Reviewed · CITY TOURS
London: Go City Explorer Pass® – Tickets for 2-7 Attractions
London is one of those cities where every day turns into a new plan. This Go City London Explorer Pass is interesting because it trades a pile of separate tickets for a simple credit system, then lets you pick your mix of icons, museums, tours, and fun activities. I like that the digital credits arrive fast and live in the Go City app. I also like the variety, from the Shard views to the Tower of London. One heads-up, some of the most popular stops can require reservations, and if you don’t plan, you can end up not using all your credits.
Here’s the practical part that makes it work for many trips: you choose 2 to 7 attractions, then you have 30 days from your first visit to use the rest. That means you can do a big landmark in the morning, add a museum or tour afterward, and avoid the rush of stacking everything into a single day. If you only want one or two top sights and nothing else, the savings may not feel as exciting.
Key takeaways before you buy

- Pick 2 to 7 attractions: 1 credit equals 1 attraction visit, used over 30 days from first use
- Huge lineup for different travel styles: landmark sights, major museums, guided tours, and family fun
- Instant digital delivery plus an app that helps you sync your pass and access up-to-date info
- Use it for smart pairs: famous exteriors plus indoor time, or buses plus river cruising
- Plan for timed entries: the busiest places may mean reservations and longer waits
A London Explorer Pass that lets you see more without racing

The London Explorer Pass is sold as a flexible ticket set: you buy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 credits, then redeem each credit for admission to a covered attraction. The idea is simple. You decide what you want to do, you spread it out across your trip, and you do not have to pre-purchase a stack of separate admissions.
What I like most about this setup is that it fits how London actually feels. One day you want views. Another day you want cathedrals and history. Another day you want a guided walk or a river tour to reset your legs. With a credits pass, you’re not locked into one theme all day long.
A few more London tours worth a look
- City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras
★ 4.0 · 1,224 reviews - London: Speedboat Tour Through Heart of the City
★ 5.0 · 387 reviews - London: Upside Down House Westfield White City Entry Ticket
★ 4.0 · 338 reviews
The pass lineup hits multiple categories
You can spend credits on classic London “must-sees” plus more specific interests. For headline views and royal-grade landmarks, the list includes The View from The Shard, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Kensington Palace. If you like the city by water, you can use credits on City Cruises 24 Hour Thames River Pass and scenic Thames time.
If you’re into theater and storytelling, there’s Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition & Theatre Tour. If you’re a plant-and-palace person, there are options like Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Hampton Court Palace. And if you want something lighter, you can use credits on London Zoo or fun tours and game-style activities like Sherlock: The Official Live Game and Solve a Mystery: the Murder at Trafalgar Square.
Price value, and the math you should do in 5 minutes

The listed price is about $72 per person for this Explorer Pass, with the big promise being savings of up to 50% compared to buying individual tickets on the same kinds of sample itineraries. That is a solid headline, but here’s how to decide if it’s truly worth it for you.
When the pass is a clear win
It tends to pay off when you do three things:
- You choose several “premium” attractions you would not skip.
- You also add at least one guided experience or sightseeing tour, not just standalone museums.
- You are going to visit more than one or two major stops in your trip window.
This is where the variety matters. People often buy passes for the big names, but the value improves when you use your credits for the extras that are harder to justify one by one, like guided tours and river cruising. The pass also helps you avoid the friction of ticket shopping while you’re already in London.
A different sort of day out in London:
- From London: Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour
★ 4.7 · 26,588 reviews - Magical London: Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour
★ 4.7 · 22,044 reviews - London: Madame Tussauds London
★ 4.6 · 20,915 reviews - Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London
★ 4.5 · 18,662 reviews
When you might feel like you paid too much
The most common value trap is simple. If your plan is light, like you only use credits for one or two stops, you may find you did not get a savings payoff. Another situation is when you choose options that you later decide not to do. The pass is valid for 30 days from first use, so it gives you breathing room, but you still want to lock in a realistic plan.
I also think it helps to be cautious with one specific kind of choice: hop-on hop-off buses can be tempting for convenience, but London traffic can slow everything down. If your goal is to maximize admissions per day, you may want to compare bus time against walking time and transit time.
Using the Go City app without losing time at the gate

