LONDON O2 shows - handy hints and local knowledge!

webbo

Hey all,

Looking forward to the London shows and been helped out here with tickets which I'm incredibly grateful for (this forum just highlights how awesome Pear Jam's fans are!!) so as a native I thought I'd start a handy hints type post for those that haven't been to the O2 before, especially for those travelling from overseas.

Getting there
https://www.theo2.co.uk/visit-us/getting-to-the-o2

Really easy, the North Greenwich station is right outside the O2. If you're driving there you have event parking and non event parking (the o2 is a big complex with cinemas and restaurants as well as the arena itself). I used to live nearby and on gig nights the parking was really expensive (20 quid I think) BUT a trick Ive used is when asked what you're going to see, say the cinema and you get directed to the cheap car park (a few quid). Now I haven't done this for a while so someone else may be able to confirm but it always worked for me

If using tube for travel best option for UK travellers on a short stay is contactless debut card (just scan it in at the beginning and end of your tube ride, important to scan out or you may get charged the full fare). For overseas visitors check this out

https://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/travelcard_oyster.htm

Also note that the daily travel limit is capped so after a couple of journeys you can ride the tube/bus/some overground for free for the day so useful for sightseeing!

webbo

Ok tip 2 (original post kept losing my updates!) 10c ticket collection
I spoke to the venue yesterday and they couldn't confirm early entry for 10c BUT the O2 always has a priority queue which is way quicker to get in as long as you're an O2 customer or have an O2 phone in your group!

The box office is also separate from the main queue to get into the arena and as AXS tickets show door time of 6.30pm the box office will either open at 3pm OR 2 hours before, again will try and get confirmation nearer the time,

hope that helps for starters!

Gingerlou77

webbo said:

Ok tip 2 (original post kept losing my updates!) 10c ticket collection
I spoke to the venue yesterday and they couldn't confirm early entry for 10c BUT the O2 always has a priority queue which is way quicker to get in as long as you're an O2 customer or have an O2 phone in your group!

The box office is also separate from the main queue to get into the arena and as AXS tickets show door time of 6.30pm the box office will either open at 3pm OR 2 hours before, again will try and get confirmation nearer the time,

hope that helps for starters!

Thanks, I was wondering how the O2 priority is going to stack up against 10c early entry? Surely 10c will trump O2?

webbo

No worries, i’ll contact the venue nearer the gig they should have more info then. There are multiple entrances to the arena so they could funnel people in with different queues (like they do with o2 priority). Have to wait and see on that. Seeing as AXS ticket holders don’t have to queue to collect as well it’s a interesting one!

guypjfreak

Don't bother to go on the eye unless you have time.. Better to go up tower bridge and walk along the top.. I've not done  that but intend to this time.. Get an oyster card saves you money on transport.. Even though it is quite safe just a careful and stay safe 

RideTheWave93

You can use debit/credit cards, so you're spending the exact amount and not having to top up your Oyster card and lose the remaining balance leftover. Not sure if you're charged more this way or not.

webbo

Both good points! I’ve been on the eye and the tower bridge, both are good but Tower bridge is less than half the height of the eye so you do get a better view on the eye. There’s the Emirates cable car (called the Air Line) too which is supposed to be good, across the Greenwich peninsula (view of the O2 from 90m up!)

You can use debit cards if they’re contactless and this is the best way to go for UK peeps on a short stay. You have to pay a £5 deposit for Oyster cards that you need to top up (or put money on them) and whilst you can claim that and any unused money back it’s a hassle. For overseas visitors though they’d get currency fees. Here’s a good run down;

https://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/travelcard_oyster.htm

lastexitlondon

Cable car is very good

vant0037

Whats a quid??!

Gingerlou77

vant0037 said:

Whats a quid??!

Ha. A pound. £1.

Barbato14

Daily lurker here.. going with my wife to both O2 shows, flying in and out of heathrow... have an early flight on Wednesday morning... would you all stay closer to O2 for convenience for the shows and deal with a longer trip to the airport or would you stay closer to the airport and deal with getting to and from O2?

cheers!  Can’t wait 

RideTheWave93

Barbato14 said:

Daily lurker here.. going with my wife to both O2 shows, flying in and out of heathrow... have an early flight on Wednesday morning... would you all stay closer to O2 for convenience for the shows and deal with a longer trip to the airport or would you stay closer to the airport and deal with getting to and from O2?

cheers!  Can’t wait 

Closer to the airport for sure bud, especially with your early flight. O2 is easy access so you'll have no troubles on the day of the shows, Greenwich is the tube station you need and it's bang outside the O2, on the Jubilee line. Heathrow is on Picadilly line. I go to London quite often so hit us up if you need any advice!

rw160510

Barbato14 said:

