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Use 2-1 following train travel for Tower of London or St. Paul's Cathedral

Three of us will be arriving in London from Canterbury on Tuesday May 28 by train. I would like to take advantage of the 2-1 pricing, even though it isn't as advantageous with an odd number of people.

Tower of London is more expensive than St. Paul's so would amount to a greater savings. But I figure we won't be sightseeing until the afternoon. All the advice I have read says to get there first thing. But then I read a recent trip report where they ended up at Tower in the afternoon without big crowds. They were there in December while we will be there in May so that may matter a lot.

So my question is whether we would be better off from a crowds standpoint in May seeing St. Paul's in the afternoon and saving Tower of London for the next morning?

Posted by
9261 posts

You can see St Paul’s by attending a regular service.

I’d use the 2 for 1 for the Tower of London.

Posted by
8134 posts

The Tower will be open later than St Paul's as St Paul's has last entry at 4pm (which won't give much sightseeing time) as Choral Evensong is at 5pm.

Posted by
33992 posts

will you be taking the fast train into St Pancras station or the slow one into Victoria or Charing Cross?

Posted by
2816 posts

I had not thought of St Paul’s closing earlier than Tower of London. We actually have been to evensong at St Paul’s when we visited in 2019. My husband would like a closer look this time and wants to climb the dome.

But I think I have been convinced to see Tower of London!

Nigel- I haven’t looked at train tickets yet but we are staying much closer to Victoria Station than St Pancreas. How much slower is slow?

Posted by
8134 posts

Trains to St Pancras take about 55 minutes from Canterbury West (then add on 15 to 20 minutes transfer on tube to Victoria). To Charing Cross via London Bridge and Waterloo East it is about 1hr 40 minutes from Canterbury West. To Victoria it is about 1hr 30 minutes to Victoria from Canterbury East.

So if the hotel is at Victoria there isn't a lot in it, time wise.

Posted by
2816 posts

Well I am actually staying on other side of Thames-in Lambeth. Victoria Station is closer but according to goggle a 30 minute walk.

I also am not sure which train station my accommodations in Canterbury are near.

I obviously have some researching to do!

Posted by
33992 posts

parts of Lambeth are served by several tube stations which I would have thought more convenient than Victoria