London Underground

[Iwasjustasking]

i am going to London for the first time ever next week, please can someone explain to me the capping system on the underground, how much is the daily maximum fare? How do I pay for my six year old? And has anyone got a good city planner app that will tell me the exact tubes i need to go on to get too various touristy locations please?

Have you looked at the TFL website (transport for London)?

Your 6yo is free on the underground; just swipe your card on the wide access gates (i.e. for wheelchairs and prams) and walk through together.

Thanks both and have just gone on the tfl website Thankyou, how do I know where to get off the tube for example if I want Buckingham palace, how do I know what tube station it is?

If you look at the website for the attraction, it usually tells you the nearest tube station.
CityMapper is a good app too, but does drain phone batteries.

TfL website has a good journey planner, which you will find useful. Where are you staying (roughly)?

Just to get you started, Westminster tube is on the Jubilee/District/Central lines. That's a good location to begin sightseeing.

If you're thinking of going to Greenwich, a good way is to get a waterbus one way and come back on the Docklands Light Railway through Canary Wharf from Cutty Sark or Greenwich. Excellent and contrasting views on both journeys.

You Google.

I just did it for you and it said St James's Park.

You can use Google maps to find the nearest tube to your destination.
Also have you thought about using the buses instead? If it's your first time in London you'll get to see extra sights on route.

The daily cap will depend on whether you travel at peak time or off-peak and what zones you travel through. For Buckingham Palace I would go to Green Park tube and walk through Green Park. It’s probably best to check the websites of the attractions you want to go to in their ‘getting here’ sections for nearest tube or bus-stops. Take your 6-year-old through the wide gates with you when you tap to get in to the tube. When you get off a bus you don’t need to tap out. I often see visitors look confused by that as it’s not the case in many other cities.

I live in London. If I ever want a 2nd opinion on what route to take, probably because DH and I don’t agree, I just use the public transport option Google maps. It never fails to agree with me.

Walk the 6YO, who is free, with you through the wide gates for luggage and buggies.

What sights are you hoping to see? It’s best to have a plan so you’re efficient and don’t end up criss crossing.

Citymapper is the best app, as it shows you all options - often walking or bus is quicker than Tube. There’s a daily cap for each zone

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/pay-as-you-go-caps

Oh and I have no idea on the daily cap- it is what it is! Just make sure you use the same card every time you tap and trust TFL to take care of the rest.

Download the citymapper app and you can plot your route from your current location or between two points. It gives you a variety of options and then a map for the walking part.

Lots of places are good to get to by bus in the centre as you see lots more eg the 211 goes from Waterloo to west london past westminster, Sloane sq, Kensington. Greenwich museums are brilliant by river boat from any central london pier.

You can use contactless on all transport and tube/bus/tram are capped at £8.10 a day for zone 1-2. Your 6yo is free, just walk through the big barriers together.

Hope you enjoy our beautiful city and that the sunshine holds out for you. The blossom is lovely in my corner currently.

You might not need to use the underground often, a lot of the main things you will want to see are within walking distance. Buses are early to use too

This is both rude and wrong….

st James park may be closest but green park or Victoria both easy options depending on the tube line you are on.

OP use a journey planner app it will tell you what to do, how long it will take and will take all the stress out of your trip.

Thankyou all for your suggestions and help, I am aware I sound really naive but I think I’m a bit worried as I have my 6 year old and have never used the underground before and don’t know London in the slightest! We are getting into Euston and staying by the shard, I have downloaded city mapper Thankyou and I do think the buses and walking would be easier! I looked at getting a city hopper ticket but they are £35 each and for four of us is quite a hit on our budget! We really would like to do Trafalgar Square, Buckingham palace, Downing Street, Houses of Parliament, tower bridge, borough market, Covent Garden’s and Harrods and hamleys, thanks again all 👍

How many full days will you have OP? I agree buses will be better than tubes but maybe take your 6-year-old on it just to experience it. When my parents visit they are always exhausted from all the walking. I reckon Londoners walk a lot just to get on/off the tube. What I mean is don’t underestimate the impact on little legs of the number of steps. Plan for ice-cream stops.

I am estimating lots of ice cream stops, she is little for her age and I know her legs will be hurting! We are there from about 11.00 in the morning until 4.00 the next day.

I would do Trafalgar Sq, Downing St, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace & Harrods one day. And Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Covent Garden and Hamleys on another.

It’s quite a lot. I would plan for late finish day one and early start day two and not much planned at all for the day after you get home.

Don't worry OP. The tube is SO easy when you get the hang of it, and I've never come across a member of TFL staff that isn't cheery and ready to help!

The trick is to know the line you want to be on (or at least it's colour) and the last station or stations on that line, so you know which way you're heading. Alternatively just an idea of if you're going east / west / north or south will help you get to the right platform.

I find the tube easier than buses in terms of knowing I'm getting off at the right place! Big attractions are often included in signage once you're off.

I've been three times recently after a long long time away and used google maps to navigate the whole time.

Have a great trip

Another thought just as I posted though, with little legs and if you're just planning on seeing the sights, maybe a hop-on hop-off bus tour would work for you? Nice and easy, get off where you fancy and then back on at the same place to the next interesting stop.

If you want to do hamley’s I’d really recommend getting there as it opens - they have lots of demos and way more fun when it’s quieter.

Agree with poster above splitting of days. If you get tube from euston to westminster (change to jubilee at green park) then turn left as you come through the barriers (exit signed to the london eye) you will come out straight in front of Big Ben with fab views of HoP, london eye etc from the bridge.

You can then walk round to parliament square and bus to the onward destinations to save the little legs.

I couldn't live without city mapper when I lived in London deff download it

That’s a good division of sights. You could start at Westminster for Big Ben and Parliament, walk up Whitehall to Downing Street and continue on to Trafalgar Square/Nelson’s column, then through Admiralty Arch and up the Mall or through St James’ Park to Buckingham Palace. There’s a children’s playground at the palace end of the park and a nice cafe.

Then walk through Green Park to the tube and a couple of stops on the Piccadilly line to Knightsbridge for Harrods. If you still have any energy left you could hop back on the tube and go a few stops in the other direction to go to Covent Garden. Or get off at Piccadilly Circus for Hamleys.

Have a wonderful trip!

Thankyou so much all for all your help, really appreciate it. Thankyou for taking the time to split it all down for me! I keep going between nervous and excited and I don’t mind if we don’t see everything, I think just to soak up the atmosphere of London will be amazing and happy to take it slow for the kids. Thankyou again!