Using the tube and buses in London

[notquitegrownup2]

Help! I am an intelligent person, honest, but can't work out the best (cheapest) way to get around London next week for 2 days with 2 kids. We will walk lots, but if we want to get the odd bus or tube, how do I do that without paying a fortune these days??

I so agree with you! Londoner here with Oyster and free passes for the children and its still a night mare.
Date the children under 11 and do you have a contact less bank card? If so you're in luck and its easy! Tap in with your card for any adults, one card per adult and the children go free. Otherwise you need to buy an oyster for each over 11 year old and put money on it.
If your got 11-15 year olds its worth finding a tube station and buying them a child travel card for each day.

Grr sorry that should be:
'Are the children under 11?'
and
'If you've got 11-15'

It's simple. Just swipe co tactless bank card for adults, children travel free.

Or you can just get a day travel card at any tube station and children travel free again

Yep, kids free (assuming under 11). No need for Oyster - use your contactless card (touch against the yellow reader) and you will pay the Oyster pay as you go price.

Enjoy your visit.

We travelled into the city via train, so I got one day travel card and the kids just had standard train ticket. We then were able to use Bus in central London and Tube.

Otherwise I think contactless debit card is next best option.

www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/travel-for-under-18s/travelling-with-children

www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless

Thank you! I used to be so competent/good at this sort of thing before I gave birth!!

Remember the flat fares, so it costs the same to hop on for a few stops as to go the whole line

Buses are the cheapest

Children over 5 need to pay on overground trains

There is a daily "cap" on pay as you go fares, so once you reach that limit it won't cost any more to do lots of journeys

Thank you all. The contactless card worked brilliantly (if anyone else is reading this, don't forget to register it with tfl on their website before you go). The daily cap on fares was really useful to know about, as it meant that I didn't have to worry about running up a huge bill. I got travel cards for the oldest kids and we certainly got our moneys worth, zipping all over London for the day.