London 2-for-1: Train Travel Requirements
 

Hi - I'm still trying to figure out this 2 for 1 business. Have been to the Days Out site but what I don't understand is what sort of train travel makes you eligible. We will only have one train trip during our visit to England; which will be one way from London to York (where we will pick up a rental car). If we get advance tickets for this trip, will we qualify for the 2 for 1 deals? Thanks.

A 7 day travelcard , on an Oyster, also qualifies for the 2 for 1's, in London and vicinty. Save your recipt to show your activation dates.

<<< Buy One Get One Free and special offers/admission vouchers are available with absolutely ANY train ticket issued to London and valid on the day you wish to the visit the attraction, theatre, or restaurant, >>>

www.2for1entry.co.uk/faq.aspx#1

The words to note are "TO LONDON" and the fact the ticket must be valid on the day you use the vouchers.

so a single ticket TO London would be valid only on that day, a return ticket TO London would be valid between the dates on the ticket. Tickets starting from London aren't valid - even if you returning to London

But if you are visiting London why aren't you getting a Travelcard which is also valid for 2-4-1

We just returned from London and used the 2-for-1 coupons at Tower of London, Cabinet War Rooms, and Westminster Abbey. The only place that actually asked to look at a train ticket was the Tower of London. We had 2 oyster cards (with just pay-as-you-go money on them) and a 1 day paper travelcard for the Tube for my daughter. I showed them these, along with our ticket receipts, and this was enough for them to let us use our coupons. I have a feeling that most places don't ask to see the train tickets and will let you use the coupons...

We got 2 for 1 entry at Hampton Cort on train tickets FROM LONDON

Hi - thanks to all who've posted and especially to AlanRow for the FAQ link. At the risk of this turning into another travelcard vs. Oystercard question, I'd like to mention that we will be arriving in London from LHR on the tube on a Thursday, using our feet and bus transportation to get around Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and then taking the tube from Victoria to King's Cross on Monday to catch the train to York. So we don't need a 7 day travelcard, but it seems we do need more than a 3-day, and I don't think there's anything in between? So I thought of using a PAYG Oyster, but it sounds like those don't work for the 2 for 1. Hence the confusion...any help wildly appreciated.

We used a PAYG Oyster for our 2 1/2 days in London in May, printed the coupons from the Days Out site, and used them at Westminster Abbey and the Cabinet War Rooms. No one asked to see a train ticket, but we had our Heathrow Express receipt just in case we were asked.

Lee Ann

<<< We got 2 for 1 entry at Hampton Cort on train tickets FROM LONDON >>>

WITHIN LONDON

As for OP - get a PAYG Oystercard but on days you want to use 2-4-1 offers buy a one day travelcard and use that to travel. You won't lose any money from your PAYG card

AlanRow, Slightly off topic... I didn't see the Tower of London/HC 2-4-1 on this years offering. Did they stop that one or did I just miss it?

thereyet

We used the 2 for 1 for admission to Tower of London in May but that offer was valid until June 3, 2007. I didn't see it listed on the current offers.

From the home page of www.2for1entry.co.uk

<<< Landmarks
The Tower of London, HMS Belfast and more of London's most famous sights >>>

Found it, thanks. I need new glasses. I will be using those for sure.

thereyet

Also click on "summer in the city"

Holy Cow! There is alot on there. Nine pages? As my son would say,"thats crazy". Don't tell Audere but my son is a chelsea fc fan, I know band wagon. Is the stadium tour and museum "worth it"? Just wondering.

thereyet

To a Chelsea fan it would be worth it. To a fan of Arsenal / Spurs or any of the other 92 league teams having your fingernails pulled out would be preferable

Ouch!!

I cannot find 2 for 1 coupon for Westminster Abbey on www.daysoutguide.co.uk.
Please help me!!!

Westminster Abbey isn't mentioned in the Days out guide, but is included in some Train companies' offers, such as First Great Western http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=625
So look up the website of the train company whose ticket you hope to use, and see if the Abbey is included.

