Should you’re visiting London, whether or not on a day journey or an extended break, you’ll end up on public transport sooner or later – and chances are high meaning the Tube. So after travelling on it as a baby myself and navigating the traces with a buggy, toddler, little one and tween, listed here are my tips about utilizing the London Underground with youngsters.
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As a result of when you’re baffled by the considered utilizing the world’s oldest underground system, it’s not as overwhelming as it would seem – though there are some quirks to the system, particularly while you’re travelling with kids on London Underground.
So whether or not that’s planning prematurely to get one of the best tickets, or realizing when it’s a good suggestion NOT to take the prepare, right here’s every thing it is advisable to know concerning the London Underground with youngsters.
What ticket do I want for the London Underground?
With new know-how bringing new methods to pay for journey, there’s now a stunning variety of selections with regards to tube tickets.
At its easiest, the choices are the outdated paper travelcards (resulting from be phased out from January 2024), Tfl’s Oyster card or utilizing contactless fee, with completely different variations for teenagers, and for anybody who wants 7-day travelcards or longer (principally geared toward London residents reasonably than guests).
Don’t depend on utilizing money when you’re hopping onto a bus both: since 2014, you possibly can solely use contactless or an Oyster card to pay (except you have already got a travelcard).
Grownup fares on the tube
Utilizing paper tickets and old school travelcards is sort of by no means the most affordable technique to get round – and also you’ll end up queueing much more when you play to purchase one daily (or each journey). They’re additionally resulting from be phased out from January 2024 so is probably not an choice earlier than lengthy.
The one exceptions when they might be price shopping for are when you’re spending every week or extra in London, or when you’re planning to journey rather a lot within the outer journey zones – you possibly can examine costs for pay as you go fares and travelcards right here.
As a substitute there are two essential choices for adults which is able to work out cheaper (and simpler).
Contactless fee
Should you can pay utilizing contactless – both a contactless financial institution card (credit score or debit) or Apple/Google Pay in your telephone – it’s the only choice.
Merely faucet your card or system on the yellow readers, and the system will register every journey and mechanically cap it at a most each day value, the identical charge as an Oyster card. At all times faucet out and in on the tube, or while you get on a bus.
You could use the identical card or system every time although, to make sure it’s capped appropriately, and every grownup wants a separate card or system (though they are often linked to the identical checking account).
Try the present fare caps right here
Oyster card
Alternatively, a customer plastic Oyster card prices £7 and you’ll order it on-line beforehand or purchase one at an underground station while you arrive, in addition to from a Tfl London Customer Centre.
These should be arrange with a minimal of £10 pay-as-you-go credit score, which you’ll be able to prime up in tube stations and a few retailers; then similar to like contactless, you employ the cardboard to faucet out and in, and the system mechanically caps the quantity you spend per day.
The fares range relying on the time of day and what number of zones you’re travelling by however the each day cap for zones 1-2 is presently £8.50 for adults. You may get a refund on any cash you’ve loaded on however haven’t spent, however the price of the Oyster card is non-refundable.
Youngster fares on the tube
Tfl little one fares rely upon the age of your youngsters, with free journey on the Tfl community (tube, bus, DLR, Elizabeth Line and London Overground) for all kids underneath 11 years outdated.
That is solely for the Tfl community – when you’re travelling on Nationwide Rail providers, akin to native commuter trains, youngsters aged 5-15 pay half-price and solely underneath fives are free. The exception is the quick prepare to Watford Junction, which you may want when you’re visiting the Harry Potter studios.
In any other case kids aged11-15 travelling on the tube can get discounted journey utilizing paper travelcards (being phased out from January 2024) and Oyster playing cards. Learn on for extra particulars.
Teenagers aged 16+ can solely get discounted journey you probably have a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, which it is advisable to apply for prematurely, and prices £20.
