Sainte Chapelle in Paris for a shorter line.

We went to Paris and had all the aforementioned booked in advance. And it definitely takes something away to have appointments to get to but I think this is how these things are now. We did the Louvre, up the elevator in the Eiffel, a Lupin mystery tour of the Opera House, a concert at Notre Dame, and the Catacombs. Lupin woukd be fun to watch before you go.

Good advice here. I have just a random word of warning - the Eurostar gate closes 30 minutes before departure, no exceptions. Do not, as I did, allow your children to linger so long at the Harry Potter store that you miss your boarding. The kids still talk about this years later!

I wanted to go to the Dior museum in Paris because people raved about it, but tickets were sold out.

Louvre in advance.

Eiffel tower you can just do walk-up tickets if you are ok walking up the steps to the lower platforms. But the elevator tickets you you need in advance and they sell out pretty quick after release (especially the ones to the very top). But you should be researching now and setting your calendar for how far in advance tickets open. I think catacombs most open up sales 3 weeks in advance and they sell out pretty quick too. We got Louvre tickets less than 2 weeks out but they were at 3:00 pm so by the time we were in, we had about 90 minutes (which was more than fine for my teen).

Paris - Eiffel Tower if you want to go up, Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Catacombs, Foundation Louis Vuitton (the Hockney exhibit there right now is AMAZING), Notre Dame. Also would recommend the Picasso Museum and the archaeological site right near Notre Dame, but you don't need advance tickets for those.

London - British Museum is the only one I would say is 100% necessary but if you want to do any of the art museums you may want to consider advance tickets

I wouldn’t assume you can get walk up for anything.

In Paris, as the PP mentioned, you’ll want to book well in advance for the big attractions (the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Notre Dame). Musee d’Orsay also sells out well in advance, I believe.

I’d also recommend the Musee de Cluny (medieval art museum near the Sorbonne). It’s fascinating and you can see the remains of the Gallo-Roman bathhouse upon which it was built, along with the Lady and the Unicorn tapestry. We got tickets last-minute, but it was also Easter Sunday, so maybe less crowded than usual.

A poster on here recommended Notre Dame Eternelle, the virtual reality experience across the square from the cathedral itself. Don’t miss it! It was so cool, my husband and kid did it twice!

The only attraction we missed out on getting tickets for was the catacombs. We waited until a few weeks before our April trip, and tickets were sold out.

In London, the Tower of London, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, the Shard, and Buckingham Place, if the state rooms are open during your visit. Also, any West End show or afternoon tea, if that's your thing.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, Catacombs, etc. The River cruises can sell out. The Moulin Rouge sells out, too but guessing you'll probably skip that one with teens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe something cultural?

OP here. I should clarify, sorry. I meant, what specifically is going to sell out and requires advance purchase/reservation, vs. just going up to the window and paying that day.

I want to buy in advance what we truly need, but don't want to lock us into a more strict than necessary schedule.

Put together an itinerary of the places you want to visit and the places you want to eat, and then make bookings. The UK loves bookings.

A ticket home for after you get robbed.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe something cultural?

OP here. I should clarify, sorry. I meant, what specifically is going to sell out and requires advance purchase/reservation, vs. just going up to the window and paying that day.

I want to buy in advance what we truly need, but don't want to lock us into a more strict than necessary schedule.

Maybe something cultural?

Traveling with husband and 2 teens. Already have the Harry Potter Museum Tickets.

What else do you recommend we book in advance? Traveling in June.

Thanks in advance!