Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How to use the tube in London.

37 replies

Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:14

sorry, haven't got anyone in RL and only been to the capital once many moons ago.

I have a medical appointment in London coming with with disabled DC. We bought all the train tickets but I just noted that some of the train tickets are not from train station to train station but I have to make the way myself in between (such as from Liverpool Street to London Euston). Do I need to buy a tube ticket or can I just swipe my debit card?

Sorry if the question is stupid. Travel with DC is difficult and I thought I have every single leg covered.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Perhapsanothertime · 09/07/2025 06:58

Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:34

would that cover Liverpool Station to Euston Square?

Show quote history

Yes, you can go into the underground as soon as you are off your main train, then use the system for as long as you want so long as you exit at a zone 1 tube station

minnienono · 07/07/2025 18:15

If it’s a through train ticket eg Chelmsford to Watford then usually the train fare is included in the rail ticket, there used to be an asterisk on them but not sure about online tickets. If not you can tap on and tap off with contactless cards but you’ll need one card per over 11.

stichguru · 07/07/2025 18:15

U1 will mean that you can use the same ticket for underground zone 1 stations. The TUBE tickets won't have stations on. So for example
I go from north England to Kent on a fairly regular basis.

I will book North England station to Kent station as one journey.
I will get 2 tickets:

  1. North England Station to London Station
  2. London Terminals to Kent station

Ticket 1 is obviously straight forward.
Ticket 2 will say "London Terminals to "name of Kent station"
Ticket 2 will start at the London station I come into on train one. It will cover me for ANY sensibly direct route on overground or underground from that station to one of the 3 stations that run direct to my Kent station.

For you, I presume that you are coming from a station outside of London to a Loudon Station that is in the U1 zone and then can get a train from that Station to the hospital which is also near a station in the U1 zone. So you use that ticket on your first journey and also to do your connections in the U1 zone, which will take you to the hospital.

tipsyraven · 07/07/2025 17:47

Depending how old your DC is and whether you need to pay for a fare for them, be aware you can’t use the same card for more than one person.

Jc2001 · 07/07/2025 17:25

Probably worth downloading a tube map and having a look before you set off.

titchy · 07/07/2025 17:23

Cross posts with everyone else!

titchy · 07/07/2025 17:21

Where is your train ticket to? If it’s just London terminals then you’ll need to use debit card/phone on the yellow tap in bit. If it’s to a destination beyond London then the ticket probably includes the tube fare.

FrodoBiggins · 07/07/2025 17:08

Honestly I find the tube station staff super nice overall so if in any doubt just ask and they'll send you the right way!

PullTheBricksDown · 07/07/2025 17:03

I'd download the TfL app (Transport for London). It will tell you the best route from station to station at any given time, and it also gives you step free alternatives if you need that.

Heronwatcher · 07/07/2025 17:02

Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:29

My train ticket state U1

anyone know what that mean?

Show quote history

It depends what you booked online- but if you booked to your final destination yes it should cover tube too. If you look at your booking confirmation email/ ticket stub that should say.

BertSymptom · 07/07/2025 16:54

It’s hard to tell from the OP but if it’s part of the journey you’ve already booked, your train ticket should work? If not tap in and out with a card.

FrodoBiggins · 07/07/2025 16:49

Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:34

would that cover Liverpool Station to Euston Square?

Show quote history

Yep.

I I would get the Circle, Hammersmith, or Metropolitan line (yellow, light pink, dark pink) from Liverpool Street Station to Euston Square, very quick trip with no changes.

Platform 2 from Liverpool Street, five stops to Euston sq.

(Edited cos I misread that you wanted to go to Euston sorry!)

Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:44

HanSB · 07/07/2025 16:42

Do you need lift access with your DC's disability. You might want to look up the easily accessible routes

no, fully mobile. No restrictions there.

OP posts:
HanSB · 07/07/2025 16:42

Do you need lift access with your DC's disability. You might want to look up the easily accessible routes

Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:34

Perhapsanothertime · 07/07/2025 16:31

Should mean you can travel straight into a zone 1 tube station with your train ticket

Show quote history

would that cover Liverpool Station to Euston Square?

OP posts:
GrannyGoggles · 07/07/2025 16:32

U1 valid zone 1

FrodoBiggins · 07/07/2025 16:31

Yes if you already bought your ticket to the final destination station (not the one your train from home gets into) it'll have a little cross on it.

If you have that sort of ticket you can just put it in the slot at the barrier when using the tube and don't need to pay again

Perhapsanothertime · 07/07/2025 16:31

Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:29

My train ticket state U1

anyone know what that mean?

Show quote history

Should mean you can travel straight into a zone 1 tube station with your train ticket

Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:31

we have tickets for a few rail journeys over 2 days and I must have over 20 single tickets/receipts. It's total madness 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:29

Mew2 · 07/07/2025 16:24

Quite often you can use your train ticket to get on and off the tube on a long journey- I have never tapped in and out on a long railway journey- and not have any of my family. So you may not need to tap in and out. If you show a person at the barrier your ticket they can help- or scan your ticket and see if it opens.....

My train ticket state U1

anyone know what that mean?

OP posts:
Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 07/07/2025 16:28

20% of people think the OPs question is unreasonable. Wow.

Lurleene · 07/07/2025 16:27

Do you have a paper ticket? Is there a + symbol on it? That means it is valid for tube between London stations.

Isittimeformynapyet · 07/07/2025 16:26

Now that the OP's question has been fully answered, I wonder how many more people will post 🤔

Mew2 · 07/07/2025 16:24

Quite often you can use your train ticket to get on and off the tube on a long journey- I have never tapped in and out on a long railway journey- and not have any of my family. So you may not need to tap in and out. If you show a person at the barrier your ticket they can help- or scan your ticket and see if it opens.....

Teacaketravesty · 07/07/2025 16:23

If your child’s junior school age or younger, use the wider accessible gates to let you both through on one card. The Citymapper app has a step-free setting if you need it.
Hope the appointment goes well.

Swipe left for the next trending thread