Leases - Summary of information about leases in income statement (Detail) - GBP (£) £ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of quantitative information about leases for lessee [abstract]
Interest on lease liabilities	£ (25)	£ (27)	£ (41)
Expenses relating to short-term leases			(1)
Depreciation of right-of-use assets	(46)	(49)	(68)
Impairment of right-of-use assets	£ (34)	£ (119)	£ (4)

The amount of depreciation of right-of-use assets. [Refer: Depreciation and amortisation expense; Right-of-use assets]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 53
-Subparagraph a
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_53_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The amount of the expense relating to short-term leases accounted for applying paragraph 6 of IFRS 16. This expense need not include the expense relating to leases with a lease term of one month or less. Short-term lease is a lease that, at the commencement date, has a lease term of 12 months or less. A lease that contains a purchase option is not a short-term lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 53
-Subparagraph c
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_53_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of interest expense on lease liabilities. [Refer: Lease liabilities]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 53
-Subparagraph b
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_53_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Impairment of right of use assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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