EXPLORING LONDON IN HALF TERM WEEK COULD COST PARENTS OVER £500

12.01.00am GMT Mon 14th Feb 2005

With the start of half term week, London Assembly Liberal Democrats today warned parents, that unless did their homework, they could pay over £500 to visit the top 10 tourist attractions in the capital.

The research analyses the price of a family of four in London who have decided to explore London's top ten tourist attractions as listed on the Visit London website. The costs include an off-peak zone 1-6 Travelcard, £7 for food, drinks and snacks, per person, per day, and the cost of entry. The total came to £506.50.

With the majority of museums, galleries and gardens free and off-peak rates for public transport available after 9.30am, the London Assembly Lib Dems have called on parents to research and plan their adventures in London before making the trip to get the best value for money.

The Lib Dems have also called for attractions to start offering family passes as some of the biggest names in London fail to offer discounts for families.

Dee Doocey said:-

"Unless parents research carefully into getting the best value for money for their trips to the capital, they could be in danger of spending unnecessarily large sums of cash. Parents must do their homework and shop around for special offers and off peak deals to make sure they get a big bang for their buck.

"It is astounding that some of the top tourist attractions in the capital do not have family tickets to reduce the costs for a family who want to bring their kids along in half term.

"There are hundreds of fantastic places to explore right across the capital that can fit everyone's budget. Parents should make sure that they don't have to repay the debts from half term until the Easter holidays when the cycle could start all over again."

ENDS

Notes to editor

An itinerary for half term week for 2 adults and 2 children and costs are below

Monday Tues Weds Thurs Fri Total

Am London Eye & River cruise £68 Madame Tussauds incl live show £76 London Dungeon £52 Somerset House followed by Tate Modern - £10 Hampton Court £35 (all day) £241

Food, drinks & snacks £28 £28 £28 £28 £28 £140

Pm Dali Universe £23 British Museum free Tower of London - £36.50 Westminster Abbey - £18 Hampton Court £35 (all day) £77.50

Travel £9.60 £9.60 £9.60 £9.60 £9.60 £48

Total £129 £114 £126.10 £66 £73 £506.50

The figures are based on a family of four traveling off-peak from Zone 6, visiting the top 10 tourists attractions as listed on www.visitlondon.co.uk and spending £7 per person per day on food and drink. It does not cover souvenirs.

Attractions listed in red do not offer family passes