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 | over 100 | 103 to choose from |
| Price adults from | £99 (1 day) | £64 (2 attractions) |
| Price adults up to | £259 (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 | Not included (single ticket: £36) |
| King's Gallery (Buckingham Palace) | Included | Not included |
| Royal Mews | Included | Not included |
| 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, Windsor visit, 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 | £139 |
| 3 days | £169 |
| 5 days | £209 |
| 7 days | £239 |
| 10 days | £259 |
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 Windsor Castle
- 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 can leave out Windsor Castle
- 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.
If you want to visit Windsor Castle or one of the four other exclusive attractions, the London Pass® is usually the better choice. Otherwise you will pay the individual prices for the Explorer Pass.
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.
Almost - but not quite. Five important highlights are included exclusively in the London Pass®: Windsor Castle, King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace, Royal Mews, Keats House and Guildhall Art Gallery. If you want to visit one of these highlights, you should choose the London Pass® or buy the tickets separately.
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 - both passes are separate products and can be purchased individually. In practical terms, however, this is rarely worthwhile. If you need a sightseeing pass that covers more, there is always the next largest fare. If you really have two different travel phases, you can use the Explorer Pass for the days with little programme and the London Pass® for the intensive days.
Identical: Both passes can be cancelled free of charge 90 days after purchase as long as they have not yet been activated. The validity period only starts with the first visit to an attraction. You can therefore buy both passes in advance without any risk in the event of flight cancellations or other changes of plan.
Yes - both passes 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 with over 100 attractions. Windsor Castle, hop-on hop-off bus and Thames boat trip are automatically included. Flexible from 1 to 10 days.
- From £99 for 1 day
- Over 100 attractions included
- With code LONDONCP05LP additional 5 % save
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
- With code LONDONCP05 additional 5 % save