Bus & tube journey with kids underneath 11
Kids underneath 11 journey free with an grownup with any legitimate ticket, together with a contactless card or Oyster card, as much as a most of 4 youngsters per grownup.
You’ll want to make use of the large baggage/accessible gates to get by, as the primary gates shut speedily to cease fare evaders – advantageous when you’re carrying a child, however not in any other case, and definitely not with a buggy.
You will have longer to get by the broader gates although, and also you’ll discover these on the finish of the financial institution of entry gates into the tube. In bigger stations, there may be often one at every finish so search for the one with the inexperienced mild.
In smaller stations there could solely be one, so if it’s displaying a purple cross, stand close to it and it ought to mechanically change to inexperienced as you go to swipe your ticket.
It’s price realizing that Zip Oyster playing cards for age 5-10 are geared toward London residents who is perhaps utilizing public transport alone, and aren’t wanted for little one guests travelling with an grownup.
Bus & tube journey with kids aged 11-15
Kids aged 11-15 should pay for tube journey, however they get 50% off the usual grownup fare. In an effort to try this, they’ll have to have a little one ticket of their very own to get the discounted fare.
For guests to London and non UK-residents, Tfl suggests ordering a Customer Oyster card earlier than you allow dwelling, then while you arrive in London, Underground employees can add the Younger Customer low cost to your card.
This may solely be accomplished at tube stations, not Nationwide Rail stations, and will also be added to an ordinary Oyster card when you already personal one or when you purchase one on arrival. Whereas all tube employees ought to concentrate on this, when you run into any issues at smaller stations, this web page has all the main points.
You then prime up credit score as regular however are charged half the grownup charge on pay-as-you-go tickets for as much as 14 days.
Zip Oyster Photocards for age 11-15 are geared toward these primarily based within the metropolis (or frequent guests) as they value extra and are extra sophisticated to use for – you’ll want a passport photograph, and to permit additional time for it to reach. It’s price contemplating when you go to London regularly although, and contains free journey on buses.
Because the Oyster playing cards value £7 to purchase, when you’re solely visiting for a day or are travelling exterior zones 1-2, it may be price getting a paper little one travelcard.
Nonetheless, these are being phased out from January 2024. The day little one travelcard additionally prices greater than the utmost each day capped fare utilizing an Oyster card, so if there’s an opportunity you’ll return, having an Oyster card with the younger customer low cost shortly saves cash.
There’s no technique to get little one fares on the tube utilizing contactless fee, so it’ll cost full grownup charge when you use this.
For extra concepts on how to economize on days out in London with youngsters, try my prime suggestions
Obtain the apps
Should you’re struggling to plan out your journeys, there are some useful apps to take the stress out of understanding a route.
Citymapper is my private favorite, with data on completely different routes, real-time prepare occasions, and even ideas on which carriage to get on at for the simplest exit.
Or the Tfl Go app is Tfl’s personal route planner, with standing updates and bus data in addition to serving to to plan tube journeys.
Google maps can be significantly helpful for bus journey, however you need to use it for route planning on the tube community as properly.
Keep away from rush hour
London at rush hour isn’t enjoyable, even when you’ve had apply. Cramming your self right into a carriage of surly commuters with a pushchair, toddler or suitcase is even much less enjoyable.
It’s not all the time attainable to keep away from peak occasions totally, however keep in mind the crush will often be worst from 8am to 9am, and 5.30pm to six.30pm, then enable no less than half an hour both aspect when it’ll be busy too.
Should you’re coming from exterior Zone 1, it’s will also be cheaper when you keep away from peak morning occasions (fares drop after 9.30am) – and in summer season, some tube traces are horribly sizzling (particularly the Central Line) so the emptier the higher.
