London is an expensive city and sightseeing can end up costing you a lot of money. That is why money-saving tips are always welcomed. One of the best ways to save money when sightseeing in London is the London Pass .
The London Pass is a VIP card that allows you free entry into over 60 attractions around London as well as a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Apart from the free entry, you also get Fast Track Entry into the most popular attractions. It comes in 1, 2 3, 6 and 10 day options. Obviously the more days you choose, the more flexibility you have. Discount vouchers to several stores and restaurants are also included.
We had a 1-day pass. If you have more time, then check out this great 3-day London Pass itinerary.
We chose to use our London Pass to explore the Tower of London and the historic village of Greenwich (pronounced "Grinidge" or "Grinitch). We started our day by climbing onto the included hop-on hop-off bus tour where we enjoyed the on-board commentary. This in itself is a great inclusion as it is something we always use when traveling.
Hop-on hop-off bus
We alighted at the Tower of London, skipped the long lines gleefully and entered the Tower where we got to see the Crown Jewels and other fascinating historical treasures.
Tower of London
After exploring the Tower of London, we took a walk to the nearby pier, and collected our tickets for the river cruises, which were also included in the London Pass offering.
A leisurely cruise on a comfortable boat, with on-board commentary, took us to Greenwich village, where we alighted.
Thames River Cruise
We took a walk through the tunnel under the Thames River to admire the views from the other side then returned to explore the Cutty Sark, one of the most famous sailing ships in the world, and the last surviving tea clipper. Free entrance was included in the London Pass. The kids were given interactive booklets which help explain the ship’s significance in a child-friendly way and included scavenger hunts and activities to help them make the most of their visit. The ship was fascinating and the kids, as well as the adults enjoyed exploring it.
Cutty Sark
Our London Pass then gave us free access to the Royal Observatory which was opened in 1676.
We explored the museum and stood over the Greenwich Meridian line, with one leg in the Eastern Hemisphere and the other in the Western Hemisphere. The kids were fascinated as they had studied the Greenwich Meridian in school.
Entrance to the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Naval College was also included.
View from Royal Observatory
Some of the other popular attractions covered by the pass are the Tower of London, Tower Bridge Exhibition, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the London Zoo.
Cost per adult (in £ - 2015)
Hop-on hop-off bus for one day - £22
Tower of London - £22
Return Thames River Boat Cruise - £18
Royal Observatory – £9.50
Cutty Sark – £12.15
Total – £83.65
London Pass (1 day) – £55
Savings – £28.65
In South African rands, that is a whopping R682 saving per person.
As you can see the London pass offers great time and money savings and convenience. We felt like VIP’s when we got to skip the long December queues and with our fast-track entrance privileges. The London Pass app gave us more information on all the included attractions.
Visit London Pass for more information and to see the included attractions. They also have great frequent promotional offers.
Tower Bridge
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
This it's so useful to know!! Looks like you had a great time 🙂 the tower of London is somewhere I really want to go and it's on my to do list for when my cousins visit us 🙂
Thanks Fatima. One can spend hours in the Tower of London. I was fascinate with how much of London's history took place there. Enjoy your visit when you go.