London Passes: the passes to London

Looking for an effective London pass?
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London is one of the largest capital cities in the world, welcoming millions of tourists every year.
In addition to the much-loved British style, touristically London really does offer a lot of tourist attractions to visit: museums for every taste, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, all the way to the iconic London Eye, London's Ferris wheel.

As is often the case, buying a London tourist pass can be a good way to save money and visit as much of the city as possible in the time we have available.
There are several london passes available, each with its own characteristics, convenience situations or not.

The purpose of this guide on London passes is to analyze each available pass, analyzing its features and benefits, to understand when it may be worthwhile to purchase one rather than the other. 

What are the passes to London?

There are 5 London passes available to tourists who want to visit London while saving money.
Let's introduce them so we can clear our minds:

• London Pass & London Pass Plus
• Sightseeing DAY Pass
• London Explorer Pass
• Sightseeing FLEX Pass
• London Family Pass / London Royal Pass ("niche" card with few attractions)

Beyond the names, which are all similar in the end, these are 5 different products, distributed by different companies, but all with the same purpose.
That is, they allow you to see the tourist attractions included in the pass at a better price than having to buy tickets individually.

The logic between passes changes (including for commercial reasons), and as a result each pass is better suited to one "type of vacation" than others.
Our skill-after we have a clear understanding of what kind of vacation in London we want to take-will be to identify and choose the pass that provides us with the best savings and usability.

After a few more dutiful clarifications, we move on to analyze them individually to get to know them better, culminating in the end of the guide to compare London passes.

Do London Passes include public transportation?

No, none of the London passes include public transportation.
The public transportation pass (subway, bus and/or train) must be done separately.
I will cover the issue of London transportation passes at the end of this guide.

London pass

The London Pass, offered by Go City, is the most statistically purchased pass to London by those who decide to visit the British capital.
He really does include a lot of London attractions in his list, from the most famous ones to more niche museums and tours that also go into the details of the city.

Its model works like this: you choose the duration of the pass-in versions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 days validity -and inside its validity you can see all the attractions it includes.
You can visit each attraction only once, and there is no limit on the number of attractions you can visit in a day.

The ideal tool for visiting London in depth.

As of March 2025, what was previously one pass with one format was split into two versions:

• London Pass (which I will call "basic" from now on)
• London Pass Plus

This differentiation was created to provide greater adaptability of the London Pass to the traveler's tourist needs.

Let us first find out how the two versions differ, before analyzing how they work.

Difference between London Pass and London Pass Plus

The difference between London Pass (basic) and London Pass Plus is exclusively in the number and nature of attractions included.
And - of course - consequently in the price.

All the rest of the operating logic (which we will see in a moment) is identical between the two passes.

The London Pass (basic) includes all major attractions in London, EXCLUDING the following 4 TOP attractions:

• The Shard, with panoramic views
• London Eye
• Madame Tussauds - Wax Museum
• 1 Day Tour in the Big Bus Hop-On / Hop-off

While the London Pass Plus includes all the attractions of the basic London Pass, plus the 4 top attractions just mentioned.

This is the only difference between the two versions, besides the price, of course.

>> See the difference in the attractions included in the official website

Better London Pass or London Pass Plus?

To answer this question we need to evaluate what we want to see.
The difference between the London Pass and Plus version orbits around the 4 top attractions mentioned above, found only in the Plus.

Economically speaking, the sum of admission tickets to the top 4 attractions is about £164.
The maximum price difference between classic and plus versions (the 10-day case) is £90.
If you choose the less-day versions, the difference is gradually lower and lower, further increasing the convenience of the Plus over the basic, should you want to see the 4 attractions under consideration.

So if you want to see even just three of the top four attractions, it is undoubtedly worth taking the Plus.
Even in case you want to see only two of the four it pays to take the Plus, except in the case of the 10-day version where more or less the London Pass Plus solution is roughly equivalent to taking the basic London Pass + individual tickets for the 2 top attractions you want.

When to choose the London Pass Plus?

In general, for a comprehensive trip to London, perhaps taken for the first time, in my opinion the London Pass Plus is worthwhile.
The top 4 attractions included in the Plus are touristically relevant, hard to assume a trip to London that excludes them en bloc.

As seen a few lines above, even economically the London Pass Plus clearly pays off compared to buying tickets for the 4 attractions excluded from the basic version of the pass.

When to choose the basic London Pass?

The "basic" London Pass makes sense when, for various reasons, you do not want to see the top 4 attractions included in the Plus. Or in case you only want to see one.
In this case better to take the basic London Pass, and add that attraction while paying the regular ticket.
This scenario is typical perhaps for a return trip to London, when those top attractions have already been seen on previous trips, and you don't want to return.
Focusing perhaps on everything else London has to offer.

Having clarified the difference of the two versions, let us now go on to analyze features and benefits of the London Pass, which are common to both versions.
Of course, I will highlight any differences between the two when necessary.

