London with kids 2026: attractions and the right pass
Which sights children enjoy, what the passes cost for children and how much a family with two children actually saves. Plus the Merlin attractions that Go City does not have, and what is free on public transport.
Attractions children enjoy
These sights are included in the London Pass and available to choose with the Explorer Pass. The price on the card is for adults; the child prices without a pass are below.
Child prices without a pass
From what age
- Any age
- The London Eye, a Thames boat and the hop-on hop-off bus. Sitting on the top deck of an open double-decker is an outing in itself for children.
- From about 4
- Tower Bridge with its glass floor, and The Shard, where children can spot the landmarks from above.
- From about 5
- The Tower of London with its armour, the Crown Jewels and the ravens. The Yeoman Warders tell stories that hold children’s attention too.
SEA LIFE, the London Dungeon and Shrek’s Adventure
Three of the sights children ask for most belong to Merlin Entertainments. They are missing from the London Pass and the Explorer Pass.
There are two ways to bundle them. The Merlin combo tickets combine the London Eye with one to four other Merlin attractions, for example Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE. The two-attraction bundle costs from £49.00 per adult, and bigger bundles cost more. All are valid for 7 days from the first visit. You book the first attraction for a fixed date when you buy. Nothing is refunded, but you can change the date up to three times free of charge.
The Turbopass City includes the London Dungeon, SEA LIFE and Shrek’s Adventure together with the Tower of London, London Zoo, Madame Tussauds and Kensington Palace. It costs from €129.00, and children aged 5 to 15 pay less. The London Eye is only available there at extra cost. Cancelling the Turbopass City costs a €30 fee per ticket and is only possible while it is unused and nothing is booked.
With the Headout Pass, too, all three are available to choose as premium attractions.
According to Merlin, children under 5 are not allowed into the London Dungeon, and children under 16 only with someone aged 18 or over. The show uses darkness and jump scares, and for primary-school children it is often too much.
Family calculation for four people
Two adults and two children aged 5 to 15 visit four sights: London Eye, London Zoo, Tower of London and Madame Tussauds. All four are available to choose with the Explorer Pass.
LONDONCP05 (5%)£369With the Explorer Pass the family pays £155 less for these four sights than with single tickets. With the Explorer Pass for 4 attractions, a child costs £79.00 and an adult £115.00.
For comparison: the 2-day London Pass costs the family £500, which is £112 more than the Explorer Pass. It only pays off if you manage well over two sights on both days.
Admission without a pass according to Go City or the provider, child prices for ages 5 to 15. Children under 5 do not need a pass.
Why the Explorer Pass often suits families better
With children, a day usually looks like this: one sight in the morning, a long lunch break, perhaps another one in the afternoon. Paying by attraction fits that well. With the Explorer Pass you choose 2 to 7 sights and have 30 days from your first visit. A rainy day or a poorly child costs you nothing.
The London Pass counts calendar days from your first visit. Even a day in the park uses up a pass day. For families who start early and manage three sights every day, it can still pay off. The London Pass child prices are £75.00 for one day and £115.00 for three days.
Scroll the table sideways.
| Attractions | Adults (16+) | Children (5–15) | Per attraction | Saving per attraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 attractions | £65.00 | £49.00 | £32.50 | – |
| 3 attractions | £89.00 | £65.00 | £29.67 | −9 % |
| 4 attractions | £115.00 | £79.00 | £28.75 | −12 % |
| 5 attractions | £135.00 | £89.00 | £27.00 | −17 % |
| 6 attractions | £155.00 | £99.00 | £25.83 | −21 % |
| 7 attractions | £165.00 | £109.00 | £23.57 | −27 % |
Go City prices in pounds, checked on 15 October 2026, without discount code. Go City runs offers regularly; the price on the day you buy may differ.
Child prices apply from 5 to 15. If you buy directly from Go City, you can cancel free of charge for 90 days until you activate the pass.
Practical tips for a family day
Buses and the Tube
Children under 11 always travel free on buses and trams. On the Tube, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line they travel free with a paying adult, up to four children per adult. From 11 to 15 there is the Young Visitor Discount on the Visitor Oyster Card: half price for up to 14 days. Not every Tube station has a lift; step-free stations are marked on the Tube map. With a pushchair, the red buses are often the easier option.
Breaks and food
Plan fixed breaks, ideally in a park. Hyde Park, St James’s Park and the lawns by the Tower have room to run around. A picnic from the supermarket saves money and waiting time in restaurants.
Rainy days
Indoors, Madame Tussauds, the London Transport Museum and the Natural History Museum with its dinosaurs work well, and the Natural History Museum is free. With the Explorer Pass’s 30 days, you simply move an outdoor sight to a dry day.
Booking time slots
With a Go City pass, the London Eye, The Shard, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and Madame Tussauds need a time slot from the app. With children, go for late morning rather than the first slot.
Questions about London with kids
Which pass is worth it for families?
Usually the Explorer Pass. With children you see fewer sights a day and need some slack, and the Explorer Pass gives you 30 days for 2 to 7 attractions. Very active families with a full schedule do better with the London Pass. If SEA LIFE, the Dungeon and Shrek are the focus, the Turbopass City or a Merlin combo ticket fits.
Do children go free with the pass?
Children under 5 do not need their own London Pass or Explorer Pass. From 5 to 15 the child price applies, for example £79.00 instead of £115.00 for the Explorer Pass with 4 attractions. From 16, young people pay the adult price.
Which attractions suit toddlers?
Anything with movement, animals and water: a boat trip on the Thames, the hop-on hop-off bus with its open top deck, the London Eye and London Zoo. SEA LIFE is popular too, but it is not in the Go City passes; it is in the Turbopass City and the Merlin combo tickets.
How many attractions can you manage per day with children?
One or two. Breaks, meals and getting around take time. Plan more and you will have tired children by the afternoon. Choose the pass for this pace, not for what would be possible on paper.
Are SEA LIFE, Shrek’s Adventure and the London Dungeon in the London Pass?
No, neither in the London Pass nor in the Explorer Pass. All three are included in the Turbopass City, available to choose with the Turbopass Flex and the Headout Pass, and part of the Merlin combo tickets.
Do children travel free on London’s buses and trains?
Children under 11 always travel free on buses and trams. On the Tube, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line they travel free with a paying adult, up to four children per adult. For 11 to 15-year-olds there is the Young Visitor Discount on the Visitor Oyster Card, with half price for up to 14 days. No sightseeing pass includes public transport.
Can I buy the pass in advance and still cancel?
At Go City, yes. If you buy the London Pass or Explorer Pass directly, you get a full refund within 90 days of purchase, as long as it is not activated. It is activated with your first visit. If you buy through Headout, Tiqets or GetYourGuide, their rules apply. Merlin combo tickets are non-refundable.
The right pass for your family
For a relaxed family pace, the Explorer Pass; for a full schedule, the London Pass. With a code you save 5% at Go City either way.
London Explorer Pass
- 2 to 7 attractions, 30 days from your first visit
- from £65.00, children from £49.00
- 5% with code
LONDONCP05on gocity.com
The London Pass®
- Every attraction in the programme, 1 to 10 days
- from £105.00, children from £75.00
- 5% with code
LONDONCP05LPon londonpass.com
Your own plans in the calculator London Pass and Explorer Pass compared
LONDONCP05LP