We have used the 2for1 offers a few times and once I actually told the girl at the counter that we didn't have our train tickets with us but I held the coupon up and she gave us the discount without even blinking and another time, they didn't even look at our train tickets. You can save such a lot on entrance fees, it's worth trying it.
Kay

I was the original poster back in June and have since been to London, where I used the 2-for-1 offers at St. Paul's, the Cabinet War Rooms, and the Tower of London. I don't think Westminster Abbey is one of the sites offering a 2 for 1 discount at this time.

I'm just back from London.We have printed the coupon from
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=625 as suggested by alec and at Westminster Abbey they haven't asked me to show tickets and gave me the 2 for 1 doscount.
We use coupons also at tower of london and saint paul and they never ask me to show my 7 days travel card. Thanks to all the fodorite for infos.
Irene

Clarification needed on 2 for 1 based on above posts.
1. For a week trip to London (june 2008) using a weekly tube pass travelcard/oystercard, It sounds like I can get as many 2 for 1 coupons that I can use within that week as long as I have my 'receipt' showing that I purchased the weekly card for the time I am using the coupons - Yes?
2. If I am purchasing the weekly travel pass after arrival how do I get the coupons after I am there?
3.I looked at the First Great Western site. Can I just download and print multiple of those coupons and fill them out after I am there for whatever attractions I need?
This seems to easy to be true. Please advise. Lastly the 2 for 1 FAQ site (thanks for the tip) seems to indicate that the Oyster card counts as valid train ticket and qualifies you for the offers IF you have purchased the type of travel card that provides unlimited ride service on a weekly or more basis. Individual fares or "Pre-Pay" fare "debit" cards are not valid. Do I understand that correctly?

1 Yes

2 Some Tube stations & Tourist information offices have them - but it's easier to print them off beforehand

3 Nothing to stop you doing that. It has to be a travelcard or a train ticket to use the offers. The only reason a 7 day or longer travelcard is needed on an Oystercard is that you can't get shorter period travelcards on an Oystercard. You can however buy one & three day travelcards which are also valid for 2-4-1

Just print out all the coupons you think you'll use before you leave. Then you'll have them readily available.

Lee Ann

I read on this thread that the 7 day travelcard on an Oyster qualifies for the 2 for 1 deals. However, on the terms and conditions for it says only monthly or freedom pass Oyster cards may be used with these deals. Also, has anyone tried to use the coupons on a London Walks tour? Their rules state NO Oyster cards. Wondering if we'll just bring the coupons and try or what? Hmmmm Missy

missmissy - per another recent thread, it seems the rules have recently changed. Last time I was there, less than a year ago, you could use an Oyster with a week-long Travelcard loaded as your ticket, but people with more recent experience are saying "not anymore".

that's how I understand things too. A weekly travelcard on an Oyster apparently is no longer accepted for the 2 for 1's

Hmmm well, now I probably need to rethink what kind of Oyster card I'm going to get. I was only going to get the 7 day travelcard to be able to use the 2 for 1 deals. But, we'll be in London 3 days.....then train to Canterbury for 1 day....then London 1 day....then train to York for 2 days......then, back in London for 4 days.

I'll start another thread on this. But, wondering if our train tickets to Canterbury and York will allow us to use the 2 for 1 deals??? We've purchased our tickets to York, but will just pick them up the day of. Can we actually pick them up from a machine in Heathrow when we land?? Or only at the train station we're traveling from (which is Kings Cross)? For Canterbury I think we're going to just purchase a return ticket on that day.

Sorry, but all this train and 2 for 1 stuff has me confused! Thanks so much! :) Missy

Hi
I know it sounds confusing. Alan has given a lot of good info. For the last three years, I just printed out the coupons. One year we weren't even using the train at all and still no one has asked.

Therefore, I am not sure if it does matter which train line you take. The worse that can happen is "let's see your tickets" and if you don't have any they could say no, but I
doubt this will happen.

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