Benefits of the London Pass

In both versions, this is a pass suitable for those who want to explore London in depth on the days they have available.
Obviously it is a pass that is best exploited with at least 4-5 full days of vacation, but even on weekends of 1 or 2 days, it can be a great ally.
Accompanied by a good, well-organized itinerary, even a single day can be made the most of with an all-inclusive pass of this type.

It is currently the London pass with the most attractions included in the purchase price, making available over 100 destinations that can be visited.
It is very flexible: you decide when to visit the attractions.

>> Visit the official website for more info

What is included. Attractions included in the London Pass?

The London Pass includes more than 100 London tourist attractions, including the Tower of London, the London Eye Ferris wheel, Madame Tussauds wax museum, St Paul's and Westminster Cathedrals, Tower Bridge, The Shard, and Windsor Castle.
Let's look together at the full list of attractions.

>> For more information on individual attractions

As you have seen, the attractions that can be visited are indeed many.
The great thing is that in addition to the main attractions (those in the first group), there is a rich list of "secondary" (pass the term) attractions that are, however, often among the most curious, interesting, and satisfying.

Not only attractions, but also services. For example, bike rental is an absolutely recommended experience, also accomplice to a bike-friendly city, especially in some areas where you can safely enjoy this beautiful and rewarding experience.

Guided tours are an added bonus. Sports fans can visit the stadiums of teams such as Chelsea and Arsenal, touring locker rooms, stands and green turf.
For children, on the other hand, there are themed museums and exhibits.

Does the London Pass include the London Eye?

Admission to the London Eye is included in the London Pass Plus.
The London Eye is London's Ferris wheel, overlooking the Thames and Big Ben and Westminster.
On its own, the standard ticket to access it costs about £42!

Does the London Pass include Madame Tussauds?

Yes, Madame Tussauds is also included in the London Pass Plus version.

London's famous Wax Museum is a must-see for kids and teens, fun and curious for adults.
Although it can be found in many major metropolises, it is heavily themed. Therefore, you will see fantastic wax reproductions of the characters who have shaped-in every respect-English history.

Cost London Pass PLUS

The London Pass Plus-the richer version that also includes London's 4 TOP attractions-is valid on a daily basis, regardless of how many attractions you decide to visit.
Let's look at the cost of the London Pass Plus by days:

• 1 DAY ➜ £119 Adult (approx. £142 ) | £89 Child (approx. £106)
• 2 DAYS ➜ £169 Adult (approx. £201) | £114 Child (approx. £136)
• 3 DAYS ➜ £209 Adult (approx. £249 ) | £139 Child (approx. £166)
• 4 DAYS ➜ £229 Adult (approx. £273) | £154 Child (approx. £184)
• 5 DAYS ➜ £254 Adult (approx. £303) | £164 Child (approx. £195)
• 6 DAYS ➜ £274 Adult (approx. £327) | £174 Child (approx. £207)
• 7 DAYS ➜ £289 Adult (approx. £344) | £189 Child (approx. £225)
• 10 DAYS ➜ £304 Adult (approx. £362) | £204 Child (approx. £243)

A child is defined as 5 to 15 years old.

These are the list prices of the London Pass Plus, but they are often on offer on the official website, with attractive discounts compared to the prices listed here.

Cost London Pass (basic)

The London Pass in its basic version is also valid on a daily basis, in exactly the same way as the Plus.
Let's look at the cost of the London Pass by days:

• 1 DAY ➜ £89 Adult (approx. £106) | £44 Child (approx. £52)
• 2 DAYS ➜ £114 Adult (approx. £136) | £59 Child (approx. £70)
• 3 DAYS ➜ £144 Adult (approx. £172 ) | £69 Child (approx. £82)
• 4 DAYS ➜ £154 Adult (approx. £184 ) | £79 Child (approx. £94)
• 5 DAYS ➜ £164 Adult (approx. £195 ) | £89 Child (approx. £107)
• 6 DAYS ➜ £174 Adult (approx. £207) | £94 Child (approx. £112)
• 7 DAYS ➜ £189 Adult (approx. £225) | £99 Child (approx. £118)
• 10 DAYS ➜ £214 Adult (approx. £255) | £114 Child (approx. £136)

A child is defined as 5 to 15 years old.

These are the list prices of the basic London Pass, but they are often on offer on the official website, with attractive discounts from the prices given here.

London Pass: Is it worth it?

From an economic point of view, yes, it pays off.
Both in the classic version and-perhaps even more so-in the Plus variant.

By taking the 3-day one, for example, you can save up to 50% compared to buying individual attractions separately.
It should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, especially based on the admissions it includes.

As explained at the beginning of the chapter, in my opinion it is suitable for those who are visiting the City for the first time and want to see as much as possible.
The London Pass grants great flexibility: you decide when to visit and what to see.

Let's take a simple numerical example to see if the London Pass pays off, considering the 3-day option (a long weekend) and the main attractions.

