Are you planning a trip to London and considering buying the London Pass? Find out if it’s worth the price and whether this sightseeing card is a good fit for your London trip!
London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It’s home to some of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
London is also known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world for visitors. A trip to London is certainly not cheap, especially since all its prices are listed in British Pounds.
But, it’s easily one of my favorite cities and I can’t get enough of London! My sister and I traveled to London when we were students and found the London Pass was the best way to save money and visit all the top attractions without blowing our budget.
And the best part was, we were able to check out more attractions than we had originally planned, because everything we wanted to see was included in the pass!
The London Pass can get you fast-track entry into all the city’s top-rated attractions for a significant discount. It’s silly to pay full price at London’s popular tourist attractions when you can save money with the London Pass.
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Table of Contents
What is the London Pass?
✓ Pick from over 80 London attractions
✓ Valid for up to 10 days
✓ Save up to £430 when you visit 3 attractions per day compared to purchasing individual tickets
✓ Mobile pass option
The London Pass is pre-paid, all-inclusive sightseeing card which gives you FREE entry to over 80+ top attractions and tours in London including the Tower of London, riding the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, and checking out the view from the Shard.
The London Pass currently has a TrustScore rating of 8.4/10 on Trust Pilot, which makes it one of the highest rated sightseeing passes. Over 3 million travelers have used the pass and it’s the only all-inclusive pass rated 4+ on Google.
How the London Pass Works
Simply buy your chosen pass for one flat rate and download your pass instantly on your smartphone using their App (or get it delivered). Then scan your pass to enter any of the 80+ attractions. No cash or tickets are needed.
This tourism pass is the most popular with visitors to London because it has the potential to save you A LOT of money. By visiting just two or three attractions per day, you can save over 50% vs. paying at the gate.
Many of the top-rated attractions in London cost £20 to £35 per person to visit ($26-$46 USD), which can get pretty expensive for travelers. If you’re already planning to visit some of these popular attractions, buying the London Pass can easily save you over 50% off the regular ticket price. Who wouldn’t want to save extra money?
Benefits of the London Pass
Convenience
The London Pass can be so helpful when you’re visiting a big city like London. This is because you can purchase the pass online before your trip and activate it when you visit your first attraction. You don’t have to worry about waiting in long ticket lines or dealing with cash. Now that’s convenient!
Fast-Track Entry
With your London Pass, you can use the Fast Track Entry feature to skip the long lines at several popular attractions, and enjoy more time sightseeing. Your pass makes it easy to save time and maximize the fun on your vacation. This is one of the biggest benefits of buying the London Pass, because line ups at attractions can get long during peak times.
Save Money
The London Pass was created to help you save money when visiting London. Free entry to all the city’s top attractions are included in your pass, so you don’t have to think twice about visiting an attraction due to its cost. This can be a great option for budget-conscious travelers.
Plus, your pass gives you access to over two dozen special offers and discounts, such as discounted theatre tickets.
PRO TIP: When you purchase your London Pass online, you’ll get the best price and also receive a FREE London Guidebook. It’s packed full of helpful travel information and tips to plan your sightseeing itinerary and make the most of your London Pass.
Should you add the Oyster Card to Your London Pass?
The London Pass offers an option to add an Oyster Card. If you purchase a London Pass + Travel package, your electronic Oyster Card will be pre-loaded with a credit to match your London Pass Duration. It’s available for either 1, 2, 3, 6, or 10 consecutive days.
This is super convenient because the London Underground (subway system) and buses are the cheapest and fastest way to get around the city. This makes it easy to visit all the must-see attractions on your list.
What is an Oyster Card?
An Oyster Card is a smartcard which gives you unlimited access to London’s public transportation system, including the Underground (Tube), buses, Docklands Light Rail, and Overground trains.
My sister and I used the Oyster Card everyday during our time in London. We found it easy to use and it saved us time and money when sightseeing.
Who is the London Pass Good for?
First-Time Visitors
Visiting London is a trip of a lifetime for many people. If this is your first time to the city, then investing in the pass can be a great option. Of course, you’ll be the final judge on your purchase.
The pass is specifically designed to help first-timers save time and money when sightseeing. Use the built-in Fast Track Entry to skip the long ticket lines and enjoy more time at each attraction.
Families and Groups
If you’re traveling with your family or friends, the cost of buying individual tickets at each attraction can add up quickly. The 3-day Pass can save a single adult over £120 ($150 USD), which means a family of four can easily save over $600 with the pass. That’s a lot of money!
