The London Pass Review: Is It Worth It?

City sightseeing passes, such as the London Pass, can be a great option to save money and see the best attractions. Here’s my review of the London Pass to help you decide if it’s for you.

 What is the London Pass?

There is so much to see and do and London that it can make you dizzy, or at least wishing you had more time! As a result, planning a trip and making the best use of your days can be a challenge.  There are so many historic attractions, great museums, art galleries and themed tours to consider.

 

As I learned very well from living in London during my university days, the amazing state-run museums are free but other attractions can get pricey.

The London Pass aims to discount the cost of seeing the sights of London. It is a city sightseeing card which offers free entry to 60 tourist attractions. A pass can be used for up to 1, 2, 3, 6 or 10 consecutive days.

Is the London Pass Worth It?

Everyone travels differently. To answer this question, you need to understand which attractions you want to see.  I found that there were many interesting sights and attractions offered by the London Pass.

If you tend to get overwhelmed thinking about where to even start, the London Pass app is organized in an easy-to-use format to help you decide what attractions suit your interests as a traveler.

My advice is to decide on a sample itinerary and then add up the costs of entry to those sites.  For example, a three-day adult pass costs 95£, which averages to 32£ per day. For the London Pass to be worth it, you’d have to spend more than that daily average.  That can easily happen because attractions are pricey indeed but again, it all depends on what you’d like to see.

Who Should Buy the London Pass?

You should buy the London Pass if:

• You want to see many attractions on the London Pass offerings. You will save money.
• You want to see many attractions in a few days.  If you are organized and will make the most use of your time with the pass, it is a great deal.
• You don’t like lines. It’s great to know you can skip that big ‘ol line.  While I didn’t face many lines since I used it during low season, I could imagine how long the queues must get during other times of the year! You also don’t have to worry about buying tickets to each attraction which racks up precious sightseeing time.
• You have children. The ability to skip the lines with your kids in tow is a big advantage and, I believe would make your experience much smoother.

You should not buy the London Pass if you:

• You are on a strict budget.
• You only want to go to the mostly free attractions while in London.

Tips on using the 1 Day London Pass

I used the one-day London Pass, worth £59, and found it worth it because:

• I saved time by avoiding the lines to buy tickets.
• Although I didn’t face hefty lines, I could observe how that would be a time suck during peak season.
• I visited more than three attractions. It wouldn’t be worth it for just one or two attractions.  The more attractions you visit in that day, the more you save.

Using the London Pass

I was issued a London Pass using the Instant Mobile Ticket option. I downloaded the London Pass app on my iPhone. All I had to do was show my mobile ticket to an attraction employee who would then scan my iPhone screen through a special reader. It was very convenient not to queue to buy tickets or carry around a card (then forget which pocket I put it in). Fast track entry was another positive advantage I could observe.

 

Conclusion: The London Pass

In general, I think city passes are a wonderful option for travelers that aim to be organized. When traveling, I think it’s important to make the best use of your time so you can fit as much as you can in your schedule.  If you like to keep your days relaxed, the London Pass can still save money and time by not standing in ticket or entrance lines.

The London Pass

1-Day Adult Pass £59

2-Day Adult Pass £79

3-Day Adult Pass £95

6-Day Adult Pass £129

10-Day Adult Pass £159

There are children’s pass prices as well.  You can also combine offers with the Oyster Card, which is London’s public transport card. For a full list of prices and more information about the London Pass, visit the website www.londonpass.com.

 

If you are traveling to Athens, check out my review of the Athens City Pass.

Have you ever used the London Pass or a similar city sightseeing card in Europe? Scroll down and tell me about your experience in the comment boxes below!

 

*Travel Greece, Travel Europe was issued a day pass for this review. As always, all opinions are my own.