Have you heard about the 2-for-1 London attractions deals? They entitle you to a special BOGO deal for tickets to some of the biggest attractions in London.
Some restaurants and other popular venues are now participating as well, allowing you to save even more when you travel by rail in London.
Imagine stretching your travel budget twice as far by cutting some of your entry costs in half. It can happen!
While it seems like a great way to save some money, there is a catch that you should consider before biting. Keep reading for all the details you need to size up the 2-for-1 attraction deals in London. We’ll also give you some alternative ways to save money on attractions throughout the city.
How Do 2-for-1 London Attractions Deals Work?
The process for redeeming your 2-for-1 attraction deal in London is rather simple:
- Purchase National Rail tickets redeemable on the day you want to visit the attraction(s). You will need one rail ticket for each person participating in the 2-for-1 attraction deal. For example, if you have a family of four, all four people must have a rail ticket.
- Visit the National Rail Days Out Guide website to see what attractions are currently participating in the 2-for-1 deal.
- Print vouchers for the attractions you would like to visit. You will need one voucher for each two-person pair. For example, if you have a family of four, you will need two vouchers per attraction. You can print up to three vouchers for a single attraction.
- Travel by rail to reach the attraction while in London. Make sure you get off at the rail station closest to the attraction you’re visiting.
- Show the attraction’s admissions clerk your vouchers and rail tickets. You will have one voucher and two rail tickets for each 2-for-1 deal redeemed.
- Pay the full admissions price for one adult ticket and enjoy one free ticket for each 2-for-1 deal redeemed.
What’s the Catch?
There are some potential deal breakers that may prevent you from using your 2-for-1 vouchers.
- You must pay the full price of an “on the door” adult ticket in order to redeem the free ticket. That price is sometimes higher than the advertised prices on an attraction’s website, which means you may not always save as much as expected.
- If you buy a one-way rail ticket, you can only redeem your 2-for-1 ticket on that day.
- If you buy a two-way rail ticket, you can redeem your free ticket any day between your arrival date and departure date on the ticket.
- Your ticket must be marked when exiting the railway on your way to the attraction. That mark tells the attraction employees that you did travel there by train and you got off at the closest station.
There are special terms and conditions that may limit your ability to redeem tickets for select attractions, so read the fine print carefully. Think about how many hoops you will have to jump through and any possible scenarios that may prevent you from utilizing your vouchers.
It’s always better to pay full price at an attraction than to lose money on a deal that doesn’t work out as planned. Simply reading the fine print and keeping those potential deal breakers in mind will help you make a wise investment for your upcoming London vacation.
Are 2-for-1 Attraction Deals Worth the Cost?
If you read the terms for your 2-for-1 vouchers carefully and make sure to follow all of the rules, you will find that many are worth the hassle. If you don’t want to use the railway as your primary transportation method while in London, try to redeem 2-for-1 deals for the most expensive attractions.
If you want to verify how much you will save by purchasing rail tickets, you can call the attraction and ask for the current price of an adult ticket at the door. Make sure they don’t include any specials or promotions when quoting the price because discounted prices don’t apply to the 2-for-1 deals.
You may also want to find out if the attraction you’re visiting charges admission for children under the age of five. If your child needs to pay admission, you will need to buy the child a rail ticket even if they’re young enough to ride by rail for free. That can cut into your savings, potentially making the deal less attractive.
Determine your full savings, and then decide if the 2-for-1 London attractions deals are worth your time. In some cases, you may want to take advantage of sale prices offered directly by the attractions. That allows you to pick any form of transportation without proving that you rode the rail on the day of your visit or within an approved period.