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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How to use the tube in London.

37 replies

Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:14

sorry, haven't got anyone in RL and only been to the capital once many moons ago.

I have a medical appointment in London coming with with disabled DC. We bought all the train tickets but I just noted that some of the train tickets are not from train station to train station but I have to make the way myself in between (such as from Liverpool Street to London Euston). Do I need to buy a tube ticket or can I just swipe my debit card?

Sorry if the question is stupid. Travel with DC is difficult and I thought I have every single leg covered.

OP posts:
phoenixrosehere · 07/07/2025 16:17

You can tap your debit or credit card.

HeartandSeoul · 07/07/2025 16:18

As the previous person mentioned, you can use your debit or credit card. Just make sure you use the same card (unlike me!), or you will be charged extra.

CharlotteSometimes1 · 07/07/2025 16:18

You tap your card as you go through the ticket barriers at both entry and exit points, if you make a number of journeys in one day there’s a cap on the max cost, I can’t remember what it is though. Anyway, it’s easy.

Heronwatcher · 07/07/2025 16:19

You can just touch in and out with a debit card/ phone- does your DC have one? If not you can buy a ticket for them to your destination at the first tube station or a travel card for the right zones. Depending on their age they might travel for free.

If you say where you are coming into and where you need to get to we can probably give you the easiest route. Citymapper is usually good too. The tube is really easy for the most part, it’s just best to avoid peak times if you’re not confident.

You can also get a tube map with step free stations online too.

rubyslippers · 07/07/2025 16:19

You can use your debit card to touch in and out an tube station barriers

Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:20

So need to touch on the way on and out! Got it. sounds simple enough. Thanks all.

OP posts:
TheChosenTwo · 07/07/2025 16:20

You can tap a contactless card at tube stations but you must have a separate one per person travelling. Or buy tickets at the station, I think they all still have ticket machines. Depending on the age children up to the age of… 10? 12? (Someone will know!) travel for free on the tube.

GrannyGoggles · 07/07/2025 16:20

You can use your debit card. Make sure you’ve got your route planned and in your head, and ask station staff or fellow passengers if you’re not quite sure which platform/ direction

TheChosenTwo · 07/07/2025 16:21

Yes you’ll need to tap at both ends of the journey so TFL know how far you’ve travelled and how much to charge you. It’s really reasonable imo.
And don’t stress about remembering to tap out, you do it at the ticket barriers and won’t be able to get through without either a ticket or tapping.

HeartandSeoul · 07/07/2025 16:22

I can’t add it as a link, but Visit London has a good guide on there. I’m heading to London on Thursday for a hospital appt for my son, and I found several things helpful on that site.

minipie · 07/07/2025 16:22

How old is DC, if under 11 they just go through the big “family” gate with you.

PollyIndia · 07/07/2025 16:23

From Liverpool st to euston, you can just get the circle, Hammersmith and city or metropolitan line via kings cross and get off at Euston Square, rather than faff about changing at kings x t get to euston itself. They are super close.

Teacaketravesty · 07/07/2025 16:23

If your child’s junior school age or younger, use the wider accessible gates to let you both through on one card. The Citymapper app has a step-free setting if you need it.
Hope the appointment goes well.

Mew2 · 07/07/2025 16:24

Quite often you can use your train ticket to get on and off the tube on a long journey- I have never tapped in and out on a long railway journey- and not have any of my family. So you may not need to tap in and out. If you show a person at the barrier your ticket they can help- or scan your ticket and see if it opens.....

Isittimeformynapyet · 07/07/2025 16:26

Now that the OP's question has been fully answered, I wonder how many more people will post 🤔

Lurleene · 07/07/2025 16:27

Do you have a paper ticket? Is there a + symbol on it? That means it is valid for tube between London stations.

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 07/07/2025 16:28

20% of people think the OPs question is unreasonable. Wow.

Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:29

Mew2 · 07/07/2025 16:24

Quite often you can use your train ticket to get on and off the tube on a long journey- I have never tapped in and out on a long railway journey- and not have any of my family. So you may not need to tap in and out. If you show a person at the barrier your ticket they can help- or scan your ticket and see if it opens.....

My train ticket state U1

anyone know what that mean?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:31

we have tickets for a few rail journeys over 2 days and I must have over 20 single tickets/receipts. It's total madness 🙈

OP posts:
Perhapsanothertime · 07/07/2025 16:31

Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:29

My train ticket state U1

anyone know what that mean?

Show quote history

Should mean you can travel straight into a zone 1 tube station with your train ticket

FrodoBiggins · 07/07/2025 16:31

Yes if you already bought your ticket to the final destination station (not the one your train from home gets into) it'll have a little cross on it.

If you have that sort of ticket you can just put it in the slot at the barrier when using the tube and don't need to pay again

GrannyGoggles · 07/07/2025 16:32

U1 valid zone 1

Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:34

Perhapsanothertime · 07/07/2025 16:31

Should mean you can travel straight into a zone 1 tube station with your train ticket

Show quote history

would that cover Liverpool Station to Euston Square?

OP posts:
HanSB · 07/07/2025 16:42

Do you need lift access with your DC's disability. You might want to look up the easily accessible routes

Original poster
Mercedesaintmycar · 07/07/2025 16:44

HanSB · 07/07/2025 16:42

Do you need lift access with your DC's disability. You might want to look up the easily accessible routes

no, fully mobile. No restrictions there.

OP posts:
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