London City Passes at a glance

From the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey to the London Eye and Thames cruises, the cost of London's paid attractions can add up quickly. A London city pass can help you save on admission. However, with so many free museums, you may not need one at all.

• Pass options: Headout Pass London (Essential and Flexi Passes), Go City Explorer Pass, and The London Pass® by Go City
  
• Pass types: Attraction-based passes covering 2–7 chosen attractions, and a day-based pass covering 1–10 consecutive days
  
• Attractions covered: Headout: 45+ experiences | Go City Explorer: 75+ | The London Pass: 110+
  
• Free entry: Admission to eligible paid attractions is covered by your pass. Once you've paid and reserved any required tickets, there's no additional standard admission fee at the attraction.
  
• Pass validity: Headout: 30 days from your selected date | Go City Explorer: 30 days from first use | The London Pass: 1–10 consecutive calendar days from first use.
  
• Reservations: Required for attractions including the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, The Shard, and Madame Tussauds. Note that requirements vary by pass.
  
• Cancellation: Depends on the pass and its activation status. Check the details of your preferred pass for information on ticket cancellation before booking.

Things to know before booking your London City Pass

• Many museums are already free: The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, and Natural History Museum offer free general admission. Don't count this towards your pass savings. Special exhibitions and tours may cost extra, however.
  
• Headout Essential Pass has a fixed attraction mix: You can't necessarily choose all Premium attractions if you select this option. For example, the four-attraction Essential option offers two Premium and two Standard choices. Choose the Flexi Pass if your shortlist doesn't fit the available mix.
  
• Not every included experience is identical: Headout offers Tower of London and Westminster Abbey options with an AI-powered audioguide. Other passes may cover standard admission instead. Check the exact inclusions before selecting a pass.
  
• Attraction-based versus day-based validity: Headout and Go City Explorer Pass give you an attraction allowance spread over a 30-day period. The London Pass covers consecutive calendar days, not rolling 24-hour blocks.
  
• Start day-based sightseeing early: If you activate a three-day London Pass at 3pm on Monday, it expires at the end of Wednesday—not at 3pm on Thursday. So start sightseeing as early as possible to make the most of your pass.
  
• One visit per attraction: You can generally visit each eligible attraction once per pass. All-Inclusive doesn't mean unlimited repeat visits.
  
• A city pass isn't automatically skip-the-line: It doesn't remove mandatory security checks or guarantee priority access. Standard admission and fast-track entry are different products.
  
• Public transport isn't included: London Underground, local buses and general rail travel require separate payment. Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing buses aren't a substitute for regular public transport.
  
• Airport transfers are separate experiences: If getting to and from the airport matters to you, choose the Heathrow Express/Stansted Express options from the Headout Pass catalog.
  
• Children may need cheaper individual tickets: Some attractions admit young children free or offer reduced admission. Compare family prices before purchasing passes for everyone in your family.
  
• Refund policies vary: Headout Pass terms allow cancellation before your first attraction reservation. Go City's lets you cancel your pass before activation. Verify your exact checkout terms before getting your pass.

Tips for buying and using your London City Pass

• Use contactless or Oyster for the Tube and buses: Your sightseeing pass doesn't cover regular public transport. Pay as you go with a supported contactless bank card, phone, or Oyster card. Both offer daily fare caps, so you don't have to buy an Oyster card if your contactless payment method works. Check overseas card fees before traveling.
  
• Check child transport discounts: Children under 11 can generally travel free on covered TfL services when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. For children aged 11–15, ask TfL staff to add the Young Visitor discount to an Oyster card for 50% off pay-as-you-go fares for up to 14 days.
  
• Don't schedule Westminster Abbey for Sunday sightseeing: The Abbey is open for worship on Sundays, not regular tourist visits. Check its calendar before buying a day-based pass, especially around Easter, Christmas, and major services.
  
• Visit the Tower of London early: Allow time for the Crown Jewels and security queues. The London Pass doesn't provide universal fast-track entry, and the Tower has no general fast-track admission. Don't schedule another timed attraction immediately afterward.
  
• Give Windsor Castle enough time: The London Pass by Go City includes entry to Windsor Castle, but it's outside central London and normally closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Treat it as a substantial outing rather than a quick stop between London attractions. Note that your travel costs are separate and not covered by the pass.
  
• Use the Thames cruise to connect attractions: The London Pass includes a 24-hour City Cruises river pass with stops at Westminster, London Eye, Tower Pier and Greenwich. Use it to travel between eligible riverside sights while enjoying the views. Check the sailing timetable first. It's not the same as the regular public transport timetable.
  
• Visit free museums on your non-pass days: Use the British Museum, National Gallery or Natural History Museum to fill the time between paid attraction visits. Their main collections are free, so don't count them towards the savings from a day-based pass.