Tickets

Buy, maybe, skip

What is worth paying for in London

Pick your plan

1–2 days

  • Contactless
  • Free museums
  • One theatre night

Skip every pass.

3–5 days

  • Contactless
  • Free museums
  • Theatre
  • Pay per paid sight

Add a pass only if your paid list is long.

A week or more

  • Contactless with weekly cap
  • Railcard if day-tripping
  • Combo tickets for big sights

Now passes can pay off. Do the sums.

The verdicts

Buy

Contactless or Oyster

Tap in and out. Daily and weekly caps stop fares running away.

  • First-timer
  • Budget
  • Family
TfL fares ↗
Maybe

Visitor Oyster card

Only if your own card will not work or adds fees. Check it is still sold.

  • First-timer
  • Family
TfL fares ↗
Maybe

Railcards

Network, 16-25, Two Together and Senior cut rail fares. Worth it for several day trips.

  • Budget
  • Family
  • Day-tripper
Railcard.co.uk ↗
Maybe

All-in-one city pass

Pays off only if you pack many paid sights into few days. Work out your list first.

  • First-timer
  • Culture buff
Maybe

Attraction combo tickets

Bundles from one operator can beat single tickets. Compare against your actual plan.

  • First-timer
  • Family
Skip

Hop-on hop-off bus

Slow in traffic. The Tube, buses and walking cover the same sights for less.

  • Short on time
  • Mobility needs
Maybe

River boat

Scenic way to Greenwich or Westminster. River bus services accept contactless.

  • First-timer
  • Family
  • Couples
Thames Clippers ↗
Free

Free-entry museums

Major national collections are free to enter. Pay only for special exhibitions.

  • Budget
  • Family
  • Culture buff
Free & cheap London →

Side by side

OptionCostBest forVerdict
Contactless / Oyster ££ Everyone Buy
Visitor Oyster £ No suitable card Maybe
Railcard £ Frequent train trips Maybe
City pass £££ Many paid sights, few days Maybe
Combo ticket ££ Two or three big sights Maybe
Hop-on bus ££ Limited mobility Skip
River boat ££ Views and Greenwich Maybe
Theatre tickets ££–£££ An evening out Buy
Free museums Free Everyone Free

Prices and times change: check before you go. £ is the cheapest tier, £££ the dearest. We have not checked which attractions any pass includes, so always compare against the pass seller's current list.

Rules, fares and times change. These official pages have the current details (links checked on ).