London visit - Oyster Card or debit card for tube travel

[MadameGazelle]

We're going to London for a few days at the end of the month. There'll be me, DH and 2DS's aged 15 and 13. Are we better off buying visitor Oyster cards or just using our debit cards on the tubes? Also if using buses as well can you use Oyster/debit cards too? TIA

You're better off using debit cards for yourself and your DH but getting visitor zip oysters for the kids as if you use a debit card for them they'll be charged adult rates.

You can use debit cards for everything- tube/bus/train etc

For the adults I would just use your debit cards. That way you don't have to pay the five pound fee to get a visitor card. You can use them on buses and the clipper/uber boats as well. I'd get visitor cards for the kids and get the young person discount added when you get to London. Just remember you only swipe once when you get on a bus - you don't need to swipe out. You only get charged once for any buses you use in a one hour period

It sounds like you are aware of this but still worth mentioning - you will all need separate debit/Oyster cards as you can’t scan more than once at the same station. I’ve seen people caught out by this before.