London. A "2-for-1" for Dummies (Me) Question
 

Perhaps the cold in Central Europe has snapped my travel planning ability, so I apologize if the answer to this question is obvious.

We will be in London next week for a short city break, and plan to take a day outing to Bletchley Park via the National Rail. I understand that we can use our National Rail ticket for the 2-for-1 admission to various attractions in London on the day of our National Rail ticket use, but can we use the ticket on subsequent days?

Thanks.

The intention is to give a price break to UK residents when visiting London, although it is not limited to UK residents.

The price break runs during the period of the trip, so pairing a used ticket to London with an unused ticket out of London several days later could get you a period of several days of validity, or a multi-day underground paper travel card bought at a rail station could also. I don't think there are other possibilities (like yours) that would work.

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

Thinking about it there must other possibilities you could try with 2 short one way rail tickets within the London area several days apart. Make sure what your savings will be, though, before bothering since some attractions are excluded and others are free.

To answer your question: >>can we use the ticket on subsequent days?<<

No

If coming into Gatwick just buy a return ticket on trains from Gatwick and back and use the 2 for 1 for your whole London stay. Heathrow trains don't qualify.

and yes many London sights are free!

I can't see the point of messing about with additional railway tickets.

It's silly being in London without a valid travel pass (I don't think I've let that happen once in the past 45 years), and in almost every conceivable case the most cost-effective paper Travelcard, bought from a National Rail ticket office, will be as cheap as any other form of pass.

So buy one. It will give you 2 for 1 access for the whole of its validity.

To repeat janisj's point though: to the question as asked, the answer is "no"

Thank you, everyone, and my apologies for not providing additional information. We're flying into Heathrow; we already have Oyster cards from previous visits and will be using them; and while yes, many London sights are free, most of our itinerary on this visit will not include free sights. My question was more specific to the additional advantages of the National Rail ticket for our outing to Bletchley Park, and it has been answered. :)

I'm returning to London via Heathrow in June, will bring my Oyster Cards probably to top up a little, but I plan to then when in town (for us, that will be at Paddington Station) to purchase a paper 7-day travel card for our transport around the city the rest of our week AND be able to use it for at least 2 2-for-1 sites which makes whatever tiny hassle worth it.

So in your case, if you are going to need a week's worth of travel in London, you might consider the same--use your Oyster to get into the city, go to a National Rail station to get a paper ticket, also bring your vouchers for all 2-for-1 sites you plan, go to Bletchley via train but that day's ticket is just for that day's train travel.

The savings with 2-for-1 sites may be worth your doing something like this; for me, right now I only have 2 sites that qualify but that's gonna be enough to make it the right choice. I think.

(In honesty, we may end up using Heathrow CONNECT (not Express) instead of the Tube from LHR, or get justairports car service, but we are bringing our Oyster Cards probably.)

Oh and bringing pix needed, sounds like, to go with the 7day paper travel card from National Rail.

texas, your travel insight is much appreciated. The Churchill War Rooms is our destination upon return from Bletchley Park, and afterwards, the queue notwithstanding, the London Eye. We are only in London for 4 days, not including travel, so the 7-day card might not be worthwhile. Will we still need photos?

>> We are only in London for 4 days, not including travel, so the 7-day card might not be worthwhile. <<

It sounds like you be there four <u>full</u> days plus partial arrival and/or departure days - right? If so a 7 days travel card actually pencils out. The break even point is about 4.5 days. So if 4 days in total -- then PAYG is best, for 4+ days, a 7day-er is good.

You only need photos for 7-day paper travelcards. Not for single tix nor for Oysters.

Did you look at the 2for1 site? I checked last night and found
Churchill War Room and the Eye, ( plus Chelsea Physic Garden--one of my destinations) on the site so your paper 7 day card would probably work out as a savings.

Also, if anyone notices this highjack--Bletchley Park is also a 2for1 offer from National Rail. I plan to have a Rail Pass, not a train ticket specifically for Bletchley, BUT will have a 7 day London travel pass from a National Rail station. Think the 7 day pass would qualify for the 2for1 offer in Bletchley, since I won't have a train ticket for that trip?

janis, thank you for the calculations. We have four days in London plus two travel days, so the combination of Oyster plus a 7 day Travelcard seems like it will work best.

" Think the 7 day pass would qualify for the 2for1 offer in Bletchley, since I won't have a train ticket for that trip?"

If you have a ticket carrying the National Rail logo that's valid on a particular day (eg: a 7-day Travelcard on day 5) you're eligible for any 2 for 1 discounts anywhere in Britain that day.

For an illustration of tickets that AREN'T valid: http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/ticket-types.aspx

As ever--thanks, flanner