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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think some London tourist attractions are a complete rip off?

80 replies

glasg0wmum · 03/04/2016 18:02

Taking the kids to London for a few days in the holidays. 3 kids aged between 8 and 14, 2 adults. Family ticket to the Tower of London which I estimate would take about 3 hours to go round = £52. Family ticket to Harry Potter thing at Watford which is at least 6 hours = £120.

Family ticket to London Eye, which takes 30 minutes = £96. REALLY????

OP posts:
Tiredemma · 03/04/2016 18:03

London Eye is so overrated. I wanted to get off after 15 mins.

London Dungeon I felt was really good value for money

superram · 03/04/2016 18:03

Lots of free stuff though so it does balance out.

SweetieDrops · 03/04/2016 18:05

Tourist attractions pretty much anywhere are a rip off.

Artandco · 03/04/2016 18:06

Lots if free though. You can buy an annual family pass for the palaces which works out cheaper as can go unlimited to Tower of London, Hampton court palace, Kensington palace, Kew palace etc. So for people who live near enough you can go regular

You can always get deals on Harry Potter. Dh and I went with two children at Xmas and it was only £30 for all of us

Artandco · 03/04/2016 18:07

Oh the eye is crap though so wouldn't bother

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 03/04/2016 18:11

Do the cable car instead which is majorly cheap. Or a clipper boat trip.

OhWotIsItThisTime · 03/04/2016 18:13

All museums and galleries are free.

Narp · 03/04/2016 18:13

I agree some are expensive, but so many are free.

My pet hate is seeing people queuing outside Madame Tussauds on a lovely day, when they could be at St James' Park, on the Thames, in Kew Gardens - anywhere else, basically

Harry Potter was one of the best attractions I've been too

I think everyone should go and see the Tower at least once in their life - depending on the age of the children. Mine were 11 and 13 when we went

Narp · 03/04/2016 18:14

been to, not too

Original poster
glasg0wmum · 03/04/2016 18:14

I know there's a lot for free and I think the Tower and the harry potter thing are actually pretty good value considering how long you can spend there.

By definition, a trip on that glorified big wheel has a specified duration and when you take into account how long it actually takes, it's such poor value.

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 03/04/2016 18:15

there are loads of free ones though! all the museums and galleries, the royal parks, changing of the guard, the thames path with a picnic!

AdrenalineFudge · 03/04/2016 18:16

There are many free things to attend. If you're coming over Spring/Summer then you'd find loads of places to wonder around and stop of for a nice lunch somewhere.

JacquesHammer · 03/04/2016 18:16

Kellogs do vouchers for one free adult with another ticket.

My sister and I used them in London Dungeon and Madame Tussauds. Made the extorntionate entry fees totally reasonable

LongHardStare · 03/04/2016 18:16

Buy 1 get 1 free with a train ticket to lots of things including tower of london

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 03/04/2016 18:19

London Eye only any fun if you live here imo. Otherwise overpriced and a bit yawny

You can do the ££ stuff interspersed with all the lovely FREE STUFF of which there is hods

PirateSmile · 03/04/2016 18:22

Royal Parks and the museums are free. We've done HPW and whilst it is expensive it is well worth the money.

PirateSmile · 03/04/2016 18:23

We got the train to Hampton Court and got the buy one get one free deal.

Lockheart · 03/04/2016 18:25

I'd love to see Westminster Abbey but they charge nearly £20 to get in! I don't object to the notion of an entry fee, but £20 seems excessive. One day I will treat myself.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/04/2016 18:29

The London Eye is worth doing once, I think, but agree that it is ridiculously over-priced.

Harry Potter tour worth every penny imho.

There are lots of good free things, although they don't all take v long. Other than the obvious ones:

The Hunterian is worth a mooch, but probably wouldn't take longer than an hour or so.
The Old Operating Theatre is cheap (and you can get 2 for 1 vouchers if travelling by train).
Museum of Childhood = free
Greenwich Maritime Museum = free and Greenwich is lovely for a day out

EssentialHummus · 03/04/2016 18:31

I wouldn't do London Eye tbh. Cable car is far more interesting, cheaper, with shorter queues. (There's a lovely floating pub called the Barge at one end for after!)

Great free stuff:

Look at Tower Bridge and walk around "more london", then over the river to the Tower.

Richmond Park to deer-spot

Hampstead Heath for a picnic

Any museum really - Science Museum? Natural History Museum? Horniman?

Also, vouchers vouchers vouchers Grin

LaurieFairyCake · 03/04/2016 18:33

Lockhart - go to a service at Westminster Abbey (or St Paul's) - it's free Smile

There's about 4/5 a day depending on time of year

TheCrumpettyTree · 03/04/2016 18:34

Instead of the Eye go up the Shard, it's higher and there's no time limit.

liinyo · 03/04/2016 18:36

The Shrek experience is next to the London Eye. It is expensive but great fun.

Lockheart · 03/04/2016 18:37

Do they not shepherd you out after the service Laurie? I thought if you went there to pray they put you in a separate room, like at St Pauls.

AveEldon · 03/04/2016 18:38

Instead of the eye or the shard do the skygarden - free

You can use Tesco vouchers for the Tower