London, it is well known, is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Many visitors opt for a pass to visit various attractions. But is it worth buying the London Pass?
To answer this question, there are many factors to consider, the first of which is: how long will you be in London? Bearing in mind that entry to many attractions costs £20 or more, you need to visit at least three places that are included in the London Pass for it to be worth buying.
In terms of duration, the London Pass is sold as a 1, 2, 3, 6 or 10-day pass. Passes are activated after the first use and must be used on consecutive days. And this can be very useful if you're on holiday three days in London.
My conclusion is that - in most situations - it's worth investing in the London Pass, but take a look at what you stand to gain or lose if you buy this discount pass for some of London's most popular sites.
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Advantages or benefits of the London Pass
- Entry to 70 tourist attractions in the city of London
- Skip the queues at the most popular places
- Discounts in restaurants, shops and entertainment venues (bowling, cinema)
- Access to a useful guide with maps and information about the city and each attraction
- Free transport (to and from) to Windsor Castle
- Convenience - no need to buy individual tickets
What attractions are included in the London Pass?
The London Pass includes entry to many of the main sights and attractions in London - most notably the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle.
There are over 70 in total, as well as a cinema, bowling alley, boat trips and tours. Many more are available and you can check the full list of attractions on the official website.
Other attractions or activities included in the London Pass
- The Shard
- Boat trip on the River Thames
- Hampton Court Palace
- Kensington Palace
- Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
- Churchill War Rooms
- London Zoo
- Kew Gardens
- Wimbledon Tennis
- Chelsea Stadium tour
- Arsenal Stadium tour
- Wembley Stadium Tour
- London Transport Museum
How much is the London Pass?
There are two ways to buy the London Pass: one with an Oyster Card, i.e. a card to use on London transport, and the simpler option, without an Oyster Card, which I recommend.
London Pass prices
| Duration | London Pass without Oyster Card
Adult / Child |
London Pass with Oyster Card
Adult / Child |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 69£ / 49£ | 84£ / 55£ |
| 2 days | 94£ / 69£ | 114£ / 82£ |
| 3 days | 114£ / 84£ | 144£ / 103£ |
| 6 days | 154£ / 114£ | 199£ / 145£ |
| 10 days | 184£ / 39£ | 239£ / 194£ |
There are often offers with special discounts if you buy the pass online - including at the time of writing, when the reductions are 20%.
Who should buy the London Pass
If you're travelling with children, consider buying a pass (without transport) to skip the queues and make your trip more relaxed. In addition, some attractions for children are included in the pass and these are usually expensive.
The London Pass is useful for those planning their trip in advance, as you can visit several attractions on the same day and save a lot of money in London. This pass is also favourable for those who see things quickly. If you're only in London for a few days and at least three of the places on the list are on your itinerary, opt for the London Pass.
One of the great benefits of the Pass is its convenience, as you don't have to buy tickets separately. So all you have to do is buy the pass and then you'll receive all the documentation at home. Alternatively, download the mobile phone app and access the digital ticket.
Who shouldn't buy the London Pass?
There are some reasons why it might not be worth buying the London Pass, particularly if you only have a short time in the city. At the same time, when you buy the London Pass you will feel the need to enter as many attractions as possible in order to maximise your investment.
On the other hand, don't forget that London has countless places that aren't included in the pass or where entry is free. If you're on a tight budget, then it's best to fill your itinerary with attractions where entry is free. If you need tips on how to save money in London, read this article.
Why isn't it worth buying the London Pass with transport included?
Public transport in London is good, but very expensive. The Oyster Card can be used on public buses, the Underground (Tube), surface trains and the DLR. The Oyster Card doesn't expire, so you can keep it for your next trip to London.
You can get the London Pass with or without the Oyster Card, but I wouldn't recommend buying the London Pass with the transport option included, especially if you're visiting London with children.
Why is this? Because children under the age of 11 can travel for free on London transport, as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid Oyster Card.
What's more, if you buy a separate Oyster Card you can top it up with the amount you want (or need) for each day you're on holiday in London. It's also important to bear in mind that if you want to use the London Pass on your mobile phone, you can only do so if the pass doesn't include the transport option.
Important tips before buying the London Pass
Before deciding whether it's worth buying the London Pass, it's worth remembering that you can only enter each attraction once and the same applies to the Hop on Hop off Bus which can only be used once, even if your pass lasts for 1, 2, 3, 6 or 10 days. So if you want to visit attractions for four days, you'll have to buy a pass valid for six days.
