London from Chicago, 3 – 8 Dec: £2,464 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- £69 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- The Cura Hotel Kensington, London, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, rated 8.3 by 319 guests
- Typical highs 46–49°F, lows near 39°F this time of year
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 13h 35m in all.
Worth it if you want to walk, eat and see things; skip it if you want to switch off.
Round-trip flights from Chicago to London were $829 per person ($1,658 for two) for Dec 3–8, 2026, a 5-night trip on American + British Airways with one stop. Expect cool, gray days, with typical highs of 46–49°F. The best-value hotel, The Cura Hotel Kensington, London, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, was $1,611 for the stay.
The total, before you go
£2,464 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £1,250 |
| The Cura Hotel Kensington, London, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, 5 nights, two guests, taxes in | £1,214 |
| The total, before you go | £2,464 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£69 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £30 each way per bag on American, £121 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£625 per person, return
£1,250 for two, taxes and fees included · American + British Airways. Operated by Envoy Air as American Eagle · 1 stop · 13h 35m
Out Thu, Dec 3, 2:50 PM – Fri, Dec 4, 10:25 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American + British Airways. Operated by Envoy Air as American Eagle | £625 | 1 stop | 13h 35m |
| American | £684 | nonstop | 7h 55m |
| Icelandair | £626 | 1 stop | 10h 20m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 04:27 GMT-5. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
At $829 per person round trip, or $1,658 for two, this fare is $92 below the highest fare we saw for these dates. That's 10% less. We checked 12 offers for this trip, and fares ran from $829 to $921. If you'd rather skip the connection, American had a nonstop at $907 per person. Early December is when London puts up its Christmas lights, Winter Wonderland opens in Hyde Park and the festive markets get going. The weather is cool and gray, with typical highs of 46–49°F and lows near 39°F. The normals also show rain on two of the six days. That suits a trip built around museums, theatre, pubs and markets. Prices were all-in, with taxes and fees, when we checked, and they can change at any time.
The kind of trip this is
This is a winter city break with plenty of culture, history, food and shopping. It suits couples and small groups of friends who like full days and cozy evenings. Mornings can go to the royal sights and museums, afternoons to markets and tea, and nights to a West End show or a pub. Five nights gives you time to do all of that without rushing, and everyone there speaks your language.
Weather in London, 3 – 8 Dec
Typical highs 46–49°F, lows near 39°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 3 Dec | 47 °F | 36 °F | Overcast |
| Fri 4 Dec | 46 °F | 39 °F | Rain |
| Sat 5 Dec | 48 °F | 40 °F | Overcast |
| Sun 6 Dec | 46 °F | 39 °F | Overcast |
| Mon 7 Dec | 49 °F | 38 °F | Rain |
| Tue 8 Dec | 47 °F | 40 °F | Drizzle |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in London
We found three good options. The Cura Hotel Kensington, London, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is the best value. It's a 4-star hotel in Kensington and Chelsea at $1,611 for the 5 nights ($322 a night), with a review score of 8.3 from 319 reviews. The top-rated pick is The BoTree London, Curio Collection by Hilton, a 5-star hotel in Westminster Borough. It scores 8.8 across 1,654 reviews and costs $3,709 for the stay ($742 a night). For the budget pick, Bob W London Earl's Court - Philbeach Gardens is $905 for the stay ($181 a night) and scores 7.3. You get a compact room with a kitchenette. All three are room only, with no free cancellation. If you want to be near the big museums and Hyde Park on quiet, elegant streets, South Kensington is the area to look at.
The Cura Hotel Kensington, London, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
£1,214 for 5 nights, two guests · £243 a night
See roomsThe BoTree London, Curio Collection by Hilton
£2,796 for 5 nights, two guests · £559 a night
See roomsBob W London Earl's Court - Philbeach Gardens
£682 for 5 nights, two guests · £136 a night
See roomsAll hotels in London for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in London
- Covent Garden / Soho: Theatre, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance of most sights.
- South Kensington: Quiet, elegant streets next to the big museums and Hyde Park.
- Westminster / St James's: Big Ben, the Abbey and the royal parks on your doorstep.
- Shoreditch: Street art, markets and the city's most creative bars and food halls.
- South Bank / Borough: Riverside walks, the Tate Modern and Borough Market.
What to do in London
- Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
- See a West End show in a Victorian theatre.
- Graze through Borough Market, then walk the South Bank riverside.
- Tour the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels.
- Ride the London Eye at dusk, when the Christmas lights come on.
- Book afternoon tea at a grand hotel for a rainy afternoon.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Getting there and around
| Airports in Chicago | Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), Chicago Midway International (MDW) |
|---|---|
| Airports in London | London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW) |
| Flight time | 13h 35m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 3,948 miles each way |
| Time difference | +6 hours |
What 5 nights in London costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £1,250 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (The Cura Hotel Kensington, London, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel) | £1,214 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | £1,432 |
| Total for two | £3,896 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for a luxury destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Chicago to London
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £625 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £625 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Price checks | 3 |
Good to know
- Passport: passport needed: travellers from the United States need a valid passport for London; check the expiry rule of the country before you book.
- Currency: British pound (GBP).
- Christmas lights, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and festive markets
- You need a passport for this trip.
- The currency is the British pound (GBP), and London is 6 hours ahead of Chicago.
- The $829 flight leaves O'Hare at 2:50 PM on Thursday, Dec 3, and lands at 10:25 AM Friday, after 13h 35m with one stop.
- All three hotels are room only, with no free cancellation.
- In December you get Christmas lights, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and festive markets.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
It's $829 per person round trip, or $1,658 for two, all-in when we checked. The flight is on American + British Airways with one stop. It leaves O'Hare at 2:50 PM on Dec 3 and arrives at 10:25 AM on Dec 4.
Is there a nonstop?
Yes. American had a nonstop at $907 per person. It leaves at 8:30 PM on Dec 3 and takes 7h 55m. Icelandair also had a one-stop option at $830 that takes 10h 20m.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you need a passport. The currency is the British pound, and London is 6 hours ahead of Chicago.
What is the weather like?
It's cool and gray, with typical highs of 46–49°F and lows near 39°F. The normals show rain on Dec 4 and Dec 7 and drizzle on Dec 8, so pack a rain jacket.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
Our estimate is $5,169 for two. That's $1,658 for flights, $1,611 for The Cura Hotel Kensington and $1,900 in spending money, which works out to $190 per person per day.
Is 5 nights enough?
Yes, for a first look. Five nights gives you time for the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Borough Market, a West End show and the London Eye, with room left over for the Christmas markets.
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
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