London Tickets
 

Am doing London for five days on our own. Staying near Kings Cross Station. I am leaning to waiting until arrival before buying tickets for museums, cathedrals, plays, day trips, etc. Good idea or too much thinking. We have purchased a rechargeable Oyster pass.

Thanks,

Larry

The only thing I know that you need to get tickets for in advance is the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower. Other than that getting them in London is fine.

<<< We have purchased a rechargeable Oyster pass. >>>

You don't need to buy that in advance and it's a VERY restrictive version of the Oystercard which doesn't accept Travelcards. For other people please don't do this unless you are staying for less than 5 days and want a pretty picture as a souvenir. For everyone else buy when you arrive in London especially if staying more than 5 days as Travelcards will be cheaper than a Visitor Oystercard

Back to the OP, check the offers on www.daysoutguide.com and see if there are any you like then on the DAY BEFORE go to a train station - NOT A TUBE STATION - and get a one day Travelcard for the next day. The next day leave the Oystercard at the hotel and use the Travelcard which makes you eligible for the 2-4-1 offers.

As for which tickets to buy in advance - Ceremony of the Keys is the only one where you HAVE to buy in advance but for some major exhibitions it might be better to buy in advance as they can sell out

Travelcard vs Oystercard PAYG.

As you can see a 7 day zone 1-2 Travelcard (which is what most people need) is cheaper than four 1 day zone 1-2 Travelcards - which means that it's also cheaper than 4 days of capped use of Oystercard PAYG.

Let's include the link this time

http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefin...ard_oyster.htm

"<i>I am leaning to waiting until arrival before buying tickets for museums, cathedrals, plays, day trips, etc. Good idea or too much thinking. We have purchased a rechargeable Oyster pass.</i>"

• Most museums are free and don't have tickets. The exceptions are some special exhibitions which will have separate admission and sometimes sellout. You'd have to check each museum's website to see what's on during your visit.

• No need to pre-purchase entry to any cathedrals.

• Theatre - depends. 90% of shows you can just walk up to TKTS in Leicester Sq on the day of performance and get tix at 1/2 price. But if there is a specific block buster/sell out you want to see - then you'd want to pre-book that.

• W/ only 5 days it will be hard to squeeze in any out-of-town day trips.

Sooooo - as alanRow explained your only mistake was to pre-buy Oyster Cards.

"<I>Ceremony of the Keys is the only one where you HAVE to buy in advance</i>"

Only slight correction -- the keys Ceremony is <u>free</u> so you don't have to 'buy' them. But they MUST be ordered ahead of time.

Lots of good advice so far. I also recommend waiting until you arrive to buy tickets. There are so many things to do in London, so give yourself a chance to be spontaneous.