London for less: tickets that let you pay in dollars

Here’s a place I don’t usually turn to when I’m bargain hunting: a country’s national tourist office site.

Might have to change my mind on this after looking around the VisitBritain site.

Its media relations folks tipped me off to this little gem, which isn’t evident when you navigate to the site. Click on “online shop,” then “tickets” and search for “Essential London.” Click on continue. Up pops this deal: The “Essential London Kit” contains a three-day travel pass (buses and subway, central London, even for peak hours), a sightseeing bus ticket, a Thames cruise, one admission to the London Eye and a ticket to the Tower of London, for $124.

You can buy before you leave and pay in dollars. Postage is extra (you can have it express shipped).

So will this save you money?

Here’s my calculation: You’re in central London for three days and looking to save some money. You plan on using the tube 12 times. The single fare is 4 pounds for each fare, and at today’s exchange rate, that’s about $8 each for a total of $96. A ticket to the tower is about 16.50 pounds (about $33), so you’re at $129. The sightseeing ticket and the London Eye are gravy.

If you are interested only in the transport aspect, you also can buy a visitor Oyster card, which gets you on London’s public transport for a max of yes; 6.30 pounds a day, no matter how much you actually spend. Two single fares purchased separately cost 8 pounds, so you’re ahead.

The site has other packages and is worth exploring if Britain is in your future. If you’re an Anglophile, you won’t let a little thing like money stand in your way, but savings while indulging your passion should put a little bounce back in your step.

Need airfare to London? Check out: Deal or no deal? 6 fares to London in September.
— Catharine Hamm, Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

[Photo: Andy Rain / EPA]

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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 11:18 am by Catharine Hamm and is filed under Europe, Great Britain, News, Tips & Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.