Comic con London - advice please

[Housemum]

DD2 (teenager) wants me to take her and her younger sister - looking at the prices, DD3 can go free if we go after 11. My questions are:

• do you miss much by going later?
• is there a lot to see/do that doesn't cost once you get in? Obviously she will take her own money for buying memorabilia, but given that a lot will be expensive I'm sure can you still have a good day without spending?
• what's the best advice for having a good day?

Any advice much appreciated - it sounds like hell to me (I love geeky stuff but don't like trudging round exhibitions in crowds)

We would go on the Saturday

[MrsBertMacklin]

Saturday is the busiest day, so plan plenty of time for getting from one area to another, especially if you're going to timed events. Could you go on the Sunday instead? Quieter, and exhibitors sometimes lower their prices for merchandise, apparently.

Biggest tip is to draw cash before getting near the venue, the cash point queues are hellish, and they ran out of cash year before last when I was there by mid PM.

Bring lots of water and your own food if possible, prices are a pisstake and it gets very warm. Lots of small snacks to get you through. Plan on a early evening meal after you've left the Excel.

Try to plan 'must sees' vs 'nice to sees' so you can filter out the latter if you find yourself pushed for time.

print out maps and timings before you go. Take advantage of the information booth print outs. Web access can be tricky, as there are so many people trying to get online on their phones, so this is more reliable.

I know I've made it sound like a military exercise, but the atmosphere etc makes it tremendous fun and the Excel has got much better organised in recent years. Hope you enjoy! But do try to go on Sunday, not Saturday.

[PikachuSayBoo]

Dd has been to the manchester comic con. Queues were massive outside and she said it was heaving inside. I dropped her off and ran!

She took money for memorabilia but just enjoyed looking at stuff, meeting characters, seeing other peoples costumes.

[Housemum]

I will look into Sunday - need to check work schedules etc - sounds like a plan. Think DD2 said something she wanted was only on Saturday though. Had planned to take food & snacks anyway but good tip about cashpoints

[Housemum]

I would love to leave her and go to the nearest cafe for the day, but she wants to take her 8yo sister so I need to go with them