Is Merlin's London 5 Attractions Pass Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itYes, if you want 4-5 of its attractions. The London Eye, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE are next to each other, and you get 90 days to use it.
- Skip itNo, with children under 12. The London Dungeon isn't recommended for them and under-5s aren't allowed, so you'd pay for a visit you can't use.
- Skip itNo, if you want historic sights. The Tower of London, St Paul's and Westminster Abbey aren't on it.
- 5 attractions
- 90 days to use
- Any order
What is Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass?
A city pass is one ticket that covers several attractions, usually for less than buying each separately, but only if you use them.
This pass is sold by Merlin, the company that runs all five attractions. One ticket covers each of them once, in any order, within 90 days.
The seller advertises savings of up to 50% compared with buying each ticket separately. That's if you visit all five. If you'll only do three, Merlin's own 3-attraction combo (London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE) is from £54, just £5 less.
- Attractions
- 5
- Time to use
- 90 days
- Order
- Any order
- Age
- Best for 12+
How to get the most value out of Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass
Four of the five attractions are a short walk apart on the South Bank, so two of them fit easily into one day.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Book the London Eye for the middle of the day | Go at opening or in the last hour, when queues for the wheel are shortest. |
| Leave Madame Tussauds booking until you arrive | Your booked time slot is for Madame Tussauds. Pick it first, then plan the others around it. |
| Head to the next attraction 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. |
| Try to squeeze all five into one day | You have 90 days. Split them over two days and you'll enjoy each one more. |
Before you set off for the next attraction, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. The London Eye and Madame Tussauds both get long queues at peak times.
Check live crowds in London →Who Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass is for
Good fit
- Teens and adults who want the big entertainment attractions
- First-time visitors set on the London Eye and Madame Tussauds
- Anyone who'll visit at least four of the five
- Trips where you want flexibility: 90 days to use it
Skip it if
- You're travelling with children under 12 (the London Dungeon)
- You're more interested in palaces, castles and history
- You only want the London Eye and one other: a 2-attraction ticket is cheaper
- You're already buying the London Go City Pass, which covers the London Eye
- 5 attractions
- 90 days to use
- Any order
What the pass covers
The pass covers five Merlin attractions in London.
- Four are side by side on the South Bank: the London Eye, SEA LIFE, the London Dungeon and Shrek's Adventure. Madame Tussauds is in Marylebone.
- The London Dungeon sets the age limit: not recommended for under-12s, and under-5s aren't allowed.
The big sights
- London EyeIncluded
- Madame Tussauds LondonBook a slotYour booked time slot is for Madame Tussauds.
- SEA LIFE London AquariumIncluded
- The London DungeonIncludedNot recommended for under-12s; under-5s not allowed.
- Shrek's Adventure LondonIncluded
- Tower of London, St Paul's, Westminster AbbeyNot includedNot Merlin attractions.
Instructions for booking the other four attractions come on your voucher after you buy.
- 5 attractions
- 90 days to use
- Any order
Pass vs individual tickets
The pass is from £59 online on the London Eye's own site. Any three of the five cost more than that bought separately online, but Merlin also sells a 3-attraction combo from £54. So the 5-attraction pass makes sense when you'll do four or five.
Worked example: all five attractions
| Attraction | Adult ticket bought separately |
|---|---|
| London Eye | From about £29 online |
| Madame Tussauds | From about £23.63 online (£39 walk-up) |
| The London Dungeon | About £25-27 online |
| SEA LIFE London | From £28 online |
| Shrek's Adventure | From £21 online |
| Total separately | About £127-129 |
| Merlin 5 Attractions Pass | From £59 online |
| You save | About £68-70 (over 50%) |
Merlin's attractions are much cheaper online than at the door (Madame Tussauds from about £23.63 online vs £39 walk-up), so compare the pass with online prices.
- 5 attractions
- 90 days to use
- Any order
Fine print
- Validity
- 90 days to visit all five, in any order.
- Visits
- Each attraction once.
- Booking
- Your booked time slot is for Madame Tussauds; the voucher explains how to book the rest.
- Age limits
- Not recommended for under-12s; under-5s not allowed (because of the London Dungeon).
- Closures
- The London Eye has closed for maintenance in early January in past years. Check your dates.
- Entry
- Mobile voucher.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: Sold by Merlin, which runs all five attractions, through GetYourGuide.
- Reassuring: 90 days to use it, so a busy or rainy day doesn't cost you an attraction.
- Watch out: Under-5s can't use the London Dungeon, and it isn't recommended for under-12s.
- Watch out: London Eye maintenance closures have happened in early January in past years.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Buy it for young children | If your kids are under 12, a 3-attraction combo without the Dungeon is usually the better buy. |
| Skip two of the five | Count honestly. If you'll only do three, buy a 3-attraction combo instead. |
| Compare with walk-up prices | Compare with online prices, which are much lower. |
| Queue at whichever attraction you reach next | Check beatthecrowd.co before you go and pick the quiet one. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value. Check which London attractions are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, and go there first.
Check live crowds in London →- 5 attractions
- 90 days to use
- Any order
Alternatives
The three biggest Merlin attractions, without the London Dungeon. From £54 online; the other two are valid for 90 days from your London Eye visit.
100+ attractions including the London Eye and the Tower of London. 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 →
- 5 attractions
- 90 days to use
- Any order
FAQs
Is Merlin's London pass worth it?
+
Yes, if you'll visit at least four of the five attractions. With children under 12 or a focus on historic sights, it usually isn't.
What does Merlin's 5 Attractions Pass include?
+
The London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE London, the London Dungeon and Shrek's Adventure, each once, within 90 days.
Can children use the Merlin pass?
+
The London Dungeon isn't recommended for under-12s and under-5s aren't allowed, so families with young children usually do better with a 3-attraction combo.
Do I need to book times?
+
Your time slot is booked for Madame Tussauds. Instructions for booking the other attractions come on your voucher.