The top carriages are sometimes the emptiest when you do end up on a busy platform. For extra concepts on find out how to keep away from among the busiest stations, try Tfl’s recommendation
If you wish to keep away from being laden down with heavy baggage as you journey, try Baggage Hero and Radical Storage which have dozens of locations round London to retailer baggage securely when you discover
At all times contact out and in
It’s not such a unusually coded message because it sounds – merely that when you don’t contact your card on the yellow readers as you go out and in of stations (or while you get on to buses), you’ll end up getting a penalty fare because of this.
Don’t overlook to do that, even when obstacles are open. And it applies whether or not you’re utilizing Oyster playing cards or contactless.
With the bus, solely faucet your card while you get on although, you don’t have to do is as you get off.
In case you are utilizing a paper travelcard, there’s a slot to feed the cardboard into, not removed from the spherical yellow card readers.
Do contemplate the bus
Relying in your journey, it may be simpler taking one bus than a lot of line adjustments underground, particularly with a buggy – when you’re utilizing the London Underground with toddlers and preschoolers, try my separate suggestions.
Bus journeys additionally offer you an opportunity to see extra of the town – a couple of routes will take you previous a few of London’s prime sights too for a cut price tour, together with routes 9, 15 and 26 (the outdated quantity 11 has modified route so isn’t nearly as good any extra)
Until you’re doing a brief simple journey, it’s unlikely to be quicker than the tube although. Apps like Citymapper are actually helpful if you wish to examine completely different choices to get you from A to B, whereas Google Maps offers real-time bus data and exhibits the closest stops.
Don’t overlook trains on the Tfl community
In addition to buses and the underground, overground providers, the Elizabeth Line and DLR (Docklands Mild Railway) trains are additionally a part of the Tfl community, and depend in the direction of the each day cap for fares.
You can even use Oyster playing cards/contactless for airport trains together with the Heathrow Specific, in addition to the Gatwick Specific, though the airport journeys aren’t lined within the each day restrict.
For one of the best methods to get from London airports to central London, try this submit
Should you’re heading to Watford Junction to go to the Harry Potter studios, you need to use Oyster/contactless playing cards for this as properly and children underneath 11 journey free on the quick trains from Euston to Watford Junction.
Nonetheless, when you’re planning to make use of different rail providers – together with native suburban rail routes, akin to Waterloo to Hampton Courtroom Palace – youngsters aged 5-15 get 50% off ticket costs however don’t journey free.
Journey by boat & cable automotive
Should you fancy travelling by river, you need to use contactless and Oyster playing cards on the Uber Boat by Thames Clipper providers (or purchase tickets straight utilizing the app).
Solely youngsters underneath 5 journey free, in any other case it’s 50% of the grownup fare – it’s not included within the each day cap both.
You probably have a paper travelcard, it’s also possible to get a reduction on these river boat providers.
And whereas the river boats aren’t the quickest technique to journey, it’s much more scenic than a darkish tunnel.
Or the IFS Cloud Cable Automobile whisks you 90m above the Thames, crossing between the north Greenwich peninsula and the Docklands.
You can even use Oyster playing cards and contactless fee to journey on London’s cable automotive, however once more, solely youngsters underneath 5 journey free and it’s not included within the each day cap.
For extra concepts of the finest boat excursions in London with youngsters try my prime picks
Stroll when you possibly can
London’s sheer dimension implies that if you wish to discover, you actually can’t do all of it on foot. However the tube map, iconic design although it’s, doesn’t precisely replicate the geography of London so there are a number of spots the place it’s merely not price taking the tube.
All Londoners realize it’s quicker to stroll from Embankment to Charing Cross, for instance, or from Leicester Sq. to Covent Backyard, as an alternative of venturing up and down the escalators for a single cease.
There’s a useful map displaying strolling distances between stations or just test Google Maps and Citymapper to match how lengthy it’ll tackle foot, versus the quickest choice on public transport.
Try my strolling tour of London’s landmarks if you wish to discover the capital on foot with youngsters
Be ready for stairs & strolling
There are greater than 250 stations on the Tfl community, and solely a restricted quantity have step-free entry – Tfl’s Journey Planner can rule out stairs although it’ll be limiting, whereas the Citymapper app additionally offers an choice to seek for step-free journeys solely.
