Share-Based Payments - Summary of Charges in Income Statement in Respect of Equity-Settled Share-Based Payment Plans (Detail) - GBP (£) £ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [abstract]
Share-based payment charges	£ 38	£ 28	£ 29

Expense from sharebased payment transactions with employees including non-operating.

No definition available.

Name:	pso_ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployeesIncludingNonOperating
Namespace Prefix:	pso_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration