Best Pass for London: Guide to Choosing (2026)

🏆 In short: Which pass should you choose?

If you don't have time to read the entire guide, here's a quick tip based on your travel style:

London Pass

The London Pass is the tourist pass most comprehensive and popular To visit London.
Offered by Go City, it works with a logical "all you can eat": choose the duration (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days - depending on the length of your trip) and you have access to more than 100 attractions, with no daily limit, for the duration of the pass.

He really does include a lot of London's attractions in his list, from the most famous and relevant ones to more niche museums and tours that go into the lesser-known details of the city.

It is the ideal tool for those who want to have an intense and in-depth travel experience, maximizing the number of visits in the time available, and consequently achieve the maximum possible savings.

The ideal tool for visiting London in a comprehensive and satisfying way.

The two versions compared: "standard" vs "Plus"

To better suit each type of traveler, Go City offers two variations of this pass: London Pass (standard) and London Pass Plus.

The difference is very simple:

The London Pass (standard) already includes a very rich catalog of about 100 attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, and the Hop-on Hop-off tourist bus for 2 days.

The London Pass Plus adds to this 3 more "premium" attractions much in demand:

• The Shard, with its breathtaking panoramic views.
• London Eye, the iconic Ferris wheel.
• Madame Tussauds, the famous wax museum.

>> See the difference in the attractions included in the official website

Everything else (operation, durability, condition) is identical.

Let us first find out how the two versions differ, before analyzing their general operation.

Comparison and verdict: which version is worth choosing?

As we have seen, the difference between London Pass and Plus version orbits around the 3 top attractions mentioned above, which are present only in the Plus.
The choice therefore depends solely on what you want to visit.
The price difference between the Standard and Plus versions is largely justified by the cost of the 3 additional attractions.

• Choose the London Pass Plus if: it's your first time in London and you want to visit at least two of The Shard, London Eye and Madame Tussauds. Savings are guaranteed compared to buying the standard pass plus individual tickets. It is the perfect choice for a complete trip with no sacrifices.
• Choose the London Pass (standard) if: you have already visited London and are not interested in the 3 premium attractions (or only want to see one of the three), or if your itinerary by your travel choice focuses on the other museums, tours and historical attractions, with no particular interest in the 3 "plus" attractions.

In general, for a comprehensive trip to London, perhaps made for the first time, in my opinion it is better to invest in the London Pass Plus.

>> Visit the official website for more info

Having clarified the difference of the two versions, let us now go on to analyze features and benefits of the London Pass, which are common to both versions.
Of course, I will highlight any differences between the two when necessary.

Who is this pass suitable for? Unique benefits

The London Pass is London's richest tourist card, with more than 100 attractions and total flexibility that allows you to decide on the spot what to visit, embracing every tourist aspect of the city.
But beyond that, its all-inclusive formula offers unique benefits related to the way you experience your trip.
Let's look at the scenarios in which the London Pass really makes a difference:

In addition to the general savings benefits, the London Pass, with its "all-inclusive" formula, offers unique advantages related to how you will experience your trip to London.
Let's look at each scenario where the London Pass makes a positive difference:

• For those who don't want to set limits on themselves (and love spontaneity)
  This is the real big advantage of the London Pass. Once you pay back the initial cost (often 4-5 top attractions are enough), each subsequent visit is psychologically "free." This prompts you to enter that minor museum you just passed by, hop on a boat for a change of perspective, or join a walking tour you hadn't planned. It unlocks a freedom of exploration that other passes, based on the number of attractions, cannot give you.
• For those visiting London for the first time (and wanting "everything right away")
  If this is your first trip and your bucket list is long, this pass is your best ally. It greatly simplifies planning: you don't have to choose in advance a limited number of things to see. You know that with the London Pass you have access to almost everything that matters, especially in the Plus version. It is ideal for a total immersion of 3, 4 or 5 days.
• Effective management of mishaps and schedule changes
  No matter how well you plan, there can be unforeseeable mishaps during your trip (e.g., unfavorable weather) that force you to change your plans.
  With an all-inclusive pass like the London Pass, you can shuffle the cards on the fly in your schedule, fitting new attractions in with others, without thwarting opportunities and savings.
• For those who want a fixed attraction budget and controlledConthe London Pass, the attraction spending is one, clear and defined at the outset. You buy the pass and know you will never have to reach into your wallet for tickets again. This allows for much easier and surprise-free travel budget control, freeing up mental (and monetary) resources to enjoy the rest of the city.

