Should I buy Go City’s London pass or get individual tickets?

Spoiler alert: if you’re planning to do more than just a museum or two before scoffing your fish and chips and heading home, the pass is going to be your best bet. Read on to find out why!

Thames in London

So, you’re mapping out a London trip and your must-see list keeps growing by the minute. Castles, cathedrals, river cruises, stadium tours… the fun adds up fast. With all this (and stacks more) to see and do, a Go City London pass – which bundles multiple tours, activities and attractions for one fixed price – could well be a no-brainer vs grabbing individual tickets on the hop. We’ll break down what the different pass options include, where you’ll make savings, and which pass best suits your sightseeing style.

Firstly, what is a sightseeing pass?

Think of Go City London as a single streamlined pass that covers entry to loads of essential London attractions for one fixed, upfront price. Choose between All-Inclusive or Explorer options depending on how much sightseeing you expect to do. Either way,  instead of buying separate tickets for e.g. the View from The Shard, Kensington Palace and the Big Bus, you’ll just flash your pass and breeze right on in. Easy.

London attractions montage

Pick and choose from nearly 100 attractions with Go City's London pass!

The pros of using a pass

You lock in costs up front

Trip budgets can spiral when you pay at the door every time. With a pass, you pay once and then pick from a long list of attractions, tours and experiences without having to reach for your wallet again and again.

Genuine savings on London’s greatest hits

If you plan to tick off a handful of paid attractions – think big-hitter landmarks, hop-on hop-off tours or a Thames cruise – the bundled price usually beats buying tickets separately. Stack a few more high-value experiences and the savings start to look very healthy.

Not just the usual suspects

Beyond the headline attractions, the pass line‑up includes plenty of lesser-spotted museums, historic houses, tours and experiences you might not otherwise hear about. We’re talking guided Harry Potter walks, medieval treasure troves, and the quite excellent London Canal Museum. If mixing big hitters with hidden gems is your bag, the pass has you covered.

One app to rule them all

Everything sits in the app: your pass, attraction info, opening hours, maps and any booking links. Less admin, less confusion, and fewer “where did I put the tickets?” moments.

Flexibility built in

Not sure whether tomorrow should be palaces or parks? A pass makes it easy to pivot. Once activated, the All-Inclusive option runs for consecutive days, while the Explorer Pass gives you 30 days to use up your visits – ideal for slower itineraries.

Handy perks at select spots

Some included experiences come with extras like audio guides, discounts or exclusive tours. You’ll also see clear notes on any skip-the-line access or fast-track entry where available, so you can plan smarter.

Tourist in London

What's at the top of your London sightseeing hit list?

The pros of individual tickets 

No upfront commitment

If you only want one or two paid experiences – or you’re planning to lean into London’s free museums and parks – paying as you go can be more cost-effective. You only pay for what you end up doing.

Pure spontaneity

If you love making decisions based on the weather, your energy levels or a sudden craving for canal walks in Little Venice, buying tickets on the spot gives you the freedom you need. 

Let's compare...
 

Feature 

Go City's London passes

Individual tickets 

Upfront cost 

✔ Paid in advance, easier to budget 

✖ Pay per attraction, adds up fast 

Total savings 

✔ The more you see, the more you save 

✖ No guaranteed savings 

Convenience 

✔ One app, one QR code, done 

✖ Booking and managing multiple tickets separately 

Extra perks 

✔ Skip-the-line access, shop discounts, food offers, free guides 

✖ None – you get what you pay for 

Food & drink deals 

✔ Includes some options and offers 

✖ Not included 

Hidden gems 

✔ Curated line-up by local experts 

✔They’re out there, you’ll just need to do some more research 

Flexibility 

✔ Visit what you want, when you want 

✔ Freedom to pick day-by-day 

Risk of overspending 

✔ No nasty surprises 

✖ Hard to track daily spend 

How much are you actually saving? 

Here’s an example of what a standard 2-day London itinerary might cost with individual tickets: 

Day 1

  • Two-day Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour: £56
  • The View from The Shard: £19
  • London markets walking tour: £59
  • Chocolate cocktail in Farringdon: £10

Day 2

  • Thames Clipper one-day river roamer: £25
  • The London Eye: £39
  • Tower of London: £44
  • Greenwich gin-tasting experience: £26

That’s a total cost of £278. Now compare that to a 2‑day London All-Inclusive Pass, priced at £139. In this example, you’d save 50%*, and you’d probably still have room to squeeze in another attraction or two along the way, boosting those savings even further.

