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Welcome to our UK Travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Welcome to our UK Travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

UK Travel

Paying for children on the tube

66 replies

elasticfantastic · 21/07/2019 21:09

This may sound daft but I'm not from London... I'm visiting London next weekend with an 7 year old child. I know that you can tap your bank card like an Oyster card for yourself, but how does it work for children? Do you tap and send them through first then tap again and then go through yourself?

OP posts:

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DippyAvocado · 21/07/2019 21:11

Free travel for under 11s. Go to the gate for people with luggage, tap for yourself and walk through with your DC.

CatToddlerUprising · 21/07/2019 21:13

You’ll need a visitor Oyster card or travel card then you can take up to 3/4 under 11s through the gate

SavoyCabbage · 21/07/2019 21:13

Exactly that. You don’t have to explain yourself or anything. There is no time for chatting. Just tap and go through with him.

TheFlis12345 · 21/07/2019 21:15

Just go through the wide gates together. Don’t tap twice!

ElphabaTheGreen · 21/07/2019 21:17

You don’t need a visitor Oyster card. Your normal contactless bank card is all you need. I’m not from London either but visit every few months and haven’t used an Oyster for ages.

elasticfantastic · 21/07/2019 21:32

Brilliant thanks for the replies! I didn't realise kids didn't pay so that'll leave more cash for spoiling too!

OP posts:

TheBrockmans · 21/07/2019 21:37

Make sure that you tap again at the other end.

taylorowmu · 21/07/2019 21:42

You’ll need a visitor Oyster card or travel card then you can take up to 3/4 under 11s through the gate

You really don't. You can tap your debit card and take your DC through the gate with you. No need for any other cards.

Cuddlysnowleopard · 21/07/2019 21:47

Use the wide gates - don't try and push them in front of you through the normal gates, because you will get stuck. Just tap your card, and walk through together.

CatToddlerUprising · 21/07/2019 22:11

taylorowmu - just based on what I’ve seen in big tourist stations and the TFL website. Most stations probably won’t check, but would hate for the OP to be caught out

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 21/07/2019 22:14

Caught out with what though?

taylorowmu · 21/07/2019 22:16

@CatToddlerUprising

OP won't be 'caught' - under 11's are free whether the adult uses a debit card or an oyster to pay.

CatToddlerUprising · 21/07/2019 22:16

If the TfL staff on the gates decide to check if they use an oyster or travel card. As I said- it does say on the TfL website. You never know. I’ve seen it happen on my commutes.

taylorowmu · 21/07/2019 22:17

You ca use a debit card. You do not need to have an Oyster card or debit card.

CatToddlerUprising · 21/07/2019 22:18

Really not getting in to a debate about an oyster or debit card. Just relaying what I have personally seen numerous times and what is stated on the TfL website. That’s all.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 21/07/2019 22:19

You haven’t said what they’ll be caught out doing? Not paying for a child?

CatToddlerUprising · 21/07/2019 22:20

By not using an oyster or travel card.

SavoyCabbage · 21/07/2019 22:22

There isn’t anything to check though. That is the actual method for travelling with an under 11.

CassianAndor · 21/07/2019 22:23

I am a Londoner and have travelled innumerable times on the tube with DD (Now 9). She goes through on my contactless or Oyster card. This is absolutely the correct thing to do. Never had a problem and we’ve been seen by many station staff doing this.

What you might have a problem with is travelling on mainline trains in London without buying your child a ticket. But the tube is fine, as are buses.

taylorowmu · 21/07/2019 22:23

By not using an oyster or travel card.

But you don't have to use one. You can use tour debit card 🤷‍♀️

CatToddlerUprising · 21/07/2019 22:24

I really don’t understand why this is a debate. Just relaying what I have seen happen at stations and what is on the TfL website. visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/help/travelling-with-children/

Nemesia1264 · 21/07/2019 22:24

@CatToddlerUprising
You don't need an Oyster or Travel card. The adult -OP- taps her debit card on the pad of the wide gate with child in front of her. Children of 7 don't pay.
There is nothing to debate.

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taylorowmu · 21/07/2019 22:25

I'm laughing a bit that you have seen so many families questioned though. I don't have time to notice a thing, and even if I saw people gathered at the gate I would not have a cats shit of a clue what they were talking about.

Nemesia1264 · 21/07/2019 22:26

OP I like many on this thread, excluding cat, have used this method multi times as per TfL guidelines.

taylorowmu · 21/07/2019 22:27

I really don’t understand why this is a debate

Because you keep saying that you need an oyster or a travel card. You don't. Contactless has been commonly used for almost 5 years, it's fine to do that.

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