Daily lurker here.. going with my wife to both O2 shows, flying in and out of heathrow... have an early flight on Wednesday morning... would you all stay closer to O2 for convenience for the shows and deal with a longer trip to the airport or would you stay closer to the airport and deal with getting to and from O2?

cheers!  Can’t wait 

That
 really depends on the time of your flight. Personally I would not want to be trying to get to Heathrow from the 02 after a show. It's way over the other side of London. I'd advise having a look at transport for London's website tfl.gov.uk and it should be able to help you plan. Also try nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

RideTheWave93

Barbato14 said:

Daily lurker here.. going with my wife to both O2 shows, flying in and out of heathrow... have an early flight on Wednesday morning... would you all stay closer to O2 for convenience for the shows and deal with a longer trip to the airport or would you stay closer to the airport and deal with getting to and from O2?

cheers!  Can’t wait 

Check out some of these links:  
https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/underground 
https://www.theo2.co.uk/visit-us/getting-here/tube 

But true Heathrow is a little out of the way, the late night tubes should work fine in terms of the show ending times. 

Running In The Dark

Question about GA tickets.  I was able to get 2 GA tickets to each show through the additional presale for members that didn't get chosen in the 10C lottery.  When I purchased the tickets it stated that anyone under the age of 16 needed to be with an adult.  Now that I have the tickets in hand, it is printed on the tickets that no one under 16 is permitted on the floor/GA section even with an adult.  Being that I am traveling and attending the shows with my 13 year old son I am now concerned that he will not be allowed on the floor.  I would have selected regular seats had this been disclosed when making my purchase.  I have emailed the venue but have yet to get a response.  Does anyone know how strictly that this is enforced?

RideTheWave93

Running In The Dark said:

Question about GA tickets.  I was able to get 2 GA tickets to each show through the additional presale for members that didn't get chosen in the 10C lottery.  When I purchased the tickets it stated that anyone under the age of 16 needed to be with an adult.  Now that I have the tickets in hand, it is printed on the tickets that no one under 16 is permitted on the floor/GA section even with an adult.  Being that I am traveling and attending the shows with my 13 year old son I am now concerned that he will not be allowed on the floor.  I would have selected regular seats had this been disclosed when making my purchase.  I have emailed the venue but have yet to get a response.  Does anyone know how strictly that this is enforced?

I remember getting something a month or so back regarding this from 10c so I'd get in touch with them, it's worth a shot even if it's not 10c tickets they might still help. 

Running In The Dark

RideTheWave93 said:

Running In The Dark said:

Question about GA tickets.  I was able to get 2 GA tickets to each show through the additional presale for members that didn't get chosen in the 10C lottery.  When I purchased the tickets it stated that anyone under the age of 16 needed to be with an adult.  Now that I have the tickets in hand, it is printed on the tickets that no one under 16 is permitted on the floor/GA section even with an adult.  Being that I am traveling and attending the shows with my 13 year old son I am now concerned that he will not be allowed on the floor.  I would have selected regular seats had this been disclosed when making my purchase.  I have emailed the venue but have yet to get a response.  Does anyone know how strictly that this is enforced?

I remember getting something a month or so back regarding this from 10c so I'd get in touch with them, it's worth a shot even if it's not 10c tickets they might still help. 

Good suggestion. I will email them. Thanks.  

Gingerlou77

rw160510 said:

Barbato14 said:

Daily lurker here.. going with my wife to both O2 shows, flying in and out of heathrow... have an early flight on Wednesday morning... would you all stay closer to O2 for convenience for the shows and deal with a longer trip to the airport or would you stay closer to the airport and deal with getting to and from O2?

cheers!  Can’t wait 

That
 really depends on the time of your flight. Personally I would not want to be trying to get to Heathrow from the 02 after a show. It's way over the other side of London. I'd advise having a look at transport for London's website tfl.gov.uk and it should be able to help you plan. Also try nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

I agree. Heathrow is quite a way out for journeys in and out of town. If it were me i'd  stay on town for the shows and just journey in and out for the airport. 

Barbato14

Thanks everyone!

webbo

Barbato14 said:

Thanks everyone!

As per previous posters would depend on the time of your flight. You'd probably have time after the show (events usually finish at the O2 no later than 11pm) but it takes a little while to filter out of the arena and get a tube. It's pretty good though so you won't be waiting for ages, but would allow 20-30mins or so to get to the tube and get on one. Last tubes are just after midnight in the week but to get from O2 to Heathrow is going to be about 45-50mins if you use the Heathrow Express (fast train from Paddington but exepensive) or about 1hr 10 if you just go on the tube, so if you're trying to get all the way to heathrow it could be a stressful end to the gig. Another option is rather than staying around the o2 you stay somewhere like Green Park (20 min tube ride from O2) and then it's a tube direct to Heathrow in the morning (50mins on tube). Really nice area of London too. 

This is a good route planning website for options: https://www.rome2rio.com/ 

Barbato14

Great stuff!