Rachael Davis
The price of a pint is always a hot topic in the UK, especially in London.
For people in the capital it’s hard to believe a sub-£5 pint was ever a common treat on these shores, but there are still some places in the UK where the average is lower than that modest watermark.
If you’ve been wondering just how bad the average pint price has become in London, or you’re curious as to where you could book a cheap and boozy staycation somewhere around the country, the latest Finder survey into the matter has all the info you need.
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To get us started, the average price of a pint across the whole of the UK is £5.44. This is a 5% increase on 2024, with last year’s average being £5.17.
With the cost of living squeeze and inflation sending prices soaring across the board, it’s likely no surprise that we’re well past £5 being the national average.
In London, things are a fair bit steeper. The average cost of a pint in London stands at £6.50, making it the most expensive place to get a pint in the UK. It’s one up by 10% since 2023, when the average was £5.90.
If you’re wondering how it compares to other major cities around the world, the answer is: not favourably.
The average across the 155 big cities studied by Finder is £2.76, more than half the average price in London. Outrageous!
When it comes to countrywide averages, you can get absolutely battered for less than a fiver in Madagascar where a pint will come at an average cost of 68p.
In Doha, Qatar, you’ll need to get a mortgage out for the £9.95 average cost of a pint.
But how about closer to home?
If you’re after the absolute cheapest pint in the country, you’d best head to Dunfermline, Scotland where 568ml of lager will set you back by just £3.40.
Kingston-upon-Hull is next on the list at £3.74, with Dundee coming in third-cheapest at a £3.94 average. In joint-fourth are Derry and Carlisle, both of which boast a reasonable £4 average pint price.
Besides London, the most expensive place to get a pint is London-on-Sea. Sorry, that’s Brighton, which comes in at a £6 average charge.
Oxford is the third-most expensive at £5.97, with Bristol following at £5.85 and Belfast sitting at £5.76.
While it's always cause to wince when you pay for a pint in London, it seems the pain is coming for more and more places around the UK.