Don’t forget – the pass also includes the handy app, extra perks and peace of mind that you won’t need to buy expensive tickets on the fly. 

*prices accurate as of February 2026

St Paul's Cathedral at night

St Paul's Cathedral should be on every self-respecting London sightseeing itinerary!

Final verdict: should you go for the pass?

Short answer: yes. If you want to see several paid London attractions, minimise admin and keep costs predictable, a Go City London pass is a smart choice. It front‑loads your budget, cuts time spent queuing at ticket desks, and encourages you to discover more while you’re in town. The All-Inclusive Pass suits short, energetic stays where you’ll stack activities; the Explorer suits slower itineraries with a few standout experiences spread out over a longer period. And, we think you’ll agree, the numbers – potential savings of 50%+ vs buying individual tickets – speak for themselves.

Looking for more London inspiration? Discover the city’s quirkiest offbeat attractions and read our ultimate guide to visiting Madame Tussauds.

Step up your sightseeing with Go City®

We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. 

See more, do more, and experience more with Go City® - just choose a pass to get started!

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Assisted by AI
Freelance travel writer
Assisted by AI

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.This article was authored with the support of AI technology. The Go City team has reviewed this piece to ensure it meets our high standards for quality, accuracy and relevance.

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Summer in London is a great time to explore on foot like this couple
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2 Days in London

Whether it’s a weekend away or a midweek sojourn, 2 days in London never disappoint. From the city’s world-famous landmarks to shopping in Oxford Street and Portobello Road, ultra-trendy Hoxton and the deer of Richmond Park, the range of attractions astounds even Londoners themselves. Plan it right and you’ll fill your days with delights, do it wrong, and you’ll end up spending all your time on the Tube. That’s why we’ve put together this handy 2 day London itinerary with easily interchangeable days just for you! Day 1Morning You could start your 2 days in London in a thousand different places. But we’d suggest heading to the gates outside of Buckingham Palace for the 11AM Changing of the Guard Ceremony. It takes place daily in the summer – when it’s also possible to enter the palace state rooms – and four times per week during the winter season. Combining pomp and tradition with stirring music and first-rate horsemanship, taking part is one of the biggest honors in the British military. Then slip by the pelicans of St James’s Park for views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, one of London’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Just opposite you’ll find Westminster Abbey, the church where all but two of England’s monarchs have been crowned since 1066. Afternoon Nearby Victoria Street has plenty of places to grab a bite to eat before you turn your attention to the thoroughfare known as Whitehall. Lined with grand government offices, stop by the easy-to-miss gates of Downing Street, home to the British Prime Minister. Then continue on to Trafalgar Square, whose bronze lions have guarded Nelson’s column since 1868. On the square’s north side stands the National Gallery. Spanning centuries of western art, collection highlights include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer and one of Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, as well as providing an encyclopedic introduction to British artists that’s sure to keep you busy for the rest of the afternoon. Evening Crossing the Thames by Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges will bring you to an area of riverside packed with attractions. Time it right and you’ll drift over the London skyline inside a glass