Your pass is digital. After booking, you get your digital sightseeing credits package delivered instantly, and you’re meant to use the Go City app. The app is more than a nice-to-have because it’s the place you can check the latest opening times and access instructions for each attraction.
Sync your pass, then book reservations early
For the best experience, you should follow the instructions on your booking confirmation to sync your Explorer Pass with the app. This is the step that keeps everything smooth when you arrive at the attraction.
Now, here’s the part that matters most: the most popular activities require reservations. That means if you want the headline sites on your list, you should reserve as soon as you can. Even when scanning goes smoothly, timed entry can control how quickly you move through.
Scanning is usually easy
From practical use, the pass works well when it’s time to enter attractions. You’ll have your tickets in one place, then scan and go. The main thing that slows people down is not the pass itself, it’s the mix of reserved time slots and crowding at major sights like Westminster Abbey and Tower of London.
A practical credits itinerary: Shard, Westminster, Tower, and the Thames

If you’re trying to design a trip that does not feel like you’re sprinting, you want a route with geographic logic and pacing. Here’s a sample way to spend about 5 to 6 credits without stacking too much into one frantic day.
Day 1: The View from The Shard plus St Paul’s
Start with a view that makes your first day feel like London, not just transportation. The View from The Shard is one of those “credit-worthy” picks because it gives you a big picture of where everything sits.
Then, move to St Paul’s Cathedral. This is a great contrast to the skyscraper viewpoint. One is scale and skyline. The other is classic London architecture and a calmer feel once you’re inside.
A simple strategy: do the view earlier, then use St Paul’s as your next anchor. After that, you can add a slower meal and keep the day from becoming an endless queue.
Day 2: Westminster Abbey, then Shard area culture or a Thames tour
Plan Westminster Abbey next if it’s on your must-do list. It’s one of the busiest entries on most London trips, so you should treat reservations and arrival time seriously.
After Westminster, consider pairing your sightseeing with a moving experience. City Cruises 24 Hour Thames River Pass can be a smart second half of the day because you’re not choosing between “walking more” and “seeing less.” You get river views and a break for your feet while still covering key scenery.
Day 3: Tower of London and Tower Bridge for the royal core
If you like a concentrated day, use a credit for Tower of London. It’s exactly the kind of landmark where you want decent time and the patience to read and roam.
Then, add Tower Bridge. This pair works well because the area is close, and both feel like “London in layers.” Tower of London gives depth. Tower Bridge gives a quick, iconic stamp that also sets you up visually for the rest of the city.
Add-on option: Big Bus London on a traffic-aware schedule
The 2-day Hop-On-Hop-Off London Bus tour (Big Bus Tours) is a popular credit option because it can help you get between neighborhoods without constantly figuring transit. But London traffic is real. Plan your hop points with that in mind. If you use the bus, try to treat it like a sightseeing ride first, not the fastest transport method.
Also, be aware that some people experienced extra waiting when using the pass with Big Bus entries, including entering after other ticket holders. That does not mean the bus is bad, but it does mean you should build in a little flexibility if your schedule is tight.
Kensington Palace and Kew Gardens: royal meets green space

If you want London that feels softer around the edges, use credits for places like Kensington Palace and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Kensington Palace gives you that royal connection without requiring you to commit to a full day of only “royal” sites. It’s a good mid-trip option when you want something stately but not exhausting.
Then, Kew Gardens is where you slow down. Gardens are a great reset button. If your earlier days were heavy on cathedrals and museums, Kew gives you the physical and mental break of open air, wide paths, and space to wander.
Greenwich makes an easy add-on day
If you’re already thinking about royal-era London and iconic viewpoints, consider Royal Observatory Greenwich & Prime Meridian, plus Cutty Sark. This combo works because it ties together science, maritime stories, and a sense of “this is where famous ideas started.”
You’re not just buying admission. You’re buying a change of pace, plus a day that feels different from central London.
Museums and fun credits when you want more than famous facades

