Go City London Explorer Pass: 2-7 Things To do including Shard

London sightseeing can become expensive fast, especially when you add the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, The View from The Shard, and a Thames cruise. The Go City London Explorer Pass lets you choose two to seven attractions and use them over 30 days after your first visit. I especially like the freedom to mix major landmarks with smaller museums, and the two-day Big Bus tour can help you get your bearings early.

The catch is simple: you must plan. The pass is not automatically a bargain if you choose low-cost attractions, and some popular activities require reservations. I also recommend setting up the pass in the Go City app before you reach your first attraction, since a few visitors have had trouble when a barcode or email confirmation would not scan.

Key points to know before buying

• The Shard requires advance booking: Daytime reservations are required, with the final bookable time listed as 5:15 PM.
• Your 30-day period begins with first use: The pass is valid for one year after purchase, then activates at your first attraction.
• Choose expensive sights for the best value: The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court Palace, and The Shard can quickly justify the pass price.
• One credit equals one attraction: You can select two, three, four, five, six, or seven attractions, and each attraction can be visited once.
• The app is part of the experience: It contains your digital pass, attraction details, reservation instructions, and a sightseeing guide.
• Some attractions are outside central London: Hampton Court, Kew, Greenwich, the football stadiums, and the two theme parks need extra travel time.

How the London Explorer Pass works

The pass costs about $74.05 per person at the listed rate, though prices can change. You choose the number of attractions rather than buying a pass for a fixed number of days. That makes this different from an unlimited sightseeing card: a two-attraction pass is used for two visits, while a seven-attraction pass is used for seven.

You receive a digital credits package on your phone. The pass is available after confirmation, and you can connect it to the Go City app by selecting Get ticket and updating your email if needed. The app also provides a PDF guide, which is useful if you want a backup.

Your pass remains valid for one year from purchase before activation. Once you visit the first attraction, the 30-day clock begins. Each included attraction can be visited once, and transportation, food, drinks, and optional upgrades are not included.

That 30-day window is generous for most London trips. You can visit two major sights on a weekend, or spread your choices across a longer stay. The pass does not force you to rush through everything in one day.

Choosing attractions that make the math work

The best way to judge the pass is to list your intended attractions before buying. Add their normal admission prices, then compare the total with the pass price. You will usually get the strongest value from high-priced sights and full tours, not from small museums with modest entry fees.

A practical four-attraction combination might include the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, The View from The Shard, and a two-day Big Bus ticket. Those choices also give you four very different London experiences: royal history, a working religious landmark, a skyline view, and a broad city tour.

The pass is less useful if you only want one major attraction and several free museums. It can also lose value if you buy it first and then discover that your preferred sights have discounted admission on your dates. One useful example is Hampton Court Palace, where paying the regular gate price may not make sense if a lower seasonal rate is available.

Do not count an attraction until you have checked its current rules in the app. The list can change, and some activities have special booking conditions.

The Tower of London, The Shard, and Tower Bridge

The Tower of London is one of the strongest choices on the pass. William the Conqueror ordered this fortress built after the Norman conquest, and its location beside the Thames puts it at the center of London’s early power story. Allow about an hour, though you may want longer if you take your time inside.

The View from The Shard offers a very different experience. You receive access to the indoor viewing gallery and the open-air Skydeck on the 72nd floor, along with a panoramic guide and four digital photos. Plan for about two hours, including your reserved visit.

The Shard is the important scheduling trap. You must reserve in advance, daytime visits are allowed, and the last listed booking time is 5:15 PM. Do this before building the rest of your day around it.

Tower Bridge works well with the Tower of London because the two sights are close enough to pair in one part of London. The bridge dates from 1894 and includes exhibition areas as well as the crossing itself. Allow about an hour, then continue along the river or take a cruise.

Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral

Westminster Abbey is another major-value choice. It has hosted royal weddings and the coronation of almost every British monarch, including Elizabeth II. Inside, you walk through a Gothic church filled with royal and national history. Allow about two hours.

St. Paul’s Cathedral gives you a different view of London’s past. The dome dominates the skyline, while the interior includes the Whispering Gallery, a painted ceiling, and memorials to former kings and queens. A visit takes roughly 90 minutes.

These two churches are not interchangeable. Westminster Abbey is closely tied to monarchy and coronations, while St. Paul’s is the great cathedral of the City of London. If you enjoy architecture and national history, using two credits here can be worthwhile.

The nearby Jewel Tower, Household Cavalry Museum, Guards Museum, Wellington Arch, and Monument to the Great Fire of London offer shorter visits. They are useful add-ons if you already have the pass, but I would not buy a seven-attraction pass just to fill it with the shortest stops.

Big Bus, City Cruises, and seeing London from the river

The two-day Big Bus Tours ticket is one of the easiest ways to use a pass early in your trip. The route gives you a broad look at London, and you can get off for a closer visit, then rejoin the next bus. Allow around six hours if you want to use it as a serious sightseeing day.

I like this choice for a first day because it helps you connect distant parts of the city before you start making detailed plans. It also gives you a roof and a seat when London weather turns wet. The onboard guide points out major sights and adds context as you ride.

City Cruises offers a different view. Boats run between Westminster and Greenwich, with four stops and departures about every 40 minutes. From the river, you pass the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge before reaching Greenwich and its maritime attractions.

The cruise is listed as a one-day attraction, but that does not mean you need to spend an entire day on the boat. Use it as transport between sights when the schedule suits you. It pairs naturally with the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, and the Old Royal Naval College.

Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, and Kew Gardens

Kensington Palace takes about two hours and includes Queen Caroline’s Cabinet of Curiosities, the King’s Staircases, and Queen Mary’s State Apartments. Exhibitions change, so check the current program before you go.

