Getting around London

[thebigmaniswatching]

Another thread has prompted me to start this one, we’re staying at the Putney premier inn at half term and I’ve just got a few questions to ask about getting around.

Am I right in thinking that under 16s travel free on the bus? And that the maximum you pay in bus journeys per day is £4.50 either using an Oyster card or contactless card no matter how many journeys you make? Does that apply to the tube too or is that different? We’re planning on seeing the sights so will be travelling quite a bit, I’m quite confident on the tube even though it’s been years since I had to use it!

Also any tips of things to see and do will be greatly appreciated! My six year old thinks we’re actually meeting the queen! I was think the museums but they’ll probably be crazy busy at half term?

Download citymapper app. Amazing for transport options and times etc

Yes, children go free but if they’re older than 8 or 9 I think they need a zip card (google how to get one). I’m not sure what the cap is but I’m pretty sure it’s higher than £4.50

Things to do ... how old are your kids? The museums will be super busy, Yes, but they’re still amazing. Also walking along the southbank is good. From Putney, see if you can get the clipper to millennium pier. There’s a big playground by the millennium wheel, and lots to see and do on the walk all the way to Tate modern. You could easily spend half a day ambling along there.

Greenwich is worth a day trip as well.

If you’re south west, then you could also head to Kew Gardens, which is beautiful. Then do all the normal touristy things - I still do them sometimes and I’ve lived here 40 years!

Kids ten and under travelling with an adult travel free on the tube.
Kids 11-15 pay a reduced fare. Ask the staff to put a "young visitor" discount on an Oyster card (£5 deposit, put a tenner on it, fully refundable after 24 hours).
All kids travel free on the bus until the day before their 16th birthday.
All day travel on your contactless from Putney Bridge to central London on bus and tube will be £8.20 as long as you remember to touch the card in and out on the Tube.
Your daughter can meet the Queen! at Madam Tussaud's. It's expensive, and advisable to book tickets in advance.
In the holidays the free museums can be very busy, and therefore exhausting. Go on their websites, plan the top things you want to see in them, and limit visits to 2 hours, or you will go crazy. And take your own food in!
Avoid the rush hour. It's hell.

Bit of a walk, but the WWT wetlands centre in Barnes is a good day out with kids.

The dc are 6 and 3.

I’ve jst looked at the TFL site and it does say it’s capped at £4.50 if I’m reading it right.

The clipper sounds good, my eldest would love a trip on the Thames!

Thanks for all the tips everyone, keep them coming!

There are bus only fares and all transport (including tube) fares. IIRC the Putney Premier Inn is right by a tube station, so you will probably want to take advantage of that.

You can get to the museums in South Kensington really easily. Go early (as the doors open) or go late. Pre-book the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. Use the side entrance to the Science Museum for a shorter queue. You can take food in to eat at the picnic area, then just get a coffee / ice cream to fortify yourselves (coffee best at the Natural History Museum, ice cream best at the Science Museum)

Covent Garden is always interesting to wander around, with buskers and street performers. The transport museum is there too

I'm pretty sure the clipper isn't free for kids. Useful to know if you're using an oyster as you'll need some money on it. The natural history museum has a new kids bit which you have to pay for but it has the advantage of time slots so not quuye so hectic. I also like the festival hall on South Bank for half term activities and the cable cars. Take a look at sky Garden as well. Pretty sure it's free but the shard often do deals in the half term too.

Oh, and I believe there's a zip wire near Waterloo. I haven't done it myself but might be worth checking out as well as London eye as well.

If you book in advance you can go up to the Sky Garden for free. Need ID and a prebooking as they book up quickly.

Great views and free!

I'd recommend getting the clipper (much cheaper than your boats and will take you past all the landmarks) to Tate Modern - the turbine hall always entertained my kids - it's so vast - they loved running up and down the slope. From there you have a few options - down towards London Bridge you can explore the Golden hind or further down to HMS Belfast (though both cost to go on). Or alternatively back along south bank which is always lively and full of street performers.

You might also want to consider Covent Garden - lots of street performers and the London Transport Museum. Very popular with little boys. The secret with all the museums is to go early. The Natural History and Science Museum are good but launchpad in the latter gets rammed. The IMAX there is great though.

I'd second going to Kew Gardens - it isn't cheap on the gate but my kids always loved it (and still do as teens). There's all the greenhouses, the treetop Walk, the beehive, an indoor play area and the Giant Badger Sett to play around. A lovely day. And nice for adults too.

If you want to visit the queen you could go to Trafalgar Square to see Nelsons column and then walk down the Mall to Buck House. You can dally in St James Park on the way - which is very pretty.

Depending on budget a fun place to go for dinner (across Green Park from Buck House to Piccadilly) is Benihana. The Japanese chefs do lots of fun tricks with knives and an onion volcano and make lots of jokes - you sit in a semi circle round the hot plates as your chef performs. Kids love it. You need to book in advance.

If you are staying in Putney you will be just across the river from Fulham Palace which usually has loads for kids to do.