Visitor using London Transport - I've no clue how it works. PLEASE HELP!

[FATEdestiny]

We're going to London. Friday PM to Saturday evening (next week - 27th/28th). So off peak.

Various hop on, hop off travel between Zone 4 (where our hotel is) and Zone 1.

We do not go to London frequently- possibly just once a year for an over night.

I'm taking
● Me (adult)
● DH (adult)
● Daughter's boyfriend, 17 (own bank account)
● DD16 (own bank account)
● DS15
● DS11
● DD6 (I know she's free)

We were hoping to just use contactless on our debit card, pay as you go. But it looks like we cant do children's tickets contactless?

I can't figure out the cheapest option for DS15 and DS11. TFL says the 11-15 oyster card has a £15 admin fee to set up, which doesn't seem economical for 2 days.

We are also giving DD16 and her BF17 money towards transport but if linking a bank account to a card is necessary we would rather this be their own bank accounts, not ours.

Also - how does the app work? Can I register and manage everyone's transport costs on just my app?

We went to London recently. We had to buy day tickets for DC each day in the station - it was £13.50 (for both - you buy a child's ticket for 2) for zone 1 and 2. DH and I used the debit card system - again only zones 1 and 2 but the most we paid was £7.20 for the day (each).

Each individual person has to have a debit card to use that system, so you cannot use your card for you and then the same one for DD16. The best option would be to pay money into their accounts to cover the costs and your DD17 and her BF17 use their own debit cards.

We too were going to buy Oyster cards, but were advised by the British Transport staff that the day ticket for 2 DC and debit card system was by far the cheapest.

I'm afraid I can't help with the app, we didn't use it.

Just buy Travelcards for everyone

The app us only to check recent journeys, top-up or see your balance on an Oyster card. It doesn't replace the Oyster card.

All folks over 16 with a debit card should use it if only down here for a couple of days. You cannot tap yourself in, then your DD or it will charge you a fortune.

Get oyster cards for the 11 and 15 year old. Ask a TFL employee to put on the Young Visitor Discount. It lasts for two weeks and you get half price fare. It's £5 deposit for the card and you can get a refund or keep the card for another time.

Its annoyingly complicated

This is why my DCs have GoHenry cards. I think the days of oyster are numbered. If yiu happen to have more than one working debit card yourself that might help but maybe buy the kids travelcards

The oyster cards they are talking about are photo zip ones. You just need the ordinary cards you can buy at any station.

We got a regular Oyster card at the station, think it was £5 and topped it up and asked the assistant to apply the YP discount for 13 year old.

On our way home we used the machine to return any unused credit in cash.

Presuming those with bank accounts have contactless cards you can use those like an oyster card to tap in and out of stations or pay on buses. As others have said once you reach the price of a travelcard you won't be charged further. You don't need the app. For the children I would be tempted to buy a day travelcard each from a machine, it is probably the simplest route.

Not the question I know but to navigate your way round, download the Citymapper app, it’s great