Hampton Court Palace deserves more time and travel planning. Henry VIII favored this Tudor palace, and later royal residents added lavish rooms, paintings, tapestries, and other grand details. Allow about two hours at the palace itself, not counting your journey from central London.

Hampton Court is a good pass choice when you want a full royal site beyond the center. It is a poor choice for a tightly packed one-day itinerary because the journey takes time and the palace is not a quick stop.

Kew Gardens covers 121 hectares and combines plant collections, gardens, and notable buildings. You can spend far more than the listed one hour if you enjoy gardens, so treat that time as a minimum rather than a target. Kew works best on a day when you are happy to slow down.

Greenwich’s ships, science, and grand rooms

Greenwich gives you several ways to spend Explorer credits in one area. At the Royal Observatory, you can see where east meets west and learn how early scientists mapped the seas and stars. Allow about an hour.

The Cutty Sark is the last surviving tea clipper and takes about an hour to explore. You can walk aboard, see how life worked at sea, and connect the ship to Britain’s trading past.

The National Maritime Museum takes about two hours and covers exploration, naval travel, and seafaring technology. The Old Royal Naval College adds grand architecture and the Painted Hall, with about an hour suggested for the visit.

This cluster is one of the pass’s better combinations. You can reach Greenwich by Thames cruise, then choose two or three sites without crossing London between every stop.

Sports, film, museums, and unusual choices

Football fans have several strong options. The Emirates Stadium tour includes an audio handset with Arsenal players describing their memories, followed by access to the museum. Wembley Stadium offers an all-access tour connected to English football, concerts, and major sporting events. Chelsea’s tour includes the changing rooms, press room, dugout, players’ tunnel, and museum.

The London Stadium and The Kia Oval cover Olympic and cricket history, while the World Rugby Museum focuses on the international game. These are valuable choices only if you have a real interest in the sport, but fans can get more from them than from another general sightseeing stop.

The Shakespeare’s Globe tour looks at the playwright’s life and the reconstructed open-air theater. The London Transport Museum covers vehicles, posters, uniforms, signs, and other objects tied to the city’s transport system.

You can also choose the Postal Museum, Museum of Brands, Freud Museum, Garden Museum, Florence Nightingale Museum, Benjamin Franklin House, or the Courtauld Gallery. The British Museum includes an audio guide on your phone after a VoxCity host meets you near Russell Square and escorts you inside.

For a rainy afternoon, the Curzon cinemas offer a film screening under stated weekday and early weekend conditions. Frameless presents digital versions of famous artworks, while Moco Museum London focuses on modern and contemporary artists and includes a Go City gift bag.

Family day trips and attractions outside central London

London Zoo is in Regent’s Park and takes about three hours. It includes more than 750 species and is a sensible choice for families who want a full half-day activity.

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort and Chessington World of Adventures are larger commitments. Each takes about four hours at the attraction, and reservations are required. Check operating times and booking instructions in the app before counting either one toward your pass.

These options can make a seven-attraction pass valuable for families, but they also use much of a sightseeing day. Do not pair a theme park with several central London landmarks unless you have a long stay and a clear transport plan.

Practical tips for using the digital pass

Set up the Go City app before you leave your hotel. Open the pass, confirm that the barcode is ready, and download the guide or keep a printed copy. Printing the pass is a sensible backup if you expect weak Wi-Fi.

Arrive early at major sights. London’s popular attractions can develop queues, and an early start gives you more room for a second site later in the day. The pass does not guarantee every skip-the-line benefit, so ask the attraction staff where pass holders should enter.

Reservations matter most for The Shard, Brit Movie Tours, LEGOLAND Windsor, and Chessington. Brit Movie Tours asks for reservations at least 48 hours ahead. Check each attraction in the app rather than assuming that a digital pass alone secures entry.

This experience is limited to one visit per attraction, and the pass does not cover transportation between stops. Build your plan by neighborhood when possible: Tower sites together, Westminster with central London, and Greenwich attractions on the same day.

Should you buy the London Explorer Pass?

I would buy it if you already want at least three or four expensive attractions, especially the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, The Shard, Hampton Court, Big Bus, or a full stadium tour. It is also a good fit if you like choosing your schedule rather than joining a fixed sightseeing package.

I would skip it if your plan centers on free museums, one paid sight, or attractions with discounted admission on your dates. The pass rewards preparation. Make a short list, check reservations, compare regular prices, and choose the credit level that matches your actual plan.

For most first-time visitors, a four or five-attraction pass offers a sensible middle ground. You get the major sights without forcing yourself to sprint through London, and the 30-day activation period leaves room to adjust your schedule.

FAQ

How many attractions can I visit with the London Explorer Pass?

You can choose a pass for two, three, four, five, six, or seven attractions. Each credit covers one attraction, tour, or activity, and each attraction can be visited once.

How long is the pass valid?

The pass is valid for one year from the purchase date until you activate it. After your first attraction visit, it remains valid for 30 days.

Is The View from The Shard included?

Yes. The pass includes the indoor viewing gallery, the open-air Skydeck on the 72nd floor, a panoramic guide, and four digital photos. Daytime reservations are required, with the final listed booking time at 5:15 PM.

Do I need the Go City app?

The pass is designed for mobile use through the Go City app. The app contains the pass and planning information, and a PDF guide is also available. A printed copy can provide a useful backup.

Are transportation, food, and drinks included?

No. Transportation to and from attractions is not included, and food and drinks are excluded unless an attraction specifically states otherwise.

Do all attractions accept the pass without a reservation?

No. Some activities require reservations. Brit Movie Tours, The Shard, LEGOLAND Windsor, and Chessington World of Adventures are specifically noted as requiring advance arrangements.

Can I cancel the pass?

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.