I know that us tourists can purchase passes for the tube that allow unlimited travel within certain zones, but I am getting conflicting info on where to purchase them. Do I get them in the states or in England? Or am I just chasing my tail?

I believe you can get a pass in advance by booking through the tfl website:
www.tfl.gov.uk

I think you can save a little money but not a lot.If not you can pay on arrival but you will probably have to wait in line (we say queue!).

Fares go up on Jan 2nd so watch out - the website should answer your questions but please contact me again if you are not sure of anything. You can reach me on [email protected]

Also, try to wait for a clear breezy day to go on the eye.

Unbelievable! I have been trying to get this info for a while and for some reason was having trouble accessing due to server trouble. I got through today, purchased passes that will be here on Friday---WE LEAVE SATURDAY! Yikes. close call! Thank you so very much!

For anyone who hasn't already bought the Visitor Travelcard:

DON'T buy the All Zone card just because it includes Heathrow. Buy the much cheaper weekly 2-zone card and a single ticket (or a Day Travelcard, if that suits your schedule) to access the airport. Virtually everything a tourist would want to see is within Zones 1 & 2.

Also, investigate the Family Travelcard (if you have kids) and Bus Pass to see the sights from above ground.

The Family Travelcard is a great value but I think it becomes problamatic with older kids who often want to go off on their own. The Family TC requires that everyone travel together.

Travelcards in UK cost 20.20 pounds for 7 days - or about $40. Same card sold in US thru RailEurope costs $36. Passes are not always cheaper if bought in the UK.

It's really no problem.
As soon as you arrive in London, just go to the first tube station and buy a seven day ticket at the ticket booth.
Zones 1 and 2 should be fine. The ticket is also valid for buses.

You do not need to buy any transport passes before getting to London. Especially for families, there are much better passes/deals available locally than you can buy from overseas.

Weekend and family travel cards are real money savers and are only available in London -- buy them and regular weekly travel cards in any tube station.

Also - you probably only need a zone 1 card which saves you evenmore. 95% of the major tourist sites are in zone 1, with Greenwich in zone 2 and Hampton Court Palace and Heathrow in zone 6.

Buy a zone 1 pass and then simply pay a small supplement if you do venture into another zone. DO NOT buy a zone 1-6 pass - it would cost you many times what a zone 1 pass does.

I used to buy my TravelCard before I left the States, but I thought the service charge was excessive. Now I just buy when I get there. Janis and the others are correct in that you should get just a Zone 1&2 card since most of what you want to see is in those 2 zones. I get an all zone card since I stay in Zone 5, but the money I save in accomodations more than covers the extra cost and the tube takes me from Heathrow right to my B&B.

transport for London will soon being selling a new 4-day travel card; currently their pamphlet indicates they only sell 1- and 7-day travelcards (and longer versions)
cheapest transport - the 2 pound bus pass good all over greater London. And with TravelCards good in only zones 1 and 2 you can use buses all over greater London - so if staying just outside zone 2 you could bus into the zone and buy a cheaper travelcard.

...and if you're a <u>real</u> masochist, you can just buy a bus pass and ride all the way in from Heathrow.

Ugh.