Planning a trip to London can feel a bit like standing in the pick ’n’ mix aisle: everything looks tempting, but if you’re not careful you’ll end up with an overload of chocolate raisins and no fizzy cola bottles. London is jam-packed with attractions, cultural gems, leafy gardens and experiences on (and above) the Thames – but with limited time, it’s hard to know what to choose!
That’s where the London Pass trip planner comes in. I wanted a balance of history and culture, gardens, cruises and big landmarks, so I fed those preferences into the tool and waited to see what it came up with. It gave me a two-day itinerary with a neat mix of classics, curveballs and nearby extras. And then? I grabbed my Oyster card, laced up my trainers and put the planner to the test.
Day 1 – London legends and modern masterpieces
First up Tower Bridge
The first stop on my itinerary was Tower Bridge, I needed to book this one but the trip planner flagged that (helpful!), so I had my reservation ready when I arrived.
The exhibitions inside gave me a proper behind-the-scenes look at how this Victorian marvel actually works, and walking the glass-floor walkways above the Thames was both thrilling and faintly terrifying.
(Pro tip: don’t look down if you’ve just had a big breakfast or get queasy about heights.)
Easy stroll to the Tower of London
From there, I was recommended to head to the Tower of London, which was only a 5-minute walk away. Arriving there still fairly early in the day meant I dodged the worst of the queues (a small miracle in itself) and once inside, could head straight into the Crown Jewels before the midday crowds.
Standing in front of all that royal glittering glory felt surreal, and the Yeoman Warders’ tour added a dose of that humour only Brits can deliver, think centuries-old beheadings retold with cheeky punchlines.
It was the trip planner that nudged me to tackle the Tower earlier in my day and I was grateful because by the time I left, the queue to get in was starting to grow!
I would say it was a bit of a heavy history hit doing these back-to-back, but since they’re practically next door, it worked out.
Plus, with the itinerary’s grouping by location, I’d already ticked off two London icons without wasting any time zig-zagging across the city or sweating on the tube!
Afternoon on the Big Bus
After two big historical hits, I was ready for something a bit less legwork-heavy. Enter: the Big Bus Tour. The trip planner slotted this in at just the right time of day, when I was ready for a sit-down. I climbed onto the open top deck, let the wind ruffle my hair and (luckily) enjoyed a rare London phenomenon: sunshine.
The live commentary sprinkled in facts I’d never have Googled myself – like that the Ritz is the only UK hotel with its own Tea Sommelier – and it doubled up as my transport back into central London.
The trip planner clearly had efficiency in mind: the bus became both an attraction and a ride to the next one, although London traffic meant it probably wasn’t the speediest method of transport. But that said, seeing sites and learning on the go more than made up for the extra travel time!
Hop off at Trafalgar Square (free bonus!)
When the Big Bus rolled past Trafalgar Square, I hopped off for a quick wander. This isn’t technically on my pass, but the trip planner highlighted it as a free extra worth pausing for, and it was right.
Between Nelson’s Column, the giant lion statues (no, sadly, you shouldn’t climb them for a photo), and the fountains sparkling in the sunshine, it was the perfect pit stop. I grabbed a quick coffee nearby, people-watched and soaked up the buzz before jumping back on the bus.
End the day at Frameless – Immersive Art Experience
The bus dropped me off conveniently close to Frameless, which the planner had lined up as my last stop of the day. And what a finale. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but stepping into those vast projection rooms was like falling headfirst into the canvas. One minute I was swirled up in Van Gogh’s starry skies, the next I was knee-deep in Monet’s waterlilies.
It was the perfect counterpoint to my history-heavy morning: modern, immersive and more than a bit magical. Without the trip planner nudging me in this direction, I probably would have skipped it – but it ended up being one of the highlights of my trip.
Day 2 – Green escapes and golden-hour London
Morning at Kew Gardens
The planner suggested starting day two at Kew Gardens, and honestly? Inspired choice.
Wandering through the Palm House with its steamy glass and towering tropical palms felt like stepping into another world. I climbed the Treetop Walkway, looked out over a canopy of late-summer green, and finished with a quiet stroll through the Japanese Garden and the towering Great Pagoda.
