London Tourist Passes: Which One Is Worth It?
London has three popular tourist passes. Each one suits a different kind of trip, and for some trips no pass beats buying tickets. Here's how to pick.
Types of tourist pass
Day pass
Pay by the day. Unlimited attractions on your pass days.
In London: London Go City Pass
Pick-your-own pass
Pick 2-7 attractions. 30 days to use them.
In London: London Go City Explorer Pass
Combo pass
5 Merlin attractions, once each, in any order.
In London: Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass
Which pass for your trip?
London Go City Pass
- 2-4 days, packing in the big paid sights. Unlimited sights per day; the more you do, the more you save.
London Go City Explorer Pass
- A week or more, one or two sights a day. Pay only for the sights you pick, with 30 days to use them.
- The Shard is a must, plus a few others. Spend one of your picks on The Shard and use the rest at your own pace.
Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass
- Teens or adults set on the London Eye and Madame Tussauds. Five Merlin attractions on one ticket, 90 days to use it.
No pass needed
- Mostly free museums: British Museum, National Gallery, V&A. They're free. A pass adds nothing.
- Only one or two paid attractions. Buy those tickets online. They're often cheaper than at the door.
The passes compared
London Go City Pass
- Attractions
- 100+
- Price
- From £105
- Time to use
- 1-7 or 10 days
- Best for
- Packed sightseeing days
- Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's, London Eye
- Best value at 3-4 paid sights a day
- The Shard, London Eye and Madame Tussauds need booked slots
- Poor value at an easy pace
London Go City Explorer Pass
- Attractions
- Pick 2-7 of 78
- Price
- From £65
- Time to use
- 30 days
- Best for
- A few big sights at your own pace
- Includes The Shard and the London Eye
- No rush: 30 days from your first visit
- Worse value if you'll do several sights every day
- Only pays off if you pick the pricey ones
Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass
- Attractions
- 5
- Price
- From £59
- Time to use
- 90 days
- Best for
- London Eye, Madame Tussauds and friends
- London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, London Dungeon, Shrek's Adventure
- 90 days to use it
- London Dungeon: not for under-12s, under-5s not allowed
- No historic sights
Which big sights are on which pass?
| Sight | Go City | Explorer | Merlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Eye | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot | Included |
| Tower of London | Included | Included | Not included |
| St Paul's Cathedral | Included | Included | Not included |
| Tower Bridge | Included | Included | Not included |
| Windsor Castle | Included | Included | Not included |
| The View from The Shard | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot | Not included |
| Madame Tussauds | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot |
| Westminster Abbey | Included | Not confirmed | Not included |
| The London Dungeon | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Included |
Worth knowing before you buy
A long list doesn't mean big savings
100+ attractions sounds like a lot, but you'll realistically see 3-4 big sights a day. You only save on what you actually visit.
The pricey sights pay for the pass
The Tower of London (about £37), The Shard (about £32), Windsor Castle (£32+) and the London Eye (from about £29) are where a pass earns its cost.
London's best museums are free
The British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, V&A and Tate Modern cost nothing, so don't count them as pass value.
No pass covers transport
Use contactless or an Oyster card for the Tube and buses whichever pass you choose.
Whichever pass you pick, queues eat into your day. Check how busy each attraction is right now on beatthecrowd.co, and go where it's quiet first.
Check live crowds in London →How pass companies make money
A pass in London is a bet: the seller wins if you slow down, you win if you plan. Here's the business behind London Go City Pass, London Go City Explorer Pass and Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass.
Attractions such as London Eye give pass sellers a discount in return for guaranteed visitors.
Rainy days, late starts and skipped sights all count in the seller's favour.
Each extra day or pick on London Go City Pass is only a saving if you'd really use it.
Other ways to save
- Historic Royal Palaces membership
From £65 a year. Covers the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. Good if you'll visit two or more, or come back within the year.
- National Rail 2FOR1
Two-for-one entry at many attractions, including Tower Bridge, when you travel by train.
FAQs
Which London pass is best?
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For 2-4 packed days of big paid sights, the London Go City Pass. For a few big sights at an easy pace, the London Go City Explorer Pass. For the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and other Merlin attractions with teens or adults, Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass. For mostly free museums, no pass.
What's the difference between the London Go City Pass and the Explorer Pass?
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The London Go City Pass charges by the day and lets you visit as many attractions as you like on those days. The Explorer Pass charges by the number of attractions (2-7) and gives you 30 days to use them.
Which London pass includes The Shard?
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Both Go City passes: the London Go City Pass and the Explorer. Book a slot in the app first. Merlin's pass doesn't include it.
Which London pass includes the London Eye?
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All three: the London Go City Pass and the Explorer Pass (book a slot in the app) and Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass.
Do London tourist passes include transport?
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No. Use contactless or an Oyster card for the Tube and buses.