Paul’s €27–29 (1.5 h).Central distances: Tower–London Eye 3.2 km (35–40 min on foot), Trafalgar Square–British Museum 1 km (12 min).Book online for fast‑track on the London Eye. | Top Paris: Louvre €22 (2.5–3.5 h), Eiffel Tower elevator to 2nd floor €18.10 or summit €28.30 (1.5–2.5 h), Musée d’Orsay €16 (2 h), Sainte‑Chapelle €13.50 (45–60 min).Extras: Arc de Triomphe €13 (1 h) and Seine cruise €15–18 (1 h).Distances: Louvre–Orsay 1 km (12 min on foot), Eiffel Tower–Arc 2.2 km (25 min).Book a time slot for the Eiffel Tower and priority access for the Louvre. |
| Food and restaurants | In London you’ll find fish & chips €15–20 (e.g., Poppies in Spitalfields), full English €12–16 (e.g., Regency Cafe), curry on Brick Lane €12–18.Markets: Borough Market (sandwiches €7–12), Camden Market.Restaurants: Dishoom (Shoreditch) €20–30 per person, Flat Iron (Soho) steak €14–18, fine dining The Ledbury menu €195.Pint of beer €6.50–8, cocktails €12–16.Book 5–7 days ahead for Padella (pasta €10–14). | In Paris: bouillons like Chartier with dishes at €12–25, French onion soup €9–12, steak‑frites €16–24, boeuf bourguignon €18–26.Street: pita from L’As du Fallafel €9.50, street crêpe €3–7.Pastry Pierre Hermé/Ladurée macaron €2.30–2.90.Bistros like Le Comptoir du Relais €40–60, galette at Breizh Café €10–16.Glass of wine €5–8, cocktails €12–14.Book 1–2 weeks for Septime (menu €95–125 lunch/dinner).✓ Better |
| Climate and best time to visit | London: averages January 2–8 °C (11–12 rainy days), April 6–14 °C, July 14–22 °C (rare peaks 30 °C), October 9–15 °C.Daylight hours in June 16–17 h.Suggested periods: May–June for parks in bloom (Hyde Park), September for lower prices, December for Winter Wonderland (timed entry €6–9).Bring a waterproof jacket: frequent 15–30 min showers. | Paris: averages January 3–7 °C (8–10 rainy days), April 7–16 °C, July 16–25 °C (peaks 32 °C), October 9–16 °C.Daylight hours in June 16 h.Top periods: April–June for blooms in the Jardin du Luxembourg, September–October for shorter queues.In August some restaurants close for 1–2 weeks.For heat over 30 °C, book a hotel with air conditioning explicitly stated. |
| Transport and getting there | Airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City.Heathrow–center: Heathrow Express €29–30 (15 min, Paddington), Elizabeth line €15.50 (30–35 min), Piccadilly €6.50 (50–60 min).Oyster/contactless cap zones 1–2 €9.50.Taxi Heathrow–Soho €70–100 (45–75 min).Santander bike hire: €1.90/30 min.From St Pancras Eurostar to Paris in 2h15. | Airports: CDG, Orly, Beauvais.CDG–center: RER B €11.45 (35 min to Châtelet), RoissyBus €16.20 (60 min to Opéra), fixed‑fare taxi €53 Right Bank / €58 Left Bank.Orly–center: OrlyBus €11.20 (35 min to Denfert), taxi €32 Left Bank / €37 Right Bank.Metro t+ €2.15, Navigo Jour zones 1–2 €8.65.From Gare du Nord Eurostar to London in 2h15.✓ Better |
| Nightlife | London: bars in Soho, clubs in Shoreditch and Fabric (Farringdon), major venues like Ministry of Sound.Club entry €15–25, pint €6.50–8, cocktails €12–16.Pubs close 23:00–00:00, clubs until 02:00–04:00.Night Tube Friday/Saturday on the Central, Victoria, Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines.Rooftop: Sky Garden free with reservation (1 h).✓ Better | Paris: nights out in Oberkampf, Bastille, Pigalle and Le Marais.Clubs like Rex Club (techno) entry €10–20, cocktails €12–14, beer €7–9.Metro runs until ~00:45 (weekdays) and ~01:15 (Fri/Sat); then Noctilien buses.Rooftop Le Perchoir (19:00–01:00) and jazz at Duc des Lombards (tickets €20–35).Smart casual dress code at many venues after 22:00. |
| For families with children | London: Natural History Museum and Science Museum free (2–3 h each) in South Kensington just 500 m apart.Diana Memorial Playground (Kensington Gardens) with pirate ship, free.London Zoo €35 (2–3 h).Warner Bros.Studio Tour (Harry Potter) €65–85; train from Euston to Watford Jct 20 min (€8–12) + shuttle 15 min (€3.50).Tube stations with elevators like Green Park are useful for strollers. | Paris: Jardin du Luxembourg with play area €3–5 (2 h), Cité des Sciences at La Villette €12 adults (2–3 h), Jardin d’Acclimatation entry €7 (+ pay‑per‑ride attractions).Disneyland Paris in Marne‑la‑Vallée: RER A 40 min, 1‑day ticket €62–105.Strollers OK on the RER and metro with elevators at stations like Châtelet and Bibliothèque.Many restaurants offer a menu enfant €10–14. |
