London plus tour
Feb 26th, 2014, 12:10 PM
#23
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As we approach our vacation date still have a few questions. By the way we found a great flat through vacation rental by owner (VRBO) for 6 nights near London Bridge. We are leaving London
on Saturday May 10 to travel by train to Bath. Is it correct that we will use the National Railway for tickets? Can we purchase tickets in advance here in the states? And how far in advance can we do that if we can? We are staying 2 nights in Bath and then traveling to York for 3 nights. Can we purchase the railway tickets in advance for that as well? And of course back to London after our time in York. As for some of our sites in London such as Tower of London and Hampton Court, can we buy tickets now? I don't want to stand in line for these places. I like to be organized and just enter the places. I know we shall get the 7 day paper travel cards from a rail station. Not the Oyster cards, correct? Looking forward to suggestions.
on Saturday May 10 to travel by train to Bath. Is it correct that we will use the National Railway for tickets? Can we purchase tickets in advance here in the states? And how far in advance can we do that if we can? We are staying 2 nights in Bath and then traveling to York for 3 nights. Can we purchase the railway tickets in advance for that as well? And of course back to London after our time in York. As for some of our sites in London such as Tower of London and Hampton Court, can we buy tickets now? I don't want to stand in line for these places. I like to be organized and just enter the places. I know we shall get the 7 day paper travel cards from a rail station. Not the Oyster cards, correct? Looking forward to suggestions.
Feb 26th, 2014, 12:38 PM
#24
Just time for one very quick response. (heading out to a tax appt w/ my accountant 
)
No, if you want to use the 2for1 discounts with the paper travelcards, you cannot pre-purchase tickets to places like the Tower of London or Hampton court palace. You need to have the paper travelcard and a voucher (which you can print at home) in order to buy your 2for1 tickets at each venue. If you pre-purchase you'll pay full price (or in some cases a tiny discount for buying on-line)
)No, if you want to use the 2for1 discounts with the paper travelcards, you cannot pre-purchase tickets to places like the Tower of London or Hampton court palace. You need to have the paper travelcard and a voucher (which you can print at home) in order to buy your 2for1 tickets at each venue. If you pre-purchase you'll pay full price (or in some cases a tiny discount for buying on-line)
Feb 27th, 2014, 07:26 AM
#25
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"As for some of our sites in London such as Tower of London and Hampton Court, can we buy tickets now?"
You can. It will be about 2 quid off full price each (e.g., 41 GBP for the Tower for two instead of 45+) but not 50% off (22.90 for the Tower or so as one full price entry for two people with the 2for1). The lines were not that horrendous for either when we went, and we did NOT get there at opening for either.
If you go to Windsor Castle and do it on a weekend, then check the ticket office at Paddington/Waterloo (whichever is closer to your temporary residence; they are the two London stations that serve the Windsor and Eton rail stations) to see if you can get a voucher at the time you purchase the rail ticket. At Waterloo, the clerk asked if we were visiting the Castle and we received a voucher for 3 quid off list price and we skipped to the front of the ticket line (which snaked outside the Castle for more than 1/4 mile) to exchange the vouchers for actual tickets. Windsor is not on the 2for1 listings.
"I know we shall get the 7 day paper travel cards from a rail station. Not the Oyster cards, correct?"
If you want to use the 2for1 offers, yes. If you're just going to skip the line and pay way more for a 5-10 minute savings, then no.
You can. It will be about 2 quid off full price each (e.g., 41 GBP for the Tower for two instead of 45+) but not 50% off (22.90 for the Tower or so as one full price entry for two people with the 2for1). The lines were not that horrendous for either when we went, and we did NOT get there at opening for either.
If you go to Windsor Castle and do it on a weekend, then check the ticket office at Paddington/Waterloo (whichever is closer to your temporary residence; they are the two London stations that serve the Windsor and Eton rail stations) to see if you can get a voucher at the time you purchase the rail ticket. At Waterloo, the clerk asked if we were visiting the Castle and we received a voucher for 3 quid off list price and we skipped to the front of the ticket line (which snaked outside the Castle for more than 1/4 mile) to exchange the vouchers for actual tickets. Windsor is not on the 2for1 listings.
"I know we shall get the 7 day paper travel cards from a rail station. Not the Oyster cards, correct?"
If you want to use the 2for1 offers, yes. If you're just going to skip the line and pay way more for a 5-10 minute savings, then no.
