A 5-night London trip from Delhi costs roughly INR 1.8 to INR 2.7 lakh per person (about INR 3.6 to INR 5.3 lakh for a couple) if you plan it yourself, covering return flights, the UK visa fee, a 3-star hotel, the Tube, sightseeing and meals. Stretch it to 7 nights with day trips to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford and the budget rises to about INR 2.2 to INR 3.3 lakh per person. Whether you book a London tour package from Delhi or plan everything yourself, the two things to sort first are flights and the visa.

Below are the flight and visa basics, two ready itineraries, Oyster card tips, Indian food, a rupee budget and our own London packages.

Delhi to London: flights and the UK visitor visa

Flights from Delhi to London

Air India, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly non-stop from Delhi to London Heathrow. The flight takes about nine hours; the return is usually eight to eight and a half. One-stop flights via the Gulf can save money but take longer.

Economy return fares outside peak weeks usually sit between INR 80,000 and INR 1,10,000. Over Christmas, New Year and the summer holidays, last-minute fares can cross INR 1.8 lakh. Booking 8 to 14 weeks ahead and flying midweek usually helps.

UK Standard Visitor visa for Indians

Indian citizens need a UK Standard Visitor visa, even for a short holiday. The timeline matters:

1. Apply online on the UK government website, no earlier than three months before travel.
2. Pay the fee: Pound 135 for a visa valid for up to six months (about INR 17,100 at roughly INR 127 to Pound 1; the exact rupee amount is shown when you pay).
3. Book a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global UK visa application centre in Delhi NCR and submit your documents.
4. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) usually decides within three weeks of your appointment.
5. If approved, you get an eVisa, a digital record linked to a UKVI online account.

If dates are tight, UKVI offers optional priority (usually five working days, Pound 500 extra, about INR 63,500) and super priority (usually the next working day, Pound 1,000 extra, about INR 1,27,000) services.

Strong applications usually include recent bank statements, income tax returns, a leave letter or business proof and a clear day-by-day plan. Our UK visa assistance team helps with visitor-visa documentation and appointments; see the UK tourist visa checklist and our guide to UK travel assistance from India. The final decision is always made by UKVI, and our help is not legal or immigration advice.

5-day London itinerary for first-timers

This London trip plan suits a first visit, with 5 nights in a hotel in zones 1–2.

• Day 1 – Arrive and walk the South Bank: Land at Heathrow, check in, and take an easy evening walk along the river from Westminster Bridge.
• Day 2 – Westminster and the London Eye: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St James's Park and Trafalgar Square. End on the London Eye at sunset; adult tickets are Pound 29 online (about INR 3,700) against Pound 39 at the counter.
• Day 3 – Tower of London and Tower Bridge: See the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London (adult tickets about Pound 37, roughly INR 4,700), walk across Tower Bridge, then take a Thames cruise.
• Day 4 – Museums and the West End: The British Museum and the Natural History Museum are free to enter (some exhibitions charge). Shop on Oxford Street in the afternoon and see a West End show.
• Day 5 – Windsor Castle: A half-day trip to Windsor (details below), then an Indian dinner in Southall on the way back.
• Day 6 – Fly home.

7-day London itinerary with Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford

With 7 nights, follow days 1 to 4 above, then keep the same hotel for three train day trips.

• Day 5 – Windsor: The castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; adult tickets start at Pound 32 (about INR 4,100). Trains run from Paddington with a change at Slough, or direct from Waterloo in just under an hour.
• Day 6 – Stonehenge and Salisbury: Direct trains from Waterloo reach Salisbury in about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the Stonehenge Tour bus leaves hourly from the station forecourt. English Heritage asks visitors to book Stonehenge tickets in advance.
• Day 7 – Oxford: Trains from Paddington take around an hour (the fastest about 52 minutes) and run almost every 15 minutes on weekdays. Walk the colleges and the covered market, and be back for dinner.
• Day 8 – Last-minute shopping and fly home.

Getting around, Indian food and the best time to go

Oyster card or contactless?

Touch in and out with an Oyster card or a contactless card and fares are capped automatically. Pay-as-you-go travel in zones 1–2 is capped at Pound 8.90 a day (about INR 1,130), and a Monday-to-Sunday week in zones 1–2 is capped at Pound 44.70 (about INR 5,700). Heathrow is in zone 6, where the zones 1–6 daily cap is Pound 16.30. A single Tube ride in zone 1 costs Pound 3.10 at peak times, and buses cost Pound 1.85 a ride with a daily bus cap of Pound 5.55.

Each traveller needs their own card, as caps are counted per card. Check your Indian card's foreign-transaction charges first; a forex card or Visitor Oyster card can work out cheaper.

