Paying for children on the tube

[elasticfantastic]

This may sound daft but I'm not from London... I'm visiting London next weekend with an 7 year old child. I know that you can tap your bank card like an Oyster card for yourself, but how does it work for children? Do you tap and send them through first then tap again and then go through yourself?

Thats the website for Overseas visitors who don't have contactless or maybe their contactless doesn't work here.

The relevant link is tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/5-10-zip-oyster-photocard?intcmp=55572

If you want to avail of free child travel (under 11) on the tube then you need to be using an oyster or travel card.

Contactless works just fine.

Also a Londoner.

Contactless is just fine- go through the wide gates or they yell at you.

I don't know anyone who uses an oyster anymore when travelling with children, nor do I know anyone who's been stopped.

I just use my phone

DramaLlamaRama honestly, you don't need a paper ticket or an Oyster. If you want to use contactless/PAYG that is A-OK.
Can't remember the last time I topped up my Oyster.

Do you ever wish TfL would jump in and clarify?

FWIW I have never tried to travel with kids on the tube, but I have had my ticket rejected for ridiculous reasons so I can quite believe the PP who states you need to use an oyster/travel card has heard this quoted.

@elasticfantastic
I'm a Londoner - just came back from the 02 today with my 7 year old.

Used the luggage / wide gates; tapped my debit card - we walked through. No problems.

Your choice if you want to use an Oyster card for you and your child or if you want to use a contactless debit card - going through the wider exits is better as you don't get trapped.

Enjoy your trip

Dd had her own under 11s Oyster card which gave her free travel when she was going to school.

Before that just used to shove my 2 through the luggage gate (Ds decided to slide through under the gate once and banged his head

Never seen anyone stopping and talking to the staff other than tourists who wanted to know directions

I've seen families being questioned but I suspect it's because those kids weren't under 11, in fact last time I was there they barely looked like children at all.

The nightmare as a visitor traveling with older children (ie over 11) and contactless is that you cannot tap twice with the same card. I got quite stuck on a bus with DS. Luckily my friend had multiple cards.

But Cat I could see why you would be puzzled from the extract you posted. No mention of contactless.

Bet the OP is glad she started this thread
Another one just back from London with kids (one under 12 and one over) Tapping with contactless debit absolutely fine and walk through wide luggage gate with any littlies. Just make sure you have enough different debit cards to cover all over 12s.

Thanks everyone... I had no idea it would cause such a debate

The child looks no where near 11 ... definitely only looks 7 so shouldn't be an issue.. I will use my contactless debit card to tap once at the big gate!

Thank you x

I just get my older kids an oyster and a member of staff puts a discount on it for the time we are there.

Incidentally, if you have children older than 11 and travel to London regularly from other parts of the UK, you can get them a zipcard which works like an oyster (ie you preload it with cash) and means they get charged child fares on the tube and go free on buses and trams :)

I use Apple Pay ... just throwing that in the mix!