London Pass Plus 3 days ➜ £209 (about €249), includes over 100 attractions.
We likely choose a few main attractions, quietly visitable in 3 days(you can do a lot better, but let's make a typical case of a vacation with a leisurely pace anyway):

• Tower of London (individually would cost £36)
• Westminster Abbey (individually would cost £30)
• Admission and panoramic view at The Shard (individually would cost £38)
• Thames River Cruise (individually would cost £25)
• London Eye (individually would cost £42)
• Madame Tussaud's (individually would cost £45)
• Hop-on / Hop-off bus to admire the city (individually would cost £39)

Selecting only these 7 attractions/activities already would come for an adult to a TOTAL of about £255, compared to £209 for the pass (which is the list price, on the site it is always discounted by at least £15-20, further increasing the convenience).

You can redo these calculations for both the London Pass Plus and the basic London Pass, based on what you want to see.
The convenience will always be there and the more pronounced the more things you have on your itinerary.

The math confirms how the London Pass is a good choice for saving money, right from the easiest and few-day cases.

Consider that vacations of a few more days, a somewhat crisper pace and a well-organized itinerary, you are able to see a lot more things, resulting in very considerable savings.
Most importantly, you get a rich vacation, which otherwise-without passes-you would struggle to achieve.

Where to buy the London Pass?

The London Pass, in both versions, can be purchased online at the official website, and with this mode of purchase you can normally get a small discount.
You can find it already applied in the prices you find on the site, as you will see.

When you get to the official website, you will see the two versions (basic and plus) side by side, and go to choose the one that best suits your trip.

Discount code London Pass

There is currently an opportunity to save an additional 5% off the already discounted London Pass / London Pass Plus prices.
You can use the discount code AFFGOALL to enter at the time of purchase, in the "Enter promo code" field provided.

However, consider that the London Pass is always discounted if you buy it online, on the official website.
At certain times of the year, even cheaper discount codes may be active.
Also on the official site look carefully at the top, usually when there are particular discount codes they are always highlighted already on the site itself.

With the London Pass, do I skip the queues?

It depends. Some attractions have lanes at the checkouts reserved for pass holders, so in those cases it also saves time at the checkouts.
There is to consider that not all attractions have these "fast tracks," and-even if there were-where there are security checks, queues and waits are generated that we cannot avoid.

So yes, with the London Pass I save money and time, although the deciding factor is the financial savings.
To maximize your time, you need to arrange an itinerary that takes you to the busiest attractions at times and times of minimum attendance.

Booking attractions London Pass

For most attractions you do not need to reserve admission.
However, in some cases you need to reserve admission in advance, even if you have purchased the London Pass. These are the most popular tourist attractions, such as London Eye, Madame Tussauds, The View from The Strand, and generally all guided tours.
Go City has provided a dedicated page (very neat) to book your admission without too much effort.

>> Book admission to attractions with the London Pass

Validity and refunds London Pass

The London Pass, in both versions, you can use within 1 year from the time of purchase. It is officially activated from the moment you visit the first attraction.
The London Pass, once activated, is valid for one day, not 24h. I recommend that you activate it in the morning so that you can take advantage of the entire day.

Any refund of the cost of the London Pass can be obtained up to 30 days after purchase.

Sightseeing London DAY pass

It is in my opinion an excellent and balanced alternative to the previous, very similar in operation.
The Sightseeing London DAY Pass includes fewer signposted attractions, but includes many "different" experiences and very interesting guided tours.
Therefore, it is perfectly suited to those who make an average stay in London (up to 5 days) and want a less extreme itinerary, capable of combining visits to the city's landmarks With a more diverse and dynamic approach.

You also save quite a bit compared to the London Pass for the same duration.
You can choose duration cuts of 1,2,3,4,5 days.
Please note: this pass is also useful if you have longer stays than the maximum 5 days, where you concentrate your visit to the paid attractions (included in the pass) in 5 days, leaving the other days available for sightseeing and all experiences that do not involve paid admission.

However, after the recent split of the London Pass into two versions (basic and plus), the Sightseeing DAY London Pass takes on even more relevance.
In fact, it includes two of the top 4 attractions that "force" the purchase of the London Pass Plus, and in my opinion the 2 most popular: London Eye and the 1-day Hop-On / Hop-Off Bus.
The bus tour comes in no less than 3 versions, including a night version, which you can do all 3!

What is included. Attractions included in the Sightseeing DAY Pass London?

The Sightseeing Day Pass for London includes fewer landmark attractions than the London Pass.

It generally focuses on the actually most important and symbolic attractions of the city, those we usually call "must-sees."
However, it complements these with a number of excellent original opportunities, different from the usual, and able to give a different, dynamic and original interpretation to your London exploration.

Basically less stuff, more concrete, depending on a pass to London that costs less and is therefore more affordable.
It's a formula that meets with my approval.

>> Complete and updated list of attractions included

Better Sightseeing DAY PASS London or London pass?

So, they are very similar passes in the logic of operation.
For the validity days you choose, you can see all the included tourist attractions and activities you want. They differ in "philosophical" and commercial approach.

