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Dublin or London? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick London for a first big-city trip: free national museums, West End theatre and far more to fill a week, and on our numbers it is slightly cheaper per day (about €256 mid-range against €265 in Dublin). Pick Dublin for a shorter pub-and-history break where the centre is walkable and day trips to Newgrange or the coast are easy.
Dublin: suits couples, solo travellers and groups of friends who want a compact, walkable city with traditional pubs, Trinity College and easy day trips.
London: suits first-timers and families who want world-class free museums, theatre, royal sights and enough variety for a week or more.
Side by side
| Dublin | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €265 | €257 £219 local |
| Budget day* | €136 | €133 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●Hotels are very expensive; about €265 a day mid-range. | ●●●●●Pricey too, but free museums help; about €256 a day. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Temple Bar is packed; most other central streets feel manageable. | ●●●●●Major sights, Tube and West End are busy almost year-round. |
| Food | ●●●●●Good seafood, breakfasts and pub food; fewer cuisines than London. | ●●●●●Huge range, from Borough Market to Brick Lane curry houses. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Pub culture with live traditional music is the city's strongest card. | ●●●●●Theatre, clubs, pubs and late venues in every part of town. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Zoo and Phoenix Park help, but much revolves around pubs. | ●●●●●Free museums, parks and child-friendly sights make it very easy. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Centre is walkable; trams and buses cover the rest, no metro. | ●●●●●Tube and buses reach everywhere with contactless fares; distances are big. |
| Best months | year-round, see below | Aug |
| Warmest / coolest | Jul 20°C / Jan 8°C | Jul 23°C / Jan 7°C |
| Known for | Book of Kells at Trinity College, Guinness pubs, and Newgrange tombs nearby. | Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, free world-class museums, West End theatre |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Dublin and London day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Dublin if…
- you want a 3–4 day break you can cover on foot
- Live traditional music in pubs is high on your list
- you plan day trips to Newgrange, Howth or Wicklow
- you prefer a smaller city with a slower pace
Pick London if…
- It is your first trip and you want the big landmarks
- you are travelling with children
- Museums, galleries and theatre matter more than pubs
- you have a week or more to fill
Weather month by month
| Month | Dublin high / rainy days | London high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C · 12 | 7°C · 12 |
| Feb | 10°C · 12 | 10°C · 9 |
| Mar | 11°C · 13 | 11°C · 14 |
| Apr | 11°C · 11 | 13°C · 8 |
| May | 15°C · 13 | 17°C · 13 |
| Jun | 18°C · 11 | 22°C · 10 |
| Jul | 20°C · 13 | 23°C · 12 |
| Aug | 19°C · 12 | 22°C · 7 |
| Sep | 18°C · 13 | 21°C · 10 |
| Oct | 15°C · 19 | 17°C · 14 |
| Nov | 11°C · 10 | 11°C · 12 |
| Dec | 9°C · 16 | 9°C · 12 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Dublin
Irish stew · Full Irish breakfast · Breakfast roll and chicken fillet roll · Fish and chips · Dublin coddle · Oysters and stout
Where: George's Street Arcade, Temple Bar Food Market (Meeting House Square), Moore Street, Capel Street and Parnell Street
London
Fish and chips · Salt beef bagel · Pie and mash · Full English breakfast · Sunday roast · Curry
Where: Borough Market (Southwark), Brick Lane and Whitechapel, Old Spitalfields Market, Maltby Street Market (Bermondsey)
Doing both in one trip
7 days: 4 in London + 3 in Dublin
Start in London while you have energy for the big sights, then wind down in compact, walkable Dublin.
Getting between them: Flight about 1 h 15 plus airport time, with many daily departures from several London airports. Rail and ferry via Holyhead takes roughly 7–8 hours — check current timetables. Distance about 462 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–4: London — Westminster, the Tower, South Bank, British Museum, a West End show, Borough Market
- Day 5: Fly to Dublin, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, pub music in the evening
- Day 6: Guinness Storehouse or Kilmainham Gaol, Georgian squares, George's Street Arcade
- Day 7: Day trip to Howth or Newgrange, then fly home
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Common questions
Is Dublin or London cheaper?
On our mid-range figures they are close: London about €256 per person per day, Dublin about €265. Dublin hotels are among the priciest in Europe, which tips the balance. London claws back value through free entry to the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern and Natural History Museum, so a sightseeing day there can cost less than in Dublin, where the main attractions charge entry.
How many days do I need in each?
Three days covers central Dublin well: Trinity College, the Georgian squares, a museum or two, and a day trip to Howth, Newgrange or Wicklow. London needs at least four days for the headline sights and realistically a week if you want museums, a show, markets and neighbourhoods like Greenwich or Hampstead without rushing.
Do I need a passport between London and Dublin?
The UK and Ireland share the Common Travel Area, so British and Irish citizens face no routine passport control between them, though airlines still ask for photo ID. Other nationalities need a passport and must meet each country's entry rules separately; a UK visa or ETA does not cover Ireland. Check the requirements for your nationality before booking.
When is the best time to visit Dublin and London?
Late spring to early autumn gives the longest days and mildest weather: July averages about 20°C in Dublin and 23°C in London. Rain is possible in any month in both, so pack a light waterproof. Winter is cold, dark by late afternoon and quieter, but December brings Christmas lights, and hotel prices can drop in January and February.