How does the London Pass work?

It's very simple: you choose the duration in days of the pass, activate it on your first visit to one of the attractions you will visit, and for the days it is valid you can access as many attractions as you want from those included in the catalog.

You just need to focus on planning your itinerary as best you can to fit as many things as possible into the vacation time you have, optimizing your time.
It will benefit your experience (you see more things) and the savings (the more things you visit, the greater the final savings).

What does it include? List of included attractions

The London Pass catalog is vast.
It includes over 100 tourist attractions in London, capable of covering every tourist aspect of the city: historical monuments, modern attractions, tours of various kinds, experiences, and virtually all major city museums.

Here is a selection of the main attractions included in both versions of the pass.

>> See the updated list of all attractions on the official website

As you have seen, the attractions that can be visited are so many, you will have the opportunity to arrange your own itinerary according to your tastes and desires.
The nice thing is that in addition to the main attractions (those in the first group), there is a rich list of "secondary" (pass the term) attractions, which, however, are often among the most curious, interesting and satisfying.
Not only attractions, but also services. For example, bike rental is an absolutely recommended experience, also accomplice to a bike-friendly city, especially in some areas where you can safely enjoy this beautiful and rewarding experience.

Guided tours are an added bonus. Sports fans can visit the stadiums of teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, touring locker rooms, stands and green turf.
For children, on the other hand, there are themed museums and exhibitions.

Does the London Pass include the London Eye?

Yes, but only in the "London Pass Plus" version.
A single ticket costs around £40: if you want to ride it, upgrading to the Plus version is definitely the right choice to save money.

Does the London Pass include Madame Tussauds?

Yes, it is only included in the "Plus" version.
It is a very popular attraction (fun for children and teenagers), but quite expensive (over £35): adding it to the pass is definitely better value than buying a single ticket at the ticket office.

How much does the London Pass cost? Standard vs Plus Price Comparison

Both versions of the pass are valid for one day and work in the same way.
The price difference between the two versions is justified by the inclusion of three "premium" attractions (London Eye, The Shard, Madame Tussauds) in the PLUS version.

Here is the official price list for comparison, to help you decide which option best suits your budget:

* Children's age range: 5 to 15 years old.
** Note on prices: Prices are in British pounds (£). The exchange rate to euros may vary slightly.

⚠️ Important: These are the list prices. Discounts are often available on the official website, further reducing these figures.

Discount code London Pass

There is currently an opportunity to save an additional 5% off the already discounted London Pass / London Pass Plus prices.
You can use the discount codePTCODE5 to be entered at the time of purchase, in the "Enter promo code" field provided.

However, consider that the London Pass is always discounted if you buy it online, on the official website.
At certain times of the year, even cheaper discount codes may be active.
Also on the official site look carefully at the top, usually when there are particular discount codes they are always highlighted already on the site itself.

Is it really worth it? Practical example of an itinerary

From an economic point of view, yes, the pass is almost always worthwhile.
Both in the classic version and—perhaps even more so—in the Plus version.
But to understand how much you can save, nothing beats a concrete example.

Here is a possible 3-day itinerary with the London Pass Plus, designed for a brisk but realistic pace:

• Day 1: Historical and scenic attractions
  • Morning (City Zone): Tower of London (single fare: ~£36)
  • Afternoon (South Bank area): Tower Bridge (~$24) and Thames River Cruise (~$37)
• Day 2: Royal and scenic attractions, exploration
  • Morning (Westminster area): Westminster Abbey (~£30)
  • Afternoon (South Bank area): London Eye (~£39) – Included only in Plus
  • Afternoon (Downtown Area): Hop-on Hop-off Bus (valid for 2 days) for a tour of the city (~£56)
• Day 3: Modern buildings, views from above, exploration
  • Morning (Downtown Area): Hop-on Hop-off Bus for a tour of the city with a different perspective (free, already included, valid for two days)
  • Afternoon (London Bridge area): The Shard (~£32) – Included only in Plus

As you can see, the itinerary almost pays for itself with the list price alone.
But the real advantage is that, thanks to online discounts and promo codes (which you've seen in this guide), the actual price of the pass drops to around £170.

