London Tour

Hi Susan, the itinerary says day 3,4, and 5 are good nights to plan a night at the theater. You don’t eat as a group every evening. You should probably book ahead for whatever performance you decide you want to see. My husband and I did go one night but several tour mates went 3 nights. And I definitely loved the tour! We did it this year. You see and do a lot in this short week. London is a great city.

My wife and I did this tour in June, 2023. If I recall, we had 2 meals together, the welcome dinner and the farewell dinner. There was a good mix of group events and free time. Instead of going to a "show", we went to a play at the Globe on one of our free evenings. I purchased Groundling tickets (5 GBP!) in advance on the official Globe Theatre website. We loved the tour, especially our well-located hotel in Mayfair.

Haven't been on the BOL tour, but just got back from a trip that included a week in London. I had pre-purchased tickets to two musicals. One of them was MJ, which I enjoyed so much I wanted to go again. On our last night in London, I decided to get a ticket to MJ to go again. Four hours before the show there were plenty of seats to choose from--I'd say about 50. The ticket was delivered electronically, which I added to my Wallet, so you may wish to have data or wifi available and know how to use an electronic ticket if you want to purchase while in London. Otherwise you'd need to make a trip to the box office. This is just one example for one show, but I'd expect other shows to also have availability on the day.

Just adding on that while I didn't take this tour, my husband and I have stayed in London a few times. During our last trip, we used the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. You can buy 'day-of' tickets there cheaper for a number of shows. If you decide after you are there that you are interested in seeing something, you can just go to this booth and get tickets.

I haven't been on this tour, but I've been on 9 other Rick tours. Whenever, I'm in London I go to the theatre. Prices are more reasonable than in U.S. and there is such a wide choice. I do usually purchase ahead, but that is only because going to the theatre is one of my favorite things to do. London is such a great city and you will have so much fun.

During our last trip, we used the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. You can buy 'day-of' tickets there cheaper for a number of shows.

The TKTS booth was being refurbished when I was there in early May. However, there is no longer a need to go to the booth and wait ina queue. You can buy discounted day-of tickets on their website:
https://officiallondontheatre.com/tkts/

You can monitor the TKTS website before your trip to see what is likely to be available at a discount. If you have your heart set on a particular show, it is probably best to buy tickets in advance.

The tour itinerary on the website tells you what nights you have dinner as a group. You can also email the RS office to find out exactly what time free time begins on any given day.

Enjoy your tour!

Since this is your first RS tour, note that on the tours ALL breakfasts are included, and they aren't really as a group. You are told when the hotel breakfast is available and you choose when to go.

Hi, Susan: Welcome to the Forum.

We liked this tour so much we took it twice! As someone noted, breakfasts are provided; in addition there will probably be 3 group meals. On our first London tour, we had 3 group dinners; on our second we had 2 dinners and a lunch together.

There is plenty of free time - that one of the things that we like about Rick's tours.

We did go to the Globe while we were in London, but we bought our tickets ahead of time.

It's a great tour; take it from a repeater!

Hi Jane-- I'm so happy to hear you loved the tour so much that you took it twice, that's great. I was wondering if you stayed time in London before and after the tour and if you did, did you use the RS hotel or a different location. I plan to get there at least two nights pre-tour and may stay a few nights post-tour as well.

I was wondering if you stayed time in London before and after the tour and if you did, did you use the RS hotel or a different location. I plan to get there at least two nights pre-tour and may stay a few nights post-tour as well.

I've done two Rick Steves tours (but neither one London). Both times I planned to arrive a day or two early and stay a few days afterwards. I always stay in the same hotel because I hate packing up and moving. In my mind that's a waste of vacation hours.

My first tour I lost the planned early arrival day when my flight was cancelled; however, United got me there the next day before the orientation started. Now I almost always plan to arrive a day early "just in case."

I was wondering if you stayed time in London before and after the tour and if you did, did you use the RS hotel or a different location. I plan to get there at least two nights pre-tour and may stay a few nights post-tour as well.

Both times we came early and stayed late once, but on neither trip did we stay at the tour hotel. All the hotels we've stayed at in London on Rick's tours (Best of London twice; Best of England once) were larger, business class hotels, not our cup of tea, if you'll pardon the expression.

I did a trip report of our second Best of London tour; perhaps this will answer some of your questions: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-best-of-london-february-19-25-2023

I also did one that same trip that covers our time in London before the tour began. It also includes our trip to Amsterdam, so you can disregard the first part of it. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/pre-best-of-london-tour-trip-report-amsterdam-and-london-february-14-19-2023

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Edit to Add: I just reread that trip report, and realized I had forgotten about the "afternoon tea," which does constitute a full meal. So we had 2 dinners, 1 lunch, and the tea. On our earlier (2014?) London tour, we had 3 dinners plus the afternoon tea.

Susan, my husband and I went to Oxford before the London tour started and then after the tour ended we stayed one more night in the tour hotel, my husband then flew home and I switched to a less expensive hotel and I stayed another 10 days. I’m a self confessed museum junky, art and history, and London has an incredible amount to offer. Also there’s wonderful walking tours you can do with London Walks if you’re interested in that sort of experience.

I did not take this tour but I recently visited London on my own for the first time and really like the place; a really lively and vibrant city! I saw two West End musicals; the performances are as good as Broadway musicals but at a much lower ticket price. I think the musicals in London enjoy tax relief. Definitely book early if you want good seats.