London tourist tax 2026: no overnight levy, and a 20 pound ETA

London charges no overnight visitor levy in 2026. The UK government consultation on an overnight visitor levy in England describes it as giving Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England the power to create local overnight visitor levies, which is a power still being designed rather than a charge already on hotel bills.

What visitors do pay

The fixed government charge is the Electronic Travel Authorisation. Gov.uk states that an ETA costs 20 pounds and lets the holder travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months. Hotel rooms carry standard VAT, which is already inside the advertised price rather than added at the desk.

A worked example

Two adults on a four night London trip in 2026 pay 40 pounds between them for ETAs and nothing per night to the city. In a European capital charging 4 euros per person per night, the same four nights would have added 32 euros of city tax on top of the room.

What is still unclear

The consultation ran from 26 November 2025 to 18 February 2026. Whether the Mayor of London eventually sets a levy, at what rate, and from what date, is open.

Sources: UK government consultation on an overnight visitor levy in England and gov.uk on the Electronic Travel Authorisation.

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