Best of all, arriving early meant the gardens were still peaceful. For a city that’s usually buzzing, it was bliss to have whole pathways to myself. The trip planner had timed this perfectly – gentle, green and grounding after a busy first day.
It is admittedly quite a trek from Kew back into London, but I had selected it as one of my must-sees, so that one’s on me!
Back to central for Westminster Abbey
After a morning of peaceful nature, I was ready to head back into central London for one of the big ones: Westminster Abbey, getting there just after lunch and in time for London Pass entry from 1PM.
Stepping inside, I was floored by the Gothic architecture and the weight of history – this is where British monarchs have been crowned for nearly a thousand years.
The highlight? Spending time in Poets’ Corner, spotting names like Chaucer, Dickens and the Brontës.
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (free photo moment)
From Westminster Abbey, it was just a short walk to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben – a free bonus moment that the planner flagged up. Standing on Westminster Bridge snapping photos of Big Ben with the Thames in the foreground felt like the ultimate “yep, I’m really in London” shot.
Sometimes it’s the little touches that make a trip feel complete, and this free suggestion nailed it.
Cross the bridge for the London Eye
The planner then pointed me across Westminster Bridge to the London Eye. By this point the afternoon sun was beginning to dip, and conveniently (as instructed by my trip planner) I was just in time for my pre-booked spin around London’s big wheel!
As my pod slowly rose above the skyline, I could see all the places I’d explored: Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and even just about Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square all as the sun was setting over London – it doesn’t get much dreamier than that.
City lights from the Uber Boat
And then came the cherry on top: an Uber Boat ride along the Thames to close the day and my trip. By the time I boarded, right by the London Eye (convenient), the city lights had come on and the reflections on the river were mesmerizing.
Would I have thought to do the boat in the evening myself? Honestly, no. But the trip planner nailed it. It turned a simple river cruise into a front-row seat for one of the most beautiful London moments I’ve ever had and a perfect end to my adventure.
I did think it could have been a useful tool to travel between attractions earlier in the day, but the twinkling city lights definitely won me over!
How the trip planner helped
By the end of two jam-packed days, here’s what really stood out about the London Pass trip planner:
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Grouping by location: Tower Bridge before the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, before the London Eye – less time travelling, more time experiencing.
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Unexpected extras: free gems that were already on my route, like Trafalgar Square and Big Ben, added texture to the trip.
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Balanced variety: history, art, gardens and city sights – the trip planner created an itinerary which was a perfect blend of my favourite activities. (You tell the trip planner exactly what you’re interested in so your mix will be perfect for you, too!)
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No planning stress: instead of having to look up routes and locations of everything myself to create my day plan, it was all sorted and mapped out for me.
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Savings: if I had bought individual tickets to everywhere on my itinerary, it would have cost me £263.19. But, with a 2-day London Pass Plus for £154, I saved £109.19, which is about 41% – now that’s the kind of maths I can get on board with!*
A quick note on spontaneity
The trip planner really did take all the stress out of organising my days, every attraction was slotted in neatly and I never wasted time wondering where to go next. The only trade-off? It didn’t leave much room for just wandering and stumbling across hidden gems.
London’s full of little side streets, pretty architecture, quirky shops and unexpected spots that don’t always make it onto an itinerary. So when you’re using the planner, I’d recommend building in a pocket of free time here and there to just have a good old mooch around!
Final verdict
The London Pass trip planner didn’t just make organising easier – it made the trip itself better. It spotted patterns (like Tower of London first thing, Uber Boat in the evening) that I wouldn’t have thought of, kept the days flowing smoothly and even slipped in delightful free surprises along the way that I wouldn’t have known to stop for.
Would I use it again? Absolutely. Because with a city as big as London, it pays to have a little insider help – and this planner felt like exactly that. Plus, since you tell it exactly what you want to see or what types of attractions you enjoy, you get the perfect itinerary to do your trip, your way.
*All prices accurate at time of writing (03.09.2025)
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