One reason people like this kind of pass is that it doesn’t force you into only the biggest monuments. The lineup includes major museum options, plus fun activities for adults and families.
London Transport Museum and the museums that reward a pause
If you’ve been walking a lot, plan a museum day. London Transport Museum is an especially good reset because it gives you an indoor activity that still feels very London.
Other museum and interest picks include:
- London Zoo if you’re traveling with kids or want a lively break
- The Postal Museum for something playful and hands-on
- Museum of Brands for a shopping nostalgia mood
- Freud Museum London if you like the intellectual side of city life
Shakespeare’s Globe when you want culture with an energy boost
Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition & Theatre Tour is worth a credit if you want more than photos of the outside of historic sites. It’s connected to performance and storytelling, so it tends to feel active even when you’re walking through exhibits.
This pairs well with a day that already includes central landmarks. After you’ve seen big monuments, a theater-focused attraction can bring your day back to human scale.
Fun nights and game-style attractions for nonstandard sightseeing
If your group includes teenagers or you just like being entertained, the pass includes fun options such as:
- Up at the O2 for sky-high views
- Sherlock: The Official Live Game
- Solve a Mystery: the Murder at Trafalgar Square
- Swingers Crazy Golf (West End or City venues)
- All Star Lanes (bowling)
These are great when the weather is iffy or when you want a break from structured sightseeing. They can also help you spread your credits across the trip without turning every day into a museum day.
Where the pass can feel less magical (and how to avoid it)

This is the part I’d highlight for anyone planning carefully.
Big name entries can still mean waiting
Even with a pass that is easy to scan, major sights can draw big crowds. If Westminster Abbey and Tower of London are high on your list, plan around the possibility of queues and timed entry. Reservations help, but the overall crowd level is still London.
Some options might not be the value you expect
One downside that pops up is that the pass may not save money for your exact mix of attractions. That can happen when you pick entries that are already affordable individually, or when you only use a few credits.
Another complaint is specific to Big Bus. Some people reported an extra wait for pass holders at entrances. If you strongly prefer hop-on hop-off buses, I’d still consider it, just do it with buffer time.
People may not use all credits
This sounds obvious, but it matters. If you buy more credits than your schedule can handle, you can end up not getting full value. The good news is the pass gives you 30 days from first use, so you can recover if a day goes sideways.
My rule: buy credits based on a plan that you could actually finish, not a fantasy list.
Should you book the London Go City Explorer Pass?

I think it’s a good buy if you want a flexible, mostly low-stress way to hit London’s biggest hits plus a few extra experiences. It’s especially strong when you’re doing multiple top attractions across several days and you like having tickets ready in the Go City app with instant digital delivery.
Book it if:
- You plan to use 3 to 6 credits, not just 2
- You want a mix of views, landmarks, and at least one tour or river experience
- You’re comfortable reserving ahead for popular entries
Skip it or rethink your credit count if:
- Your schedule is too tight and you might only use 1 or 2 major sights
- You are very sensitive to entrance-line delays and you do not want to handle reservations
If you want an easy London plan that still feels personal, this pass is one of the more practical ways to get there.
FAQ

How many attractions can I visit with the London Explorer Pass?
You can choose 2 to 7 attractions when you buy the pass. Each attraction visit uses 1 credit, and you select how many credits you want.
How long is the Explorer Pass valid?
The pass is valid for 30 days from your first attraction visit. After you activate it, you have the next 30 days to use your remaining attractions.
Do I need reservations for attractions?
The pass info notes that the most popular activities require reservations, so it’s best to reserve well in advance to avoid missing your preferred time slots.
How do I use the pass with the Go City app?
You’ll use the Go City app to help you plan and to access your attraction entries. You should sync your Explorer Pass with the app by following the instructions in your booking confirmation.
Is there free cancellation?
Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
When will I get my tickets or credits?
You get instant delivery of your digital sightseeing credits package, so you can access your credits right away in the app.
Recently reviewed around London
- London: Harry Potter Walking Tour with Platform 9 3/4★ 4.6 · 37 reviews
- London: Harry Potter Tour & The London Dungeons Tour★ 3.8 · 28 reviews
- London: Harry Potter Tour, River Cruise & The London Dungeon★ 4.4 · 8 reviews
- London: Harry Potter Walking Tour and River Thames Cruise★ 3.6 · 24 reviews
- London: Harry Potter Tour and London Bridge Tombs Experience★ 3.8 · 4 reviews
- London: Harry Potter Walking Tour and Tower Bridge Ticket★ 4.4 · 7 reviews
- London: Harry Potter Walk, Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour & Cruise★ 4.1 · 105 reviews
- London: Harry Potter Sights and Shrek’s Adventure Combo Tour★ 4.6 · 3 reviews
City Tours, compared.

Oxford: University and City Walking Tour with Alumni Guide
Read our review →
Oxford: City and University Tour, including college entry
Read our review →
Bath: City Walking Tour with Optional Roman Baths Entry
Read our review →
1.5-hour Oxford City and University Walking Tour
Read our review →
City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Bookable Extras
Read our review →


