Save Money & Explore the U.K. With An Attraction Pass

If you’re in the UK and want to explore as much as possible, a UK Attraction Pass is what you need.

If you carefully plan your itinerary, you’ll save money whether you use one or more of the following passes.

Knowing what to see is crucial in getting the most out of your pass. Their websites allow you to not only find attractions and historical castles that you may not have been aware of, but also plan your trip to accommodate everything and save money and time.

I’ve used some of these passes, and some I haven’t, but they are invaluable tools for travelling around the UK.

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If you plan on travelling around the UK, the best way to get around is by car. You get to see more, and you will find hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.

Need A Car?

If you want to book a car, you can use one of these rental websites: EconomyBookings.com, DiscoverCars or Expedia.

Need Accommodation?

Try using these accommodation websites: Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia to find a comfortable place to sleep after your day of exploring.

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All prices and times were correct when this was written or updated, but please check the websites when you wish to visit.

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Visit Britain Shop

Order your passes or other attraction tickets from this online shop.

From city passes to attraction tickets to transport cards, the Visit Britain Shop has them all and more. This should be your first website to check out the deals on offer.

I have provided links from the Australian site, but you can change your country and language by clicking in the top right-hand corner of the site.

Merlin Magical London 5-in-1 Pass

I have used the Merlin Magical London pass and had a fantastic day with it. It includes entry to Madame Tussaud’s, the London Dungeon, the London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, and the SeaLife London Aquarium.

I started at Madame Tussaud’s, where I had to validate the pass, then went to the London Eye, where the other attractions are.

This is an easy pass to see all the attractions in one day, as they are in the same location except Madame Tussaud’s.

You can read more about my day in 2019 at these attractions on my blog, Merlin London Big Adventure Pass.

You can find London Passes here.

The London Pass Includes A One-Day Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus

I also used this attraction pass and bought a 10-day pass.

If you want to visit all the attractions that London has to offer, such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the view from The Shard, then the London Pass is for you.

Over 85 attractions are covered in this attraction pass, including Greater London.

The pass can be purchased as a one-day or ten-day pass. One day is classified as a calendar day, not 24 hours.

It is best to plan out what attractions you want to see and fit them together like a puzzle so you can see as much as possible, in as much time as possible, at the best price.

You can certainly save a lot of money using this pass, and the one-day hop-on, hop-off bus is a bonus for orienting yourself around London.

To see prices and purchase tickets, you can find the information here.

You can read more about my experiences with The London Pass on my blog, Using The London Pass.

Big Bus Tour

Don’t have time to see all the attractions London has to offer? Try a Big Bus Tour and see all of London from the top of a double-decker bus.

With an audio commentary and the best seats in the house for taking photos, your short stay will be filled with memories as you see all of London’s top landmarks in comfort.

Explore London with the Explorer Pass

I haven’t used this attraction pass, and it works differently. During its 60-day validity, you can visit 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 attractions from over 65.

Once again, it would be best to list attractions you want to see and plan your days around those to determine which pass is best for you.

Please click here for more information on this pass, including purchasing through the VisitBritain online shop.

Explore the UK with Transport Passes

You can find passes to the Tube and other London transport means in the British shop.

Unless you want to spend hours walking around London to each attraction, picking up a Visitor Oyster Card or London Travelcard will save you time and allow you to see a different side of London.

Travelcards are purchased for 1, 2, 3, or 7 days, whereas the Oyster Card can be topped up as many times as you like and never expires, so you can use it whenever you visit.

You can also use the Oyster Card between Heathrow and London and Gatwick and London.

They can be used on the following:

• London Underground (the Tube) 
• Overground and National Rail trains in London
• London buses
• South London trams
• Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
• The Thames cable car (Emirates Air Line)

You can also purchase a ticket that is only used between Heathrow and London.

To purchase the transport passes, please click here through the VisitBritain online shop.

Explore the UK with Historic Passes

Explore the UK with the National Trust Pass

If you live in the UK and don’t have reciprocal membership from your country, then a National Trust Pass would be the way to go.

This pass covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It can also be used in Scotland under their reciprocal use.

With over 500 properties to visit, it is an economical way to see these attractions and gives you an insight into what is available where you are travelling.

Membership is covered for 12 months and includes parking and entry to the properties, a handbook with information on places to visit, National Trust magazine three times a year and access to a members-only area with information on previews and behind-the-scenes features.

Prices

All prices are for 12 months.

You can find information on more than 500 properties, prices and more on their website here.

If you have a National Trust Pass in your country, you can also use it in the UK for free entry.

Explore the UK with the National Trust Overseas Visitors Touring Pass

If you’re only in the UK briefly, then the National Trust Touring Pass is for you.

Unlike the National Trust pass, this pass is only for 7 or 14 days, but all the information from above is applicable.