pod of the London Eye just as the sun begins to set over the capital. It’s a sight well worth making the time for. Follow it up by admiring the street art of Leake Street tunnel on route to Waterloo’s range of bars and underground clubs. The Roof Garden & Bar of the brutalist form of Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Center is a trustworthy spot whatever your drink of choice. Elsewhere, the bar at Sea Containers House will have its riverside views competing for attention with chic interiors recalling the golden age of travel. Day 2Morning With half of your trip to London in 2 days already gone, there’s no time to lose, so shake off any fuzzy heads you might have and start the morning amongst the beefeaters of the Tower of London as you gaze into the display cabinets of the Crown Jewels. They include the largest clear-cut diamond in the world, known as Cullinan I. The smaller but better-known 105 carat Koh-i-Noor diamond is relegated to the regalia of less senior royals than the king or queen, most recently set in the crown of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. For a moment of quiet, head to St Dunstan in the East, a ruined church turned gardens, then cross the Thames at London Bridge for photographs of the much grander Tower Bridge. Continue straight on to Borough High Street, the old stomping ground of everyone from Charles Dickens to Jamie Oliver, whose street food stalls are sure to satisfy your stomach as it approaches lunchtime. Afternoon One of the hottest tickets in town remains The View from the Shard, offering vistas of London from 70 floors up which can stretch for 65 kilometers. In the summer months, spend the middle hours of the afternoon taking in one of Shakespeare’s comedies, tragedies or histories in the replica version of The Globe Theater. Outside of performance season, make some time for the contemporary art of Tate Modern instead, before heading to the pale stone walls of St Paul’s Cathedral, another of London’s important churches. It was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. End the daylight hours with a little shopping, by jumping on the Central Line for the quick ride to Oxford Circus, gateway to the stores of Oxford Street and Regent Street. The latter is known for its designer stores and as the main location for Hamleys, the world’s largest and oldest toy store. It has stood on the same site since 1881, having been founded in 1760. Evening Well-to-do Soho, bordered by some of London’s most upmarket neighborhoods, has some of the capital’s best shopping. However, it’s the streets around Hoxton Square, including Shoreditch High Street, where bars and nightclubs come into their own. With something for everyone, from old-style British pubs serving up warm ales to LGBTQ+ friendly haunts with the latest in cocktails, this once unloved part of the capital has been reborn into an area that simply not to be missed once for a place to spend an evening in London. When it comes to dining, London has some of the best chefs of the moment battling behind the scenes to serve up incredible dishes. If you’re looking to round off your 2 days in London by splashing out, you’ve more than 60 Michelin-starred restaurants to consider. It’s still possible to eat well on a budget though, with Camden hosting a range of flavors from around the world and Brick Lane the hub of South Asian cuisine. How to spend 2 days in London Opt for 2 days in London and you’re in for an action-packed couple of days. But if you’re concerned about prices mounting up as quickly as a Central Line underground train fills at rush hour, there is an answer. That’s traveling with Go City. Do so and you’ll be able to make incredible savings on admission to many of London’s top attractions, meaning you can do more for your vacation budget than would otherwise be possible!
Ian Packham
woman enjoying madame tussauds, sitting next to a statue of Audrey Hepburn
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No Ticket Needed: Free Surprises Around Madame Tussauds

