Paying for kids on the tube?

[clare8allthepies]

Visiting London next weekend with my 2 girls (10 and 14), in the past when we’ve visited we’ve had day travel cards as we would be doing a lot of journeys about the place. This time we will only be making 3 short journeys on the Sunday and 1 on Monday morning, all within zone 1.

I’ve looked on the TFL website and it said that my youngest should travel free and my eldest should get discounted fare BUT this requires a zip Oyster card that you need to order a month in advance. My eldest could use her contactless card in the same way that I would, can I just buy a ticket from a machine for the younger one?

Thanks for any advice, it seems like so long since we’ve been on the tube!

You can get an ordinary oyster card turned into a teen one at a manned underground station for up to 2 weeks I think (Liverpool Street for us).

Take your teen to the counter and tell them their age. They usually ask how long you're in London for and the discount applies for the stay.

Mine are 13 and 14 so I do this for them and use my debit card for me when we go up for day trips. I haven't needed to show ID for them.

When they were younger I just took them to the bigger gate and used my debit card and we all went through. No need for your younger one to have a ticket.
If your teen uses their bank card, I think they will be charged the adult rate.

As a non Londoner it feels much more complicated than getting a travel card/teen travel card like when I was a teen!

Exactly what PP says. Go to a ticket window with her and ask for an oyster with a young visitor discount applied. Or she can just use her contactless card but it’ll be at adult rate so if you’re doing a few journeys I think the saving is worth the slight faff. Walk the youngest through the wide gate with you, no need to buy them any sort of ticket.

We got the Oyster card turned into a teen one with the help of the TFL staff. Have to say they were the most helpful and enthusiastic customer service staff I’ve ever met anywhere. We were just off the train at Kings Cross and it was bonkers busy (or just London busy I guess) and it was no problem.

For the sake of three journeys, I wouldn't bother getting an Oyster card etc for the older one, just let her use contactless. The card itself costs £7 now, so you probably won't save much/anything and it'll be a faff.

I'd just get your eldest to use her debit card, it's not going to be worth the faff for three short journeys. Youngest can go through the barriers with you.

Thats really helpful thank you! I didn’t realise that you could buy an Oyster card at the station. I think this time I might just get my daughter to use her bank card as we will be in a bit of a hurry but for future trips will definitely get them teen Oyster cards esp as my youngest will probably be 11 by then.