Help with underground

[caperboo]

I don't travel to London very often but am.going soon we booked into a premier inn at Heathrow Terminal 5 ( as advised to by a friend) .
But some just told me they don't take cash on the buses ( apparently I will need to bus to the tube and ride the tube in )
I am country folk biggest city I ever been to is Manchester and now I am beginning to panic, there's 3 adults and 3 children neither ever been before. My friend said something about using travel cards .???! Confused anyone know what I have to do and can I buy them now or what ?

[sparkler10]

Check out //www.tfl.gov.uk, that should help

[youngestisapsycho]

How are you getting to London? Where will you be arriving into, and then having to get to Heathrow?

[80sWaistcoat]

If you've got a contactless debit card you just tap that for the number of people going through. It's v easy. contactless TFL

Heathrow is quite a long way out to travel into London - are you actually staying at Heathrow in order to fly out - or to go into London every day.

[youngestisapsycho]

You would need a contactless card for each person, you can't tap it more than once. Children under 11 travel free. Over 11 would need to pay.

[PenguinsandPebbles]

Heathrow is bloody miles and a PITA if your travelling into London every day, surely nobody would recommend this.

[Manumission]

You can buy Oyster cards or travel cards at Heathrow. There is a tube station at terminal 5.

[youngestisapsycho]

If you are staying at Heathrow and travelling into London its just the tube I think, no need for a bus. But I could be wrong?

[Manumission]

Have you seen info on visitor Oyster cards (they apparently work out cheaper) ;

tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card#on-this-page-2

[EssentialHummus]

You can buy Oyster cards or travel cards at Heathrow.

I'd rethink staying at a hotel near Terminal 5 if you are heading into central London each day. It's a schlep.

[caperboo]

We are driving up from Somerset by car , our friend told us it's easier staying at Heathrow then going into London ?!
Anyway that's booked we only going into city on the one day , they said we can get a bus to tube then tube it in and out ? Again I am pretty clueless

[caperboo]

Penguins
They really did and to add to the confusion they lived in London for 35 years lol , I don't mind the travel that's no issue , it's just the confusion of where and how to pay , but I do have a contactless debit card

[Fruitcocktail6]

You can get the tube from Heathrow directly into central London. If you need to get a bus will depend on where you're going.

You can use your contactless card on all public transport.

[AccioNameChange]

Tube straight in from Heathrow. Contactless debt card, tap in and out each time you go into / leave tube. You need one card for each over 11. If you don't have enough contactless cards buy a day travel card. Do not buy single tickets.

[caperboo]

Brilliant thanks hopefully I can get my head around it ,
Can I not ( say for my 14 year old ) just use my debit card twice ?
If not I will need to purchase her a ticket ?

Who would of thought tube travel would be so difficult lol .

[NotCitrus]

According to the hotel's website, "National Express Hoppa buses run every 30 mins: H52 and H58 (Stand 23 from Terminal 5) to and from T5. Bus 423 runs every 15 minutes to and from Terminal 5 (Stand 6). Free if carrying only hand luggage. ... Up to 2 children under 15 years old travel for free when accompanied by a paying adult. £5.00 per person."

So those aren't London buses.

Then once back at T5 you just get the Tube into London, about 30-40 min into the centre.

[GinIsIn]

You're staying at Heathrow at one of the busiest times of year for flights when you aren't even flying?!

I hate to say it but that seems like dreadful advice to me - it's nearly an hour on the tube into central London and will be utterly, utterly packed at this time of year. Are you able to change hotels to something a bit more central? What are your plans for the rest of your trip, or are you only staying the one day and night?

[EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans]

You absolutely can't use your debit card for more than one person.

Your 14 year old will need her own Oyster and this link explains how you can get her a discount. It's for 11-15 year olds so it's worth bringing proof of age just in case.

[caperboo]

Sorry should of said we not going till middle of Jan , I just been pondering it now ,
I could change but I was worried about driving in London hence ( at least I think ) why they suggested an Heathrow

[caperboo]

2 nights then home , it's only for a birthday trip for one of the kids

[EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans]

I can see the logic of not wanting to drive in London but would it be at all possible for you to all get the train? The other thing about staying at Heathrow is that you're really dependent on the Piccadilly line running properly. If it's a weekend when there are engineering works or something you're going to really struggle to get into town.

If you got a Family & Friends Railcard you could get discounts, & then you could stay somewhere a bit more central. Quite a few attractions have 2 for 1 vouchers if you can produce train tickets, too.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

If you know how to sit in a traffic jam then you can drive in central London. After 6.30pm on Saturdays you can park for free in any pay and display or on single yellow lines in the congestion zone area. Parked yesterday on Portland Place a few minutes walk from Oxford street all day for no charge.
My local town charges £2.50 per hour for parking on the road everyday all day.

[Crocosaurus]

I hope that child likes the tube..

Hotels should have cheap deals in January I would have thought. I think premier inn do very cheap if bought in advance. Somewhere like Hammersmith is not far from the m4 and better connected for getting into town.

The tube is easy you'll be fine!

[Oliversmumsarmy]

You need separate debit cards as each journey is monitered so you can be charged appropriately.

[80sWaistcoat]

premier with parking

Bit of a pain driving in but you walk straight out into London and the South Bank.

[caperboo]

Thank you , I think I shall look into the options suggested , although our hotels only costing 190 all in the one in the above link is nearly £450 I ain't sure my oh will be keen on that ( he's a tight ass ) lol