Free London Finds: The Best Things to Do Near Madame Tussauds  So you’ve finished snapping selfies with your favorite celebrities at Madame Tussauds (don’t worry, we all do it). Now what? Luckily, this corner of London is bursting with activities that won’t touch your wallet. Baker Street is a launchpad to leafy parks, charming city squares, tucked-away museums, and streets made for wandering. Forget splashing out on every attraction — you’ll find plenty of authentic London experiences for free right outside Madame Tussauds’ door. From historic strolls to hidden galleries, here’s our handpicked list to keep your itinerary buzzing and your budget blissfully happy.  Our top free things to do near Madame Tussauds include:  Regent’s Park  The Sherlock Holmes Museum (front, exterior, & shop)  Marylebone High Street  The Wallace Collection  St. Marylebone Parish Church  Daunt Books (Marylebone)  Regent’s Canal Towpath  Paddington Street Gardens  The Royal Academy of Music Museum  Hyde Park (North Entrance & Speakers’ Corner)  The Sherlock Holmes Museum (Facade & Shop)  While the full museum experience comes with a ticket, it’s fun (and free) to visit the world-famous 221B Baker Street. Pose for a photo with the famous blue plaque and Sherlock statue outside the distinctive Victorian facade. The themed museum shop next door lets you browse everything Holmesy, from deerstalker hats to quirky mystery novels and pint-sized magnifying glasses, all in an atmosphere straight out of Victorian London. With staff in period dress and plenty of details to soak up, it’s a fun taster of Sherlock’s world at absolutely no cost.  Marylebone High Street  A stone’s throw away you’ll find Marylebone High Street, a firm local favorite for good reason. The vibe here is classic London village: think tree-lined streets, characterful brick buildings, and tempting storefronts. Window-shopping is half the fun, plus you’ll feel the buzz of independent boutiques, cheese shops, florists, and cute cafés on every corner. It’s perfect for a leisurely wander and a proper slice of local city life. The small side streets off the main drag are full of personality, too — keep an eye out for quirky architecture and gorgeous window displays.  The Wallace Collection  Ready for some grandeur? The Wallace Collection is a genuine London treat — and completely free to enter. Housed in a dazzling historic townhouse, this gallery is the place for European paintings, decorative art, and shimmering suits of armor. Picture ornate rooms gleaming with Old Masters and rococo treasures, all a world away from the city bustle outside. We love the hushed, refined ambiance — and if you’re a fan of a well-placed selfie, the drawing rooms are hard to beat.  Tip: The glass-roofed courtyard café is open to all (even just for a peek or a cup of water).  St. Marylebone Parish Church  Some London history is best experienced in peaceful places. St. Marylebone Parish Church stands just a short walk up Marylebone Road. Step inside this beautiful neoclassical building, with its stunning columns and peaceful ambiance. Admire stained glass windows, cozy nooks, and serene chapels — this is the spot for a moment of reflection or simply to recharge your batteries. Bonus: the crypt sometimes hosts free exhibitions and events, so check the schedule before you go.  Regent’s Canal Towpath  London’s waterways are packed with character, and Regent’s Canal is the city’s peaceful hidden artery. Enter near Regent’s Park and stroll along towpaths fringed by narrowboats, street art, and plenty of ducks. It’s urban London at its most tranquil. This is the perfect route for clear-headed thinking, quiet conversation, and people-watching (cyclists, joggers, and eccentric boat-dwellers make up the local cast). Each stretch reveals riverside gardens, quirky bridges, and café-boats perfect for a free-water pit-stop.  Paddington Street Gardens  City parks don’t get much more charming than Paddington Street Gardens. Hidden between elegant Victorian terraces in Marylebone, this tiny oasis is a favorite escape for locals. Grassy lawns, beds overflowing with blooms, and tree-shaded benches mean lunch hours can stretch into sunny afternoons. Stroll among the winding paths and spot old tombstones hinting at the area’s deep history. Go for calm, stay for the people-watching — it’s the perfect place for a takeaway picnic or an hour of rest after a busy London morning.  The Royal Academy of Music Museum  Just a short walk north of Madame Tussauds, The Royal Academy of Music Museum offers a treasure trove of musical history — and free entry to boot. From ancient stringed instruments to quirky mechanical music boxes and famous composers’ belongings, every display hums with creativity. Interactive screens let you listen to rare historic recordings, and you can peek into rooms where future stars are rehearsing. The ambiance is lively but hushed — a real inspiration for anyone feeling creative. Don’t be surprised if you leave humming your favorite tune.  Hyde Park (North Entrance & Speakers’ Corner)  Few parks offer the variety and space of Hyde Park, only about a 10-minute walk from Madame Tussauds’ main entrance. The North Entrance opens a world of open lawns, wildflowers, and hidden statues, but the star event happens at Speakers’ Corner — a uniquely London tradition of public debate and soapbox speeches that’s been drawing crowds for more than a century. No ticket required to listen (or get up to speak yourself on a Sunday). Hyde Park’s walking paths grant endless people-watching, sun basking, and a real sense of London leisure.    Whatever your interest, you’ll find a free adventure by Madame Tussauds — so leave some room on your itinerary, grab your walking shoes, and discover a side of the city that’s friendly to your budget.    Enjoyed this? Check out London’s top walks, and see the quirkier side of the city.  Step up your sightseeing with Go City®   We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.   See more, do more, and experience more with Go City® – just choose a pass to get started! 
Revelers at a Pride parade
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Things to do in London for Pride Day

