Paris vs London: which should you visit?

Not opinion: measurement. Month-by-month weather under disclosed thresholds, the currency picture at a dated central-bank rate, verified venue depth, and the live events calendar. Every number on this page carries its source.

The Champs-Élysées stretching from the Arc de Triomphe toward La Défense at blue hour, rooftops glowing under a pink-streaked Paris sky
Paris
aerial photography of London skyline during daytime
London

The verdict, computed

Choose Paris for:

  • Weather: Paris leads in Feb–Mar and May and Sep–Oct.
  • Value: price levels around 84% of US levels vs 94% for London (country-level, World Bank PPP).

Choose London for:

  • Weather: London leads in Apr and Jun–Aug and Dec–Jan.
  • Food scene: 25,892 catalogued food & drink venues vs 16,280.

When each city wins

Measured weather favors Paris in Feb–Mar and May and Sep–Oct and London in Apr and Jun–Aug and Dec–Jan; the other months are even.

City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Paris Paris in Jan: a shoulder month; 7° highs, 13 rain days. Paris in Feb: a shoulder month; 10° highs, 9 rain days. Paris in Mar: good; 13° highs, 13 rain days. Paris in Apr: good; 16° highs, 10 rain days. Paris in May: ideal; 19° highs, 13 rain days. Paris in Jun: ideal; 24° highs, 11 rain days. Paris in Jul: ideal; 25° highs, 11 rain days. Paris in Aug: ideal; 25° highs, 10 rain days. Paris in Sep: ideal; 22° highs, 11 rain days. Paris in Oct: good; 18° highs, 13 rain days. Paris in Nov: a shoulder month; 11° highs, 11 rain days. Paris in Dec: a shoulder month; 9° highs, 11 rain days.
Month winner Jan: London wins; Both mixed; London has 11 rain days to Paris's 13. Feb: Paris wins; Both mixed; Paris has 9 rain days to London's 11. Mar: Paris wins; Paris is good to London's mixed. Apr: London wins; Both good; London has 8 rain days to Paris's 10. May: Paris wins; Paris is ideal to London's good. Jun: London wins; Both ideal; London has 8 rain days to Paris's 11. Jul: London wins; Both ideal with 11 rain days; London's 23° highs sit closer to the 23.5 °C comfort midpoint. Aug: London wins; Both ideal; London has 7 rain days to Paris's 10. Sep: Paris wins; Both ideal; Paris has 11 rain days to London's 12. Oct: Paris wins; Both good with 13 rain days; Paris's 18° highs sit closer to the 23.5 °C comfort midpoint. Nov: even; Statistically even: both mixed, 11 rain days apiece. Dec: London wins; Both mixed with 11 rain days; London's 9° highs sit closer to the 23.5 °C comfort midpoint.
London London in Jan: a shoulder month; 7° highs, 11 rain days. London in Feb: a shoulder month; 10° highs, 11 rain days. London in Mar: a shoulder month; 12° highs, 12 rain days. London in Apr: good; 14° highs, 8 rain days. London in May: good; 18° highs, 12 rain days. London in Jun: ideal; 22° highs, 8 rain days. London in Jul: ideal; 23° highs, 11 rain days. London in Aug: ideal; 23° highs, 7 rain days. London in Sep: ideal; 20° highs, 12 rain days. London in Oct: good; 16° highs, 13 rain days. London in Nov: a shoulder month; 11° highs, 11 rain days. London in Dec: a shoulder month; 9° highs, 11 rain days.

Weather: Open-Meteo multi-year normals; bands per the disclosed best-months thresholds. Winner per month = better band, then fewer rain days, then highs nearer 23.5 °C. Every rule on this page is set out in how we compare cities.

Your money, measured

Paris: euro

The euro has weakened 2.9% against the US dollar over the past year — your money goes further in Paris right now.

