London Pass® vs Explorer Pass: The direct comparison 2026
Both sightseeing passes come from Go City and have almost the same attractions. We show you the real differences - with a price table, interactive savings calculator and honest recommendations depending on your travel style.
The London Pass®
London Explorer Pass
A direct comparison: 15 criteria at a glance
Both sightseeing passes come from the same provider (Go City) and cover almost the same attractions. The differences lie in the details - and decide which sightseeing pass suits your travelling style better.
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| Criterion | The London Pass® | London Explorer Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Model | All-inclusive - unlimited visits per day | Choice - choose between 2 and 7 attractions |
| Number of attractions | around 111 | around 77 to choose from |
| Price adults from | £99 (1 day) | £64 (2 attractions) |
| Price adults up to | £279 (10 days) | £159 (7 attractions) |
| Validity | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 consecutive days | 30 days from activation |
| Activation | On the first visit to the attraction | On the first visit to the attraction |
| Hop-on hop-off bus tour | 2 days automatically included | As one of your chosen attractions |
| Thames Boat Trip | 24h automatically included | As one of your chosen attractions |
| Windsor Castle | Included | Included (since 07/2026) |
| Royal Mews | Included | Included (since 07/2026) |
| Cancellation | 90 days free of charge (not activated) | 90 days free of charge (not activated) |
| Child age | 5-15 years (reduced), under 5 free of charge | 5-15 years (reduced), under 5 free of charge |
| Mobile app | Go City App | Go City App |
| Ideal for | Intensive sightseeing, lots of attractions each day, first-time visitors | Few targeted attractions, relaxed pace, flexible |
All prices in British pounds (£). As at: 2026 Source: Go City official price information.
Price comparison: The prices of both passes side by side
The two passes are timed differently: London Pass® counts by days, Explorer Pass by number of attractions. Here you can see both scales side by side.
Price by days
| 1 day | £99 |
| 2 days | £149 |
| 3 days | £179 |
| 5 days | £219 |
| 7 days | £259 |
| 10 days | £279 |
Consecutive calendar days from the first visit to the attraction.
Price by attraction
| 2 attractions | £64 |
| 3 attractions | £89 |
| 4 attractions | £109 |
| 5 attractions | £129 |
| 6 attractions | £149 |
| 7 attractions | £159 |
30-day redemption period from the first visit to the attraction.
Savings calculator: Which sightseeing pass is cheaper for you?
Choose the attractions you really want to visit and the number of days you want to spend in London. You will immediately see whether the London Pass® or the Explorer Pass is cheaper for your specific choice.
How many days are you staying in London?
Which attractions would you like to visit?
Single price adults according to Go City. Tick what you would really do.
Select at least one attraction to calculate your savings.
Prices in British pounds (£), as at 2026.
Quick decision-making aid: When is which sightseeing pass suitable?
If the savings calculator above hasn't given you a clear answer yet, this compact checklist will help. Three simple profiles, three clear recommendations.
If it applies to you:
- You want to visit 5 or more attractions
- You stay between 2 and 7 days in London
- You want to see more than 7 attractions (the Explorer Pass stops at 7)
- You are planning at least one hop-on bus or Thames tour
- You want to stay spontaneous and not plan every stop in advance
If it applies to you:
- You want to see exactly 2 to 4 selected attractions
- You travel at a relaxed pace, one attraction per day
- You want to choose 2 to 7 specific attractions
- You need flexibility in terms of time (30-day redemption period)
- You plan breaks or rest days between sightseeing stops
If you only plan to visit a single paid attraction, mainly visit free highlights such as the British Museum, Tate Modern and Hyde Park or use London mainly for pubs, shopping and walks - then single tickets or no ticket at all will save you more money than both passes combined.
These 5 attractions are only available in the London Pass®
Both passes cover over 100 attractions - but five important highlights are only included in the London Pass®. If you want to see these, you should not choose the Explorer Pass or have to buy individual tickets.
Royal residence about 30 minutes from London. Day trip with state apartments and St George's Chapel. Single ticket: £36.
The official art gallery of the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. Changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.
The royal stables with their magnificent state coaches and horses. Located right next to Buckingham Palace.
Home of the poet John Keats in Hampstead. Small museum, one of the most important literary houses in London.
Art collection of the City of London with over 4,000 works and the surprisingly well-preserved remains of a Roman amphitheatre.
Since July 2026, there are hardly any top attractions left that are exclusive to the London Pass – Windsor Castle and the Royal Mews are now included in both sightseeing passes. The main difference these days is how many attractions you want to visit per day and how many in total.
Frequently asked questions about the London Pass® vs Explorer Pass comparison
Both passes are from Go City and access almost the same pool of attractions. The difference is the pricing model: the London Pass® gives you unlimited visits per day, you pay by the day (1 to 10). The Explorer Pass works the other way round - you choose between 2 and 7 fixed attractions and have 30 days to redeem them.
That depends on your travelling style. For 2 to 4 attractions, the Explorer Pass is usually cheaper because you only pay for the attractions you actually choose anyway. For 5 attractions and more, the London Pass® is clearly worthwhile - especially if you want to see a lot within a few days.
Not quite. Since July 2026, the two sightseeing passes have almost completely overlapped: Windsor Castle, the Royal Mews and the other highlights previously exclusive to the London Pass are now also available on the Explorer Pass. The main difference now lies in the number of attractions: around 111 in the London Pass® versus around 77 in the Explorer Pass. If you want the full selection, go for the London Pass®.
The Explorer Pass is more flexible in terms of time: you have 30 days from activation to redeem your chosen attractions. Breaks, rest days or sightseeing stops with longer gaps are easily possible. The London Pass® runs on consecutive calendar days - once activated, the clock ticks continuously.
Both passes have identical family conditions: Children under 5 are free, children between 5 and 15 get a reduced price. For active families with several attractions per day, the London Pass® usually pays off better because the all-inclusive model makes each additional highlight free of charge. Families who only visit selected highlights pay less with the Explorer Pass.
Technically, yes – they are separate products and can be purchased individually. In practice, however, this is rarely worth it. If you need a sightseeing pass that covers more, there’s always the next higher tier. If you really do have two distinct phases to your trip, you can use the Explorer Pass for the days with a lighter itinerary and the London Pass® for the busier days.
Same: Both the London Pass® and the Explorer Pass can be cancelled free of charge within 90 days of purchase, provided they have not yet been activated. The validity period only begins once you have visited an attraction for the first time. So you can buy in advance with peace of mind, without any risk should your flight be cancelled or your plans change.
Yes – both products are available via Go City, and the code LONDONCP05 works on gocity.com for both. On londonpass.com you get with LONDONCP05LP the same discount specifically on the London Pass®. In both cases you save additional 5 % on the already discounted pass price.
Ready to make your decision?
Both sightseeing passes are of high quality. Choose the one that suits your travelling style - and get the discount of 5 % on top.
The London Pass®
All-inclusive sightseeing pass covering around 111 attractions. Windsor Castle, the hop-on hop-off bus and a Thames river cruise are automatically included. Flexible duration from 1 to 10 days.
- From £99 for 1 day
- Over 100 attractions included
- Save an additional 5 % with code LONDONCP05LP
London Explorer Pass
Choice sightseeing pass with 2 to 7 freely selectable attractions from 103 available. 30-day redemption period from activation - perfect for selective and relaxed travelling.
- From £64 for 2 attractions
- 30 days flexibility
- Save an additional 5 % with code LONDONCP05
No matter which sightseeing pass you choose - you can save even more with the right tips on activation, order and cancellation.