emcash

I would like to wait until a few days prior to our trip to purchase any advance tickets, as the weather will play a role in our choices. Thinking things like the London eye, the tower. Etc.Going to minding mid April, is this , generally speaking, going to be a problem?

janisj

Don't book the Eye in advance -- it is VERY weather dependent so you don't want to do the Eye til you know what the weather is. You can always book by phone or on line in the morning if the weather is decent.

If you are using the Days Out 2for1 discounts you <u>cannot</u> pre-book the Tower or any other site where you are using the vouchers. (Plus if you get there at opening time the lines aren't bad)

Very few other sites would pre-booking be at all necessary. The exceptions are some special exhibitions like the Sargent at the National Portrait Gallery.

emcash

Thank you Janisj!

Fishnlines29

I wont be using 2 for 1's so I booked advance tickets to the Tower and when you choose your date of visit, you can actually use the ticket within 7 days of the date you choose - it says so on their site and also in my confirmation.

janisj

>>you can actually use the ticket within 7 days of the date you choose - it says so on their site and also in my confirmation.<<

That's fine. If you want to pre-book nothing wrong w/ that. It is one additional thing you need to remember to take but if saving £1.40 is important - sure. However . . . if that savings is important you can buy even cheaper if you wait because if you don't pay the 'Voluntary' £2.50 donation - buying at the gate is cheaper than pre-booking on-line.

dotheboyshall

There are very few things you *must* buy in advance - generally anything to do Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Harry Potter Studio Tours, sell out shows or exhibitions.

Anything else is weather dependent, doesn't charge entry fees, doesn't have long queues (what's this mania about queues in the US) or isn't worth queuing for in the first place

PalenQ

I agree with dotheboyshail - that you do not 'have to' buy in advance - you may have to wait a while sometimes but like the London Eye - numerous times I've walked by it and asked about getting on - waits for walk-up tickets were a half-four or so - all the time spent pre-booking then as janis says keeping track of all those reservations, etc - I've gone to the Tower several times and never booked - of course pick you times but all this pre-booking seems too much a hassle - even Buckingham Palace in August the watis were not that long for a slot.

janisj

>>sell out shows or exhibitions.<<

yes - Definitely pre-book any of the big museum exhibitions - as far ahead as possible. There is a blockbuster Alexander McQueen on at the V&A running mid March to August and I decided a couple of weeks ago that I'd go to it while I'm in London at the end of April/beginning of May. Didn't book because I was working out a couple of other events/plans. Went to book a couple of days ago and every single time slot in my 4 available days is sold out

Buckingham Palace -- it depends. If you want any of the 'special' tours (including the gardens, champagne/evening, etc. ) you need to pre-book as far ahead as you can.

PalenQ

Thank God that many London museums are free...

janisj

>>Thank God that many London museums are free…<<

But many exhibitions AT those museums are not free and many of those must be booked well in advance.

dotheboyshall

<i>Went to book a couple of days ago and every single time slot in my 4 available days is sold out</i>

<i>But many exhibitions AT those museums are not free and many of those must be booked well in advance.</i>

Certainly at the V&A I've been able to turn up first thing and buy tickets for the day or in the future even when sold out on-line.

DO however be prepared to queue - for the Bowie exhibition t the V&A I thought I'd arrived well in advance 30 minutes before opening time but by then the queue was half way around the building. But others I've walked up and been served within 5 minutes

janisj

Oh - I too have been able to get in to sold out shows. But when one is only in London for a few days, queueing for a couple of hours often isn't practical/possible.

emcash

Thank you- i'm not so concerned at saving money as I am at saving time. As Janis said, we are only there for a few days and don't want to spend precious time waiting. thank you!