| Beaches and nature | Nature in London: Hyde Park 142 ha (boat rental on the Serpentine €15–25/30 min), Richmond Park 955 ha at 10 km from Trafalgar (free‑roaming deer).Kew Gardens €22 (2–3 h).Sea: Brighton at 87 km, train from Victoria 1 h (€12–25 each way).Cliffs: Seven Sisters at 110 km (train+bus 2.5–3 h).✓ Better | Nature in Paris: Bois de Boulogne 845 ha at 6 km from the Arc de Triomphe, Bois de Vincennes 995 ha at 7 km from Notre‑Dame.Day trips: Giverny 75 km (train to Vernon 45–50 min, €9–18 + bus 15 min), Fontainebleau 70 km (train 40 min).Sea: Deauville 195 km, train from Saint‑Lazare 2 h (€20–45).In summer Paris Plages on the Seine banks (July–August). |
| Shopping | London: Oxford Street (from Primark to Selfridges), Regent Street, Covent Garden (Apple Market), Harrods and Liberty.Markets: Portobello Road (Saturday), Old Spitalfields.Prices: sneakers €80–140, vintage on Brick Lane €20–60, designer at Selfridges from €300.No tax‑free for non‑EU tourists since 2021.Typical hours: 10:00–20:00, Sunday 12:00–18:00. | Paris: Champs‑Élysées (e.g., Louis Vuitton), Le Marais (Rue des Francs‑Bourgeois, Merci), Saint‑Germain (Le Bon Marché), Galeries Lafayette.Flea markets: Saint‑Ouen (Sat–Mon).Typical buys: Fragonard perfumes €35–60, cheeses from Laurent Dubois €6–15/piece, macarons €2.50–2.90.Détaxe from €100.01/store with 12–15% refund.Hours 10:00–20:00, Sunday variable. |
| Safety and practical tips | London: beware of pickpocketing at Oxford Circus, Camden Market and on crowded buses (lines 8/25).Use Oyster/contactless to avoid queues.Avoid unlicensed minicabs: choose Black Cab or Uber.Emergencies 999/112.Electrical socket G, adapter needed.Tip: often 12.5% already included.Changeable weather: always carry a waterproof layer. | Paris: pickpocketing at the Eiffel Tower, Sacré‑Cœur, Châtelet and on metro lines 1/4.Avoid the bracelet scam in Montmartre and fake petitions at the Trocadéro.Emergencies 112 or 17 (police).Tickets via Navigo Easy or contactless payment at the gates (t+ €2.15).Use official Taxi Parisien cabs.Keep your backpack in front in areas with over 20,000 visitors per day. |
| How many days you need | London: minimum 3 days for Westminster, the British Museum, the Tower and the South Bank; ideally 4–5 days for Greenwich (DLR 20–25 min), Camden and a viewpoint (Sky Garden free, 1 h).Example 4 days: Day 1 Westminster (4 h) + South Bank (2 h); Day 2 British Museum (2.5 h, free) + Covent Garden (2 h); Day 3 Tower (3 h) + City (2 h); Day 4 Greenwich (half day) + evening in Soho. | Paris: minimum 3 days for the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Le Marais and Montmartre; ideally 4 days including Orsay (2 h) and Versailles (half day, RER C 35–45 min).Example 4 days: Day 1 Île de la Cité (2 h) + Louvre (3 h); Day 2 Eiffel Tower (2 h) + Seine (1 h); Day 3 Montmartre (3 h) + Pigalle; Day 4 Orsay (2 h) + shopping in Le Marais (2 h). |
| How to combine the two cities | From London to Paris by Eurostar: 2h15 from St Pancras to Gare du Nord, recommended check‑in 90 min before.Prices €55–180 one way if you book 4–8 weeks ahead.2 bags + 1 small item included.By plane: flight 1h15 + transfers (2–3 h) for a total of 4–5 h, cost €40–120.Bus 8–10 h (€25–50) via Calais–Coquelles.Arrive in Paris in the afternoon for dinner at 20:00. | From Paris to London by Eurostar: 2h15 from Gare du Nord to St Pancras, security and passport checks 30–45 min.Fares €55–180.Alternatives: flights from CDG/ORY to LHR/LGW (1h15), but with shuttles/metro the total is 4–5 h.Overnight buses 8–10 h (€25–50) arriving at Victoria Coach Station.Choose a morning Eurostar 07:00–09:00 to be in Soho by 11:00. |
The Verdict
Choose London
I recommend London to those seeking free museums, markets and nightlife between April and June, with a budget of €230–320/day (3* hotel, meals and 1 attraction).4‑day itinerary: Day 1 Westminster (Abbey €34, 2 h) + South Bank with the London Eye (€38–56, 30 min).Day 2 British Museum (2.5 h, free) + Covent Garden.Day 3 Tower of London (€41, 3 h) + the City.Day 4 Greenwich (DLR 20–25 min) and sunset at the Sky Garden (free).Transport with cap €9.50 zones 1–2 and dinner at Dishoom (€20–30).
Choose Paris
I recommend Paris to those who want top art, French cuisine and romantic walks between April and October, with a budget of €200–280/day (3* hotel, meals, 1–2 attractions).4‑day itinerary: Day 1 Île de la Cité + Sainte‑Chapelle (€13.50, 1 h) and the Louvre (€22, 3 h).Day 2 Eiffel Tower (€18.10–28.30, 2 h) + cruise on the Seine (€15–18).Day 3 Montmartre (3 h) + dinner in Le Marais.Day 4 Musée d’Orsay (€16, 2 h) and shopping at Galeries Lafayette.Transport with Navigo Jour €8.65 zones 1–2 and lunch at Bouillon Chartier (€12–25).