London Pass vs London Explorer Pass | Which is Best for Your London Trip?

Key Takeaways

• The London Pass is best for first-time visitors who want to see as many attractions as possible in a short trip.
• The Explorer Pass suits those who prefer flexibility and only plan to visit a few highlights.
• Both passes include top attractions like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye.
• The London Pass works on consecutive days, while the Explorer Pass spreads visits across 60 days.
• Average savings range from 40–50%, depending on how many attractions you visit.
• Both passes can be used with a mobile app for convenience and skip-the-line benefits at select sites.

Introduction to the London Pass vs London Explorer Pass

London is one of the world’s great cities, with more iconic attractions packed into its streets than most visitors can manage in a single trip. From the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey to the London Eye and Madame Tussauds, sightseeing can be an expensive business. That’s where sightseeing passes step in, offering ways to save money and simplify your planning. Two of the most popular options are the London Pass and the London Explorer Pass. They might sound similar, but they work in very different ways. This guide explains the key differences, what each pass includes, and which one is right for your trip.

What is the London Pass?

The London Pass is an all-inclusive sightseeing card that gives you access to a huge number of attractions for a fixed number of days. You choose the duration of your pass, anything from 1 to 10 consecutive days, and during that time, you can visit as many of the included attractions as you like.

There are over 90 attractions on the list, including big hitters like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the View from the Shard. It also includes Thames River Cruises, hop-on hop-off bus tours, and a variety of museums and historic houses. The more you fit in, the more value you get.

For example, a busy three-day pass might cover six or seven major attractions and save you up to 50% compared to buying individual tickets.

The London Pass is best suited to visitors who want to see as much as possible in a short time – first-time tourists, families on a city break, or couples planning a packed itinerary.

What is the London Explorer Pass?

The London Explorer Pass works differently. Instead of being based on days, it is based on credits – you choose how many attractions you want to visit, from 2 up to 7. Once you’ve bought the pass, you have up to 60 days to use your credits, so there’s no rush. This flexibility makes it a good option if you’re visiting London more slowly, or if you only want to see a few highlights.

The Explorer Pass includes more than 60 attractions, many overlapping with the London Pass list. You can use it for must-sees like the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, or St Paul’s Cathedral. You can also include some unique options like the Wimbledon Tour Experience or the Chelsea FC Stadium Tour.

The Explorer Pass is best suited to travellers who want choice and flexibility – perhaps return visitors who have already seen some of the classics, or families who don’t want to feel pressured into fitting everything into consecutive days.

Key Differences at a Glance

Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

Feature	London Pass	London Explorer Pass
How it works	Refundable within a set period if unused	Credit-based – choose 2 to 7 attractions
Pricing model	Based on consecutive calendar days (1–10 days)	All-inclusive sightseeing for a set number of days
Attractions included	90+ (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Thames Cruise, etc.)	60+ (many overlaps, plus some unique picks)
Best for	Travellers who want to see as much as possible	Visitors who only want key highlights
Flexibility	Must be used on consecutive days	Attractions can be spread out over 60 days
Skip-the-line access	Included at selected attractions	Included at selected attractions
Transport included	Optional Oyster Card add-on	No transport option
Mobile app / Digital pass	Yes	Yes
Refunds	Refundable within a set period if unused	Refundable within set period if unused
Average saving	Up to 50% if you visit multiple attractions per day	Up to 40% if you use all credits

Which Pass Offers the Best Value?

The answer depends on how you travel.

• The London Pass offers maximum value if you’re packing your days full. For example, with a 3-day pass, you might see the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and take a Thames River Cruise on the first day alone. By day three, you could easily have visited 10 attractions worth far more than the price you paid.
• The Explorer Pass offers better value if you only plan to see a handful of attractions. For example, if you just want the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and the Tower Bridge Exhibition, the Explorer Pass can save you money without paying for unused days.

The key question is: how many attractions do you realistically want to visit? If the answer is “a lot, back-to-back,” the London Pass is unbeatable. If the answer is “a few highlights, taken at our own pace,” the Explorer Pass is your friend.

Money-Saving Tips

• Buy in advance: Both passes are cheaper online than on the day.
• Check for offers: Look out for seasonal promotions or extra discounts.
• Plan your route: Group attractions by area to cut down on travel time.
• Mix in free sights: London is full of free attractions – the British Museum, the National Gallery, Hyde Park – which combine well with either pass.

Conclusion

Both passes offer real savings compared to buying tickets individually, but they suit different styles of traveller.

• The London Pass is best if you’re visiting for the first time and want to tick off as many attractions as possible.
• The Explorer Pass is best if you’re after flexibility, or if you’ve been to London before and just want to see a few highlights.

Either way, you’ll save money and time compared to paying at the gate.

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