This means that your net, guaranteed savings are approximately £48 per person (about €55)! And that's not counting all the other attractions you can add to your itinerary for free.

As you can see, already with an itinerary that includes only 7 attractions you have paid off the pass and started saving significantly.
Anything you visit extra (a museum, a guided tour, another small attraction) will be a net gain, making your vacation not only cheaper, but much richer.

The golden rule: the more you see, the more you save

Savings are further maximized (and by a lot) in the following cases:

• see more than two things a day with good itinerary planning
• choose multi-day versions of London Pass, the savings increase proportionally.

The general rule is: the more you see, the more you save.

You can redo these calculations in your particular case, for both the London Pass Plus and the basic London Pass, based on what you want to see.
The convenience will always be there and the more pronounced the more things you have on your itinerary.

The math confirms how the London Pass is a good choice for saving money, right from the easiest, few-day cases.
Most importantly, it guarantees you a rich vacation that you would otherwise - without a pass - struggle to get.

Where to buy (and how to save money)

The London Pass, in both versions, can be purchased online at the official website, and with this mode of purchase you can normally get a small discount.
You can find it already applied in the prices you find on the site, as you will see.

When you get to the official website, you will see the two versions (standard and plus) side by side, and go to choose the one that best suits your trip.

Do you skip the lines at the ticket offices?

It depends. Some attractions have lanes at the checkouts reserved for pass holders, so in those cases it also saves time at the checkouts.
There is to consider that not all attractions have these "fast tracks," and-even if there were-where there are security checks, queues and waits are generated that we cannot avoid.

So yes, with the London Pass I save money and time, although the deciding factor is the financial savings.
To maximize your time, you need to arrange an itinerary that takes you to the busiest attractions at times and times of minimum attendance.

Do I need to book attractions?

For most attractions you do not need to reserve admission.
However, in some cases you need to reserve admission in advance, even if you have purchased the London Pass. These are the most popular tourist attractions, such as London Eye, Madame Tussauds, The View from The Strand, and generally all guided tours.
Go City has provided a dedicated page (very neat) to book your admission without too much effort.

>> Book admission to attractions with the London Pass

Validity, activation, and refunds

The London Pass, in both versions, you can use within 1 year from the time of purchase. It is officially activated from the moment you visit the first attraction.
The London Pass, once activated, is valid for one day, not 24h. I recommend that you activate it in the morning so that you can use the entire first day.

Any refund of the cost of the London Pass can be obtained up to 30 days after purchase.

London Explorer Pass

The London Explorer Pass is the second viable option offered by GoCity.
If the London Pass is the "all you can eat" formula, Explorer Pass is the "a la carte" choice, designed for those who want a moderate itinerary with maximum flexibility.

Its goal is the same: to save you money in the cost of tickets to visit museums and attractions, and in some cases even the queue at the ticket counters.
Its operation is the opposite of the day model: here you choose HOW MANY attractions you want to visit (from 2 to 7) - from a very large catalog of options, and you pay a fixed price only for that package.

By its nature, this pass is ideal for those with a moderate itinerary in mind (2 to 7 attractions). It is a suitable choice in cases of shorter trips, for a second trip to London, or simply for those who prefer to spend more time exploring the city on foot, concentrating paid visits at a few selected stops.

How does the "choice" formula work?

The operation is very simple. You actually purchase a package that includes a specific number of attractions.
For example, if you purchase the 3-attraction pass, you can visit 3 attractions of your choice, choosing from the following list.

Once you purchase the London Explorer Pass, you have 30 days to take advantage of the scheduled visits. It activates as soon as you visit the first one - from then on, you have 30 days to visit the remaining ones (whenever you want).