As anticipated at the beginning, Sightseeing DAY London Pass presents itself as an absolutely smart and balanced solution. It includes 2 of the top attractions that are exclusive to the London Pass Plus, which are the most interesting ones usually.
But at a significantly lower price.

The London Pass aims for comprehensiveness; it includes an unparalleled range of attractions. It has everything and more of London in it to do and see.
However, this leads it to cost significantly more (for the same number of days of validity), and you can't always physiologically take advantage of everything.

The Sightseeing London Day Pass, on the other hand, is more moderate., that is, it has a more basic but still comprehensive list of attractions for most vacations.
An enviable range of guided tours, and best of all, it costs quite a bit less.
Taking the 5-day cut (statistically among the most popular) as an example, it saves about £50 each, over €50

It also has unique strengths, so different formulas of bike tours and Thames cruise and sightseeing bus tours, which are those nice attractions to do, which do not commit and allow you to embrace the city to the fullest, even during shorter stays.

In conclusion, there is no best or worst.
Both are passes for those who want to see London well, catering to different types of tourists and travelers.
London Pass / Plus to squeeze in the exploratory part to the maximum.

Sightseeing DAY Pass for greater exploratory balance and savings in purchase.
(Again, the maximum denomination that can be purchased is 5 days, while London Pass also has 7- and 10-day versions.)

Cost Sightseeing DAY London Pass

As previously mentioned, the Sightseeing DAY Pass for London is very well priced and balanced in relation to what it offers.
It works on a per-day basis, regardless of how many attractions you decide to visit.

Let's look at the cost of the London Sightseeing DAY Pass by days:

• 1 DAY ➜ £119 Adult (approx. £140 ) | £84 Child (approx. £98)
• 2 DAYS ➜ £155 Adult (approx. £182) | £100 Child (approx. £117)
• 3 DAYS ➜ £158 Adult (approx. £185 ) | £110 Child (approx. £129)
• 4 DAYS ➜ £181 Adult (approx. £212 ) | £126 Child (approx. £148)
• 5 DAYS ➜ £196 Adult (approx. £230) | £131 Child (approx. £154)

These are the official list prices, but they are often on offer on the official website, with attractive discounts from the prices given here.
Usually on the official site you can find them for about £20/25 less, each version, adult and child.

In addition, there may periodically be a discount code available for you to apply, for an additional discount on already discounted prices.
The discount code-if active-you can always find it listed on the purchase screen of the official website along with the discounted prices, which can be reached at the following link:

Sightseeing London DAY Pass: Is it worth it?

In my opinion, I would definitely say that we are looking at a great product!
Balanced, more affordable in cost, able to provide agreat vacation experience.

Mathematically, it is very easy to point out its convenience compared to not having a pass.
Consider an average attraction cost (among those included) of about £30.
On a satisfactory but soft schedule, we can see as many as 3 per day.
On a 5-day vacation, that's 15 attractions, totaling about £450 each in entrance fees.

The 5-day Sightseeing DAY Pass to London currently costs (discounted) about £167, a net saving of about £282 each!
With the discount code, the savings even increase.
Even if you see a few fewer attractions one day, the savings ratio still remains net. If you see more, it increases further.

Obviously in cases of fewer days, it changes little, the savings remain proportionately the same.

Where to buy the Sightseeing DAY Pass for London?

The Pass can be purchased online at the official website, and it is the most convenient and convenient way of purchase ever.

NOTE: When you purchase, you are asked in the shopping cart on the site for your arrival date in London.
This is not binding information, it is for them to possibly send you updated information should anything change regarding the attractions included.

With the Sightseeing Pass, do I skip the lines?

It depends on the specific attraction.
Some attractions have lanes at the ticket counters reserved for pass holders, so in those cases you also save time at the ticket counters.
Not all attractions have these "fast tracks," and-even if there were-where there are security checks, queues and waits are generated that cannot be avoided.

The key determinant of the convenience of the Sightseeing London Pass is the financial savings and the range of sightseeing opportunities, sometimes you also benefit in timing.
To optimize time in general, you need to arrange a smart itinerary that takes you to the busiest attractions at times and times of minimum rush.

Booking attractions Sightseeing Pass

For most attractions you do not need to reserve admission.
However, in some cases you need to reserve admission in advance, even if you have purchased the Sightseeing Pass.
These are the attractions with the highest tourist footfall, such as London Eye and generally all guided tours.
The attractions that require reservations can be found on the official website when you enter the information detail tab for each attraction.

If reservations are needed, Sightseeing has a dedicated page on the website.
Enter the order details of your pass purchase, and in one place you can manage your reservations.

>> Book admission to attractions with the Sightseeing Pass

Validity and Refunds Sightseeing Pass

The Sightseeing London DAY Pass is valid for 1 year from the time of purchase . It is officially activated from the moment you visit the first attraction.
Once activated, it is valid for one day, not 24h.
It istherefore advisable to activate it in the morning, max early afternoon, so that you can make the most of the first day as well.

