Using the 2 for 1 vouchers you get with a train ticket to London or One Day ‘paper’ Travelcard is the best way to save money on attraction entrance fees in London.
If you don’t want to do the 2 for 1 deal or if you’re visiting London on your own, it’s possible to buy cheaper tickets or find discount vouchers for London’s major attractions.
Discount vouchers
The Smartsave website has discount vouchers for stadium tours and smaller museums. Get 20% off the standard admission for up to six people at:
- Household Cavalry Museum
- KidZania London
- London Stadium Tour
- Oval Stadium Tour
- Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition & Tour
- Wembley Stadium Tour
Just show the voucher at the ticket office when you pay.
Buy tickets online
Some of London’s main attractions sell cheaper tickets if you book online.
In some cases it is even cheaper to buy discounted tickets from a 3rd party ticket sellers like AttractionTix or Discount London.
Family Tickets
Most tourist attractions offer cheaper tickets for families. These are usually cheaper than buying separate adult and child tickets.
In some cases it’s cheaper than doing the 2 for 1 voucher offer, especially if you book online. London Zoo family tickets are only available if you book online.
Attraction passes
If you plan to visit a lot tourist attractions or if you plan to travel outside London (on day trips or touring), it might be more cost-effective to buy a sightseeing pass. See our guide to the main passes.
Discounted admission at certain times
Westminster Abbey Lates
During the summer, Westminster Abbey is open on selected Wednesdays between 4.30pm and 7pm (last admission 6pm) and entry is £13 adults, £6 child (6-16). It’s usually £27 adult and £12 child.
This is a self-guided visit. There are no verger tours or multimedia guides available. You are given a basic map with the highlights which has enough information for visitors who only want to see inside. If you want a more detailed guide buy one from the Westminster Abbey shop, outside the Abbey.
Check the abbey is open before visiting. If there’s a special service, it won’t be open.
Open House
Some historic houses and specialist museums with admission fees are free to visit during Open House in September 2025
To be honest, the main benefit of the event is the chance to see unusual places that are not normally open to the public for free. The participation of established fee-paying attractions has reduced considerably over recent years.
Buy one ticket for unlimited entry for a year
The following attractions let you visit as many times as you like within one year when you buy a ticket directly from them.
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- London Transport Museum
- Royal Collection Trust properties including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace Mews and the Queen’s Gallery
- Westminster Abbey will convert a ticket purchased online into an annual pass, allowing 3 visits for the price of one.
Reciprocal agreements
If you’re a member of a heritage organisation outside the UK, your membership may entitle you to visit certain attractions for free. The National Trust offer free entry to members of similar organisations in 14 other countries.
Voluntary donations/Gift Aid
You might notice that some museums and attractions, mainly those run by charitable trusts, ask for a voluntary donation on top of their admission fee. This is extremely beneficial to the attraction – it means they can claim a larger tax refund.
If paying an extra 10% or so on the standard entrance fee doesn’t make a difference to you, then that’s fine. If you’re strapped for cash, you don’t have to pay it.
If you’re not a UK taxpayer, you don’t have to pay it at all (but you can if you want!).
If you don’t want to appear mean, just say you’re not a UK taxpayer.
Last updated: 6 October 2023