How far in advance can you book tickets for London attractions?
Planning a trip to London and eager to explore its iconic attractions? One crucial aspect to consider is the timing of ticket releases for these must-see destinations. Whether you’re dreaming of wandering through the British Museum, marvelling at the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, or taking in the panoramic views from the Sky Garden, knowing when tickets are released can make all the difference in securing your spot and avoiding disappointment. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the timing of ticket releases for London’s top attractions, providing essential information such as how far in advance tickets are released and available to book to help you plan your visit with ease.
Below we have listed the main attractions that you might want to visit as part of your London itinerary.
B
Big Ben
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
Tickets are released on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00 for tours three months in advance (eg. booking opens in mid-July for October tours).
Book tickets here.
British Museum
Opening hours:
Daily, 10.00–17.00 (Fridays: 20.30)
Last entry: 16.45 (Fridays: 20.15)
Closed 24–26 December.
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge).
Booking tickets:
Booking is not required for entry but you can book general admission tickets here to receive key information and updates before your visit and priority entry during busy periods. Booking opens approximately four months in advance.
Book tickets here.
Buckingham Palace
Opening hours:
The State Rooms are open to visitors each summer, and on selected dates for exclusive guided tours during winter and spring. Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
Sign up to Buckingham Palace email updates to be the first to hear ticket announcements.
Book tickets here.
C
Cutty Sark
Opening hours:
10:00 – 17:00, last admission 16:15.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens a few months in advance.
Book tickets here.
D
Design Museum
Opening hours:
10:00 – 17:00 Monday to Thursday
10:00 – 18:00 Friday to Sunday
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
No need to book for general admission.
H
Hampton Court Palace
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens 3 months in advance on a rolling monthly basis.
Book tickets here.
HMS Belfast
Opening hours:
10am – 6pm, last entry 5pm
Open every day except 24 to 26 December.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens a few months in advance.
Book tickets here.
Horizon 22
Opening hours:
Weekdays 10.00 – 18.00
Saturday 10.00 – 17.00
Sunday 10.00 – 16.00
Paid/free:
Free
Booking tickets:
Some tickets are released on a daily basis for up to 60 days in advance. If tickets are unavailable, keep checking back.
Book tickets here.
K
Kensington Palace
Opening hours:
Daily: 10:00 – 18:00
Last admission: 17:00
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens a few months in advance.
Book tickets here.
Kew Gardens
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens several months in advance.
Book tickets here.
L
London Aquarium
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens around a year in advance.
Book tickets here.
London Dungeon
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens around a year in advance.
Book tickets here.
London Eye
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens around a year in advance.
Book tickets here.
London Transport Museum
Opening hours:
Every day 10:00 – 18:00
Last entry 17:00
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
Tickets are annual passes, which entitle you to visit the Museum as many times as you like throughout the next 12 months. You also need a timed entry slot to visit. You can book these for free if you have an annual pass active on your account.
The ability to book tickets opens several months in advance.
Book tickets here.
M
Madame Tussaud’s
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens around a year in advance.
Book tickets here.
Museum of London
Currently closed until 2026.
Museum of London Docklands
Opening hours:
Open daily from 10am-5pm.
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
No need to book for general admission.
N
National Gallery
Opening hours:
Open daily: 10am – 6pm
Friday lates until 9pm
Closed 24–26 December and 1 January
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
Booking is recommended. The ability to book tickets opens 12 weeks in advance on a rolling daily basis.
Book tickets here.
National Maritime Museum
Opening hours:
Open daily from 10am-5pm
Paid/free:
Free
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens a few months in advance.
Book tickets here.
National Portrait Gallery
Opening hours:
Open daily: 10.30 – 18.00
Friday & Saturday: 10.30 – 21.00
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
Book your free ticket to guarantee entry. The ability to book tickets opens a couple of months in advance.
Book tickets here.
Natural History Museum
Opening hours:
Open 10.00-17.50 (last entry 17.30)
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens a few months in advance.
Book tickets here.
O
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens 5 months in advance on a rolling weekly basis.
Book tickets here.
P
Parliament
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid (free guided tours available via your local MP or a member of the House of Lords for UK residents, book up to six months in advance)
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens approximately 4 months in advance.
Book tickets here.
Postal Museum
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 – 17:00
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
Ticket includes unlimited access to The Postal Museum for one year from the date of your visit and one ride on Mail Rail, valid on your first visit to the Museum. Sorted! The Postal Play Space requires a separate ticket.
The ability to book tickets opens several months in advance.
Book tickets here.
R
Royal Mews
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
Check website for details on booking window.
Book tickets here.
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Opening hours:
Open daily
Regular opening hours: 10am-5pm (last entry 4.15pm)
Summer opening hours:
1- 31 May: 10am-6pm (last entry 5.15pm)
1 June – 31 August: 10am-7.45pm (last entry 7pm)
1 – 30 September: 10am-6pm (last entry 5.15pm)
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens several months in advance.
Book tickets here.
S
Science Museum
Opening hours:
The museum is open 10.00–18.00, seven days a week (last entry 17.15).
Galleries start to close 30 minutes before the museum closes.
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens approximately 4 months in advance.
Sign up to the Science Museum newsletter for the latest on when new dates will be going live.
Book tickets here.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Opening hours:
See website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
See website for details.
Book tickets here.
Sky Garden
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday – Sunday: 11am – 9pm
Bank Holidays: 11am – 9pm
Paid/free:
Free
Booking tickets:
Tickets are released at 10am every Monday morning (excluding bank holidays) three weeks in advance for the whole week.
Book tickets here.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid (other than for worship)
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens 12 weeks in advance on a rolling daily basis.
Book tickets here.
T
Tate Britain
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 10.00–18.00
Last entry 17.30, galleries start closing 17.50
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
No need to book for general admission.
Tate Modern
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 10.00–18.00
Last entry 17.30, galleries start closing 17.50
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
No need to book for general admission.
The Shard
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens 12 months in advance on a rolling monthly basis.
Book tickets here.
Tower Bridge
Opening hours:
Open daily 09:30 – 18:00
Last entry is 17:00
On the second Saturday every month, between 9:30 and 11:30, entry to Tower Bridge is reserved for Relaxed Opening attendees.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens 12 weeks in advance on a rolling weekly basis.
Book tickets here.
Tower of London
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets opens 4 months in advance on a rolling monthly basis.
Book tickets here.
Tower of London – Ceremony of the Keys
Opening hours:
Daily from 21:30-22:05
Paid/free:
Paid
Booking tickets:
Tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys are released on a rolling monthly basis. For example, April’s tickets will be released at the beginning of March at 16:00 on the first working day of the month, unless it is a Friday, then it will released be the following Monday.
Book tickets here.
V
V&A Museum of Childhood
Opening hours:
Daily: 10.00 – 17.45
Galleries close from 17.00
Closed 24 – 26 December
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
No need to book for general admission.
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
Opening hours:
Daily: 10.00 – 17.45
Friday: 10.00 – 22.00 (some galleries close after 17.45)
Closed 24 – 26 December
Paid/free:
Free (some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge)
Booking tickets:
No need to book for general admission.
W
Westminster Abbey
Opening hours:
Check website for details.
Paid/free:
Paid (other than for worship)
Booking tickets:
The ability to book tickets is opened up a few months in advance (for example, in mid-June, tickets are available up until the end of August). There is no public information on the intervals at which future dates are opened up. It would be prudent to check on a weekly basis from around three months out from your trip.
Book tickets here.
Z