London Trip

osullivj35

Hi Guys

I am travelling to London early Jan, flying into Stanstead and staying near convent Garden

We want to do a bus tour and also the london eye

We are a family of 5 2 adults and 3 kids (7/5/2)....

Any deals for doing this on the cheap?

Thanks
Jerry

suki1964

TBH I would skip the London Eye, its boring, claustrophobic and reliant on good weather to get a decent view and when I took our kids at that age, they were bored rotten before we got to the top

Instead id take a boat up the Thames, as far as Tower bridge is long enough, but they go up to the Thames Barrier

I no longer live in London but Im pretty sure that travel cards give discount on the boats

zagubov

Use websites including this portal page and this streetmap site of shops to find other things going on.
If you can't find a cheap bus tour, these are some of the ones that show you the touristy bits . If Christmas lights and January sales still going on you'll get a great view from upstairs.

You can use a contactless card as if it was a London Oystercard on the buses. Your kids may not need one.

You can top Oyster cards up in convenience stores /corner shops with an oyster symbol. For small cash purchases in these shops you can get the change put on the oyster card if you like.

If you do want to use the tube, you can find most attractions near tube stations using this tube map.

For cheap dining in the evening try 5pm.co.uk

p00hsticks

suki1964 wrote: »

Instead id take a boat up the Thames, as far as Tower bridge is long enough, but they go up to the Thames Barrier

I'd second this - it's something we always do when in London.


A family 'River roamer' ticket costs £32.60 when bought online and gives unlimited travel on the Thames clippers all day from 9am for two adults and up to 3 children.




A lot of the sights (e.g Houses of Parliament, St Pauls, London Eye, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Greenwich, Cutty Sark, O2) are very visible from the Thames and the boats have a good view and are comfortable, especially useful if the weather's bad. Going up to the O2 and back takes a couple of hours



I think they only go past the barrier at evening peak times.

https://www.thamesclippers.com/route-time-table

Caterina

Also if your family enjoys the thrill of the heights, go for a trip on the cable cars across the Thames from North Greenwich, much cheaper than the wheel. You could get there on the Thames Clipper, do the Emirates cable car return trip and then in North Greenwich eat a delicious and very reasonably priced pizza at the Craft downstairs cafe (avoid the upstairs restaurant that's delicious too but very expensive - good for a treat only!). Otherwise a short walk along the river from the O2 dome towards the Thames barrier will take you to a jetty covered by a polytunnel full of plants that hosts another very inexpensive cafe. A bit further that way there's a small but interesting nature reserve. When it's open they have activities for children. On the Millennium Oval Square just by the nature reserve, the Ayurveda Pure cafe does excellent vegetarian salads and curries for a fiver.

Hope this helps.

Doshwaster

To do a bus tour on the cheap just take a number 15 between Trafalgar Sq and Tower Hill for the price of an Oyster fare. During the day the route operates with original Routemaster buses

https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/europe/england/london/cultural-features/old-london-bus-tour-routemaster-bus-no15

Twopints

Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be used for the London Eye, City Cruises and one of the bus tours.

gettingtheresometime

What about going to the whispering galley in Westminster abbey?

Lorian

London eye "Our Annual Maintenance dates are scheduled as Monday 7th January to Tuesday 22nd January. "

2 for 1 offers if you have a train tickets (buying cheap ones to get the deal works):

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/london-eye

martindow

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

What about going to the whispering galley in Westminster abbey?

St Paul's? Apart from on the day of the Lord Mayor's Show when it's free this is not a cheap option.

Neil49

If you want some great views that don't cost a penny visit the Sky Garden down in the financial area. You look across to the Shard and down on the Tower of London and the river.

Booking is absolutely essential (even though it is free) so do it as soon as possible.

It's also known as the Walkie Talkie or Handset building (for a good reason)

https://skygarden.london/sky-garden

20 Fenchurch Street