Comparison · Dublin vs London · Ireland / United Kingdom
Dublin vs London
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Dublin for Guinness, Pubs and live trad music, lower day-to-day costs and beaches; choose London for Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum and free sights. Dublin is generally less expensive, and the two are about 463 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 463 km
- Less expensive
- Dublin
- Best time for Dublin
- May–September
- Best time for London
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Dublin | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Ireland | United Kingdom |
| Known for | Guinness, Pubs and live trad music and Book of Kells | Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum and Royal palaces |
| Best time to visit | May–September | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$350 | $260–$420 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 20°C (68°F) | July, 24°C (75°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 8°C (46°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Beaches | Sandymount Strand | — |
| Airports | DUB | LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Dublin for…
Guinness, Pubs and live trad music, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Dublin is a compact, walkable capital split by the River Liffey, with Trinity College, Grafton Street and the Georgian squares on the south side and O'Connell Street and the Docklands to the north and east. The Book of Kells, the national museums, Dublin…
.jpeg){kind=link}
Choose London for…
Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum and free sights. London spreads across 32 boroughs, but most visitors spend their time in a central band running from Westminster and the West End to the City and the South Bank, linked by the Tube and a riverside walk along the Thames. The great national museums — the…
Top sights compared
| # | Dublin | London |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trinity College and the Book of Kells | British Museum |
| 2 | Guinness Storehouse | Tower of London |
| 3 | Kilmainham Gaol | Westminster Abbey |
| 4 | National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology | Houses of Parliament and Big Ben |
| 5 | National Gallery of Ireland | Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard |
Food compared
| Dublin | London |
|---|---|
| Full Irish breakfast | Full English breakfast |
| Irish stew | Fish and chips |
| Dublin coddle | Sunday roast |
| Soda bread | Pie and mash |
Which is cheaper?
Dublin is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $200–$350 per person there, against $260–$420 in London (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Dublin on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Dublin and London are about 463 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Dublin and 5 in London.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dublin or London cheaper?
Dublin is usually less expensive: about $200–$350 a day mid-range against $260–$420 (estimates).
+Is Dublin or London better for a first trip?
Pick Dublin for Guinness, Pubs and live trad music, lower day-to-day costs and beaches, or London for Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum and free sights.
+How far is Dublin from London?
About 463 km in a straight line.