London Explorer Pass: is it worth it?
The London Explorer Pass flips the usual city-pass model: instead of buying days, you buy a set number of attraction credits — 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 — and use them whenever you like, with no consecutive-day clock running. It's also the pass that includes the London Eye and Madame Tussauds, both of which the flagship London Pass leaves out.
Also searched as: London Explorer Pass · Explorer Pass London · Go City London Explorer
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At a glance
How does the London Explorer Pass work?
- It runs on credits, not days: you pick a set number of attractions and use them at your own pace inside a long validity window. A slower itinerary costs you nothing.
- Public transport is not included — budget for it separately when comparing totals.
- Most sites have a pass-holder queue, but timed reservations still apply wherever the attraction requires one.
How much does the London Explorer Pass cost?
These are the official adult prices we last verified on 2026-07-01. Children, youth and seniors often pay less, and the calculator applies each attraction’s own age rules to your group.
Cheapest way in: £69
Prices change without notice — always confirm on the operator’s site before paying.
Prices by duration
What’s included
- Tower of London
- The View from The Shard
- London Eye
- Madame Tussauds
- Thames River Cruise
- Hampton Court Palace
- Windsor Castle
- ZSL London Zoo
- Kew Gardens
- Tower Bridge Exhibition
What’s not included
- —
Is the London Explorer Pass worth it?
The Explorer Pass is the better structure for a slower trip or a short visit built around specific sights, especially if the London Eye or Madame Tussauds are on your list. Pick the credit tier that matches your actual attraction count — buying 7 credits to use 4 wastes money just as fast as an unused day on the London Pass.
Where it wins
- Includes the London Eye and Madame Tussauds, unlike the London Pass
- Credits don't expire on consecutive days — use them whenever
- Covers big day trips: Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace
- Skip-the-line entry at most included attractions
Where it falls short
- Smaller attraction list than the day-based London Pass
- Excludes Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and Churchill War Rooms
- Best value depends on picking the credit tier that matches your list exactly
- Public transport is not included
Best for: Visitors who want a fixed number of specific attractions — especially the London Eye or Madame Tussauds — used at their own pace, not back-to-back.
What you get
The London Explorer Pass sells attraction credits instead of days: pick 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 credits for £69 to £159, then redeem one per attraction from a list of ten, whenever you like — there’s no consecutive-day clock. The list includes the Tower of London, The View from The Shard, Tower Bridge, ZSL London Zoo, Kew Gardens, a Thames river cruise, and two of London’s pricier day trips, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace.
Its standout inclusions are the London Eye (£29) and Madame Tussauds (£39) — both absent from the flagship London Pass, which makes the Explorer Pass the default choice for anyone who wants either on their itinerary. Because credits don’t expire on a fixed schedule, you can use two on arrival day, save the rest for later in the trip, and never feel rushed to “use up” the pass.
The catch
The list is shorter than the London Pass’s 90-plus attractions, and it skips some of the Pass’s staples: Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Churchill War Rooms and Kensington Palace aren’t on it. This isn’t a bigger version of the London Pass — it’s a different, smaller set built around flexibility and the London Eye, so check both lists against your itinerary before assuming either one covers everything you want.
Value depends on matching your credit count to what you’ll actually use. Five credits at £124 works out to about £25 each; spend them on the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Windsor Castle and two more mid-priced sights and you’re comfortably ahead of single tickets. Buy seven credits and only use four, and the per-visit price jumps well above what separate tickets would have cost — the same over-buying trap that catches London Pass buyers who pick too many days.
Our verdict
Choose the Explorer Pass over the London Pass if the London Eye or Madame Tussauds matter to you, or if your trip is too spread out for a consecutive-day pass to make sense. Count your realistic attraction list first, pick the matching credit tier rather than rounding up “to be safe,” and check both passes against your itinerary at /en/compare/.
Alternatives to consider
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Does the London Explorer Pass include the London Eye?
Yes — it's one of the pass's headline inclusions, along with Madame Tussauds. Both sit outside the standard London Pass, so if either is a must-see, the Explorer Pass is usually the better starting point.
Is the London Explorer Pass better than the London Pass?
It depends on structure and list. The Explorer Pass is credit-based and non-consecutive, so it suits a slower trip or a short, specific list; the London Pass is a flat daily rate that rewards packing multiple big sights into consecutive days. If the London Eye or Madame Tussauds are must-sees, the Explorer Pass wins by default since the London Pass excludes both.
How many attractions should I pick on the London Explorer Pass?
Match the credit tier to your actual list rather than rounding up. Five credits at £124 only beats single tickets if you'll genuinely use all five on paid attractions worth around £25 or more each — the London Eye (£29), Madame Tussauds (£39) and Windsor Castle (£30) all clear that bar comfortably.