Traveling with kids? You may find the “Fast Track Entry” feature especially helpful with your London Pass.
Skip the long lines to make your trip go smoother with kids.
Plus you can save money on sightseeing, since many of the kid-friendly attractions are expensive, such as the London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, and the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.
You want to visit all the major London attractions
If you want to hit all the popular attractions in London, such as the Tower of London, Churchill War Rooms, and the Tower Bridge, then buying this tourism pass is a no-brainer. By visiting just two or three attractions per day, the pass can provide great value.
Another benefit of the pass is you can explore the city at your own pace. If you visit an attraction and don’t like it — no problem! Leave and head to the next attraction on your itinerary. You don’t have to feel bad for wasting money because everything’s included in your pass.
Who is the London Pass Not Good for?
Travellers on a tight budget
If you’re traveling on a tight budget, then the pass may not be a good option for you. I recommend sticking to London’s free attractions instead. If you still want to visit some of London’s paid attractions, then I recommend purchasing the 1-day Pass. This will help you save money when visiting the super expensive sites in London.
For example, if you purchase the 1-day pass and ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, visit the Tower of London, and check out the view from the Shard, you’ll save over £18 ($25 USD). This can be an excellent deal if it fits within your budget.
Those who want to take a day off from sightseeing
Once the pass has been activated, it’s valid for consecutive days only. If you’re getting the 1, 2, or 3-day pass, visiting two to three attractions per day will ensure you get the best value from the pass. The 6 and 10-day pass can still offer a good value if you decide to take a day off from sightseeing.
Those who want to explore off-the-beaten path
If you’re not interested in sightseeing and prefer to explore off-the-beaten path, then buying a sightseeing pass is probably not a good fit for you.
Which Pass Duration Should I Get?
The London Pass is available for purchase as a 1, 2, 3, 6, or 10-day pass. You can view the current pass prices here.
It’s intended to be used on consecutive calendar days and will become activated once you visit your first attraction.
This means if you’re using the 3-day pass card (which is the most popular option with travelers), “Day 1” starts when the card is first activated. If you active the card on Monday, it will be active for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The pass will expire on the last day at midnight.
Buying your pass online guarantees you get the best available price. You can click here to purchase your London Pass from their official website.
To maximize your time and get the best value from your pass, I recommend starting early in the day for sightseeing. This lets you get a full day’s worth of sightseeing when you activate your pass.
PRO TIP: You can buy the London Pass on sale now and activate it anytime in the next 12 months. This can help you save money and plan your sightseeing itinerary ahead of time.
Where to buy the London Pass
Step 1: Choose which pass duration you want to buy (1, 2, 3, 6, or 10-day). You can click here to purchase your London Pass from their official website. When you buy the pass online, you can take advantage of online discounts.
Step 2: Download your mobile pass instantly using the London Pass App. If you prefer a physical pass, simply opt for delivery (they deliver worldwide).
Step 3: You now have FREE access to any of the 80+ top London attractions included for the duration of your pass. You can activate your pass anytime within 12 months from the date of purchase.
Does the London Pass Provide Good Value?
Yes! If you’re interested in visiting the popular paid attractions and tours in London, such as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Thames River Boat Cruise, and Kensington Palace, then the pass can provide great value for your money.
By visiting just a few attractions per day, you have the potential to save over 50% off vs. paying at the gate for individual tickets.
My sister and I loved our experience with this pass. We visited a mix of both paid and free attractions. However, we found that we enjoyed the paid attractions more than the free museums. For example, the highlight of our trip was exploring the Tower of London and seeing the view from the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Where the London Pass Falls Short
While the London Pass includes FREE entry to over 80+ popular attractions in the city, the only downside is that it doesn’t include entry to the London Eye. Hopefully this is something that the pass will add to its list of growing attractions in the future.
The Verdict
As you can see, the London Pass can be a great way for travelers to save time and money when exploring the city’s best attractions and tours. The “Fast Track Entry” feature can let you skip the long ticket lines, which is a huge time saver in a busy city like London.
If you’re visiting London for the first time, the pass can provide an easy and stress-free way to sightsee. If you’re interested in hitting all the top attractions in London, then getting the pass is convenient.
However, for those who are just planning on visiting a few attractions, you may want to consider the GO City London Explorer Pass instead. And if you’re traveling on a super tight budget, don’t worry, there’s plenty of free things to do in the city.
Remember, this is your trip to London. You can plan it to suit your travel style and interests. Happy travels!
Ready to book your London adventure? Below you can find hotel deals in London thanks to Booking.com
