Going to the O2 on Sat and I've not been to a concert since the 90s - help!

[wonderstuff]

Getting the train to go and see Billie Eilish with DD and a friend (both teens). Train journey about 2 hours I think. We could drive but I'm imagining that is a real ball ache getting out? Ticket says 6.30pm, will there be a support act on first? Anyway to find out who? O2 says it can take up to an hour to get in!?! What sort of time do I need to get there do people think? What are the food options inside? Apparently I can't take anything in with me. Would I be best getting an early tea before we get there? Feels like it's going to be a long evening!

Last concert I went to was Counting Crows in about 1998 - obviously wasn't having to worry about anyone else then..

Driving would be a nightmare unless you are able to book a cheaper car park nearby with justpark or similar (o2 car parlnprices are £££). Getting out afterwards can take a while too.

There's loads of places to eat there but they obviously get incredibly busy before a concert.

The most recent concerts I've been to at o2 the main act didn't come on until after 8.30pm

The main act won’t be on until 8.30/9 I think the o2 has a curfew so should be done by 11 but there will be queues for the tube so think ahead for your train home. Traffics probably not that bad if you’d be pushed for time to get the train.
support acts will probably be shown on billie eilish website or the o2 website.
there are loads of restaurants (highstteeet chains etc) at the o2 but maybe book a table or get there early or you will be queuing up. You can get fast food and drinks inside (they will be pricey).
(I’ve assumed you mean the o2 at Greenwich)

Jessie Reyez Is the support at the O2

The O2 is a good venue for gigs and there are lots of places to eat, but as a PP says, they get very busy. I wouldn't rely on it tbh. Get something to eat before you get there if you can.

Travel wise, it's not bad on the way there but can be difficult on the way back as everyone is trying to get out at the same time. I wouldn't drive if you can help it. You could get the boat back to the London eye (and other locations) quite cheaply to avoid the train if you want to. Nice to go along the Thames at night.

Thank you people! So getting to central London about 5-5.30, heading to Greenwich, getting tea and aiming to start getting in about 7 is a reasonable plan as long as the girls aren't Jessie Reyez fans? Never heard of her myself but I do only listen to Radio 2 these days!

Oh - we're going via Waterloo, so the boat might be nice.

DD is nervous as she has no faith in my organisational skills!

www.nme.com/news/music/billie-eilish-announces-jessie-reyez-jungle-arlo-parks-and-girl-in-red-as-support-for-uk-tour-3017944

Looks like it's Jessie Reyez on Sat. Eilish will probably be on around 8.30/8.45.

There are loads of restaurants inside -
www.theo2.co.uk/restaurants-and-bars

Don't take a bag if you can possibly help it as that will help get through the lines, but it could still take 45 mins+.

We have driven before and parking is normally fine as long as you prebook but it can take 45 mins to get out of the car park!

You won’t get into any of the restaurants at that time. You would need to get there earlier. But once you get through security there are outlets selling pizza, burgers etc which you eat standing up

Oh if your station is waterloo then yes get the boat!

Check the tour website for support group - or just Google the name of the tour
main acts are never out before 8, or even 8:30
if possible do not take handbags or any bags really
check the venue website, reusable water bottles (metal ones) tend to not be allowed
there’s usually some catering inside, tends to be overpriced- so I would say, eat early and just get snacks there

And FYI the outlets past security (so not the chains, the O2 run ones) are going all vegan for Eilish's residency.

We drove and paid for the car park as it finishes too late for intercity trains (plus journey to station) the time will be doors open, support on at 7.30 ish main act 8.30 - 10.30 in my experience. If you are coming from the north, parking close to a tube station not too far from the m1 is another option.

Piggybacking here, hope that’s ok, but for standing tickets, and a DD desperate to get near the front, how early do we need to be queuing please?

Hadn't thought about trains back finishing... looks like if we leave at 11 we should be fine and there's a later, slower train if we get delayed - joys of living in the commuter belt! Might get something to eat at SouthBank if restaurants are going to be stupidly busy.. This is so helpful guys!

O2 chain restaurants pre-security don't always take bookings - it depends on the event. So if you want to eat there, check in advance & have a Plan B.
They will confiscate any food & drink you try to take in, even a bottle of water.

I’m going to the O2 to see Queen later this month. I’ve booked a restaurant within the complex already. Some didn’t have availability even now.

I went to the O2 Monday night, first concert since the early 90’s! And it was awesome, Queen with Adam Lambert😍

There are restaurants but best to book and you will need to get there much earlier than 7 to eat.

We got there about 5;45 and had a couple of drinks before going in. Doors opened at 6;30 you can buy drinks and merchandise once in and our concert was due to start at 8pm. It was actually about 8:15ish by the time it started.

Leaving was fairly smooth, roads were completely jammed with cars leaving the car park though. We stayed in a hotel so just walked back. Try not to need a wee on the way out is my best advice, the queue was enormous and there is loads of loos.

It’s a great venue, I really enjoyed it!

Hope you have a great night @wonderstuff let us know how it went !

Here now. Ate at South bank and had a quick wander down there.

Terrifyingly high up in the O2!

Ohh enjoy 👍

@partystress we sat down about 7:45, standing was half full, I’d say get in as doors open if you want to be at the front. Doesn’t look like there’s much movement down there now, we’re sat in the gods!

Whenever I go to a concert I always find out what the last song is before I go - usually by going on the individual band/singer Facebook forums. I then leave as soon as that song starts - avoids a lot of queues!

Driving to the O2 isn't a nightmare at all

I always drive there and book the car park where you prepay and it scans your number plate so you just drive in and out again. There are never any queues as people tend to park in the multi storey car park which is completely different

It would take me forever to get there by train etc so I only ever drive

So turns out driving would have been the better option, ending up on a rail replacement bus 😭

Regarding standing, it got really crowded down there and at least half a dozen girls were carried out at least a couple completely passed out, so be careful!

Regarding standing, it got really crowded down there and at least half a dozen girls were carried out at least a couple completely passed out, so be careful!

We're seeing BE at a different venue next week and we've got standing tickets - I'm aiming to be at the back out of the way anyway. DD and I were at a music festival last weekend so that's given her some practice at standing in a crowd hopefully this audience will be less drunk and/or stoned than that one

Our last seats at the same venue were quite high up, but I saw some photos of the same concert taken at the O2 and was surprised at how high the seats were in comparison!