London pass?
 

Is it worth it? Which company should you buy it from? Should you buy it before you leave or while you're there? Does it save that much time and money? Aren't most of the major attractions free?
Any help is appreciated...

It depends on what you want to do - the pass can be a great deal or a dud. Yes many museums are free but the pass covers far more, bike tours, boat trips as well as places like Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court - each costing about $20 to get in as well as St Pauls cathedral - about $12 and a raft of other places like Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition. I'll get out my fact sheet on the London Pass and give a better detailed analysis tomorrow. It's actually cheaper to buy it in the US - according to web site in UK the price is the same but in the UK they tack on about a 15% VAT (Value Added Tax) and you have to go somewhere specific to pick it up. RailEurope markets them in the US as does BritRail. Can also save time at places like Windsor as you need not wait in ticket lines. Most major museums are free but not most major sights - again Windsor, Tower, Globe, etc. Tomorrow we'll compare it with the Great British Heritage Pass which could be a better deal for you, depending on your plans. Sincerely, Palenque Bob.

If you want a pass I think a 4 day Great British Heritage Pass is a much better deal than the London Pass.

It covers Hampton Court Palace, Windsor, Kensington Palace, the Royal Mews, St Pauls, Tower Bridge Experience, and 1/2 off at the Tower of London plus more. And w/o all the schlocky things like the London Dungeon, etc. All for only £28 or $50.

mdejon42, The London Pass is worth purchasing if the admission value of the places you visit exceeds the cost of the pass. But with only two days in London, I think it very unlikely you'll recoup your costs.

PalQ - We will be in London for a week, so will look forward to your analysis tomorrow.

Janis - What is schlocky about the London Dungeon?

"What is schlocky about the London Dungeon?"

Absolutely everything. It is one of the most lame attractions - even an 8 year old could see through it.

Besides - why go to "fake history" when the whole city is full of the real thing?

re the London Pass - on a short visit, few people get much value out of it. There are so many free major attractions that in the average visitor's stay they won't go to more than a handful of the places covered by the pass. Unfortunately a lot of people arrange their itineraries around which sites are covered by the LP to get their money's worth. Big mistake IMHO.

London Pass Data:
Things covered:
Tower of London (L13.50) L=pounds or about $24
St Paul's Cathedral (L7) ($12.50)
Shakespeare's Globe Exhibit & tour (L8.50) ($15)
Windsor Castle (L12) ($22)
Hampton Court (L11.80) $22
Kew Gardens (L8.50) $15
HMS Belfast (L7) $13
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum (L6) $11
Wimbledon Tour Experience (Lup to 13.25) (up to $$24)
Cutty Sark (L4.25) $7.50
Eton College - Windsor (L3.80) $7
Vinopolis-City of Wine L12.50 ('free admission to classic tour') $22.50
Kensington Palace and Orangery L10.80 $19
Royal Mews - buckingham pal (working stables with Queen's horses and royal carriages- L5.50 $9.50
Catamaran Cruises on Thames L4.50 to 9 ($7-16)
London Bicycle Tour L15 $27
Jason's Canal Boat Trip up to L7 $13
Queen's Gallery (Buckingham P - world class collection of Old Masters)- L7.50 $13.50
and many more lesser museums and sights
Free Mobile Phone for 5 days - you pay for calls
Plus discounts of about 15% on Original London Walks, restaurants, theatres, etc.
London Pass Prices (Raileurope)
3 cons days $85
6 cons days $120
child 5-15 $56 and $76; under 5 free
London Pass Prices in UK (free pickup at BTA on Regent or else mailing fee applies
1 day L32 ($58)
2 day ??
3 day L52 ($94) + $9 above RailEurope
6 day L72 ($130) + $10 higher than RE
1 and 2 day passes not available from RailEurope

