A great way to see London in the most economical way possible is by using the London Pass. Billed as ‘Your Sightseeing Pass to London’ this is all about special offers, free entry, fast tracking the queues, guidebooks, travel – in other words, an all-in-one package that helps you see the best of the city at the lowest possible cost.
What does the London Pass Provide?
The London Pass was established in 1999 as a method to help visitors get the most out of a visit to London. Holders of the pass get free entry to over 60 attractions, tours, sights and museums. In addition, it allows you to skip the queue at many of the key sightseeing attractions, as well as knowing that your entry fee is covered. If you require, you can also purchase a pass that covers your transport options around the capital as well.
The pass covers entry into London’s top attractions, including:
Thames River Cruise
If not the most famous river in the world, it’s certainly up there in the top five. The River Thames snakes right through the heart of London, passing some of the most iconic landmarks this buzzing metropolis has to offer, and is a great way to see the city. This cruise provides you with a 1-day, hop on, hop off boat tour on a comfortable, all weather vessel with panoramic windows, open upper decks and warm, spacious lower saloons.
You can choose from tour options lasting from 30 minutes to 3 hours, and choose from four locations on which to get on and off. These are:
Boats run daily from 10:00, 7 days a week (closed 25th December)
The Tower of London
Home to the Crown Jewels, Beefeaters and Ravens, this famous fortress has an incredible history dating back to the Norman Conquest. Covering an area of 12 acres, this former prison is said to be haunted by the ghost of Anne Boleyn, the infamous wife of Henry VIII who was beheaded in the grounds.
Opening times vary depending on the time of year, but The Tower is open 7 days a week (closed 24th-26th December and the 1st January).
Westminster Abbey
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is perhaps one of the most famous buildings in the world. The venue for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, it contains impressive monuments, statues, graves and some of the most amazing gothic architecture. Included in the London Pass is an audio-guided tour.
Westminster Abbey is a fully working church, so on occasion can be closed during these times. In general, opening times are 09:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, and 09:30 to 14:30 on Saturday.
The London Bridge Experience (including the London Tombs)
This attraction reveals the history of life in London from Roman times through to present day. Learn about the battles of Queen Boudicca, the London Tombs, the Great Plague of London, 19th century pick pockets… The list of London’s gruesome past is endless.
Opening times are generally 10:00 to 17:00 or 18:00, except over the Christmas period when it’s 11:00 to 16:00.
Other attractions included include Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The Tower Bridge Experience, Hampton Court Palace and the Churchill War Rooms, to name but a few. In total, over 60 top London attractions are included in The London Pass.
Travel Options
Transport can be included too, utilising the efficient underground train system (known as ‘The Tube’) and over ground buses. 1, 2 and 3-day London Passes come with an Off-Peak Travel Card, allowing you to use public transport from Monday to Friday after 09:30 and all day at weekends. A 6-day pass includes an unlimited, 7 day Peak Travel Card that can be used at any time of the day during its valid period.
There is also the option of a 10-day London Pass with Oyster Travel. This gives you a pre-paid credit of £50 to use on public transport that’s valid up until the expiration of the credit value.
How much does it cost?
There are basically three options for London Passes. They are:
The London Pass – covers all the tourist attractions, fast-track entry, guidebook and money back guarantee. This is available in a 1, 2, 3 or 6-day option for adults and children. Prices range from £49/£33 (adult/child) for a 1 day pass to £108/£76 for a 6 day pass.
The London Pass with Travel – covers all the above, but in addition covers travel options with either an off-peak Travel Card for the 1, 2 or 3 day option, or a peak time Travel Card for the 6 day option. Prices range from £58/£37 for a 1 day pass to £166/£105 for the 6 day pass.
The 10-Day London Pass with Oyster Card costs £199 for an adult, £149 for a teenager (11-15 years) and £99 for a child (under 11 years).
All prices for the London Pass and London Pass With Travel count children as ages 5-15 years. Children under the age of 11 travel free on public transport when travelling with an adult holding a valid ticket or Oyster Card.
How much money can I save?
If you consider that on average you would visit three London attractions in a day, then the London Pass offers savings for an adult of around £31 for a day pass, £246 with a 6-day pass, and £373 for a 10-day pass.
In addition to this, you get to skip the line at some of the busiest attractions, meaning you save time as well (and therefore can see even more London attractions). These ‘queue jumping’ privileges are at:
- The Tower of London
- Hampton Court Palace
- Winsor Castle
- London Bridge Experience
- ZSL London Zoo
- Kensington Palace
You can also save on your purchase of a guidebook, as each adult London Pass comes with a 160+ page guidebook to help you plan your visit. This comes in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.
And if that wasn’t enough, holders of a London Pass also get preferential rates at many other attractions and retail stores in the city. These include Discount Theatre Tickets, the Beatles Store, London Bureau de Change and the Bateaux London Restaurant Cruise.
