Comparison · London vs New York City · United Kingdom / United States
London vs New York City
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Choose London for Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum, free sights and day trips; choose New York City for Statue of Liberty, Central Park and beaches. London is generally less expensive, and the two are about 5,570 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 5,570 km
- Less expensive
- London
- Best time for London
- May–June and September
- Best time for New York City
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| London | New York City | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom | United States |
| Known for | Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum and Royal palaces | Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Broadway |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $260–$420 | $300–$500 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 24°C (75°F) | July, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 9°C (48°F) | January, 4°C (39°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 12 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | Coney Island and Brighton Beach |
| Airports | LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY | JFK, EWR, LGA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose London for…
Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum, free sights and day trips. 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…
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Choose New York City for…
Statue of Liberty, Central Park and beaches. New York's five boroughs hold more than eight million people, but most visitors focus on Manhattan, a long island of skyscrapers with Central Park in the middle, and the parts of Brooklyn just across the East River. The grid of avenues and numbered streets…
Top sights compared
| # | London | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | British Museum | Central Park |
| 2 | Tower of London | Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| 3 | Westminster Abbey | Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island |
| 4 | Houses of Parliament and Big Ben | Empire State Building |
| 5 | Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard | Top of the Rock |
Food compared
| London | New York City |
|---|---|
| Full English breakfast | New York pizza slice |
| Fish and chips | Bagel with lox |
| Sunday roast | Pastrami on rye |
| Pie and mash | Hot dog |
Which is cheaper?
London is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $260–$420 per person there, against $300–$500 in New York City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). London on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 5,570 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is London or New York City cheaper?
London is usually less expensive: about $260–$420 a day mid-range against $300–$500 (estimates).
+Is London or New York City better for a first trip?
Pick London for Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum, free sights and day trips, or New York City for Statue of Liberty, Central Park and beaches.
+How far is London from New York City?
About 5,570 km in a straight line.