A UK city has been revealed as more expensive than London and Dublin for a two-night weekend escape – and it’s almost £150 more than what you’d spend in the capital
You might be surprised to hear that this UK city is more expensive than London(Image: Getty Images)
The UK’s most expensive destination for a weekend break has been named, and it’s not where you might think.
London can be notoriously expensive for an escape, from the extortionate cost of a hotel, booked entertainment, meals, and the price of a pint at a pub. It can quickly add up, and research from Post Office Travel Money found that, on average, it can set a couple back £527.50 for a two-night stay in the capital over the weekend.
In a bid to help Brits get the best bang for their buck, the Post Office revealed the 50 cheapest European cities in their ‘City Costs Barometer 2026‘, after comparing the price of various items required for a holiday. Sarajevo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, led the way with the most affordable two-night stay for two, followed by Bucharest, in Romania, and Tirana, in Albania.
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Destinations in the UK failed to make the top 20, with Cardiff in Wales ranked at 21 following a total of £377.64, and London holding a spot at 34. But interestingly, the list also revealed the UK’s most expensive city for a two-night weekend stay for two, and it was almost double the price of a trip to Cardiff, and nearly £150 more than a stay in London.
With its iconic castle that towers 260 feet above the city, set against the dramatic volcanic landscapes, historic landmarks, and picturesque cobbled streets, Edinburgh in Scotland is a popular destination for holidaymakers. Yet with that comes a hefty price tag, and the Post Office named it as the most expensive UK city for that desirable two-night escape.
Ranked at 48 on the list, the Post Office experts found that the average cost of a two-night trip to Edinburgh for two people would be a total of £668.10. They discovered that a cup of coffee would set someone back £3.50, a bottle of beer £6, a glass of wine £5.60, a three-course evening meal £118, and a sightseeing bus tour £18.
But it was the accommodation that really pushed up the price, with travellers forced to pay an average of £462 for a two-night stay for two at a three-star establishment in the city. So if you’re looking to save some extra cash but still want to book a staycation, you might want to consider Cardiff, after all, it was revealed as the cheapest UK destination for a weekend getaway.
Most expensive European cities
- Oslo £733.99
- Copenhagen £670.65
- Edinburgh £668.10
- Geneva £644.22
- Barcelona £641.03
- Dublin £610.79
- Amsterdam £609.18
- Cork £602.38
- Venice £579.92
- Madrid £579.92
Cheapest European cities
- Sarajevo £248.27
- Bucharest £258.07
- Tirana £262.85
- Belgrade £265.13
- Trenĉin £271.64
- Riga £278.19
- Lille £289.33
- Vilnius £289.39
- Strasbourg
- Podgorica £332.45
Laura Plunkett, head of Travel Money at Post Office, commented: “Despite concerns about rising prices abroad, there are many European cities offering great value for money. Sterling has remained fairly strong, but in these challenging times, it will pay holidaymakers to do their homework before booking to see where their pounds are likely to stretch furthest, even for short breaks.”
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