Does anyone know if it is better to buy your 3 day pass for the Underground "online" prior to travelling to London? Thank you.

I would do it if there's a price advantage, but otherwise no. The year I was a Nervous Nellie traveller I did do that and did receive it in good order, but it really wasn't necessary, I could have picked it up at the station. The better question is, are you sure that the 3-day pass is the best option? I got that Oyster Card last year, it's another plastic card for your wallet, and the cost is *capped* each day. There are many MANY threads about this here.

Don't bother. As I was told, just go to the first station you find, tell the agent what you plan on doing and he will give the most economical option. Easy as that.

thereyet

You can load any travel card onto an oyster card.

thereyet

<<< You can load any travel card onto an oyster card. >>>

No you can't, only the 7 day and over, the 1 & 3 day travelcards come as a paper card.

There isn't any advantage in buying in advance unless you expect a massive devaluation in your currency against the GBP

For most tourists a 3 day card is overkill as it allows you to travel before 9:30am WEEKDAYS.
If you aren't intending to - and frankly with 3 million folk trying to get to work before 9:30am WEEKDAYS it isn't a good idea - then 1 day off peak travelcards work out cheaper.

They can also be used all day at weekends and public holidays so eroding the suitability of the 3 day card for tourists even more

You can get an Oystercard - £3 deposit - and put cash on it (PAYG). It wll then automatically work out how much to pay and it will never charge you more than 50p less than the equivalent 1 day travelcard and may be even cheaper than that.

HOWEVER PAYG cannot be used for the offers on www.2for1entry.co.uk wich can represent substantial savings on entry fees to places like the Tower of London

Doh...you can't do the two for one on the PAYG? is there anyway around this?

<<< is there anyway around this? >>>

Buy a one day travelcard on days you want to use 2-4-1 and leave the PAYG card at home

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are vacationing and we expect to use the tube alot as we are staying in Knightsbridge and want to get around to all the museums, the tower of London, etc.

We purchased our 7 day travel card (paper) before hand through the official london underground website tfl.gov.uk. They sent it to us and it arrived in 3 days.
Check out the website and see how much it costs. We didn't find a difference in price from buying it there or online. We could have purchased them once we got there as we did for the children's day tickets for 1 pound (after 9:30 am). So it's not necessary to buy it in advance.

...and derek49

Just what advantage was it to you to buy it in advance if it is the same price and you would have to queue, if indeed there is a queue, to buy the kid's pass?

(Believe me I don't mean to be mean spirited but I just don't see why so many think it is advantageous in the slightest whether it be cost or convenience to get a transit pass for London in advance.

I just bought my subway card in London. The only thing I bought beforehand was my two-day BritRail pass, which was cheaper to buy in Canada.

easy to buy pass at any station--for my 2 cents worth I would suggest buying the pass if you are planning to use tube before 9:30 am and not wait for discount--we are early risers and like to get going before things get crowded and were on the tube literally every day before 9:30am--depends on your personal schedule--yes tubes are crowded on weekdays early morning but most rides were under 10 minutes so no big deal--hope that helps

"You can get an Oystercard - £3 deposit "

there is NO deposit on 7 day Oyster card. I bought it only a few weeks ago.-

Hi,

I was in London a few weeks ago & had downloaded some 1-2-1 vouchers from the mentioned website. Expected to be asked for my rail ticket - but no one did - so even if you haven't got a rail ticket - still try it.

Mark

I wouldn't buy it beforehand unless there was a substantial price difference - just one more thing to keep up with before you go!

Also agree with the possibility of getting an Oyster, but I think the best advice is thereyet's: the ticket agents, in my experience, are very helpful and will tell you your best option based on your plans. Another advantage of waiting till you get there to buy.