It is still valuable to spend money on visiting historic buildings, gardens, and castles, and you can use it the same way you would on other days by planning your days well.

Prices

• A single pass (one adult):
  • Four days – £36
• • Eight days – £48
• • 14 days – £63
  A joint pass (two adults):
  • Four days – £59
• • Eight days – £78
• • 14 days – £103
  A family pass (with one adult):
  • Four days – £40
• • Eight days – £52
• • 14 days – £68
  A family pass (with two adults):
  • Four days – £62
  • Eight days – £82
  • 14 days – £108

Click here to book your pass.

If you have a National Trust Pass in your country, you can also use it in the UK for free entry.

Explore the UK with the English Heritage Pass

If you travel around England, you have over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places to visit, including Stonehenge, Dover Castle, Carlisle Castle and Whitby Abbey.

These are real value-for-money passes if you are interested in the history of England. You will have unlimited access to these historical places for an entire year, including free parking. Up to 6 kids go free with each adult with a membership.

Prices

Click here for domestic prices.

Adult Members must live at the same address. Up to 6 kids go free with each adult.

Prices for Overseas Visitors

This pass has a choice of two consecutive day passes, 9-day or 16-day. Make sure you pick your day pass well, depending on how long you spend here and your interests.

1 April 2025  to 31 March 2026

9-Day

• Adult £56.00
• Two Adults £99.00
• Family* £112.00

16-Day

• Adult £66.00
• Two Adults £109.00
• Family* £122.00

*Two Adults and up to four other family members living at the same address and under 18 years of age.

Click here to purchase your ticket.

Enjoy 15% off Gift and Annual Memberships when you use code“EHAFF25” at checkout.

Membership benefits include:

• Free entry to iconic sites.
• Exclusive discounts in shops and cafes.
• A chance to support heritage preservation.

The code is valid until the 31st of December 2025.

Explore the UK with the Explorer Pass, Historic Scotland

This pass gives you access to all open Historic Scotland sites for 14 days.

A 14-day pass is valid for 14 consecutive days. Your pass will activate on the date of your first visit. You can visit multiple sites any day, but only one visit per site is permitted.

The pass includes entry to Edinburgh, Stirling, Urquhart Castles, Skara Brae, Fort George, and many more.

Prices

1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
14-Day:

• Adult (16-64) from £50.00
• Concession (65yrs+), full-time students (with valid ID) and unemployed (proof of Universal Credit or other qualifying benefit required) from £41.00
• Child (5-15yrs) from £31.00
• Under 7s are free.
• Family 2 adults and up to 3 children (5- 15 yrs) from £100.00

An adult must accompany children.

You can find their website here to book and see what properties this pass covers.

Explore the UK with the National Trust for Scotland

If you love history, then you will never want to leave Scotland.

With so much history in such a small country, the National Trust Pass is a must when you visit to learn about Scotland’s past.

Battlegrounds, Castles, famous Scots and gardens are here for you to enjoy and learn at a great price and with a picturesque backdrop.

Prices

• Adult £6.20 a month £74.40 annually
• Senior (60+) £5.55 a month £66.60 annually
• Young (16-24 years) £3.60 a month £43.20 annually
• Joint Adult £10.95 a month £131.40 annually
• Joint Senior £8.70 a month £104.40 annually

You can find their website here to book and see what properties this pass covers.

If you have a National Trust Pass in your country, you can also use it in the UK for free entry.

Explore the UK with the CADW Explorer Pass

This Welsh pass will take you into the history of Wales through 25 Castles and Historic Houses.

You can pick up a pass from most of the places you visit, as it isn’t available to purchase online. The passes come in 3-day or 7-day versions.

I purchased the 3-day pass, visited six castles and homes, and based myself in Conwy.

Please click here if you’d like to read more information on the pass, including places to visit and prices.

Prices

SINGLE ADULT             TWO ADULTS                 FAMILY*

3-DAY PASS               £25.90                        £38.80                        £62.20

7-DAY PASS               £38.80                        £58.30                         £72.60

*2 adults and up to 3 children/grandchildren under 18.

An adult must accompany children under 16.

English Heritage, Historic Scotland, and Manx Heritage passholders can visit Cadw sites at reduced prices or for free.

Conclusion

I highly recommend using an Attraction Pass to make your visit to the UK more cost-effective. I also find them invaluable tools in planning my vacation.

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Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links: Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art. If you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
• Car Hire—Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe—Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and bus travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy provide insurance coverage during your travels..
• Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• House Sitting is a great way to save on accommodation, and Trusted Housesitters offers house sittings worldwide.
• Photo Editing is a great way to bring your photos to life, and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
• Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• Sim cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).

If you want more, try my Travel Links and Resource page.

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