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pre booking tours

I have figured out things I want to see in London that you have to pay for. Being 63years old I have found that if I buy at the door it is cheaper that using the London Pass for the same tours. But I can't find on the individual tour bookings page if you have to buy before you leave the US or can you buy a day a-head when you are already in London. I don't want to wait in a ticket line or be locked into a certain day if I buy online before I want to go see the sight. ( That's what nice about the London Pass ). Is there a senior discount for the London Pass?

Posted by
13809 posts

How long are you going to be in London? Many feel the London Pass is not worthwhile as there are so many free major sights - British Museum, V&A Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery.

Which venues did you want to visit that you will need to pay for? In particular the Cabinet War Rooms will need booking in advance and no, there is not a Senior Discount. Other things I've just booked the day before or got there early.

Posted by
97 posts

Which tours are you considering in London? We’ve been to London twice in the last couple years and didn’t buy a London pass for either visit. For places that recommend pre booking (like Tower of London), I just bought the tickets a day or two ahead of when we planned to visit. Often the night before in our hotel we made plans for the following day, ordered the tickets, and then just had to either show our phone or go to the ticket pick-up counter to enter.

Posted by
8261 posts

No senior discount for the London Pass. You can however purchase it through Costco Travel and receive a 4 day pass for the price of 3 which does represent a good discount. If you don't want to be locked into a certain day or stand in ticket lines, then perhaps the London Pass may be the better option depending on what you want to see. The London Pass can make more sense for a solo traveler vs. a couple.

It would probably help you get better information if you could list what the places are that you want to visit that will require tickets.

The information above about the cabinet war rooms needing a specific time is not necessarily true. I walked right in using the London Pass. It might have been an unusual day, but it did happen.

Posted by
105 posts

In December, we bought senior (They call them Concession.) tickets a day ahead (in London) online (Churchill Museum and Greenwich Royal Observatory) or at the venue (City Cruises and Westminster Abbey). With our online tickets, we stood in a much shorter line, and at the Observatory, we had to stand in TWO lines! One to turn the online voucher into a ticket, and the second to turn in the ticket. I might have acted like a pushy Yank when we were turned back by the ticket guy initially and I just went to the ticket window. (blush) But the folks we cut in front of were very gracious about my gaffe. We picked up a free map at our hotel that had a coupon for 20% off the river cruise. I liked making our itinerary decisions based on weather and how we were feeling instead of being locked into a schedule. Lines and waits were minimal. Can't imagine what they might be like in Summer.