Whether the pass is good for you or not depends of course on what you want to see - but with steep prices for Tower, Windsor, kensington, Globe theatre, etc. can quickly become viable and then you may see some things you wouldn't normally do, like the Royal Mews stables, Vinopolis, etc. If taking boat or bike tours even more viable.
London Passes can be bought same day it seems at BTA on Regent street
Passes bought thru RailEurope have to be picked up either at BTA or at Eurostar arrivals at Waterloo Station (longer hours than BTA and always open when trains arrive, even on Sunday, except Christmas Day
VS GREAT BRITISH HERITAGE PASS
things this pass covers in duplicate with London Pass
(see above list for entry prices in $)
Tower of London but only 50% discount
St Paul's Cathedral
Queen's Gallery
Royal Mews stables
Hampton Court
Windsor castle
Globe theatre tour and exhibit
Kensington Palace
no other things under London Pass above are covered by Heritage Pass, which, however, does cover hundreds of expensive entries throughout the UK - Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge, Shakespeare Properties in Stratford, Warwick Castle and on and on
also special entry lines at Windsor and other mobbed places so you abort the ticket line
Heritage Pass Prices: (RailEurope)
4 days (consecutive) $50
7 days $75
15 days $95
1 month $130
Heritage Pass Prices in UK - pick up at BTA in London or hefty mailing fee applies:
4 day L28 ($50.40)
7 days L39 ($70)
15 days L52 ($94)
1 month L70 $127

Most London museums are free so not a factor with passes though LondonPass does cover entrance to some special exhibits at British Museum and National Gallery.
WHERE TO BUY
In UK BTA Regent st - limited hours may be closed Sundays
IN US RAIL EUROPE (prices about the same as UK but you need not track down the BTA to exchange your voucher, you get the pass which is activated at your first museum - I recommend using BETS (800-441-2387), a RailEurope agent for their competence and the fact that they don't charge some of RailEurope's mailing fees.
Note: I've had several Heritage passes from BETS and used them extensively - went into many more things that i would have if i was paying for each. On sale in UK is also English Trust Heritage passes but though these can be a great deal they do not cover nearly all the places the Great Britain Heritage Pass does - such as many castles and stately houses. If you google The London Pass you'll come up with the official London Pass web site that lists all the benefits and current prices (vs the $ depends of course on exchange rates - i used $1.80 to 1 pound - a favorable rate i think when all the charges are factored in.

According to a London Underground chief the fear outpaces the real threat of being involved in terrorism incidents - you'd have a great chance of being killed on the highways than in the Tube. So this is seemingly an irrational fear - you have more chance of being killed on the way to the airport than on the Tube.

Pal Q - Thank you so much for all that information. I appreciate it very much!! I'm sure others on this board will find it invaluable as well, saving many time and energy.

Just want to clarify - The Great British Heritage Pass DOES include Stonehenge, Warwick, etc. and the London Pass DOES NOT.

Thank you again!

One thing to consider re the London Pass. Many people look at that massive list of attractions and think it MUST be a bargain. It sort of overwhelms you with quantity.

Say you were trying to decide between a 3 day LP @ £52 or a 4 day GBHP @ £28. In 3 consecutive days you are not going to make it to more than 5 or 6 of the LP sites so having a huge list of sites is sort of overkill. W/ the 4 day GBHP you might get to 6 or 7 sites and maybe have to pay for one which would have been covered by the LP. But the GBHP costs £24 less - so in actuality it is usually the better bargain.

Or if you are deciding between a 6 day LP @ £62 or a 7 day GBHP @ £39 - you get one additional day for £33 less. Again - even if you have to pay for one or two attractions you are usually still money ahead w/ the GBHP.

THE SHORT OF IT
To many first-time tourists either pass will be a good deal:
These musts are covered by both:
Tower of London $24 ($12 50%off with Heritage pass)
St Paul's Cathedral $12.50
Kensington Palace $19 (spectacular collection of Princess Di's many gowns and wedding dress)
Windsor Castle $22
Eton College - a di reigueur Windsor Castle add on = $7
Shakepeare's Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibiton= $15
Total= $100 ($88 heritage pass)
I would highly recommend all the above for any first time visitor and you may well use the passes for other things.