London: British pound

The British pound has weakened 1.8% against the US dollar over the past year — your money goes further in London right now.

euroBritish pound
100 10394euro: 100.0 on 18 Sept 2025euro: 99.3 on 25 Sept 2025euro: 99.5 on 2 Oct 2025euro: 98.3 on 9 Oct 2025euro: 98.6 on 16 Oct 2025euro: 98.1 on 23 Oct 2025euro: 97.7 on 30 Oct 2025euro: 97.6 on 6 Nov 2025euro: 98.3 on 13 Nov 2025euro: 97.4 on 20 Nov 2025euro: 98.0 on 27 Nov 2025euro: 98.7 on 4 Dec 2025euro: 99.1 on 11 Dec 2025euro: 99.2 on 18 Dec 2025euro: 99.6 on 29 Dec 2025euro: 98.7 on 5 Jan 2026euro: 98.9 on 12 Jan 2026euro: 98.4 on 19 Jan 2026euro: 100.2 on 26 Jan 2026euro: 100.2 on 2 Feb 2026euro: 100.6 on 9 Feb 2026euro: 100.3 on 16 Feb 2026euro: 99.7 on 23 Feb 2026euro: 99.0 on 2 Mar 2026euro: 97.8 on 9 Mar 2026euro: 97.1 on 16 Mar 2026euro: 98.1 on 23 Mar 2026euro: 97.2 on 30 Mar 2026euro: 97.8 on 7 Apr 2026euro: 99.8 on 14 Apr 2026euro: 99.6 on 21 Apr 2026euro: 98.8 on 28 Apr 2026euro: 98.9 on 5 May 2026euro: 99.3 on 12 May 2026euro: 98.3 on 19 May 2026euro: 98.4 on 26 May 2026euro: 98.6 on 2 Jun 2026euro: 97.9 on 9 Jun 2026euro: 98.1 on 16 Jun 2026euro: 96.4 on 23 Jun 2026euro: 96.4 on 30 Jun 2026euro: 96.7 on 7 Jul 2026euro: 96.5 on 14 Jul 2026euro: 96.6 on 21 Jul 2026euro: 96.2 on 28 Jul 2026euro: 97.4 on 4 Aug 2026euro: 97.7 on 11 Aug 2026euro: 98.0 on 18 Aug 2026euro: 98.7 on 25 Aug 2026euro: 98.1 on 1 Sept 2026euro: 98.3 on 8 Sept 2026euro: 97.6 on 15 Sept 2026euro: 97.2 on 17 Sept 2026euro 97.2British pound: 100.0 on 18 Sept 2025British pound: 98.6 on 25 Sept 2025British pound: 99.0 on 2 Oct 2025British pound: 98.2 on 9 Oct 2025British pound: 98.6 on 16 Oct 2025British pound: 98.0 on 23 Oct 2025British pound: 96.4 on 30 Oct 2025British pound: 96.2 on 6 Nov 2025British pound: 96.8 on 13 Nov 2025British pound: 95.9 on 20 Nov 2025British pound: 97.2 on 27 Nov 2025British pound: 98.0 on 4 Dec 2025British pound: 98.3 on 11 Dec 2025British pound: 98.4 on 18 Dec 2025British pound: 99.0 on 29 Dec 2025British pound: 98.7 on 5 Jan 2026British pound: 99.0 on 12 Jan 2026British pound: 98.5 on 19 Jan 2026British pound: 100.2 on 26 Jan 2026British pound: 100.4 on 2 Feb 2026British pound: 100.3 on 9 Feb 2026British pound: 100.2 on 16 Feb 2026British pound: 99.1 on 23 Feb 2026British pound: 98.3 on 2 Mar 2026British pound: 98.1 on 9 Mar 2026British pound: 97.6 on 16 Mar 2026British pound: 98.5 on 23 Mar 2026British pound: 97.2 on 30 Mar 2026British pound: 97.3 on 7 Apr 2026British pound: 99.7 on 14 Apr 2026British pound: 99.3 on 21 Apr 2026British pound: 98.9 on 28 Apr 2026British pound: 99.4 on 5 May 2026British pound: 99.3 on 12 May 2026British pound: 98.5 on 19 May 2026British pound: 98.9 on 26 May 2026British pound: 99.0 on 2 Jun 2026British pound: 98.5 on 9 Jun 2026British pound: 98.5 on 16 Jun 2026British pound: 97.1 on 23 Jun 2026British pound: 97.1 on 30 Jun 2026British pound: 98.3 on 7 Jul 2026British pound: 98.3 on 14 Jul 2026British pound: 98.4 on 21 Jul 2026British pound: 97.6 on 28 Jul 2026British pound: 98.8 on 4 Aug 2026British pound: 99.2 on 11 Aug 2026British pound: 99.3 on 18 Aug 2026British pound: 100.1 on 25 Aug 2026British pound: 99.4 on 1 Sept 2026British pound: 99.5 on 8 Sept 2026British pound: 99.0 on 15 Sept 2026British pound: 98.3 on 17 Sept 2026British pound 98.3
Currency value against the US dollar, indexed to 100 one year ago: above 100 means the currency strengthened (your dollars buy less). Source: European Central Bank reference rates, as of 2026-09-17.

