I have been researching the London Pass for a trip in late May/early June 2025. I am still confused. Let me first say that monetary savings or not is not my concern. I would purchase the London Pass strictly for convenience and time saving. With that said, if I have the London Pass, can I or should I reserve time slots as well for the most popular places? I realize that some places require a reservation and I will do so. With the London Pass, how long should I plan on waiting to enter? I realize I have to wait in the security lines along with everyone else. I have also read that time slot reservations are recommended for museums (free and not included on the London Pass) such as the British Museum. I have traveled to many other countries and popular sites but London seems like a different animal. Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Singapore
690 posts
Leaving aside the issue of cost (which was covered in a recent thread), I can't see how London Pass will help you save time.
As a regular traveler to the UK (usually 4-5 times a year) my impression is that it's not really necessary to prebook aside from a handful of very popular sites (actually really only the Churchill War Rooms comes to mind). Windsor Castle I would prebook, but have only ever booked the day before, and never had a problem. The major free museums I wouldn't bother prebooking unless there's a particularly popular ticketed special exhibition. I popped in to the National Gallery yesterday and waited a grand total of two minutes for entry. Looking at the Tower of London, there are plenty of slots available for tomorrow.
As you have observed, security will be the main delay, and the London Pass won't help with that. You'll be in the same queue as everyone else.
If you share which sites you're looking at, you'll get better advice. But my advice is don't bother.
Posted by
88 posts
In many cities, even the top tourist cities in the world, the 2-3 most popular tourist attractions can be completely mobbed while everything else has zero wait for tickets/security. The time of day and time of the year also make a massive difference.
So, it's truly impossible to give a general answer. My instinct is to always reserve a time slot if I can. What I've experienced booking free tickets the British Museum is that booking a reserved time sent me through a quicker security line but nobody ever really looked my ticket. I would research the particular attraction and see if wait times/lines are an issue, and plan my itinerary from there.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8096 posts
We had 10-day London passes last year, in April. We did save money, having that long to see sights and with the pricing on the 10-day Pass. It was convenient, showing the two QR codes and getting scanned right in to most places. Two exceptions that took more time:
The Florence Nightingale Museum (highly recommended) gets so few London-Pass-wielding visitors that it took a couple of minutes for the woman at the front desk to figure out how to get us admitted, although there was no line of any kind, and it was a very minor delay. It was nice chatting with her as she figured it out.
Westminster Abbey had two doors. With London Passes, we were sent to the back of the line for the left door, and it took about 45 minutes in the morning, gradually snaking to the door during a light rain. That was the “regular” entrance, and once we got to the cashier window just inside the door. we got in immediately. Other tourists spent much longer at the window, paying their admission. The other door, on the right, appeared to be for people who’d reserved (and paid) ahead, and weren’t using London Passes. They had zero wait, but paid separately for that.
And for express, much faster than expected entries:
St. Paul’s had two lines - regular to the left, and London Pass Only to the right. The regular line was somewhat long (maybe 10 minutes, certainly not 45), but we had only two people in front of us in our line, and we got in almost immediately. Our Security Check was in that line, and took 10 seconds.
The Shard had an express line just for London Passholders (reservation required), and we were let in before our reserved time.
Thames Clipper boat - got moved to the front of the boarding line after showing the London Pass. With the boat round-trip and fast admission to Greenwich sights, a day to Greenwich was one of the best values of the London Pass.