Both manner, you’ll in all probability encounter steps sooner or later, particularly exterior the centre. Stations within the centre will often have an escalator, together with the 60m whopper at Angel, whereas the deepest stations have lifts – after they say to not take the steps besides in an emergency, these ones actually imply it.
Should you’re taking the underground with a child, contemplate a child provider or sling, or no less than deliver the lightest pushchair you may get away with.
Some greater stations have lengthy walks between traces as properly: altering from the Victoria line to the Piccadilly line at Inexperienced Park appears to contain a endless stroll, whereas switching traces between Financial institution and Monument (although formally related) is one other lengthy trek.
Should you’re switching to the Elizabeth Line, chances are you’ll want to move exterior and stroll (for instance at Canary Wharf), even when the stations share the identical identify or are formally related
Should you’re feeling totally overwhelmed, footsore and fed up, it’s price realizing that black cabs can take pushchairs so that you needn’t fear about not having a automotive seat – merely pop the brake on, and settle your self again.
Stand behind the yellow line
A severe piece of recommendation. At most stations, there’s nothing between the platform and the prepare (besides sometimes a niche, thoughts that too), so hold youngsters behind the yellow line to be protected. Should you’re travelling with a buggy, reversing might be best.
If it is advisable to cease to test a map when you’ve bought off (there are lots across the stations as properly), or just to get your bearings, head over in the direction of the wall to do it.
Stopping proper in the midst of the platform will make you very unpopular when there’s a prepare’s price of individuals strolling behind you.
Preserve youngsters entertained
Should you’re spending some time with bored youngsters on the tube, the novelty can shortly put on off – when you’ve bought an extended journey, it’s price having one thing up your sleeve to entertain.
For brief journeys, the place you don’t need to be ceaselessly taking issues out of luggage and placing them again two stations later, encourage them to show the journey right into a problem with a pocket-sized I-Spy London Transport ebook.
Or there’s lots of tube trivia to maintain you amused – you gained’t be putting up dialog along with your neighbours, I promise.
Try these 150 details celebrating the underground’s 150 years, together with the 2 station names containing all 5 vowels, and the one station which doesn’t have any letters of the phrase ‘mackerel’ in it.
In any other case, hold the same old leisure – stickers, books, magazines – handy. Counting the stations is all the time a superb failsafe as properly.
Don’t speak however do stand on the left
Some issues are merely not accomplished on the tube – and if you wish to keep away from too many scowls from Londoners it’s finest to know the etiquette prematurely (though we’re not all unfriendly).
These unstated guidelines embody not chatting with fellow passengers, whereas the official guidelines embody not standing on the left on escalators.
The left hand aspect is meant for folks strolling reasonably than standing: the identical typically goes for the corridors between platforms or when you’re altering line too, so those that are strolling extra slowly with young children, hold a watch out for the little blue indicators as you go to keep away from the speedwalkers.
Get on-line
The Tfl web site is full of surprisingly useful data – there are FAQs for guests and extra particulars on fares for kids who get both free journey or decreased costs on completely different transport, even ideas on the finest buggies to make use of on the tube.
It additionally has maps displaying these tube stations with bogs – click on right here – though it’s undoubtedly finest to not depend on these, or remember some have a small cost when you do want them.
And there’s additionally a standing replace for all of the traces, which is price checking earlier than you go, in case of delays or to see if any traces are briefly closed. You can even discover advance particulars of weekend engineering works and any strike motion.
For extra concepts on issues to do in London with youngsters, try my information to London with youngsters, in addition to ideas for free issues to do in London, uncommon issues to do in London and issues to do in London within the rain with youngsters
*First printed 2014, final up to date 2024*
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Disclosure: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions on utilizing the London Underground with youngsters are my very own.
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