There is no refund for the Sightseeing DAY Pass.
If your trip has margins of doubt and you want to protect yourself, you can include insurance on the pass at the time of purchase, which guarantees that you can request a refund if you do not use the pass (canceled trip, etc.).
It costs very little, we are talking about £5 per pass, which in my opinion can be worth it in certain situations.

London Explorer Pass

A good alternative to the London Pass, offered by Go City, is the London Explorer Pass.
His goal is the same: save you money in the cost of tickets to visit museums and attractions, and in some cases even the queue at the ticket counters.

It is a London Pass with a different model than the previous one: in this case you have to decide how many attractions to visit.
So unlike the London Pass, it does not work based on how many days you select. The London Explorer Pass is based on how many attractions you want to see: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.

By its nature it tends to be better suited to shorter trips with limited time to visit attractions (so much so that the largest denomination of the pass is 7).
Similarly, it is suitable if you have no idea what you want to visit deferring the choice locally (it happens to take impromptu or full adventure trips), or conversely you have already decided to see those few but specific attractions that are featured in this pass.

What does Explorer Pass include?

It includes a rich list of about 100 attractions and experiences from which to choose your must-see attractions.
However, following an overhaul in the pass format in March 2025, some TOP attractions were removed (in exchange for lowering the price of the pass).
London Eye, Sealife Aquarium, London Dungeon, Shrek's Adventure are no longer part of Exporer Pass.

Perhaps London Eye is the only really unmissable one to fail, unless you are traveling with children where the others also assume relevance.

You can check out the extensive list of museums and attractions included in the London Explorer pass.

Compared to the London Pass, the list is slightly less extensive, but there are all the main attractions (excluding the London Eye and the others mentioned just above) and museums in London.
A few fewer tours or services, but in fact it is a pass designed for short and more "essential" vacations.

How does it work?

The operation is very simple. You actually purchase a package that includes a specific number of attractions.
For example, if you purchase the 3-attraction pass, you can visit 3 attractions of your choice, choosing from the following list.

Once you purchase the London Explorer Pass, you have 30 days to take advantage of the scheduled visits. It is activated as soon as you visit the first one - from then on you have 30 days to visit the remaining ones.

1. Choose which pass to purchase (2,3, 5, 6 or 7 attractions)
2. You will receive the necessary supplies via email
3. Once you get the QR code, you can download it via the Go City app on your smartphone or print it on paper
4. At the entrance of your chosen attractions, simply show the QR (from smartphone or printed)

NB. It is not necessary to choose in advance which attractions to see. When you purchase the pass you ONLY select the number of attractions. Which attractions to visit you decide once you are in town, even a few minutes in advance based on tastes, needs, queues, weather conditions, etc.

London Explorer Pass Prices

Prices currently in effect for the London Explorer Pass are as follows:

• 2 attractions ➜ £59 Adult (approx. £71) | £44 Child 5-15 years old (approx. £53)
• 3 attractions ➜ £89 Adult (approx. £106 ) | £59 Child 5-15 years old (approx. £71)
• 4 attractions ➜ £109 Adult (approx. £130) | £74 Child 5-15 years old (approx. £89)
• 5 rides ➜ £124 Adult (approx. £148 ) | £89 Child 5-15 years old (approx. £106)
• 6 attractions ➜ £144 Adult (approx. £172 ) | £99 Child 5-15 years old (approx. £118)
• 7 rides ➜ £154 Adult (approx. £184 ) | £109 Child 5-15 years old (approx. £130)

Again, these are list prices, practically always discounted on the official pass site.
Check for yourself by clicking on the button below.

Discount codes for London Explorer Pass

You can also currently enjoy an additional 5% discount on your purchase.
Just use the discount code AFFGOALL to apply during purchase in the "Enter promo code" field.
Or, in case the discount code no longer works, you can sign up for the newsletter before your purchase, you will receive a 5% discount code in return (once you have made your purchase you can unsubscribe if you find it troublesome).

When is the London Explorer Pass worthwhile?

Economically it already pays off from the visit of the second attraction.
Considering that the average price of an attraction in London is about £35 (£40 if we aim for the top attractions), with two attractions you get to pay an average of £75, compared to about £65 for the 2 attraction pass, calculated considering the discounts on the site + 5% mentioned above.
As a type of pass, however, it has features that make it attractive in the following cases:

• you have visited London before, so you have fewer things you miss to see to focus on (unless you want to revisit everything)
• even long vacations, but with in fact less or little time to devote to tourist exploration
• stay a few hours or days in the city, and you would not physically have time to see more than 7 attractions
• you are clear in advance about which attractions to visit, and you know that you can save money by doing so
• You are not a museum lover, but still want to visit the main attractions
• in general if you don't have a defined itinerary and no clear ideas about what to see, or conversely have well defined N number of attractions

If this is your first time visiting London, and you are staying in the city at least 3 days, I would not consider the London Explorer Pass. In fact, in this case I would opt for the London Pass, which is definitely more comprehensive and flexible.

