Oyster cards? Travelling from the North and can't get to grips with it.

[AgadorSpartacus]

At the end of August I'm taking the train from Manchester to Hitchin and traveling back 2 days later. DS has a performance workshop and I thought this would be pretty easy.

There's me and two children 15 and 9.

Manchester to Euston to kings cross to Hitchin. DH is at work and apparently I'm a perfectly capable adult who can do this sort of thing.

I've booked the tickets online and presume the price included the tube travel in between and that when I pick them up from the machine I'll have tickets for everything.

I want to go into London with DD while DS is at his thing. So do I need Oyster cards for both of us? How much would you recommend putting on? What's the deal with zones? Are all the touristy places within zone 1?
Sorry took ages getting to the point but now that I've given it more than two minutes of thought I realised I dont know a lot and googling doesn't throw up anything I understand. If anyone could explain slowly I'd really appreciate it 😊

Well said user. Depends on the tube line and station on how bad it can be. I usually have to wait for four or five tubes to go past before I can get on where I live. Definitely worth avoiding rush hour if you can

We also get to Euston stupidly early to return home. Our train leaves at 5.20pm & we will aim to get there around 4.30.

The only place you could realistically put a load of cases & backpacks on a bus would be the wheelchair space, so you'd be risking that no wheelchair users got on & you'd be facing arguments if any pushchair owners wanted to get on.

Tube a walking it is then. Backpacks usually go on our knees along with the smaller cases. Dh usually stands with the large case.

These are brilliant! Thankyou so much. Just knowing that I can use my debit card is a huge relief. Makes it so much simpler. I'll have a look at walking Euston to Kings Cross if it's easier.
@ AlexanderHamilton yes it's EDSA.
They're doing a Musical Theatre workshop. Hamilton 😁 and Dear Evan Hansen. I couldn't keep him away.
@user1497480444
Haha I would be that Northener!
@tweenageangst
DD is the only one of us that hasn't been to London yet and desperately wants to visit the South Bank so she and I get a day together. We had to benefit from all this bloody faff!

Sorry @AlexanderHamilton

Shhh Don't tell ds (hes only 13 & doesn't dance he sings though) but Dear Evan Hansen is his other obsession apart from Hamilton.
Dd will be auditioning for colleges next year.

Glad everyone was of help. At least you know 'you are not alone' #youwillbefound

(Sorry)

indeed.

If I get forgotten in the middle of nowhere this thread's being reanimated.

He's auditioning for SLP junior Associates in Leeds for this coming year while we assess whether it'll be a levels or vocational. Which I like because it's 45 mins on the motorway. I can do that!
(Slight derailment)

Dd is applying for places where she'd be able to do a levels & vocational. (She's already at lower school)

If not successful/funding this time shecwill cone home to local college & try again in 2 years.

There are places you can do both?
I'm woefully uninformed bit rubbish at this stuff.
Probably need to start another thread somewhere else.

Only a few Hammond (2 A levels plus dance or MT Diploma) Tring (up to 3 A levels plus dance diploma or MT Btec - no funding for MT btec). Abbots Bromley School (fee paying)

Ah Thanks. I thought Hammond was purely dance. That's interesting

Can I ask a question? If you have a contactless card, is there any advantage to having an Oyster card these days? I have a couple of old ones lying around and not sure whether to keep them. I don't live in London, but do visit occasionally.

yes, I keep the oyster cards, because the contactless card can only be for you. if you end up with some one else travelling with you unexpectedly, eg, taking a friend's child home for tea, helping out someone who's card isn't working, etc, then you need an oyster.

I don't have a contactless card anyway, I don't trust them.They cannot be cancelled if stolen. I use oysters.

I have kept mine for the kids to use as they don't get contactless cards as soon as they can (my 18yo still hasn't got himself one but is plenty old enough to go to London).

They cannot be cancelled if stolen.

You are not liable for any purchases made fraudulently.

Download the citymapper app - great for navigation around London :)

Thankyou. I Really appreciate the help

sixinthebed
He's really looking forward to it. Heard lots of good things.