The Go City London Explorer Pass is a sightseeing budget tool, not a guided tour: you pick a set number of attractions and visit them on your own schedule. I like the choice of 2 to 7 admissions and the 30-day window after activation, which lets you spread landmark visits out instead of racing through them in a day.
I also like that the pass can cover big-ticket sights such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, The Shard and the London Eye, along with options such as sightseeing buses and Thames experiences. The trade-off is that savings depend on what you choose, and a QR code does not guarantee quick entry: some sights need advance booking or still have queues.
- Key points to know before choosing
- A flexible pass, not a fixed London tour
- Choose sights that justify the pass price
- Tower of London: a strong use of an admission
- Westminster Abbey: book ahead, then budget for the queue
- St Paul’s and Tower Bridge: useful additions to a landmark day
- London Eye and The Shard: views with a booking caveat
- Big Bus and Thames trips: sightseeing that also helps you get around
- Set up the app before you are standing at the gate
- Who gets the most from this pass?
- Should you book the Go City London Explorer Pass?
- FAQ
- How many attractions can I visit with the Explorer Pass?
- How long is the pass valid?
- Do I need a physical pass?
- How do I connect my purchase to the Go City app?
- Does the pass include fast-track entry?
- Do I need to book attractions in advance?
- Can I get a refund if I change my plans?
- What ages qualify for a child pass?
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Key points to know before choosing
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10 / 10- Pick your pass size: Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from a changing list of more than 75 options.
- Use visits at your own pace: Once activated, the pass lasts 30 days or until you have used all your admissions.
- Plan for reservations: The London Eye and The Shard may require advance booking. Check the app and attraction websites before setting out.
- Expect ordinary queues: The pass does not include fast-track entry. Westminster Abbey can involve a long wait, even with a pass.
- Set up the digital pass early: You need the Go City app and your confirmation details. The setup process can take some figuring out.
- Do the savings maths: Compare the pass price with the cost of buying your chosen admissions separately, including online ticket prices.
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A flexible pass, not a fixed London tour
This pass gives you a set number of admissions, not an itinerary or a guide. You decide which sights to visit, in what order, and on which days. That freedom suits London, where one landmark can fill half a day and the next may sit across town.
You can choose from 2 to 7 attractions. Options include famous landmarks such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Shard and the London Eye. The range also includes sightseeing buses, cruises and other activities. The selection can change, so confirm that your must-see choices are included before buying.
The key timing detail is easy to miss: the voucher is valid for 365 days after booking, while the pass itself is valid for 30 days once activated. That gives you time to buy ahead, then use the admissions over a longer London stay rather than squeezing them into a single day. You can also run out of admissions before the 30 days are up.
Think of the Explorer Pass as a bundle of entries. It does not include transport between attractions, meals, insurance or personal expenses. And although having a digital pass can simplify admission, you still need to follow each attraction’s own booking and entry rules.
You can also read our reviews of more city tours in London
Choose sights that justify the pass price
The price starts at $95.60 for the 2-attraction option, with the cost changing according to how many admissions you choose. That headline figure alone cannot tell you if the pass is a deal. The real question is whether the admissions you want would cost more if bought separately.
Make a short list before purchasing. Check current ticket prices for those specific sights, then compare the total with the price of the pass size you need. Remember to compare like with like: some attractions sell discounted online tickets, and the pass does not include fast-track entry. Buying individual tickets directly may be cheaper for a small number of lower-priced sights.
The pass can make strong financial sense when you choose several expensive attractions you already planned to visit. The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and The Shard are common candidates for a pass itinerary. Reviews of the pass also describe combinations with a Big Bus ticket and a Thames cruise, which can make the admission allowance useful for both sightseeing and transport-style experiences.
But don’t let the bundle set your pace. A large pass is only a bargain if you actually use its admissions. The Tower of London, for example, can occupy a good part of a day, while Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral each deserve time rather than a quick stamp-and-go visit. If your schedule is short, two or three carefully chosen sights may be better value than seven visits you have to chase.
Tower of London: a strong use of an admission
The Tower of London is one of the clearest choices for a first visit. Its history and landmark status make it an appealing use of a pass admission, and entry is reported as straightforward with the QR code. You can plan this as a substantial visit rather than slotting it between two appointments.
The pass may also be useful when you are arranging the day around other sights nearby, such as Tower Bridge. Check the current app listing to confirm both attractions are included and review their opening times before you go. The pass does not remove the need to plan, but it can make the ticket side simpler.
Westminster Abbey: book ahead, then budget for the queue
Westminster Abbey is another major draw, and using the pass can be valuable when same-day tickets are unavailable. The pass has helped people gain admission on a day when standard tickets had sold out. That is a practical advantage, but it should not be mistaken for guaranteed immediate entry.
Allow time for a queue. Visitors with passes have still had to wait, and one reported a wait of about an hour. Check the Abbey’s current entry arrangements and opening times before setting off, and avoid building a tight schedule around a precise arrival time.
The Abbey is a place to slow down and look around, not just tick off a famous name. If you are using a 3- or 4-attraction pass, pairing it with nearby sights may make sense, but keep enough breathing room for the visit and any line.
St Paul’s and Tower Bridge: useful additions to a landmark day
St Paul’s Cathedral appears often in pass combinations alongside Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. These are substantial sights, so they work best when you set a realistic pace. A 3- or 4-attraction pass lets you spread admissions across several days rather than making one marathon of central London.