1. Choose which pass to purchase (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions)
2. You will receive the necessary supplies via email
3. Once you get the QR code, you can download it via the Go City app on your smartphone or print it on paper
4. At the entrance of your chosen attractions, simply show the QR (from smartphone or printed)

NB. It is not necessary to choose in advance which attractions to see. When you purchase the pass you ONLY select the number of attractions.
Which attractions to visit you decide once in town, even a few minutes in advance based on tastes, needs, queues, weather conditions, etc.

However, it remains absolutely recommended to prepare a rough itinerary to optimize time, but with the freedom to vary it by changing the nature of the attractions you want to see, even at the last moment.

What does it include? Available attractions

It includes a list of around 100 experiences, practically (almost) the same extensive catalog as the London Pass.
Its attractions catalog lacks some "minor" experiences, which usually do not impact itineraries.

⚠️ Thetwo main attractions not included in the Explorer Pass catalog are the London Eye and Madame Tussauds.
If these are must-see stops on your trip, you will need to purchase separate tickets.

Apart from these omissions, you will find all the main attractions, museums, and guided tours to choose your favorites from.

You can consult the extensive list of museums and attractions included in the London Explorer Pass.
All you have to do is choose how many attractions you want to see, between 2 and 7, and plan your itinerary.

London Explorer Pass Prices

Prices currently in effect for the London Explorer Pass are as follows:

*Approximate prices for children (5-15): from £44 to £109 depending on the package.

Again these are list prices, practically always discounted on the official pass site, usually by 10%.
Check for yourself by clicking on the button below.

Discount codes for London Explorer Pass

You can also currently enjoy an additional 5% discount on your purchase.
You will just need to use the discount codePTCODE5 to apply during purchase in the "Enter promo code" field.
Or, in case the discount code no longer works, you can sign up for the newsletter before your purchase, you will receive a 5% discount code in return (once you have made your purchase you can unsubscribe if you find it troublesome).

Is it really worth it? Example of savings

Economically it already pays off from the visit of the second attraction.
To better understand the achievable savings, let's do a quick simulation, considering the case of a 5-attraction Explorer Pass.

Given that the average price of an attraction in London is about £35 (£40 if we aim for the top attractions), with 5 attractions you come to pay an average of £175.
The 5-attraction Explorer, on the other hand, costs you about £105, calculated considering the discounts on the site + the application of the recommended discount code.

We thus achieve a significant saving of about £70 per person, which increases further in the 7-attraction version.

You save less in absolute value than the London Pass, but that is normal because we see fewer attractions. The golden rule in passes is: the more you visit, the more you save.
But saving £70 on 5 attractions basically means seeing 2 attractions for free.

Who is this solution recommended for?

As a type of pass, Explorer has features that make it appealing in the following cases:

• you have visited London before, so you have fewer things you miss to see to focus on (unless you want to revisit everything)
• even long vacations, but with in fact less or little time to devote to tourist exploration
• stay a few hours or days in the city, and you would not physically have time to see more than 7 attractions
• you are clear in advance about which attractions to visit, and you know that you can save money by doing so
• You are not a museum lover, but still want to visit the main attractions
• In general, if you want to devote space in your itinerary to a maximum of 7 must-see attractions, in addition to sightseeing

However, if it is your first time in London and you plan to stay at least 3-4 days, the London Pass remains in our opinion the choice with the best savings/quality of experience ratio.

Where to buy it

The London Explorer Pass is purchased online, from home.
Once purchased, everything you need to visit the attractions will come to youvia email and via the Go City app.

Expiration, validity, and refunds

The London Explorer Pass is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. So, once purchased, you can activate it within a year.
Once activated (by entering the first attraction you choose), you have 30 days to complete other visits, then it expires.

The London Explorer Pass is refundable only if not activated, and within 30 days of purchase.
Exceeding 30 days it is not refundable, but you always have the 12 months (11 remaining) to use / surrender it.

London City Card

La London City Card (sold by Tiqets, sometimes under the name of London Digital Pass) is a different product from its predecessors: it is a Prepaid package with 4 major tourist experiences included.

This is the ideal solution for those seeking maximum simplicity for a short trip (such as a weekend or long weekend), wanting to get a taste of London by visiting just a few of the most famous attractions without the stress of organizing everything.

