Oh, and we did use a taxi (for four of us at least) when we were hauling luggage, but not otherwise.

Thanks again for all of your replies!!! I do think it would be cheaper for us to get the 7-day travel cards since we want to go to the Tower, London Eye, a show........

We are staying on Garrick St, near Covent Square, so I'm assuming I can find tickets close by. I need to study a map as I couldn't figure out the exact location on their website.

We are renting a flat that provides a driver to meet us, so we won't need transportation from LHR.

AlanRow, yes, my "student" son is 20, an adult, but I thought I read somewhere that student fares are discounted. Maybe not for the trains though.

Thanks again everyone, you are all so helpful! Can't wait to experience London!!!

I don't recall student fares being discounted on the Tube.

There are trains (national rail network, operated by various companies) and there is the Tube. The London Underground is the Tube.

There is no Covent Square, it's Covent Garden. The British do speak a form of English (far more understandable than Australian or South African), but it's best to know some of the lingo beforehand too. This can help: http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml

Here's the deal with "7-day travelcards." They come in two varieties: (1) if you buy a "7-day travelcard" <b>at a Tube station</b>, you will get a blue Oyster card with a travelcard loaded onto it -- this is <b>USELESS</b> for the 2-for-1 offers; (2) if you buy the 7-day travelcard <b>at a national rail station</b>, you get the orange paper card -- this is used with the 2-for-1 offers. Make sure you have this straight.

It's never better to get a 7-day travelcard loaded onto an Oyster AND buy single-day travelcards during the period covered by the Oyster card -- that's paying twice.

I was in London for 5 days in June when it was stinkin' hot and found it better to take a bus rather than roast on the tube - at least on a bus I could get off sooner if the heat became too much. I was told the tube temps can reach 115F in the summer.

I asked the ticket seller what was best for me for getting around and she sold me the 7 day travel Zone 1 and 2 Oyster card even though I was only going to be there 5 days - when I returned it to get 3 pounds back, the woman behind me in the line who'd just arrived on the train and who was in London for the weekend, paid me 5 pounds for it so the card cost me twenty pounds plus top ups; that woman had it for Friday night, Sat and Sunday.

I just accepted what the woman selling the tickets said as I wanted to get to my hotel. I started to read the Oyster card pamphlet but gave up. I used it a lot and topped it up to go to Kew and Woolwich.

I find Oyster confusing ... when I said I wanted to go to Kew they wouldn't tell me well you'll need x number of pounds in addition to what's on the card.

Jayneann, Garrick St is between Leicester Square and Covent Garden tube stations, but you can also get Oystercards at a couple of local convenience stores, the nearest being on St Martin's Lane: you can play around with this map:

http://ticketstoplocator.tfl.gov.uk/LocationLocator/

The nearest national rail station for paper travelcards would be Charing Cross, but expect some queues there, as it's a busy terminus.

All great information!!! PatrickLondon, I really appreciate you letting me know where the closest rail station is, I couldn't figure it out! Thanks so much everyone! Fodors is the best!!