I had decided to forego the 2for1 deals and just get a 7-day travelcard loaded to Oyster for the week my husband and I are in London.
However, I definitely plan to go to Kew Gardens (and the Tower of London which also is under the 2for1 deal). I'll be staying near Earl's Court tube station and taking the tube to Kew Gardens seems the best way to go. However, I will be in London the weekend of September 16 & 17, which is Open House weekend which offers free entry to the Herbarium, which is normally not open to visitors. The tours are limited and I was hoping to get there early that morning. The entry is near the Elizabeth Gate, closer to the train station than Victoria Gate, which is near the tube station. So should I consider a route that would entail a train at least on the last leg of this journey, which would deliver me close to Elizabeth Gate and enable me to use the 2for1 deal. Does this make sense? Would appreciate suggestions.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33997 posts
That sounds like more trouble than it is worth. To take the train to Kew Bridge you need to join the train at Waterloo, Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Town, Putney, Barnes, Chiswick, Brentford or further out.
The other problem is if you only use the train for a couple of stops the ticket office may well refuse your 2-4-1 because they suspect that you just have a dummy ticket and didn't really use the rail for your journey. If you went all the way from Waterloo it might work, but don't forget to complete the journey to Waterloo (tap out on the tube), and the train ticket will cost some money.
Open House is always fun, but sometimes very busy at popular properties. We travel 70 miles to play most years. Have you got the official programme? https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/
Posted by
OP
Indiana, USA
60 posts
Thanks, Nigel. I am sure you are right about it being more trouble than it is worth. I could see fairly easily how to get there by tube, but was having a little more trouble understanding the Overground routes. I had not planned the trip to coincide with Open House, I had already planned to go to Kew Gardens that weekend. Actually I had rather go when it is less crowded, but my weekdays have other trips that I was trying to avoid on the weekend, such as the British Museum, Tower of London, etc. I thought if I had to go to Kew Gardens during Open House I might as well take advantage of the extra tours. I know it will be busy, thus my plan to try to get there early. I had a couple of others visits planned for the other weekend day of my trip that are now listed on the Open House. Have you been to Kew Gardens during Open House?
Posted by
Freedonia
16413 posts
Take the tube. Going by train from Earls Court means backtracking. And on weekends, who knows which trains will be running.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33997 posts
Have you been to Kew Gardens during Open House?
I don't remember but I don't think so. Before we got sick my wife and I were annual members of Kew and RHS as well as National Trust (the only ones remaining now are National Trust and Historic Royal Palaces) so we went to Kew a lot. When we do London Open House - it is offset from the rest of the UK and Europe by a week - we are usually in zones 1 and 2 and Surrey. So I don't think so.
The opening of the Herbarium looks wonderful, but remember that they only take small groups in at a time so you may have to be patient. I don't know if they will give you a number or a time for a tour so that you can wander the rest of Kew whilst waiting or if you will have to queue.
The queueing is why I've never been in the Gherkin, but if you can get into Lloyds in the City I highly recommend it.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33997 posts
And on weekends, who knows which trains will be running.
That information is available on the National Rail website at least 6 weeks in advance, and any strikes have to be advertised well in advance (no wildcats).