Explore London with an All-Inclusive Pass: This Comprehensive Guide Shows You How to Save Money and Travel Stress-Free

Since the UK canceled all entry restrictions related to the pandemic last month, passenger traffic at London Heathrow Airport has reached its highest level since March 2020. At the same time, the recovery of flights to the UK has created ideal conditions for London travel, so it's time to start planning your London trip! The London Pass brings you a super comprehensive guide to exploring London with a pass, showing you step by step how to enjoy a cost-effective, worry-free, and hassle-free London journey.

Traveling to London requires applying online for a Standard Visitor Visa and booking an appointment at a visa application center, with the earliest application date being three months before your trip. The visa fee is £100, and it is valid for six months.

● Visit the Standard Visitor Visa page on the UK Visas and Immigration website, select Chinese as the language and China as the visa location;

● Enter your email address and set a password to create an account;

● Fill out the visa application form in English;

● Pay the visa application fee online;

● Go to the UK Visa Application Center you booked online to submit the printed application form and other required materials, and provide fingerprints and a photo.

Currently, the UK has abolished all entry restrictions related to the pandemic—all travelers arriving in the UK, whether vaccinated against COVID-19 or not, no longer need any form of COVID-19 test, do not need to quarantine upon arrival, and no longer need to fill out a passenger locator form.

Attractions and Activities

In travel planning, the most important part is choosing attractions and activities. The London Pass recommends the following attractions and experiences to help you create an unforgettable London trip.

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

When it comes to an easy way to see London, the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus is definitely one of them. Sitting in a comfortable double-decker bus, traveling along classic routes that connect London's famous attractions, listening to the guide's commentary while enjoying the city's scenery—who could resist such a pleasant way to travel?

There are stops at popular attractions such as the Tower of London, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square. After visiting, you can hop back on the bus to continue your journey. The hop-on hop-off bus is truly a travel tool that seamlessly connects London's attractions.

Whether you choose the Big Bus or Golden Tours sightseeing routes, you can easily visit popular attractions in central London, better hear the city's stories, and experience its culture and scenery.

As you pass over London's iconic Tower Bridge, have you ever wondered where its name comes from? Look over at the nearby Tower of London—that's it!

Known as the 'British Forbidden City,' the Tower of London sits on the north bank of the River Thames and is one of the world's most famous fortresses. It has served as a royal palace, prison, armory, and even a zoo, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. From the 1070s to the present, the Tower of London has witnessed centuries of history and rich royal life, making it a powerful symbol of British heritage.

Inside the Tower, the Norman tower built from creamy white stone was completed in 1100 and is historically called the White Tower, its most prominent building. The White Tower is 32.6 meters high, has three floors, and features four turrets jutting out at the corners—three square and one round—with a spiral staircase inside leading to the top floor. The White Tower houses the Royal Jewel House, which displays crowns, scepters, and royal jewels from the 17th century onward.

In addition, highlights of the Tower of London include the extensive collection in the Royal Armouries, a remnant of a Roman wall, and a chilling torture exhibition.

The Shard Observation Deck

Standing on the banks of the River Thames is another unmissable modern building: The Shard. At 310 meters tall, it is the tallest building in the UK and the second tallest in Europe, becoming a new London landmark since its opening in 2012.

Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, The Shard took three years to build. Its shape, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, makes it look like a 16th-century spire or the mast of a tall ship. Moreover, this design allows the distinctive building to blend perfectly into London's cityscape without seeming out of place.

Floors 2 to 28 are used as office space, floors 31 to 33 house restaurants, the five-star Shangri-La Hotel occupies 18 floors (34–52), floors 53 to 65 are residential apartments, and floors 68 to 72 offer the best panoramic views, thus serving as the observation deck. On a sunny day, standing on the observation deck offers a view of London's beautiful scenery over 60 kilometers around; at sunset, the colors of the city under the setting sun are even more brilliant.

All of the above attractions and tours can be visited for free with a London Pass. Moreover, the London Pass includes 80+ popular city attractions and offers fast-track entry at many well-known sites, providing convenience and savings.

The London Pass is priced by the number of days and comes in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10-day options. The longer the pass, the cheaper the daily cost and the better the value. For example, a 10-day pass costs only £161, averaging just £16.1 per day in attraction admission fees—visiting just one attraction can already make it worthwhile.

The pass can be purchased on the official website or through the mini-program, where the mini-program is more user-friendly and convenient: enter the London Pass detail page from the main interface, select the desired day pass, fill in your personal information as requested, and receive a verification code to confirm payment directly.

Purchasing on the official website is similar to the mini-program: select the desired day pass—(optional: add the Oyster Travelcard)—choose your travel dates—choose payment method—fill in relevant information—complete payment.

As a smart sightseeing pass, the London Pass is very easy to use. If you buy online, after purchasing, download the Pass app and save the e-pass to your phone. Before entering each attraction, show the QR code for scanning. If you buy through the WeChat mini-program, open the 'Orders' page in the mini-program and present the QR code to start your trip. If you prefer a physical pass, you can choose to have it delivered or pick it up in London.

The first time you scan the QR code to enter an attraction activates the London Pass. After activation, you must use it on consecutive days based on the pass duration. Please note that the London Pass counts valid calendar days from activation, not 24-hour periods, so the earlier you start using the pass in a day, the more time you have to visit more attractions included in the pass.

Covering 80+ popular London attractions, easy to purchase and use, valid for up to 24 months, and comes with a free comprehensive Chinese-language 'London Travel Guide' and over 20 exclusive offers for dining, shopping, and theater, the London Pass has become the choice of more and more travelers.