Late decision to have a day in London

duncan32

Hi,
So, we (me, my wife and 14 and 11 year old kids) have decided to go to London just for the day TOMORROW. :rotfl::rotfl:.
Nothing prepared yet so probably left it too late to get money saving ideas... but would really appreciate any guidance from people that know.
We live in Kettering, so have two options as far as I see it: off peak return on the train (which will set me back about £140.00). Or, drive down to the outskirts and jump on a tube to take us into the center. Would certainly be grateful for advice on the best way to do the second of those options (and costs etc).
Then, what's the best way to play it re travelling around London? I take it it is too late to get an Oyster Card (if we would even benefit from having one just for the one day?)? So, is it just pay as you go on tubes? We are looking at going to The Natural History Museum, a shop called Forbidden Planet that the kids love:j, and I think they want to see Baker Street for Sherlock Holmes reasons. Not got any other plans really. Anyway, thanks for reading and a huge thanks to anyone who can give a bit of help. Cheers.

Duncan:T

Spendless

Do you have a friends and family railcard? If not worth doing the sums to see if this will work out better.

https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/

duncan32

Hi,

No railcards at all unfortunately.

Duncan

Spendless wrote: »

Do you have a friends and family railcard? If not worth doing the sums to see if this will work out better.

https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/

Spendless

duncan32 wrote: »

Hi,

No railcards at all unfortunately.

Duncan

You can buy it straight away. Follow the link previously provided. It lasts a year. You just need to do the sums to see if it's financially worth the cost of it to get reduced tickets

knightstyle

If you go by train pick up the two for one leaflet full of vouchers to use with your tickets.

missbiggles1

duncan32 wrote: »

Hi,
So, we (me, my wife and 14 and 11 year old kids) have decided to go to London just for the day TOMORROW. :rotfl::rotfl:.
Nothing prepared yet so probably left it too late to get money saving ideas... but would really appreciate any guidance from people that know.
We live in Kettering, so have two options as far as I see it: off peak return on the train (which will set me back about £140.00). Or, drive down to the outskirts and jump on a tube to take us into the center. Would certainly be grateful for advice on the best way to do the second of those options (and costs etc).
Then, what's the best way to play it re travelling around London? I take it it is too late to get an Oyster Card (if we would even benefit from having one just for the one day?)? So, is it just pay as you go on tubes? We are looking at going to The Natural History Museum, a shop called Forbidden Planet that the kids love:j, and I think they want to see Baker Street for Sherlock Holmes reasons. Not got any other plans really. Anyway, thanks for reading and a huge thanks to anyone who can give a bit of help. Cheers.

Duncan:T

I don't know how long you'll be there for but that's quite a lot to cram into a day as the three places you mention are very spaced out.

shaun_from_Africa

missbiggles1 wrote: »

the three places you mention are very spaced out.

As are a lot of the people that the OP will come across in London.

Haylescom

Do you have a contactless bank card? You can use those at the gates for the same cost as an oyster card. It only covers the LU zones though so depending on where you get on you might be better off with a travelcard.
NH museum is pretty big so I wouldn't plan doing too much in addition, although I think Baker Street is only a 15 minute tube ride from there.

duncan32

HI all and thanks for the replies (I have just logged back on and seen them) - update: while I was out this afternoon I went to the train station and asked their advice and ended up buying the railcard (£30.00) which made the family tickets a lot cheaper and apparently means I can use it on the tubes in London also, which was a nice surprise. So, hopefully I've done the right thing!!!!Will have a think about the distances between where we want to go .....

laurahester

Too late now I know but in future drive to Bedford to get the train. you can get one day travel cards, which will include all tube travel, at the weekend/bank holidays for less than £20 per adult.