Where to buy it

The London Explorer Pass is purchased online, from home.
Once purchased, everything you need to visit the attractions will come to youvia email and via the Go City app.

Validity and refunds for London Explorer Pass

The London Explorer Pass is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. So, once purchased, you can activate it within a year.
Once activated (by entering the first attraction you choose), you have 30 days to complete other visits, then it expires.

The London Explorer Pass is refundable only if not activated, and within 30 days of purchase.
Exceeding 30 days it is not refundable, but you always have the 12 months (11 remaining) to use / surrender it.

Sightseeing London FLEX pass

Again with the Sightseeing FLEX Pass we are faced with A good alternative to the previous Explorer Pass.
Two passes from very similar operation and characteristics.

Basically, also with Sightseeing FLEX Pass you buy a package of admissions to N attractions, which you can also choose in London from a list of opportunities.
You can choose versions of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 attractions.

It already comes naturally to orient this London pass therefore for medium-short vacations and itineraries, where you want to do and see a few things, without going into too much exploratory detail.

What is included. Attractions included in the Sightseeing Flex Pass London?

The list of attractions provided by the Sightseeing FLEX Pass, from which you can then choose your own to visit, is very similar to that seen with its bigger brother DAY Pass, higher up in this guide.
The list is not quite the same, as there are some interesting additions here:

• Madame Tussauds - the Wax Museum
• the SEALIFE London Aquarium
• London Dungeon
• Shrek's Adventure London

which are mainly geared toward entertainment, particularly of children and young people.

So, you can choose from all the things included by the Sightseeing DAY Pass + the 4 additions listed above.

>> Complete and updated list of attractions included

Better Sightseeing FLEX PASS London or EXPLORER pass?

As mentioned they are very similar passes in operation.
Recently (March 2025) Explorer Pass was revisited in format, 4 TOP attractions were removed, and the price was lowered accordingly.

Sightseeing FLEX Pass now costs a bit more but has a significantly more interesting and comprehensive attraction park.
It includes the London Eye, Sealife Aquarium, London Dungeon, and Shrek's Adventure, which are now no longer in Explorer Pass.
FLEX Pass also offers some special experiences of its own that we do not find in the list provided by Explorer Pass.

Price-wise now Sightseeing Flex Pass costs a little bit more than Explorer for the same number of attractions, due to the fact that it is a richer pass as explained earlier.
But in my opinion difference largely justified by the greater comprehensiveness of the pass.

Another slight difference is found in the age considered for a child.
Explorer Pass is 5-15, while Sightseeing Flex Pass is 3-12.
Therefore, those with young children (3-4 years old) will find that they will only benefit from Sightseeing FLEX Pass, while children between 13-15 years old will have more convenience with Explorer Pass.

On balance between the two today Sightseeing FLEX Pass for London on paper has a little something more.
It costs a bit more, but still includes much of the most popular attractions in London now excluded from Explorer Pass.
Similar to the case with the day passes, where I tend to prefer Sightseeing DAY Pass to the London Pass, for the reasons I explained above.

Cost Sightseeing FLEX London Pass

As previously mentioned, the Sightseeing London FLEX Pass is priced very similar to Explorer Pass.
The price varies depending on the version chosen, i.e., the number of attractions included.
Children (3-12 years old) have a reduced price list.

Let's look at the cost of the London Sightseeing DAY Pass by days:

• 3 attractions ➜ £129 Adult (approx. £151 ) | £109 Child 3-12 years old (approx. £128)
• 4 attractions ➜ £159 Adult (approx. £186 ) | £139 Child 3-12 years old (approx. £163)
• 5 rides ➜ £185 Adult (approx. £217 ) | £159 Child 3-12 years old (approx. £186)
• 6 attractions ➜ £205 Adult (approx. £240 ) | £169 Child 3-12 years old (approx. £198)
• 7 attractions ➜ £219 Adult (approx. £257 ) | £189 Child 3-12 years old (approx. £222)

These are the official list prices of the Sightseeing FLEX Pass London, but they are often on offer on the official website, with attractive discounts compared to the prices given here.
Usually on the official website you can find them for about £30 / £40 less, both adult and child versions.

In addition, there may periodically be a discount code available for you to apply, for an additional discount on already discounted prices.
The discount code-if active-you can always find it listed on the purchase screen of the official website along with the discounted prices, which can be reached at the following link:

Sightseeing London FLEX Pass: when is it worthwhile?

Economically, let's do the usual math.
Consider the average price of a top London attraction of about £35 / £40.
Taking the Sightseeing FLEX Pass 7 attractions as an example, the cost without the pass would be £35 * 7 = £245, while the price of the 7-attraction version pass is about £190.
With an indicative saving of about £55 each pass purchased.

If we consider the versions with fewer attractions the convenience is slightly reduced, but a positive saving remains.
Example with the 4-attractions pass we have a pass cost of about £118, versus a cost without a pass of about £140. The savings is about £21.