Indian and vegetarian food

Indian food is easy to find. Southall in west London, near Heathrow, is a big Punjabi hub; Wembley has plenty of Gujarati and South Indian places; and Tooting in south London is known for South Indian food. Central London has vegetarian chains such as Saravana Bhavan, and supermarkets label vegetarian food clearly. For Jain meals, ask about onion and garlic before ordering.

Best time to visit London from India

June to August is warmest (July averages a high of about 24°C) and busiest, with the highest hotel prices. Spring and autumn are mild at around 11–15°C, and October is the wettest month. December brings Christmas lights and days of 2–6°C, while January to March is the quietest and cheapest time. For Delhi families, the May–June school break matches London's long days, with up to 16.5 hours of daylight in June.

How much does a London trip from Delhi cost?

Here is a do-it-yourself budget at about INR 127 to Pound 1, assuming a 3-star hotel in zones 1–2 shared by two and a mix of Indian and casual meals. Hotels are the biggest variable: 3-star rooms in London average about Pound 200 a night.

Cost item (approx.)	5 nights, per person	5 nights, per couple	7 nights, per person	7 nights, per couple
Return economy flights, Delhi–London	INR 80,000–INR 1,10,000	INR 1,60,000–INR 2,20,000	INR 80,000–INR 1,10,000	INR 1,60,000–INR 2,20,000
UK Standard Visitor visa (Pound 135 each)	INR 17,100	INR 34,200	INR 17,100	INR 34,200
3-star hotel, zones 1–2 (Pound 150–Pound 250 per room per night)	INR 47,500–INR 79,500	INR 95,000–INR 1,59,000	INR 66,500–INR 1,11,000	INR 1,33,000–INR 2,22,000
Tube, buses and Heathrow transfers	INR 6,000–INR 8,000	INR 12,000–INR 16,000	INR 7,000–INR 10,000	INR 14,000–INR 20,000
Attractions and day trips	INR 12,000–INR 22,000	INR 24,000–INR 44,000	INR 22,000–INR 38,000	INR 44,000–INR 76,000
Meals (Indian and casual dining)	INR 17,500–INR 30,000	INR 35,000–INR 60,000	INR 24,500–INR 42,000	INR 49,000–INR 84,000
Total	INR 1.8–INR 2.7 lakh	INR 3.6–INR 5.3 lakh	INR 2.2–INR 3.3 lakh	INR 4.3–INR 6.6 lakh

To save, travel between January and March, stay near a zone 1–2 station rather than in the most central areas, and use London's free museums. Shopping and theatre are extra.

London tour package from Delhi: Dewan Holidays options

If you would rather have the planning done for you, our London holiday packages are private tours. Here are four London packages from Delhi for a 3- to 5-night trip:

• London City Escapes – 3 nights, from INR 73,000 per person*
• Classic London – 4 nights, from INR 85,000 per person*
• The London Buzz – 5 nights, from INR 97,858 per person*
• Free Spirit London Journey – 5 nights, from INR 1,25,500 per person*

*Price as listed on our website at the time of writing. Check the tour page for current dates and prices.

These listed prices do not include flights, so add your airfare and visa fee when you compare a Delhi to London tour package with the budget above. For England and Scotland together, browse our United Kingdom tour packages.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 5-day London trip from Delhi cost?

Plan on about INR 1.8 to INR 2.7 lakh per person for 5 nights, including flights, visa, a shared 3-star hotel, transport, sightseeing and food. A couple should budget INR 3.6 to INR 5.3 lakh.

How long is the flight from Delhi to London?

About nine hours non-stop. Air India, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct to Heathrow.

Do Indians need a visa to visit London?

Yes, Indian passport holders need a UK Standard Visitor visa. The 6-month visa costs Pound 135 and decisions usually take about three weeks, so apply six to eight weeks before you fly.

Is 5 days enough for London?

Five days is enough for the main sights plus a half-day trip to Windsor. Choose 7 days if you also want Stonehenge and Oxford without rushing.

Should I use an Oyster card or contactless in London?

Either works, as both get the same pay-as-you-go fares and daily caps. Contactless is simplest if your card has low foreign-transaction charges.

What is the best month to visit London from India?

May, June and early September give the best mix of long days and pleasant weather. January to March is cheapest, if you don't mind the cold.

Is it easy to find vegetarian food in London?

Yes, vegetarian and Indian food is easy to find across London, especially in Southall, Wembley and Tooting.

Plan your London trip with us. Tell us your dates, budget and who is travelling, and we will suggest a London package that fits and help with your UK visitor-visa documentation. Send us your details through our trip enquiry form or call +91 9310 800 700.