The cheapest way to visit London's top attractions in 2026

1. Fill your days with free attractions first

London's national museums are free — always, year-round, no booking required. That includes:

• British Museum — ancient civilisations, the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles
• Tate Modern — world-class modern and contemporary art, great Thames views
• Natural History Museum — dinosaurs, the blue whale, brilliant for families
• National Gallery — free, Trafalgar Square
• Victoria & Albert Museum — free permanent galleries
• Science Museum — free
• National Portrait Gallery — free after its 2023 reopening

A day at two or three of these costs nothing and is genuinely world-class. Reserve your pass days for the paid icons.

2. Use the National Rail 2-for-1 offer

If you're travelling to London by train, your National Rail ticket unlocks 2-for-1 entry on dozens of attractions via the Days Out Guide (daysoutguide.co.uk). This includes Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, The View from The Shard and more. For a couple, that's effectively half-price entry on some of the most expensive attractions in London — easily £30–£50 saved in a single day.

3. Book direct and online — skip the resellers

Many third-party resellers add a 10–20% booking fee on top of face value. Always check the official website first. Door prices are always the most expensive option. Booking ahead online saves:

• Tower of London: same price online but skips the 30–60 min summer queue.
• London Eye: up to £10 cheaper online vs door; off-peak morning slots cheapest.
• The Shard: advance tickets from £25, door price £32+.
• Hampton Court Palace: small online discount plus guaranteed entry at busy times.

4. Bundle your paid attractions with a pass

Once you're visiting three or more paid attractions in a day, a sightseeing pass usually wins. The Go City All-Inclusive starts at £79/day and covers 80+ attractions. Three big-ticket sights alone — Tower of London + Westminster Abbey + Tower Bridge = £81.30 — already exceeds the pass price.

For a family of 4, the saving multiplies — children's pass prices are heavily discounted and some attractions offer free child entry with a paying adult on the pass.

5. Avoid the expensive time slots

• London Eye: peak evening slots cost significantly more. Weekday morning slots are cheapest.
• The Shard: twilight tickets (after sunset) are priced as premium — daytime gives better visibility and costs less.
• Tower of London in summer: arrive at 9am opening to avoid 45-minute entry queues.

Find your cheapest option in 30 seconds

Tick the attractions you actually want to visit in our London comparison tool — it calculates whether a pass or individual tickets saves more for your specific party and itinerary.