The London Pass with 100+ Attractions

The Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Many pass holders begin at the Tower of London, the riverside fortress begun in the eleventh century around the mighty White Tower. Over nine centuries it has been a royal palace, prison, armoury, mint and treasury, and it still guards the Crown Jewels, displayed in the Jewel House. The Yeoman Warders, in their red and black uniforms, lead entertaining tours, and the ravens that live within the walls are part of the legend. Plan about three hours.

Next door, Tower Bridge opened in 1894 and is one of the world's most famous bridges. The Tower Bridge Exhibition takes you up into the high-level walkways, 42 metres above the Thames, where glass floors let you watch buses and boats pass below, and then down to the nineteenth-century engine rooms that once powered the lifting roadway. Both are included with the pass.

Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral

Westminster Abbey, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been the coronation church of the nation since 1066. The present Gothic church was begun in 1245, and inside you walk past royal tombs, the medieval Coronation Chair, the delicate fan-vaulted Lady Chapel and Poets' Corner, where many great writers are buried or remembered. An audio guide helps you follow the stories. Westminster Abbey tickets are among the most valuable entries on the pass.

In the City, St Paul's Cathedral was completed in 1710 after the Great Fire of 1666. With the pass you can explore the nave and crypt and climb to the Whispering Gallery, where a whisper travels around the dome, and higher to the Stone and Golden Galleries for some of the finest views in London. Both churches close to sightseers on Sundays for worship.

The London Eye and the View from the Shard

For views, the pass includes a ride on the London Eye, the 135-metre observation wheel on the South Bank. One rotation in a glass capsule takes about 30 minutes and shows Parliament, the river and the royal parks from above. Because it is one of the busiest attractions, reserve your time slot in the app before you go, especially at weekends and in summer.

Across the river near London Bridge, the Shard rises to about 310 metres, the tallest building in the United Kingdom. Its viewing galleries on levels 69 and 72 sit around 244 metres up, with an open-air section at the top. On a clear day you can see up to 60 kilometres. Going up at sunset is a favourite way to end a day of sightseeing with the pass.

Royal palaces: Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle

In the green expanse of Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace has been a royal residence since the late seventeenth century. Visitors explore the elegant State Apartments, exhibitions on royal fashion and family life, and the beautiful Sunken Garden. It is an easy visit to combine with a stroll in Hyde Park or the museums of South Kensington, all within a short Underground ride.

West of the capital, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, founded in the eleventh century and still a working royal residence. The pass covers entry to the opulent State Apartments and the Gothic St George's Chapel. A Windsor Castle day trip from London takes about an hour each way by train, so the 2-day or longer passes give you more time to enjoy it.

Hop-on hop-off bus and Thames river pass

To move between the sights, the pass includes a hop-on hop-off bus tour on open-top double-deckers, with commentary and stops close to the main attractions, and a river pass for sightseeing boats on the Thames. Using them saves time and turns the journey into part of the experience, with views of Westminster, the South Bank and the City along the way.

The river pass is the scenic way to reach Greenwich, where the pass also includes the clipper ship Cutty Sark and the magnificent Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College, often called the finest dining hall in Europe. Other entries include London Zoo, Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace. The app always shows the current list, opening times and booking instructions.

How to get the most from the London Pass

The pass activates when you scan it at your first attraction and is then valid for the number of consecutive calendar days you bought, not 24-hour periods, so start early. Most sights open between 9:00 and 10:00 and close around 17:00 or 17:30. Group nearby attractions together: the Tower, Tower Bridge and a river trip in one morning, or Westminster Abbey and the London Eye in another.

Is the London Pass worth it? If you plan to visit three or more paid attractions a day, it usually offers good value and saves queuing at ticket desks. Popular attractions need advance reservations in the app, so book your slots as soon as you receive your pass. Unused passes remain valid for a year from purchase until activated.