London transport- help a Northerner out

[Curveygirl]

Hi, about ten years ago we had a break in London and used the trains/ underground to get around. We soon found out that we should have used oyster cards and because we didn't we paid more.

Is this still a thing please? If it is can someone explain it to me like i'm ten years old please? Can we not just use debit cards and if we can how does that work please with two teenagers who will be paid for by us? One of the teens doesn't have their own card and is disabled so we wouldn't be able to transfer money to him.

I'd really appreciate some help please, i've no idea about this. I'm from a "proper" Northern town.

You can still get an Oyster card if you wish for your teenagers who do not have a bank card of their own, and use your own bank card for yourself. You must use the same bank card when tapping in or out (or Apple Pay/Google Pay from your phone.

Hope that helps. I won't question where there is an improper Northern town!!

You will need one card each - either a bank card or card on a phone or an Oyster card. Children under 11 are free though and can go through a family gate when an adult taps.

As your children are teens they will need a debit or Oyster card each.

You don’t pay more by using your contactless bank card - this is capped and an Oyster card is not any cheaper however as pp have mentioned you will need a card each so your teen without a debit card should get an Oyster card

If you have your card in a digital wallet on your phone you can use the phone version for one person and physical one for another person. You can’t double tap for two people.
Same for busses and tubes.
If this isn’t possible, you can get an Oyster card at a station or some shops.

Just use your Apple Pay or card to tap in or out. If you have a child under 11 go to the worker and they’ll go through for free. Use CityMapper to plan your routes.

Oyster and adult debit card are both capped. It’s only cheaper if you’re a child. Your kids can use your card if they need to pay. You can use the same card on Apple Pay and physically for two people. It will register as two cards.

Travel costs the same whether you use and Oyster card or a bank card, and has daily caps for the number of Zones you’ve traveled in, eg: £8.90 for Zones 1/2.

Thank you all, very much appreciated. Does anyone know if there is a disability concession, disabled persons travel card or similar I should apply for too. He has severe disability physical and cognitive so proof or documentation isn't an issue.

Thank you again.

There is a freedom pass for disabled people but I think you need to live in London to be eligible.

Thank you.

Sorry for asking more questions but can anyone recommend a journey planner. We will be staying at chessington and going to the London Tower first.

Try the TFL Go app

Citymapper is your friend!

Citymapper works well- or just Google maps

If he has a disabled type railcard (is that a thing, sorry should know) and you are coming from cheasongton a 1 day paper travel card might work for them.

Transport for London website has a journey planner plus all the other info you need to travel around London.

edited because the link didn't work.

Thank you all so much, I really appreciate it.

Do you mean the Tower of London? If so, expect to be travelling for 90 minutes or more to get to it from Chessington - if I were in your shoes then I would change onto the District Line at Wimbledon rather than staying on the train until Waterloo, as this is slightly quicker but requires at least 2 tube changes and you would be unlikely to get a seat. Wimbledon is the start of the District Line and Tower Hill is on the same line, so you can get a seat for the full duration. If going on a weekday then you cannot "touch in" at Chessington (ie: buy a ticket with your cards) until after 9.30 without it being classed as a "peak" train.

In terms of the Tower itself, there are lots of uneven surfaces and steps (incase this is relevant as you mentioned your son has physical disabilities) - if they impact his walking, then have you taken this into account? If so it may be better to "save" the Tower for a later visit when you are staying closer to keep the walking time down.

The Tower is part of Historic Palaces (so 6 different properties) - Hampton Court Palace is also a great day out (and much closer to Chessington!) - it can often be not that much more expensive to get an annual pass to give access to all of them, or would allow you to return again during the same visit. The HCP also have a lot of discounts including free entry for adult carers, and also people who are in receipt of many governement benefits can get entry for £1. They may also offer the 241 travel by train offer. You should definitely check out the website before going:
www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/visit/tickets-and-prices/

If your son as a Disabled Persons Railcard then you can buy a paper travel card with a third off for him and 1 other adult, but the Freedom Pass (offering free travel) is limited to residents of London boroughs.

Depending on what your DS’s disability is, this might be useful. https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/plan-an-accessible-journey?intcmp=5331

@examadmin thank you so much for taking the time to write that. I didn't realise it would take so long to get there. Thank you very much for all the info.

Thank you for this

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/11-15-zip-oyster-photocard

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/16-plus-zip-oyster-photocard

apply for these - all done online, super simple, - just top them up as and when you need.