The Tube with kids - paying?

[MikeWozniaksMohawk]

Going to visit London with the kids for the first time soon. When I go on my own I just tap and and out of the tube with my card/phone. How do you do this with kids (4&8 years old if relevant)? TFL site is suggesting we will need a photo card for the 8 year old but it’s too late to apply now.

You dont need it just go to the wide aisle gate and put the kids in front of you before you tap your card.

They don’t need anything. Just take them through the wide gate with you.

Brilliant, thanks! I knew mumsnet would have the answer for me.

We found this really confusing when we went to London for the day. We bought day travel cards and there was an option to purchase a day travel card for over 5's (can't remember the what the upper age limit was) and under 5's were free. So we did this but then found out afterwards it should have been free for our 5 and 6 year old. I can't understand why there was an option to buy a ticket for a child if they don't need one?

They’d only need the photo card if they were travelling without you - they can still travel free.

That might have been because the Travelcard you chose also covered trains in the London area run by the national railways. Children between 5 and 15 do need a child ticket for that.

So neither my 4 or 8 year old need a ticket of any sort for the tube. But the 8 year old will need a ticket for the overground trains if we use them. I think that’s correct?

Op children don’t need a ticket on the underground (aka tube) or the overground in London (specific transport called the overground)
If you are travelling on British rail /National Rail then they will need tickets. But you can buy at station (as it’s not covered by oyster usually) but staff will help.

Depends what you mean by "overground".

If it's the actual Overground (logo like the tube roundel, but orange not red) then that - like DLR - is free until age 11 as they are all operated by TfL.

For other trains (which run overground, but are not he actual Overground) you need to pay the child fare from age 5

I have read that there are a few other train services where u11s are free, but I have no idea which they are!

@MikeWozniaksMohawk I took dc 6 and 8 Friday. I hadn't been to London on the train/used tube for years. It was very easy. Booked the train online, tickets to phone. Used debit card for tube, as said above, tap in/out just the same but at the buggy gate.

I didn’t realise there was a distinction between overground and mainline rail services for ticketing purposes. glad I asked. We are going somewhere which will require a few stops on the overground (yes, same symbol different colours). Sounds like we won’t need a ticket for either of them on that either then.

Summary, they (TfL) don't make it easy for people who don't live in London.

I am of reasonable intelligence, can navigate websites etc, yet have really found it hard to understand how to travel with children around London.

nb I haven't looked recently.

I live in Zone 4 and get the overland into Waterloo. My youngest is 10 and we still just walk him through the big gates. We've only ever been challenged and told he needs a ticket once so you can definitely play dumb if you need to 🤣🤣

If you don’t mind sharing where your to and from stations will be I’m sure someone can help with a definitive answer for you OP

You need a child's oyster card for children aged 5-10

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/5-10-zip-oyster-photocard?intcmp=55572

If you don't have one and you get caught, you'll be forced to buy them a ticket or possibly be fined.

Only if they’re travelling by themselves. They don’t need them if they’re with a fare-paying adult.

I'm zone 4 on a mainline station - the kids were free until 11, but needed the Zip card (cost something if a paper ticket). Half price from 11 with the Zip card.

@EmpressaurusOfCats That's not how I read it - or how the staff who insisted I buy a ticket for my 5 year old when I forgot his zip card interpreted it. It is poorly worded though, so it's possible that interpretation is incorrect. It's my understanding that age 4 and under travel free on buses and tubes and kids 5 and over only travel free on those and other TfL services if they have a zip card.

Anecdata but I have an 8 and 10 year old, been taking them on the tube for years, never ever been asked for a photocard.

My understanding was that they only need a photocard for TFL services once they hit 11.

However having just re read the website it does look like technically a zip photocard is needed for the tube (but not buses, trams or London rail if accompanied by an adult) for age 5-10.

Seems weird that there would be a different rule for tubes though

Absolutely do this. Works a treat

Ok. I don’t have kids so I’ve never had to do it myself - apologies if I’ve misinterpreted it.

Also, in London (at a busy bus stop) 9/10 success rate, you can flash an orange train ticket on the buses and they'll let you on thinking it's a family travel card. 👍🏻

Same. I literally just walked through the gate today with a just turned 11 year (who forgot his zip card, muppet), 9 and 7 year old. Tube staff helped them through and had no issues. I’ve never heard of them challenge anyone.