The logic is always pretty much the same-the more you see, the more you save.

As a type of pass, however, what was said about Explorer Pass applies.
That is, a type of pass for those who have few days available, or who want to see only a few things, either because of itinerary choices, or because they have already visited London on other occasions.

If you are looking for a pass to see many things while saving money, go for the Sightseeing DAY Pass London or the London Pass.

Where can you buy the London FLEX Pass?

The FLEX Pass is purchased online at the official website, and it is the most convenient and convenient way to purchase it.

NOTE: When you purchase, you are asked in the shopping cart on the site for your arrival date in London.
This is not binding information, it is for them to possibly send you updated information should anything change regarding the attractions included.

Booking attractions, validity and refunds

Since these issues on the Sightseeing FLEX Pass are identical to what we have seen for its sibling DAY Pass, so as not to repeat myself I encourage you to read over this information.
In any case, the FLEX Pass can be used within 12 months of its purchase, so if you find a good offer you can happily purchase it even in advance.

London Family Pass

If you are traveling to London with children or teens, the London Family Pass might be an interesting option to consider.

Unlike other more extensive tourist passes analyzed above, this package includes only three attractions, chosen specifically for families. It is therefore not the ideal pass for those who want to explore London far and wide, but it is an excellent option for those who want to save money on experiences designed for younger children.

It is suitable both for short stays, where time is limited and you prefer to focus on a few focused activities, and for longer vacations, when you do not want to set the entire trip on visiting classic tourist attractions, but want to include some child-friendly experiences.

This is a package that includes the following attractions:

• Thames River Cruise (40-minute cruise departing near the London Eye, and multilingual tourist commentary)
• London Transport Museum, an interactive experience that fascinates young and old alike
• London Zoo, a destination always appreciated by children

The attractions were chosen precisely because of their high popularity among younger people.

🚢 The Thames River Cruise offers a unique perspective on the city, perfect for a relaxing and fun time.
🚇 The Transport Museum is an immersive experience, with exhibits that intrigue and entertain kids.
🦁 The London Zoo is a timeless classic that captivates visitors of all ages, but has a particular appeal to children.

If your goal is to experience London with your children without having to purchase more expensive passes packed with attractions that may not appeal to younger children, the London Family Pass is an option to consider.

How does the London Family Pass work?

Purchasing and using the London Family Pass is super easy; everything is done online in just a few steps:

• Go to this site and proceed with your reservation
• Select the dates on which to visit the attractions through the guided steps. Make sure the dates are right, because then they are no longer editable
• After making the payment, you will be emailed the pass in digital format, with all the necessary directions

Once your purchase is complete, you will receive the London Family Pass via e-mail in digital format.
You can simply show it from your smartphone at the entrance to the attractions on the days and times you have booked. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can print the pass and present it in hard copy.

How much does the London Family Pass cost?

The London Family Pass is available as asingle purchase option with the following prices:

• Adult (18+) ➜ £66 (about €78)
• Senior (65+) ➜ £64 (about €76)
• Young people (16-17) ➜ £44 (about €52)
• Children (3-15) ➜ £32 (about €38)

* these are list prices, which you can sometimes find discounted on the site, even by 10-15%.

When does it pay off?

The London Family Pass is a niche option designed for those with an interest in visiting only the three included attractions.
It is not comparable to other more comprehensive tourist passes, but it is an affordable option for families with children or teens.

Buying the pass provides a fair economic advantage, because the cost of individual attractions is higher than the package price.
London Zoo costs about £42, the transport museum about £25, and the Thames cruise £15.50 (adult prices).
For a total of £82.50 without a pass, versus the pass cost of £66 , which provides about £16 in savings.

One of the main advantages is the ability to book admissions online, avoiding long lines and streamlining travel arrangements.

The London Family Pass can do you in the following cases:

• You want to visit all three of the included attractions (London Zoo, Transport Museum and Thames Cruise), and only those.
• It's your first time in London and you're traveling as a family, but you're short on time → the pass is perfect for a short, focused experience designed for younger children as well.
• You want to book everything online, avoiding lines and wasted time, since you probably have little time.
• Ideal for a 1-2 day stay in the city (e.g., long layovers in a larger trip, longer trips but with only one day touristically free, etc.)

Where to buy it

The London Family Pass can be purchased exclusively online, at the following address.

Validity and refunds of the London Family Pass

The London Family Pass, once purchased, is non-refundable.
Unlike other passes, at the time of purchase you must select the date and time slot to visit for each of the three included attractions. The dates you select cannot be changed later.

To avoid problems related to unforeseen travel contingencies (delays, cancellations, schedule changes), it is advisable to purchase the pass just before visiting the first attraction, when you are already in London or close to departure.

In this way, you will reduce the risk of losing the pass due to unforeseen events that could make it unusable.

Alternative: London Royal Pass

With the same principle there is also another similar thematic pass, the London Royal Pass (or also London Coronation Pass).
Its thematic address in this case is not the family, but rather the relevant London attractions in the "Royal Family" theme.