Price levels (country-wide indicator)

Price levels in France run about 84% of US levels (World Bank PPP, 2025) — a dollar stretches roughly 1.2× further than at home.

Price levels in United Kingdom run about 94% of US levels (World Bank PPP, 2025) — a dollar stretches roughly 1.1× further than at home.

Editorial daily-cost estimates

City Budget Mid-range Luxury
Paris $55 $175 $450
London $65 $175 $480

Editorial estimates in USD per person per day, quoted from our editor-signed Paris budget guide and London budget guide, not a measurement. Model a full trip in the cost comparison tool.

Depth of things to do

Attractions & sights
Attractions & sights: Paris 684, London 685 in our verified catalog.
Food & drink venues
Food & drink venues: Paris 16,280, London 25,892 in our verified catalog.
Museums
Museums: Paris 120, London 109 in our verified catalog.
Parks & gardens
Parks & gardens: Paris 49, London 63 in our verified catalog.

Paris's catalog is led by Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame de Paris.

London's catalog is led by British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey.

Counts from the TTDI verified venue catalog (every venue carries an external identity source). Catalog density partly reflects source coverage per city.

Things to do in Paris → Things to do in London →

What's actually on

Paris and London run comparably deep live calendars: 27,121 and 18,044 ticketed events listed over the next ~120 days.

Next up in Paris

  • 18 Sept DÉJEUNER POUR 2 PERSONNES - TOUR EIFFEL MADAME BRASSERIE
  • 18 Sept AQUARIUM DE PARIS - AQUARIUM DE PARIS - BASSE SAISON AQUARIUM DE PARIS
  • 18 Sept ANDY WARHOL - ENTRÉE SIMPLE MUSEE DU LUXEMBOURG
This week in Paris →

Next up in London

  • 18 Sept Twist Museum - London's Home of Illusions STANDARD Twist Museum
  • 18 Sept David Bowie: You're Not Alone The Lightroom
  • 18 Sept Ramses and the Pharaoh’s Gold: The Exhibition Neon at Battersea Power Station
This week in London →

From the live events feed we sync daily; listings exist only where measured coverage does.

Side by side

Distance apart
344 km
Time zones
1 h apart
City population
2,161,000 vs 8,982,000
Local language
French vs English
Currency
euro vs British pound

Or visit both

344 km apart, and plenty of trips pair them. One search covers the connection:

Paris to London
Mode Fare from Fastest
Train from £115.29 2 h 17 min
Bus Most booked from £18.63 7 h 40 min
Flight from £49.00 1 h 10 min
London to Paris
Mode Fare from Fastest
Train from £149.09 2 h 18 min
Bus Most booked from £23.49 7 h 55 min
Flight from £50.70 1 h 10 min

Lowest fares as observed on Omio in August 2025. Live prices vary.

Compare trains, buses & flights Paris ⇄ London on Omio →

Book the connection

One search across trains, buses & flights: live times and prices for Paris ⇄ London.

Answered from the data

Which is better to visit right now, in September?

Paris, on measured weather: Both ideal; Paris has 11 rain days to London's 12.

Which is cheaper, Paris or London?

World Bank PPP (country-level, not city prices) puts Paris's country at ~84% of US price levels and London's at ~94% — an edge to Paris before you factor in season and neighborhood.

When should I pick Paris over London?

Feb–Mar and May and Sep–Oct — measured weather favors Paris then.

When should I pick London over Paris?

Apr and Jun–Aug and Dec–Jan — measured weather favors London then.

Which has more to do?

In our verified catalog, Paris lists 684 attractions and 16,280 food & drink venues; London lists 685 and 25,892.

Go deeper

Paris

London