London for dummies

[MrsTaytodarling]

Coming over from Ireland with 2 teens in couple of weeks. Have no idea how to get around etc.. will be flying into Stanstead and staying in Watford the first night because we're going to harry potter world the next day.. then into London tuesday to Friday. Is there tickets we can get for the 5 days that will cover trains/buses/underground? We're really clueless. TIA 😊

You can use your contactless bank card

Crikey I think Stanstead to Watford will be a hike, about 2 hours? If it's a train like the ones that go from Stanstead to Liverpool St you can buy a ticket from machines if its normal tube / bus you can use your contactless and it just automatically stops it charging at the daily limit.

The citymapper app is great to get. i've lived in London for 15 years, but I still use this when I'm going to a different part of that I'm not so familiar with or to check when a bus is coming.

Enjoy Harry Potter world, I love it there I've been three times haha

This is a good guide - it’s by a fashion blogger but her places to visit are spot on. https://www.wearsmymoney.com/fashion/summer-in-the-city-what-to-do-in-london/

I’d book a show, visit Camden - and don’t try to cram too much in!

You don’t need to buy a ticket for travel - you can just use your contactless debit card to ‘touch in’ and ‘touch out’ on the tube or train. (For the bus you only need to touch in a ie tap the card on the sensor when you board) you will then be charged the lowest fare over the day. If you don’t have debit cards for the teens then you can buy a travel card for each day from a ticket machine at a tube station. Either way, you need a ticket and cannot generally use cash.

travel cards are calculated according to zones. Central London is zone 1, and then they go out like concentric circles. If you are staying in zone 4 and want to visit (eg) the science museum in zone 1, then you will need a zone 1-4 travel card.

ive made that sound complicated but it’s not! It’s really simple!

Oh yes stansted is not in London so you might need a paper ticket to get to and from the airport!

Also great fun if your teens are up for this sort of thing!

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/593004-thames-rockets

this might be the way to go. I did the equivalent for a stay in Dublin couple of years ago. Is it a Leap card? Anyhow I preordered and they arrived promptly through the post. Very smooth and straightforward

https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card

My brother liked flat iron when he used to visit me as a teen, they do steal, have a few across London.

Steak **

Buses & walking are both more entertaining than tubes in Central London. There are big black & yellow street maps all over the place and buses will announce the next stop, both by tannoy and LED display, so you don’t need to worry about getting off at the right place.

If you’re using the tube, make sure all of you stand on the right so people can walk past you on the left, and try to avoid rush hours - also make sure you use the same card when entering & leaving.

For Stansted you do need a paper ticket - not contactless!!

Source: have been fined as thought you could use contactless… 😬

For your stansted to Watford trip you can book train tickets in advance on Trainline (thetrainline.com). For tube, bus, etc. in London, just use a contactless card as others have suggested.
Have a lovely time! I’d recommend sky garden (https://skygarden.london/) for good views, it’s free but you need to book. Also a show, a mooch round Covent Garden, boat down to Greenwich, a walk around Southbank.