Is the London Go City Explorer Pass Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itYes, if you want a few big sights at your own pace. You pay per attraction, not per day, so pick the priciest ones and it pays off.
- Skip itNo, if you'll do 3-4 paid sights every day. The London Go City Pass, which charges by the day, usually works out better.
- Skip itNo, if you only want one or two cheaper sights. Buy those tickets directly.
- From £65
- Pick 2-7 attractions
- 30 days to use them
What is The London Go City Explorer Pass?
A city pass is one purchase that covers several attractions, usually for less than buying each ticket separately, but only if you use what you pay for.
With the London Go City Explorer Pass you choose how many attractions you want (2 to 7), then pick them as you go. You have 30 days from your first visit to use the rest, so there's no need to rush.
The seller advertises savings of up to 50% compared with buying each ticket separately. The saving depends almost entirely on which attractions you pick. Expensive ones save the most.
- Attractions
- Pick 2-7 of 78
- Price
- From £65
- Time to use
- 30 days
- Starts
- First visit
How to get the most value out of The London Go City Explorer Pass
You pay for a set number of attractions, so the value comes from what you pick and using every one.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Spend a slot on a cheap attraction | Use your slots on the priciest sights, like the Tower of London, The Shard, the London Eye and Windsor Castle. Pay separately for cheaper ones. |
| Buy more attractions than you'll visit | Count only the sights you're sure about. An unused slot is money lost. |
| Head to the next sight without knowing how busy it is | Check live crowds on beatthecrowd.co first. Go where it's quiet now and come back to the busy one later. |
| Leave timed sights until the last week | Some attractions need a booked slot. Book them early in your 30 days so a sold-out day doesn't cost you one. |
Before you set off for the next attraction, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. With the Explorer Pass you can pick the quietest day for each sight.
Check live crowds in London →Who The London Go City Explorer Pass is for
Good fit
- You want 2-7 specific big sights, not a packed schedule
- You prefer one or two sights a day at an easy pace
- You're in London for longer, or visiting more than once within 30 days
Skip it if
- You'll do 3-4 paid sights every day: the day pass usually wins
- Your must-sees aren't on the Explorer list
- You mainly want London's free museums
- You only want one or two cheaper attractions
- From £65
- Pick 2-7 attractions
- 30 days to use them
What the pass covers
Choose 2 to 7 attractions from a list of 78. These are the big ones on the official list, and the ones that need booking or aren't included.
- Pick the pricey ones: Tower of London (about £37), The View from The Shard (about £32), the London Eye (from about £29), Windsor Castle (£32+).
- The Shard and Madame Tussauds are included, each with a slot booked in the app.
The big sights
- Tower of LondonIncluded
- The View from The ShardBook a slotIncluded. Book a slot in the app.
- London EyeBook a slotIncluded. Book a slot, at least a day ahead.
- Windsor CastleIncluded
- St Paul's CathedralIncludedClosed to sightseers on Sundays.
- Tower BridgeIncluded
- The Royal MewsIncluded
- Moco Museum LondonIncluded
- Westminster AbbeyBook a slotIncluded. Book a slot in the app, up to 10 days ahead. Closed to sightseers on Sundays.
- Madame Tussauds LondonBook a slotIncluded. Book a slot in the app, up to 15 days ahead.
- Buckingham Palace State RoomsNot included
- British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, V&A, Tate ModernNot includedFree to enter anyway.
Also on the pass
- City Cruises 24-hour Thames River Pass
- 2-day Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour
Some attractions need a timed slot booked in the pass app after you buy, including the London Eye and The Shard.
- From £65
- Pick 2-7 attractions
- 30 days to use them
Pass vs individual tickets
Add up the ticket prices of the attractions you'll pick. The pass only wins if that beats its price, so the more expensive your picks, the more you save.
| Pass size | Adult price | Price per attraction |
|---|---|---|
| 2 attractions | From £65 | £32.50 |
| 3-7 attractions | More in total. Check the live price for your size on the buy page | Falls as you add attractions |
Worked example: 2 big sights
| Attraction | Adult ticket bought separately |
|---|---|
| Tower of London | About £37-38 |
| The View from The Shard | About £32 (£37 Saturdays) |
| Total separately | About £69-75 |
| Explorer Pass, 2 attractions | From £65 |
| You save | About £4-10 |
Swap the Shard for the London Eye (from about £29 online) and the two cost about £66-67, barely more than the pass. Use your picks on the priciest sights.
- From £65
- Pick 2-7 attractions
- 30 days to use them
Fine print
- Activation
- Starts at your first attraction visit.
- Time to use
- 30 days from your first visit to use the rest.
- Validity
- Valid for one year from purchase if not activated.
- Refunds
- Full refund within 90 days of purchase if not activated.
- Closures
- Attractions can close on your day. Check opening days, especially churches on Sundays.
- Entry
- Scan your pass QR code at each entrance.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: It's the official London Go City Explorer Pass, from the same company as the London Go City Pass.
- Reassuring: Unused passes can be refunded within 90 days of purchase, as long as you haven't started using it.
- Reassuring: 30 days to use it, so a rainy day or a sold-out slot doesn't lose you an attraction.
- Watch out: Unused attractions expire 30 days after your first visit.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Use slots on cheap attractions | Save your slots for the expensive sights. Pay for cheaper ones directly. |
| Round up to a bigger pass | Buy only the number of attractions you're sure about. |
| Queue at whichever sight you reach next | Check beatthecrowd.co before you go and pick a quiet time. |
| Count free museums | The British Museum, National Gallery and Natural History Museum are free. Don't plan them into the pass. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value. Check which London sights are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, and go there first.
Check live crowds in London →- From £65
- Pick 2-7 attractions
- 30 days to use them
Alternatives
Pay by the day and visit as many of 100+ attractions as you like. Better if you'll do 3-4 paid sights a day. Read our verdict.
Planning your order and avoiding queues is the simplest way to get full value: see how busy London’s attractions are right now →
- From £65
- Pick 2-7 attractions
- 30 days to use them
FAQs
Is the London Go City Explorer Pass worth it?
+
Yes, if you pick the expensive sights (Tower of London, The Shard, London Eye, Windsor Castle) and use every one. If you'll do 3-4 paid sights a day, the London Go City Pass usually works out better.
How does the London Go City Explorer Pass work?
+
You choose a pass for 2 to 7 attractions, then pick them from a list of 78 as you go. You have 30 days from your first visit to use them all.
Does the Explorer Pass include The Shard and the London Eye?
+
Yes, both are on the official Explorer list. You'll need to book a slot for each in the app.
London Go City Explorer Pass or London Go City Pass?
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Explorer: pay per attraction, 30 days to use, best for a few big sights at an easy pace. Go City Pass: pay per day, best for packing 3-4 paid sights into each day.
Can I get a refund?
+
Yes, within 90 days of purchase if you haven't started using the pass.