The Pride in London festival is one of the biggest, brightest and best on the planet, with around 30,000 participants and 1.5 million spectators. A month-long celebration of love, diversity and all things LGBTQ+, it comes complete with theatrical cabaret and drag performances, world-class nightlife, LGBTQ+ film screenings and, of course, the all-important Pride Parade that brings the festival to a flamboyant close in late June or early July. Raise your rainbow flag and dive in for our guide to all the best things to do in London for Pride Day. The Pride Parade There are stacks of fun LGBTQ+ events taking place around London in the weeks leading up to the annual Pride Parade. We’re talking community socials, live theater, movie screenings, tours and more. But, by the end of the month it’s all about the Pride Parade, when the West End fills with festival atmosphere, and vibrant, eye-popping floats lead a procession of thousands of revelers through the streets. Here, all roads lead to Trafalgar Square for the biggest party of the year. Find a spot along the (relatively short) route from Hyde Park to watch the floats cruise colorfully by. Expect plenty of dancing, singing and wild, wild costumes at the Trafalgar Square party, accompanied by live shows from some of the planet’s biggest stars – previous performers include Idina Menzel, Rita Ora, and Queen’s Adam Lambert. If Trafalgar Square feels a little too hectic for you (and, believe us, it does get pretty hectic), there are several other satellite events dotted around the West End, including a family area at Victoria Embankment, and revelers tend to spill out into the surrounding neighborhoods (particularly Soho) to keep the party going through the day and indeed well into the wee small hours. Pride in London is a free and unticketed event, but those with deep pockets can choose to book a seat in the grandstand on Haymarket for around £50. You’ll need to book early though – seats are very limited and tend to sell out in the blink of an eye. Find about more about this year’s Pride in London events and timings here. LGBTQ+ Art & Culture There are many ways to spend Pride Day in London without spending endless frustrated hours jockeying for position at overcrowded bars. For example, you could soak up some of that vibrant LGBTQ+ culture in a rather more low-key fashion at the Queer Britain Museum. This excellent Kings Cross museum was established to celebrate Pride’s 50th anniversary in 2022, and its exhibition contains photography from previous parades. There are also talks, workshops and a small shop. Some of London’s more established museums – the mighty British Museum and the Tate among them – also run tours highlighting key pieces of LGBTQ+ art in their collections in and around Pride month. And, if you do happen to find yourself at the British Museum, you’re also just a 10-minute stroll from London’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookstore. Gay’s The Word has been trading here since 1979, and acts as a thriving community hub as well as an outlet for some of the best in new (and old) LGBTQ+ writing. A fine place, in other words, to while away an hour or two, as well as supporting a small LGBTQ+ business during Pride. See London’s Top Sights Hey, just because the streets are thronging with crowds doesn’t mean you can’t also squeeze in a little light London sightseeing while you’re in town. There are some themed walking tours included with attraction passes from Go City, or you can go full Pride and take a Dragged Around London tour, in which a fabulous drag queen, drag king (or other gender-bending performer) will take you on a frankly unforgettable tour of some of the city's sights. Tour titles like ‘West Mincer’ and ‘Wild Wild West End’ should give you some idea of what to expect! Spoiler: high heels, lip-synching and karaoke are all par for the course. There are plenty more attractions worth checking out when in London for Pride Day. Many, including the London Eye, even light up in the rainbow colors of the Pride flag in honor of the festival. You can also save up to 50% on entry to bucket-listers including the London Eye with a London pass from Go City. Other attractions on the pass include: Madame Tussauds London The View from the Shard Kensington Palace, former home of Diana Princess of Wales The fabulous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Tower Bridge … and many many more! Find out more and get your London attractions pass here. Pride Day Nightlife in London London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene is a riot at the best of times, so you can only imagine what it’s like with the fun turned all the way up to 11 for Pride Day. Iconic nightlife venues abound in and around the streets of Soho where, handily, many of the day’s scheduled events will also take place. The bars that line Old Compton Street are practically the stuff of legend, and they get even more lively during Pride. Try the Admiral Duncan for one of the most convivial hangouts in town – it’s been around since the 19th Century and a popular LGBTQ+ hangout since at least the 1980s. Mix it up with a hop just across the street to lively Comptons, another fine stalwart of the LGBTQ+ scene that's been trading here since 1986. Later, Soho clubs including G-A-Y, Heaven and the Freedom Bar are just some of the neighborhood’s most popular choices, though there are plenty more within stumbling distance of Old Compton Street should these be too busy. Just south of the river, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is a grade II-listed former Victorian music hall where high camp and high-kicking drag acts are the order of the day. Expect top live performers and high-energy floor fillers late into the night. The nearby Cock Tavern is another firm favorite with Pride revelers on the big day. Or don your most extraordinary Pride outfit and strike out for East End hipster joints like Dalston Superstore – think vegan food, colorful craft cocktails and contemporary club classics that cater to a slightly younger crowd. And finally (if you have any energy left), there’s FOLD in Canning Town, for dance, electronic and techno beats that will keep your feet moving long after sun-up. Save on London Attractions, Tours and Activities Save up to 50% on admission to London attractions with a pass from Go City. Check out @gocity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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