General Chat

Hi Rosalyn, I brought a mate of mine on the Dublin one, it was expensive for what it was but a bit of fun, the driver made us laugh, made a difference to have a character like that driving you around. CB ;-) Like me I spent many happy hours going around my favourite place which was the Tate Gallery (the original one but love the fact there is Tate Modern these days) also love visiting the British Museum, the Natural History, the V & A, the National Gallery and loads of places when I hadn't much dosh, but had a terrific time :-) Much more enjoyable sometimes than some of the expensive attractions of London, that is probably the same for all Major Cities of the World they all must hold their secret places that are off the Tourist beaten Track. A walk along the Regents Canal or the River Lea, Brockwell Park or Crystal Palace or most of Londons wonderful Victorian Cemeterys on a nice day is just bliss for me. :-) Pat x

Anyone been on the boat that goes on land and sea -is it the duck? Rosalyn

I recall going to Mme Tussaud and taking a crowd of foreign students. I booked all the tickets in advance - as anyone can do - and then you enter the building via a special Fast Track Entrance- otherwise the queues can be hormungous. I believe that, at the moment, MT has a special offer - £15.99 for two people provided you go in from 3p.m and that is probably adequate time. You will also get your tickets mailed to you with a further offer for aniother two people at the same rate same terms. This offer does not include whatever is happening in the 'Planetarium' - and when I went there some years ago it really was a Planetarium with the entire room transformed into the heavens - stars, constellations, planets etc., The more recent show was nothing compared to that and not worth the time spent there. However, the dungeons, spirit of London etc., and the waxworks of all the notables are always worthwhile.

I'd much prefer a wander round the British Museum, the V&A or the National Gallery. On a nice day, the South Bank Milennium Walk is good too - and it's free. CB >|<

Yes nearly forgot about the Planetarium lol Well the kids like it ;-) I find its ok, but it depends who is sponsoring it at the time you go. Didin't hear it was going to Greenwich wonder why? Pat x

A 15 minuite show in the Planetarian is included in the Madame Tussauds ticket (£23) I heared that they were moving the Planetarian to Greenwich.

I have been to Madame Tussauds as a child a teenager & a few times as an adult that's the 1960's, 70's, 80's, 90's & 2003 was the last time I was there and I found my last visit was the most disappointing for value for money. I feel they have removed far too much of the older figures without renweing them so there was loads of gaps and it was a great shame they didn't just leave some of the older ones so it wouldn't so empty looking. This time I didn't bother going into the Chamber of Houses as it was full of people screaming and my daughter was a little too frightened to go in there, she enjoyed the ages of London much better and persuaded me to go around twice lol. I agree with everyone else it's over priced like a lot of places are, that is a really good deal with the London Eye included :-) I love the Parks too and my children loved Hyde Park and Regents Parks the best :-))) on a good day nowhere better to be I think. Pat x

Crikey - I spent a day in London about 13 years ago while working away and I paid £7 and remember thinking then how expensive it would be for a family to go! I paid it and then paid £7 to go in the London Dungeons - it seemed to be the going rate for the attractions. How tourists afford London I do not know! Debby

I think most places are hugely overpriced in London, especially for children. Like Bella, I would suggest visiting the lovely parks (in dry weather of course) and walks by the canal or even a river boat trip. BC

Not been there for a few years now but when I took my kids I can remember it being pretty expensive but as I knew we wouldnt be back for a long time went ahead and paid it. I think it is a great place and my kids loved it at the time. Dont know whether I would want to spend £75 on it though.

My children wanted to go this half term. When I discovered it would cost £74 and I had no guarantee it would live up to their expectations I said no. But apparently I could have booked for MT AND a go on the London Eye as one package, with guaranteed admission times and it would have been about £60. Since I thought the weather too unpredictable for the London Eye trip, we didn't go, though I might try this in the Easter hols. Mad or what? Mind you I remember queuing for ages to go when I was a child and seeing a tableau of Lady Jane Grey about to have her head chopped off which sent me into hysterics! My brother was miffed because it cost extra to go to the Chamber of Horrors and my mum thought it was too expensive for her to go with him, and she didn't want him going in alone. He blamed me for the hysterics and said he wouldn't have been afraid and we all went home feeling dissatisfied! nell nell

Is it just me or does anyone else agree that this is an overpriced and over-rated place to visit? It took approx 2 hours too see everything, luckily the weather was dry so we spent the rest of the day in Regents Park.