Tower Bridge is another included option in the current selection described for the pass. It is easy to confuse the bridge with the Tower of London when planning, so check the exact attraction name in the Go City app before using an admission. Both may suit a day focused on London’s eastern landmarks, but they are separate attractions.
A QR code has been enough for straightforward entry at several sights, including the Tower of London and St Paul’s. Westminster Abbey is less predictable because of its queue. The useful rule is simple: expect the code to help with admission, not to replace each venue’s entry process.
London Eye and The Shard: views with a booking caveat
The London Eye and The Shard offer the kind of high-up views that make a city’s scale click. They can also be popular, time-sensitive choices. Check the app for reservation instructions before visiting. The London Eye may require advance booking, and The Shard has also been identified as a reservation-required attraction.
Do not assume you can arrive whenever you like just because you have a pass. One visitor had to return to the London Eye after making a booking, while another found the time slot was checked on arrival. The safest approach is to reserve as early as the app allows and confirm the details again before you travel to the attraction.
The pass is most useful here if the view is already on your wish list and the combined ticket price makes sense. It is less useful if you are counting on a spontaneous visit at a particular hour.
Big Bus and Thames trips: sightseeing that also helps you get around
A hop-on hop-off bus can do more than add another attraction to your tally. It gives you a broad view of the city and can help you orient yourself before choosing which sights deserve more time. A Thames cruise can also turn travel between places into part of the day, with some pass options allowing a ride toward Greenwich.
Check the exact terms in the app. Bus activation may need to happen with the driver or a staff member near a stop, rather than at every pier or boarding point. The pass does not replace the operator’s own boarding instructions, so ask before joining a queue if the process is unclear.
These options can be especially useful if you do not want every pass credit to go toward indoor landmarks. But treat them as activities with their own time commitments, not as instant transport. If your schedule is tight, count the time spent riding when deciding how many admissions to buy.
Set up the app before you are standing at the gate
The pass is digital, and the basic admission process is often a scan of the QR code. You need to download the Go City app and sync the pass using the confirmation details supplied after purchase. The separate app is one extra step, and the instructions may not feel obvious at first.
Do this before your day of sightseeing. Find the confirmation number and check that the pass appears in the app. Then look up each chosen attraction there, especially to see whether it requires a reservation. Keep the Klook voucher available as well, since it contains the details needed to connect your purchase to the Go City app.
Only e-vouchers are accepted; printing the voucher is not required. The pass does not offer fast-track access, so you may still wait with other visitors. Also check current opening times on the attraction’s own website, since hours can change at short notice. Re-entry is not allowed after leaving a venue, so plan breaks and meals accordingly.
Who gets the most from this pass?
I would consider the Explorer Pass if you have a clear list of included sights and want to visit them over several days. It is especially appealing if you prefer to set your own pace, want the option to mix major landmarks with a bus or cruise, and have checked that the total price beats individual tickets.
It can also suit a first London visit. The choice of attractions gives you room to combine royal and religious history, skyline views and city sightseeing without buying a separate pass for every stop. Families can choose child passes for ages 5 to 15. For children aged 0 to 4, check each attraction’s rules, since infant admission requirements can differ.
I would be more cautious if you have only one or two sights in mind, are unsure which attractions you want, or prefer to make every plan at the last minute. The pass has a long purchase validity, but once activated, your 30-day period begins. And a pass does not make a packed itinerary easier: each admission takes time, and queues can eat into the day.
Should you book the Go City London Explorer Pass?
Book it if you can name the attractions you want, confirm they are currently included, and see a clear saving against the ticket prices you would otherwise pay. For a flexible plan built around expensive landmarks, the choice of 2 to 7 admissions and 30 days to use them can be a sensible fit.
Skip it if the maths is close, your plans are uncertain, or individual online tickets cost less. Before paying, check reservation requirements for the London Eye and The Shard, allow extra time for Westminster Abbey, and make sure the chosen pass size matches the number of places you can realistically visit. That small bit of homework is what turns a convenient bundle into a good-value one.
Go City London Explorer Pass
“Easier to use than expected. You can just scan to enter. For the London Eye, you need to book in advance, but they didn't even check the time (we a…”
FAQ
How many attractions can I visit with the Explorer Pass?
You can choose a pass for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from a selection of more than 75 London attractions and experiences. The available options can change.
How long is the pass valid?
The voucher is valid for 365 days from the booking confirmation date. Once activated, the pass is valid for 30 days or until all included admissions have been used.
Do I need a physical pass?
No. Use the e-voucher and Go City app. Printed vouchers are not accepted.
How do I connect my purchase to the Go City app?
Download the Go City app and enter the confirmation details from your voucher to sync the pass. Set this up before visiting attractions.
Does the pass include fast-track entry?
No. The pass does not include fast-track or line-skipping access.
Do I need to book attractions in advance?
Some attractions require advance reservations. The London Eye and The Shard may require booking, so check the app and each attraction’s current instructions before visiting.
Can I get a refund if I change my plans?
Unused and unactivated passes may be refunded within their validity period. A pass cannot be refunded after it has been redeemed or expired.
What ages qualify for a child pass?
Child passes are for ages 5 to 15. For children aged 0 to 4, check with each attraction or tour to find out whether admission is free or required.
