I am flying into Heathrow and taking the metro to our hotel in South Kensington., My daughter and I will be spending 5 nights in London and then taking the Eurostar to Paris.

I'm expecting to get an Oyster card at the airport. How do I qualify for the 2for1 offer?

I think on the website for 2 for 1, you can't use the oyster so maybe just buy a tube ticket to get the discount?

Oyster may have some 2 for 1 offers but the ones you are thinking about will not be covered with a Oyster. You need a paper one day card, issued at TRAIN STATIONS> If you were coming into town on the Heathrow Express with a round trip ticket you could use that for the offers.

"<i>so maybe just buy a tube ticket to get the discount?</i>"

Misleading info. As avalon says, just a tube ticket won't work. It must be a paper ticket issued at a train station and w/ the national rail logo on it.

But where specifically are you staying other than "South Kensington". Taking the train to Heathrow won't get you very near your hotel, and the train ticket plus a taxi from Paddington will cost more than what you'd likely save on a 2for1.

So I'd take the tube to South Kens (I'd get a PAYG Oyster at Heathrow) and then on a day you want to use one of the specials, go to a train station and buy a paper ticket for that day only. There are train stations near lots of the major attractions -- Charing Cross, Waterloo, Victoria, London Bridge, Kings Cross, etc.

Oops - meant taking the train FROM Heathrow won't . . . . .

Should I be taking the Heathrow express to South Kensington instead of the regular metro?

What kind of ticket do I get that shows the 2for1 offer and the various sights?

I will probably try to visit Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Tower of London, Churchill Cabinet War Rooms.

I also want to be able to hop on the metro from South Kensington to Portobello Road, Covent Garden, Tower of London and the theatre district. What should I buy?

<i>Should I be taking the Heathrow express to South Kensington instead of the regular metro?</i>

NO. Piccadilly line (the tube) will get you to South Kensington tube station.

<i>What kind of ticket do I get that shows the 2for1 offer and the various sights?</i>

Read this:
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/faq.aspx#1

<i>I will probably try to visit Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Tower of London, Churchill Cabinet War Rooms.

I also want to be able to hop on the metro from South Kensington to Portobello Road, Covent Garden, Tower of London and the theatre district. What should I buy?</i>

For 5 nights, you probably should buy the PAPER 7-day travelcard. It offers the best value even though you're only there for 5 nights, and there's no peak/off-peak time limit for the 7-day travelcard.

Thank you all. I will probably buy the 7-day paper travelcard. Appreciate your input to my questions.

when are you traveling? Buckingham Palace is only open 2 months of the year.

As yk says, the tube (the "Metro" is in Paris -- in London it is called the Underground or Tube) is much better for South Kensington. The regular trains don't go there.

our posts crossed - yes the paper travel card is a good option for you.