I posted an earlier link but I guess my title was terrible because no one replied. We are leaving Aug 17th for Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, York,Conwy,Bath,Cotswolds and London. Are there any tickets we should try to purchase on line ahead of time or is it OK to do it as we arrive in each place. We already have tickets for the Tattoo in Edinburgh. We will be in London for 6 days so I assume we could get tickets when we arrive .

It is always better to buy tickets online for things like the London Eye, Tower of London, Madame Tussaud's. Lines are long and a waste of time. Also, in some cases, you get a bit of a discount if you book online.

And in August and early Sept when The Queen allows the rabble into Buckingham Palace whilst she is on 'holiday' in Scotland you may want to book that one online as well - if possible and i believe it is - getting a time slot rather than just showing up and possibly waiting - and this tour - only initiated in recent years when Queen opened it during her Scottish 'holiday' to pay for repairs to Windsor Castle, i believe - or perhaps Hampton Court after fires, is IMO a do not miss opportunity

I've been thru a slew of royal castles but the interior of Buckingham dazzles more than any - plus the Royal Art Collection is world class.

The Royal Collection - The State Rooms, <br>Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty The Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household ...
www.royalcollection.org.uk › Visiting › Individual Visits

PalenQ, it's Windsor that had the fire, not Hampton Court.

milliebest, you've been given good advice for the attractions. Just want to add if you'd like theatre tickets and are set on a show, consider tickets in advance. If not, and you are flexible on which show to see (if any), buy same day tickets from Leicester Sq at the half price ticket booth.

Actually - very few things require advance purchase (unless you mean train tickets, where you can get a discount)

"<i>It is always better to buy tickets online for things like the London Eye, Tower of London, Madame Tussaud's. Lines are long and a waste of time. Also, in some cases, you get a bit of a discount if you book online.</i>"

Not at all IME - especially for the Eye. The London Eye is VERY weather-dependent. What if the time you book it is pouring down and you can't see a thing? You can always book by phone or on-line once you are IN London and know what the weather is like.

The Tower - you can't buy ahead of time if you want to use the 2for1 vouchers. Plus if you show up right at opening time there is no queue to speak of.

Pre-purchasing for Madame Tussaud's is fine -- IF you plan on going there. It is far down the list for most visitors though.

And theatre tix are available the day of performance at TKTS in Leicester Sq. The only theatre you need to pre-purchase are if you want to attend one of the few blockbusters that sells out. But the vast majority of shows - no need.

Tattoo tickets - you've already taken care of. Any other Edinburgh festival/fringe performances you <i>must</i> see - try to pre-book. Most of the popular shows will already be booked up though.

Fair points janisj. I personally prefer buying online, simply for the convenience I suppose.

Oh and for theatre tickets, in some cases, it is possible to get discounted seats from the theatre itself, around 6:30pm or 10am on the day of the performance. Sometimes excellent seats going dirt cheap.

Tower of London is a 2-4-1 offer if you buy on the day

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/tower-of-london

But you have to have a valid train ticket or a valid Travelcard issued at a train station booking office

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

London Eye is weather dependent - but there's nothing stopping you booking online on the day,.

As for Madame Tussauds, the more people that can be encouraged NOT to go the better - but if you must there's an offer with the London Eye - but see above

http://www.londoneye.com/TicketsAndP...s/Default.aspx

<<< PalenQ, it's Windsor that had the fire, not Hampton Court. >>>

There was a major fire in 1986 at Hampton Court, the Windsor Castle fire was in 1992.

They both had BIG fires -- the Buckingham Palace summer opening was originally mainly planned to raise £££ to help pay for the Windsor fire repairs/restoration.

Was a huge hit so now is permanent it seems.

Apologies, did not mean to imply that Mdm T's on the top 10 tourist spots! Just came to mind when I thought of long lines!

Yes - it is soooo crowded, no one ever goes there

(to paraphrase Yogi Berra)

I should have been more clear in my earlier post.

Buckingham Palace was opened to the public to fund the repairs at Windsor, not Hampton Court.

Also, regarding theatre tickets, I was referring to sold out/popular shows, not just any show. It's easy to get same day tickets at a discount so don't buy these in advance.

milliebest, if you list what you want to see in London, it will be easier for us to give you advice as to what tickets to purchase in advance.

Not at all IME - especially for the Eye. The London Eye is VERY weather-dependent. What if the time you book it is pouring down and you can't see a thing? You can always book by phone or on-line once you are IN London and know what the weather is like.>

I agree - simply because i have been by the London Eye Ferris Wheel many times and even during high season the wait is never really that long - plus the area is just a nice one to linger in - with the sweeping views of the London skyline on the other side of the river.

A night ride is of course a whole different spectacle. But in the day the farther and clearer you can see the better - duh!

Depending on what you plan to visit in each place, you might want to buy the Great British Heritage Pass at www.visitbritain.com It gets you into a wide variety of places, including some that aren't part of the National Trust.

Lee ann

<<< Yes - it is soooo crowded, no one ever goes there >>>

Who actually goes there?

"<i>Who actually goes there?</i>"

Who knows?? All those people in line - often around the corner and down the block. It is pretty amazing - more people queue up at Mme Tussaud's than at the Tower

Perhaps the queue is of retired waxworks

I read through this rather quickly but a play at the Globe on the South Bank would be a ticket for which you should book in advance on line as we did for a splendid Romeo and Juliet in July 2009. This reproduction of the old Globe is a delightful venue (but renting for a pound a cushion is a must) for anyone who'd like a taste of Shakespeare with a semblance of the historical theatrical experience.

PalenQ

When you wrote this did you mean "The Royal Day Out Ticket"?

And in August and early Sept when The Queen allows the rabble into Buckingham Palace whilst she is on 'holiday' in Scotland you may want to book that one online as well - if possible and i believe it is - getting a time slot rather than just showing up and possibly waiting - and this tour - only initiated in recent years when Queen opened it during her Scottish 'holiday' to pay for repairs to Windsor Castle, i believe - or perhaps Hampton Court after fires, is IMO a do not miss opportunity

I've been thru a slew of royal castles but the interior of Buckingham dazzles more than any - plus the Royal Art Collection is world class.