To not understand Oyster/Travelcards

[Rolothecat]

Hi, question for Lononders please. I’m driving myself crazy here, coming to London tomorrow myself, 16 year old and 13 year old. We arrive in Kings Cross and need to go to Edgware Road/staying in Paddington, but then we need tickets to get around into Covent Garden and London eye, is the Oyster card the best option or a travel card? Do I just go to the ticket office in kx and buy them and top up in corner shops? Or can we just pay with my debit card, really confused lol

Contactless card payments are easiest; it automatically caps at the daily travel card cost if you spend that much.
You'll need to use a different card each though; if you don't have cards they can use, then Oyster is the next best option (will also cap at the daily rate).

Do you all have debit cards? If so just swipe them when you get on/off as if it’s an Oyster card and it will work it out for you at the cheapest rate.

You can pay with a debit card but it is only one person. So if your DC do not have bank accounts (I assume the case), then you need to buy Oyster cards. You can buy them from the ticket machines in the Underground ticket hall, or the Visitor Centre (near the walk to the Eurostar).

Hope that helps.

Do you have a contactless card? If so, you just use that to beep in & out the gates. Amount is capped. But for the kids you’ll be able to buy at kings x. Oyster cards are better value for money on fares but it’s £5 for the card. So depends how much travelling around/ how many days. Just for a weekend might be better off buying a travel card.

Would a day travel card be better?
The 13 yr old will qualify for half price travel, this can be only applied to a oyster in the form of a young visitor discount.
If travelling by train & only in london for a day get a day travel card with the ticket.

The children can get discounted travel www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/do-kids-need-an-oyster-card

When you get the Oyster cards at Kings Cross (or before, you can order them online) ask for one of the TfL staff to put in a young visitor’s discount for the DC. It will save you money. If they look older, you may need some proof of age. The children bit on this page explains it:

tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card#on-this-page-7

Just use the debit card for yourself.

If you are getting the train, adding a travelcard onto your train ticket is usually the cheapest way of doing it.

If not, just use any contactless card (use the same one for all journeys or it won’t apply the cap). Tap in and tap out, job done.

The kids get discounts if you apply for a Zip card.
tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel

There is a TfL Visitor Centre at Kings Cross who will be able to help.

tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/getting-around-london/visitor-centres

Given you are arriving tomorrow, there are 3 of you and it’s a day trip I would go for a zone 1-2 travel card.
You can do as many journeys in Zone 1 and 2 as you want. Looking at your destinations they are all in Zone 1. You can buy these from a ticket machine.

If you think one or more of you will visit London again then go for an Oyster card. It may take longer to buy and there is a one off £5 fee. They can easily be topped up using the TfL app, ticket machine etc. If you chose this option would suggest you go online tonight and set up an TfL oyster account (one for each of you) so tomorrow you can buy the Oyster card and add it to your account. The daily cap means you would pay less in fares but the £5 could make the travel card the right option.

Note: had you got more time you could have ordered a visitor Oyster card but it’s too late now.

If you all have your own contactless debit card then you can just use this. All you do is swipe at the gates to enter and leave. The daily cap will be applied. What you can’t do is use one card for all three of you.

HTH

Thank you all for your replies, I feel a bit less stressed now, hope the weather is nice 😊