Unlike other more extensive tourist passes analyzed above, this package includes only four experiences, chosen specifically for an overview of London.
It is therefore not the ideal pass for those who want to explore London far and wide, but it is an excellent solution for those who want to see the included attractions in a focused way.

It is suitable for both short stays , where time is limited and you prefer to focus on a few targeted activities, and longer holidays, when you don't want to base the entire trip on visiting the tourist attractions, but without giving up some of the must-sees of the British capital.

What does Tiqets' London City Card include?

London City Card is a multi-attraction pass that includes the following attractions:

• Entrance to the London Eye
• Hop-on / Hop-off bus tour (validity 24 hours)
• Tourist cruise on the River Thames
• Tower of London with access to the Crown Jewels exhibition

These are some of the city's top tourist experiences.
Plus, the London City Card offers:

• A 10% discount on any other attraction purchased through Tiqets
• Benefit of being able to book all included attractions, already at the time of purchase.

How does the London City Card work?

Buying and using the London City Card is very simple, everything happens online in just a few steps:

• Go to Tiqets official website and proceed with the reservation
• Select your dates and times NOW: at the time of purchase, you must select the day and time slot for each individual attraction.
• After making the payment, you will receive the pass in digital format via email, ready to show from your phone.

Once your purchase is complete, you will receive your London City Card via email in digital format.
You can simply show it from your smartphone at the entrance to the attractions on the days and times booked. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can print the pass and present it in paper version.

How much does the London City Card cost?

The London City Card is available in a single purchase option with the following prices:

• Adult (16+) ➜ £102 (approx. €117)
• Senior (65+) ➜ £94 (approx. €108)
• Young people (4-15) ➜ £77 (approx. €88)

These are the list prices.
This card is often offered at a discount on the official Tiqets website, with savings of around €10-15 compared to the list prices (when the discount is active, it is automatically applied).

Is London City Card worth it?

In this case, it is more straightforward to do a cost-effectiveness analysis of this card.

• Ticket to the Tower of London (~£36)
• Ticket for the London Eye (~£39)
• Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket (~£39)
• Thames River Cruise Ticket (~£25)

Total cost of individual tickets: approximately $199.
Cost of London City Card (Adult): $150.

The net saving is approximately £37 per person, plus the potential saving from the 10% discount on other tickets.

When is it indicated?

London City Card is indicated when you are interested in visiting only the proposed attractions, and perhaps add something else by taking advantage of the 10% discount.
Most importantly, when the reservation requirement concurrent with the purchase of the card is a benefit to you and not a limitation.

Also interesting when you recognize yourself in these profiles:

• For those who want zero organizational stress: this is its greatest advantage. With one purchase you book everything, you have your guaranteed time slots, and you don't have to think about anything.
• For those with the London Eye at the top of their list: it is one of the cheapest ways to combine the Ferris wheel with 3 other top attractions, beating out competition from the Explorer Pass on this point.
• For those on a "hit-and-run" trip: if you're only staying in London for 1 or 2 days, this package gives you an almost ready-made itinerary with must-see experiences, without having to make any arrangements.

It might seem comparable as a formula to that of the Explorer Pass in the 4-attraction version. However, the Explorer Pass does not include the London Eye, which is one of the top London attractions included in the City Card. Therefore, it is not a direct alternative.

Where to buy it

The London City Card can be purchased exclusively online , at the following address.

London City Card Validity and Refunds

The London City Card, once purchased, is non-refundable.
Unlike other passes, at the time of purchase you must select the date and time slot for each of the included attractions. The dates you select cannot be changed later.

To avoid problems related to unforeseen travel contingencies (delays, cancellations, schedule changes), it is advisable to purchase the pass just before visiting the first attraction, when you are already in London or close to departure.

In this way, you will reduce the risk of losing the pass due to unforeseen events that could make it unusable.

I will also show you a couple of alternatives to the London City Card , also offered by the Tiqets portal (they are their products): London Family Pass and London Royal Pass .
The operating logic is completely similar to that of the City Card: a few attractions, all bookable.
The focus of the attractions included and the prices change , while the convenience reasons remain similar.

Frequently asked questions about London Passes (FAQ)