Wekiva

I'm looking at getting a 1-day London Pass which includes a hop on/off for one day. It would seem obvious that the hop on/off day would be the same day that I'm using the pass, but I'm having a hard time finding something that actually says that. On the London Pass website they say the following:

"For the quickest way to move between attractions, we recommend you use the London Underground with your Oyster Card. This is the most time efficient way to travel across London. The hop on hop off bus is a 1 day sightseeing tour and not recommended as the only mode of transport to travel between attractions."

Is that implying you should use the sightseeing hop on/off on another day...or must it be used on one of your pass days (so if you buy a 1 day pass then you must also use the hop on/off on the same day)?

janisj

Do NOT buy a London Pass! Total waste of $$/££. And if you only have one day - the H-o-H-o makes the LP an even WORSE deal because you'd spend much of the day H-o-H-o-ing and wouldn't have time to use the LP for many sites.

janisj

That should have said >>And if you only have a one day London Pass - the H-o-H-o makes the LP an even WORSE deal . . .<<

PatrickLondon

Even if you're visiting only the paid attractions where you can use the London Pass (and much of what tourists come to see is free to enter anyway), you'd be hard put to it to get your money back, especially only in one day. Also, as I understand it, the London Pass includes an all-zones travelcard, when you would almost certainly only need to travel in the central area (zones 1 and 2).

The HOHO buses are a slow way to get around, when, as the LP people themselves say, it's quicker to get about by the ordinary public transport, for which you can get tickets just about anywhere. You won't save anything by buying tickets and passes in advance.

Here's the map of regular public transport showing bus routes and Underground stations in relation to the main attractions:
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-...ral-london.pdf

BigRuss

<<I'm looking at getting a 1-day London Pass which includes a hop on/off for one day. >>

Two bad ideas in one sentence.

The 9, 15, and 136 buses go through London and the first two are "heritage routes" that carry you through notable (to tourist) areas. The LP is a waste of money.

And considering the HOHO is connected to the LP, you don't get to use the HOHO when your pass is not valid.

Christina

I suspect that is the same company that makes the "Paris Pass", and they do the same thing. It's really dumb as they package a HOHO bus with transportation passes when logically you wouldn't need both the same day. Those are really terrible products.

Look, I've bought the HOHO buses in many cities and generlaly enjoy doing that for a day, I like the views and in fine weather, it can be pleasant. I like just riding around a big city that way, also, it's relaxing. But when I do that, I don't consider that my main day to be visiting sites nor do I do if for efficient transportation (except in some cities that are spread out, actually). I just do it for fun one day.

The transportation passes are for days when you do intend to zip around the city a lot on public transportation sightseeing. I don't know about London, but in Paris, there are cheaper ways to get transportation passes than the ones they package with Paris Pass, also.

It does include some museum discounts, but not enough to make up for its price.

janisj

>>It does include some museum discounts, but not enough to make up for its price.<<

That is confusing -- maybe you are talking about the Paris Pass?? In London almost all the museums are free. The London Pass mainly covers biggies like the Tower of London and St Paul's -- and schlocky places like Mme Tussauds or the Dungeon. But if one is taking the H-o-H-o bus there won't be much time to visit the Tower, St Paul's, Cabinet War Rooms, etc.

Wekiva

Thanks all...I was leaning toward not recommending the London Pass, this has helped confirm it.

steelmagnolia

Hello. I am going to UK in September and will be spending four nights in London.
I too am strugling about buying a pass. Should I? and Which one?

Of course I want to see as much as we can. Westmister, Churchill, the big famous stuff. Any recommendations ? thanks

PatrickLondon

For four nights in London on your own, it's probably a toss-up as to whether you pay less using pay-as-you-go on an Oystercard or a 7-day travelcard for zones 1 and 2, which will also be loaded on an Oystercard (if you're travelling outside the central area you'd need to put some extra PAYG money on it as well). Check out www.tfl.gov.uk for their visitors' map as well as all the information about the Oystercard.

janisj

You say 'I' but later say 'we' - can we assume you are traveling solo? If so there really is no 'Pass' that would benefit you.

Just get an Oystercard -- are you arriving at LHR? As Patrick says the ££ amount will be about a wash. If you are taking the tube into London from the Airport, I'd probably just buy the Oyster at LHR and load some PAYG on it. That will cover your trip into the city (and back out again if you need that) plus travel around on the tube/buses during your stay. If you are jet lagged, you probably won't use much public transport (other than riding in from LHR) on your arrival day so make it simple and just get PAYG. If you run out of £ on the Oyster you can top it up at any tube station.

(If the 'I' is really 'We' then the answers would be totally different so let us know)

steelmagnolia

Thanks! It is two of us. My husband and I.
So, WE am going to UK in September and will be spending four nights in London.
I too am strugling about buying a pass. Should I? and Which one? Regarding entrances to places.

Of course I want to see as much as we can. Westmister, Churchill, the big famous stuff. Any recommendations as to what passes we should buy to visit those places? or is it better to pay one by one?

Those two for one sound very appealing. We arrive at Heathrow and will be staying by Waterloo station.


thanks

janisj

OK -- is it is 'We".

>>I too am strugling about buying a pass<<

You do not want a London Pass. There is no 'Pass' that is worthwhile -- but maybe that is a semantics thing and you are just asking about your transport tickets.

In your situation you will do best to buy seven-day zone 1-2 PAPER travel cards at Waterloo station (you cannot buy them at Heathrow). You will need to take passport sized photos. If you take the tube from LHR to Waterloo and back you will also need to have Oyster cards or single tickets bought at LHR.

I'd personally take a car service from LHR to your hotel, then buy the PAPER travelcards at Waterloo.

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london Pre-print any of the vouchers you might want to use.

steelmagnolia

Thank you Janisj.
Yes, that is what we will do.
Will buy the sevendayzone 1-2 PAPER Travel Card at Waterloo Station.
Too bad we cannot buy the Travel Card online.

I appreciate the input.

janisj

Jeeze -- I looked that that twice and still posted wrong

OK -- <strike> is </strike> It is 'We".