PatrickLondon--thanks for the info..am looking at the map of railroad lines and trying to figure out which train stops I would then get off at..for example it looks like I could do the train (looks like it would be the Thameslink train from st. Pancras international station???) down to Blackfriars and then tube it to the Tower Hill station to get to the Tower of London. From there I could tube or walk back to St Paul's to do those 2 sights in one day....am I on the right track?? Any help would be appreciated by this first timer to London.

Born--it's a 15 minute Tube ride (theoretically) Holborn to Tower Hill; don't know why you are looking at "trains."

Theoretically--you buy the paper travel card at a TRAIN Station, but once you have it, you don't need to ride a train each day to use the vouchers--that's the loophole mentioned above. That has been my experience, but things do change; maybe Ghytson has info that is of current experiences.

Use the TfL (Transport for London) website--it will "plan" your journeys and give you lots of info about fares, stations, etc. Live updates of line issues, too.

Texas---so you are saying I go to the train station, buy the paper tickets tickets and then get on the tube to my destinations???? I am thinking the train ticket must have that day's date you plan to use the 2-4-1 vouchers. Love the TFL site and have used it a lot to plan this trip!

>>it looks like I could do the train (looks like it would be the Thameslink train from st. Pancras international station???) down to Blackfriars and then tube it to the Tower Hill station to get to the Tower of London.<<

Yes, that's one option but there's only a half-hourly service on the Thameslink; or you could just get the Circle Line from Kings Cross St Pancras round to Tower Hill.

Or you could take the Metropolitan to Aldgate and walk down Minories to the Tower (say, 10 minutes' walk).

<<<Theoretically--you buy the paper travel card at a TRAIN Station, but once you have it, you don't need to ride a train each day to use the vouchers--that's the loophole mentioned above. That has been my experience, but things do change; maybe Ghytson has info that is of current experiences.>>>

Yes, this works. I didn't mean to confuse matters. I've heard tell that the DECOY ticket approach isn't working everywhere.

But the loophole of buying a paper travelcard at a National Rail station at the start of your week and then using that card for TUBE and BUS travel to your 2-4-1 destination is absolutely fine.

(Because theoretically it's assumed that you must have come to London by train in the first place to pick up the travelcard.)

The weekly paper travelcard works just like the usual travelcard you'd buy at a tube station - but it's the act of buying it at a National Rail station that makes it valid for the 2-4-1.

Gyhston's comments will be confusing to many and the subject is already complicated enough. Forget about 'dummy tickets' and theoretical get arounds.

Just get a paper travel card and use it on the tube to travel around.

Janisj--only in town for 4 nights so the 7 day travel card may not be the best option...so from Russell Square tube station which is the closest train station to get a one day paper train ticket to use. I see that Kings Cross and St Pancras look like they are right next to each other...what is the difference between those 2 train stations?

St Pancras and Kings Cross are right next to each other - they just serve different destinations.

Bornintheusa: 4.5 days is about the break even point that a 7 day travel card pencils out.

So if you have 4 full days and want to use the 2for1's I'd just get 7day zone 1-2 paper travel cards and be done with it.

Or you can jump through hoops to save about £6 . . .

Thanks to everyone for all of their help..leaving in 1 month and 3 days !! YEAH!!