This pass includes Westminster Abbey, the site of royal coronations; the Royal Mews, where the royal family's historic carriages are kept at Buckingham Palase, the symbol of the British monarchy.
It also offers a guided walking tour to witness the Changing of the Guard, a must-see experience for those visiting London.

Always cheap and convenient, the same arguments made for the Family Pass apply to this pass, only the nature of the attractions included changes.

Comparison of passes for London

We quickly compare the 5 passes to London in the following table, as a summary of the analysis just seen.

Pass comparison for LONDON

Feature	LONDON PASS / PLUS	SIGHTSEEING DAY PASS LONDON	LONDON EXPLORER PASS	SIGHTSEEING FLEX PASS	LONDON FAMILY PASS
Operating logic	I choose the validity days, I see everything I want	I choose the validity days, I see everything I want	I choose the number of attractions first (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) During the vacation I choose which	I choose the number of attractions first (3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) During the vacation I choose which	Fixed package 3 attractions defined
Number of attractions included	More than 100, including museums, attractions, tours, services	Focus on 30 of London's top attractions, tours (bus, Thames cruise, bike, etc.) and tourist experiences	About 60, mainly museums, attractions, tours	About 30, mainly museums, attractions, tours	Three, two attractions and a sightseeing cruise on the Thames River
Does it pay off economically?	Yes, pretty much all the time	Yes, practically all the time. Its cost is also particularly balanced.	Yes, from the 2nd attraction seen	Yes, since the 3rd attraction seen	Yes, the cost of the pass lower than that of individual attractions
Type of vacation best suited to	Medium-long vacations Where you want to see lots of things/experiences	Vacations of short to medium duration (3-5 days), with an itinerary yes rich, but balanced in the quantity and nature of tourist experiences.	Short/medium vacations, with clear ideas of what to see or conversely, leaving us freedom of choice on the spot	Short/medium vacations, with clear ideas of what to see or conversely, leaving us freedom of choice on the spot	Hit-and-run vacation, 1 to 2 days.
Preference for typical vacation	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆
Direct link for purchase	Buy the London Pass now	Buy now the London DAY Pass	Buy the London Explorer Pass now	Buy the Sightseeing FLEX Pass Now	Buy the London Family Pass now

Which pass to choose to visit London?

All 5 passes are in their own way useful where they fit best.
The fairest way to choose a pass is to first figure out the type of vacation you have available (days, things you want to do and see), and to define an outline itinerary, not very precise but letting you know how many things fit in, and roughly which ones.
At that point, it will be very easy to figure out which pass best fits your trip to London, to ensure that you save as much money and travel comfort as possible.

• Average vacation (5-10 days), maybe first vacation and want to see London satisfactorily? -> London Pass / London Pass Plus
• Shorter vacation (2-7 days), with an itinerary balanced between landmark attractions and interesting sightseeing experiences, bus/boat/bike tours, saving on purchase -> Sightseeing DAY Pass
• Shorter vacation (2-5 days), with fewer things to want to see (max 7 attractions), or targeted attractions, or no ideas/ itinerary? -> London Explorer Pass or Sightseeing FLEX Pass
  
• "hit and run" vacation (1-2 days), family with kids in tow, and desire to have just a sampling of London through kid-friendly attractions? -> London Family Pass

This is a concise but factual read on choosing the best pass for London, according to your type of vacation.
To understand the details, just read this guide to London passes thoroughly, understanding the mechanics of each individual pass.

Do the passes to London include public transportation?

No, no public transportation is included in any London Pass.

Public transportation must be purchased separately, through the Oyster Travel Card, the London transport card.

You can do it once you arrive in London, at a subway or train station, choosing the duration and transit zones (do the math first based on where you have lodging and where the farthest attraction you put on your itinerary is located).

Only with the London Pass is there an option to purchase together-at the time of purchase-the Oyster Travel Card, but it doesn't always pay off (in fact, if you're staying downtown almost never).

Let's see how it works.

London Pass + Oyster Travel Card

When purchasing the London Pass online, you will be asked if you want to add the Oyster Travel Card.
The Oyster Travel Card is London's transportation card, giving you access to the Metro (the Tube), buses, surface trains and public transport by boat.

If you decide to purchase it together with the London Pass, be aware that the Oyster Travel Card will be in a "zones 1-9" version, covering virtually the entire urban area of London .
This might be advantageous only if you need to visit the entire City, otherwise you are better off buying it separately, choosing both the length of the pass (1, 2, 3 days, etc.) and the zones covered (zone 1-2, zone 1-3, etc.).

My advice is to buy it together with the London Pass only if you plan to move a lot by public transport from one part of the city to another, otherwise it is better to buy it separately as needed.
NB. Children under 11 years old travel for free.

To better orient you, I leave here a map of the Metro and London areas .

>>Purchase the Oyster Travel Card separately.  

FAQ on London Passes