How long does the London Pass last after activation?

Between 1 and 10 consecutive calendar days, depending on the duration you bought. The clock starts the day of your first scan and runs in calendar days, not 24-hour periods.

When does the London Pass actually start?

On the day you scan it at your first attraction — not the day you buy it. Unactivated passes have no expiry inside the validity window (90 days from purchase).

Does the London Pass run in 24-hour periods?

No. It runs in consecutive calendar days. A 2-day pass first scanned at 4pm Monday expires at end-of-day Tuesday, not 4pm Wednesday — so a late first scan effectively burns half a day.

How long do I have to use my London Pass before it expires?

12 months from purchase for the unactivated pass. Once activated, your chosen duration (1–10 days) starts and runs consecutively.

Can I pause the London Pass between days?

No. The London Pass runs in consecutive days with no pauses. If you want to use a pass across non-consecutive days, buy the London Explorer Pass instead — it runs across a 30-day window.

London Pass Duration: 1–10 Days Explained (2026)

The London Pass lasts for 1 to 10 consecutive calendar days from the moment you scan it at your first attraction. Here's exactly how the clock works, the gotcha that catches most buyers out, and how long you have before it even needs to be activated.

The short answer

Pass you buy	How long it lasts after activation
1-day London Pass	1 consecutive calendar day
2-day London Pass	2 consecutive calendar days
3-day London Pass	3 consecutive calendar days
4-day London Pass	4 consecutive calendar days
5-day London Pass	5 consecutive calendar days
6-day London Pass	6 consecutive calendar days
7-day London Pass	7 consecutive calendar days
10-day London Pass	10 consecutive calendar days

Plus an unactivated validity window of 12 months from purchase — meaning you can buy the pass today and not scan it for the first time until next summer.

Consecutive calendar days — the bit people get wrong

The pass clock runs in calendar days, not 24-hour periods. This is the single most important detail and the one most buyers miss.

Worked example. You buy a 2-day London Pass. You fly in Monday morning, drop your bags, and don't scan in until Monday at 4pm at the Tower of London. Your pass is now valid Monday and Tuesday — and expires at end-of-day Tuesday, not 4pm Wednesday. The Monday afternoon was effectively half a wasted day.

To get full value from a 2-day pass, make your first scan early on day one. The classic ordering is Tower of London at opening (9am), then Tower Bridge next door, then a Thames cruise across to Westminster Abbey in the afternoon.

When the clock starts

The clock starts on the day of your first scan, not the day of purchase. Buying the pass weeks or months ahead doesn't burn any days — it just sits unactivated in the Go City app until you use it.

The unactivated pass is valid for 12 months from the purchase date. After that it expires whether you've scanned it or not, so don't buy a pass for a trip more than a year out.

Can the pass be paused?

No. Once activated, the London Pass runs in consecutive days with no breaks, no pauses, and no carry-over for days you don't use.

If you want to use a pass across non-consecutive days — e.g. weekend in London, three days elsewhere in the UK, weekend back in London — the day-based London Pass is the wrong product. Buy the London Explorer Pass instead: you pick 2–7 attractions upfront and have 30 days to use them in any order, on any days.

How long should you actually buy for?

Most first-time visitors overestimate how many days of intense sightseeing they can do. After two days of 3+ attractions, jet-lagged or not, most people are tired. The 3-day pass is the bestseller for a reason — it covers the obvious must-do list (Tower, Westminster, St Paul's, Hampton Court, Windsor, a Thames cruise and a Hop-On Hop-Off bus) without forcing you to march.

Quick guide:

1 day — short stopover; pick three high-value attractions and go hard
2 days — long weekend; comfortable pace, 2–3 attractions per day
3 days — sweet spot for a first proper visit; covers most must-do list
5 days — adds day trips (Windsor, Stonehenge); same price as 4-day so always pick this over 4
7–10 days — only if you genuinely want to sightsee every day; most people don't

Refunds before the clock starts

Unactivated passes are refundable within 90 days of purchase. Once you scan it at the first attraction, the clock starts and refunds are no longer available — even if you don't use any other attractions.

The fastest way to pick a duration

Open our free comparison tool, tick the attractions you want to visit and how many days you have. It'll tell you which duration actually saves you money for your specific list.

How long does the London Pass last?