Equally vital is when you activate the London Pass - you must start using it in the morning, as it expires at the end of the third day - counting from the day of activation. In other words, if you activate it on Friday morning, then it will be valid for Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of the day. If you activate it on Friday afternoon or evening, the pass will still expire on Sunday at midnight.
It's essential to consider how long you expect to spend at each attraction, as this will allow you to decide whether it's worth buying the London Pass and, if so, for how many days. The London Pass does not include transport from any airport.
How do I decide if I need the London Pass?
Plan your itinerary or check out my suggestions for 24 hours in London or the three-day itinerary in London. Once you've decided how many days you'll be in England's capital, point out on a map the attractions you're sure to visit. Finally, see how much each individual ticket costs and add them up (see two examples below).
Don't be too ambitious - it will take you a while to visit some attractions - and don't forget to account for the time you have to travel between each one.
Most places are open between 10am and 6pm, so if you're staying in the centre of London, you can visit between three and four attractions a day.
However, if you decide to visit Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace or Windsor Castle, then you'll need a lot more time, as these are longer journeys. In fact, I suggest you include them in a day trip from London.
As most museums and tourist attractions are only open during the day, see which activities close later to make the most of your time. Some of the attractions not included in the London Pass are the London Eye or the Madame Tussauds wax museum.
To decide whether it's worth buying the London Pass, here are two concrete examples and how much it will cost you if you buy individual tickets or use the pass. One example is for adults, the second for families with children.
London Pass vs Individual Tickets - Price for adults
| Tourist attraction | Ticket price
at the door or on the day |
Online ticket price
or in advance |
|---|---|---|
| The Shard | 30.95£ | 21.50£ |
| Westminster Cathedral | 22£ | 20£ |
| Tower of London | 26.80£ | 22.70£ |
| Tower Bridge | 9.80£ | 8.70£ |
| Boat trip on the River Thames | 18.75£ | 18.75£ |
| Royal Observatory Greenwhich | 13.50£ | 15£ |
| London Zoo | 29.75£ | 24.30£ |
| Cutty Sark | 12.15£ | 13.50£ |
| Windsor Castle | 21.20£ | 21.20£ |
| Total | 184.90£ | 165.65£ |
| Price with London Pass | 114£ | 114£ |
| Savings with the London Pass | 70.9£ | 51.65£ |
The above prices are per adult.
London Pass vs Individual Tickets - Price for families
| Tourist attraction | Ticket price
at the door or on the day |
Online ticket price
or in advance |
|---|---|---|
| The Shard | 79.95£ | 59.95£ |
| Westminster Cathedral | 49£ | 40£ |
| Tower of London | 68.10£ | 57.80£ |
| Tower Bridge | 22£ | 22£ |
| Boat trip on the River Thames | 37.50£ | 37.50£ |
| Royal Observatory Greenwhich | 43£ | 38.70£ |
| London Zoo | 75.80£ | 75.80£ |
| Cutty Sark | 36.9£ | 41£ |
| Windsor Castle | 54.70£ | 54.70£ |
| Total | 466.95£ | 427.45£ |
| Price with London Pass | 382£ | 382£ |
| Savings with the London Pass | 84.95£ | 45.45£ |
Note: The above prices are for adults and at least one child up to the age of 15. The definition of family is taken in different ways by different attractions. In some places, such as Westminster Cathedral, only one child can enter with the family ticket, while in the The Shard or Tower of London more than one child can access it.
Please confirm how many children are allowed when making your household accounts. For the sake of comparison, all the above prices include two adults and two children.
In both examples, the price of the ticket referred to as online (or bought in advance) is always the cheapest available.
Where to buy the London Pass
The easiest way is to buy the London Pass online and have it sent to your home. Perhaps easier is to have the London Pass delivered to your mobile phone - via the Mobile London Pass. You can also buy the pass online and then pick it up in London at various railway stations and some airports.
However, I recommend that you buy it online for ease of use and use the Mobile London Pass. Not only will you always have the pass with you, but you'll also avoid using paper or plastic. The planet will thank you...
Are there other ways to save money in London?
As I mentioned above, on many occasions it pays to buy the London Pass. But there are many ways to save money in London and some of them are perfect to combine with the London Pass.
Read the detailed article I wrote with various tips for saving money in London, including free entry to other tourist attractions - which are not included in the London Pass - and discounts in bars and restaurants.
To summarise, the London Pass is useful if you use it well, but planning is key to making the most of your time and money. Do a little research, choose what you want to visit, do the maths and decide whether it's worth buying the London Pass. Only you can decide whether or not it's worth the investment.
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