London

Get to know London

A sense of the place

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.14 million people in 2025. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.4 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years. Its ancient core and financial centre, the City of London, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and has retained its medieval boundaries. The City of Westminster, to the west of the City of London, has been the site of the national government and parliament for centuries. London grew rapidly in the 19th century, becoming the world's largest city at the time. Since the 19th century the name "London" has referred to the metropolis around the City of London, historically split among the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent and Hertfordshire.

Weather through the year

When to visit London

Planning time outdoors

May, June, July, August, September combine monthly mean temperatures of 12–22°C with less than 100 mm of precipitation. These are useful dates to compare for a walking-focused visit; check daylight, opening times and the forecast for your actual trip.

January, February, December have monthly means below 5°C. For a stay then, compare accommodation heating and keep indoor options in your itinerary. These figures do not establish snow cover or ski conditions.

Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.

Average rent in London

What is the average rent in London?

1,925 €/month is the recorded central one-bedroom rent reference for London, dated 2022-2023. This is a dated comparison measure, rather than a home available today. Check current listings in your chosen neighbourhood, then add utilities, the deposit and commuting to make a budget for your own move.

Source: ONS — Private rental market summary statistics in England (one-bedroom median monthly rent) · Reference date: 2022-2023 · Open Government Licence 3.0

Source: Office for National Statistics · Reference date: 2026-08 · License

Average salary in London

What is the average salary in London?

4,156.6 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2025. It describes United Kingdom, not average salary in London. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.

Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)

How should I compare London with another city?

Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.

1. Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
2. Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
3. Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.

Plan your stay

Budget and everyday decisions

Compare the details

London at a glance

United Kingdom: the wider context

These are country-level figures, not measurements of London. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.

Compare London with other cities

Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.

• London vs Paris
• London vs Manchester
• London vs Amsterdam