Easiest cheapest way to travel around London

[lul1]

2 nights in august.
2 adults a teen and tween.
We are staying near the excel for an event.

I'm autistic it didn't cross my mind how far we would be from the centre.

I won't be going to the event as I hate crowds but I will have to go to the other places.

Daughter wants afternoon tea and to see the sites.

Is a tour bus with afternoon tea best or separate.

I've seen offers or Wowcher but they are only up to July.

Is the underground the easiest way? How much is it?

Talk to me like I'm 12 please.

Thank you.

Just get on the tube. Jubilee or Elizabeth line are great - easy, fast, clean. Use your contactless card on the barriers to go in and out. Probably a good idea to get zip oysters for the kids if they don't have their own debit cards - they'll then be free on busses and cheaper on trains and tubes. You can apply here and it's very fast; got ours in three days for my new 11yo.

tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/11-15-zip-oyster-photocard

Personally I would think there are way more things to do of interest in London than afternoon tea which you can get anywhere in the country and likely a lot cheaper! What is it she actually wants to get out of the tea - feeling fancy?

I would probably recommend going to the 5th floor of Waterstones Piccadilly where you can get afternoon tea for £26 per person. Not the Ritz but nice and dead in the centre of town. If she wants white tablecloths and waiters you'll need somewhere else though.

5th-view-bar-and-food.co.uk/food/

Bus route 11 is good for sightseeing. If you catch a bus you only need to tap your card when you get on, not off.

I think the No. 11 route has changed. No. 15 is quite good. You can download a bus route map from the tfl site.

And I always say that a good paper map or atlas, an A-Z or similar, not a tourist map, is worth having, in addition to an app. Much better for understanding the overall layout of London and seeing where places are in relation to each other.

Definitely use the Elizabeth line to get into the centre. Once there you are on the tube network and can go anywhere, or get the bus. Slow, but you can see the sights. Have you got the groupon app? They often have afternoon tea discounts. The TFL app is bloody awful. It always takes me some ridiculous route when I know there is a quicker way. I find Google maps better.

Yes maybe the ice cream parlour at fortnums would scratch the 'feeling fancy' itch. It's not super cheap but much cheaper than afternoon tea.

I’d use the DLR from the excel. And I would discourage the afternoon tea, you can have that anywhere. It’s not special to London. And always over priced. Go on a regular tour bus instead, or a river boat tour.

Ok....
The adults.....
Do the 2 adults have their own personal contactless bank cards?
If yes they just use these on all the London public transport - Tube (Underground ), Overground, bus and Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
Bus you "beep" when you get on but not off.
All others you "beep" at the gate or entrance and "beep" on your way out.
The cost gets to a daily cap when you don't get charged anymore. I think Excel is Zone 2 or 3 so your daily cap for Zone 1-3 is just under £10 a day.
So the 2 adults won't pay more than £10 a day each.
The children....
You can get Oyster Zip cards for them which you have to order in advance (they are photo cards). This means buses are free, everything else a child price.
Or a regular Pay As You Go Oyster card which you ask to be registered as a Young Persons card and you pay the lower rate.
However.....you have to pay for the actual Zip card and/or the Oyster and then put money on to pay for the transport - so paying twice.
If you are unlikely to be coming back to London again the costs of paying for these cards may cancel out any child "discount".
If the children have their own personal contactless cards they could just use those.
They will be charged adult fares but it would probably end up less than paying for a Zip Card/Young Persons plus the actual transport prices.

I checked some prices....
To get a Zip Card it costs £20. They are valid until the child is 16.
But....you have to add money on to pay for the actual journeys (except buses - which will be free).
Unless you will be regularly coming into London this is a very expensive way of doing it.

I looked up the same thing. We come to London quite often to visit family. To be honest, I honestly thought under 16s were free, and we just get waved through the ticket barriers even though my kids are clearly over 10. I'm not sure it's worth getting the zip card as we mostly use the bus anyway. I wouldn't risk not paying, though. Ill be getting them tickets if we go on the tube in future.

Under 11s are free no think there are two levels of zip - under 15 and I’m sure it’s 18 (DS had one when he was in senior school).

if you get an oyster then at least you can make sure they will pay kids fees rather than adult.

just remember to tap in and out with the same card!

You need a London address to be eligible for a zip card, just buy a child travel card for the kids, and make sure they don't lose it!

As PP have said, just get the Elizabeth line from Custom House to central (Tottenham Court Road / Bond Street). You can jump on the buses from there.

Sorry correction, you can apply if live out of London, cost is still £15 and it's a faff, would still recommend travel cards for kids

The Elizabeth line is quick and quite easy to use. Underground is usually quicker than bus, (although obviously you dont see any sights) but once in Central London lots of places are walkable.

Covent garden tube station for example is very busy and could feel overwhelming but you can easily walk to Covent garden from Holborn, Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road or Charing Cross.

So do I need 4 Oyster cards ?

@lul1 do you all have your own personal contactless bank debit cards?

You would (I think) need 4 cards but contactless charges the same as oyster so if you have a debit card you can use that.

Or it might be easier to use contactless for adults and buy kids travel cards (paper tickets that can be used on bus, DLR and tube)

You might find the tube overwhelming, especially in central London and/or at rush hour. DLR, buses, trams and National Rail trains might be better, and you can see the sights as well.

For the adults, use contactless; for the kids, get them their own 11-15 Zip Oyster cards. Don't buy travelcards, as you might end up not using them to the full amount, and with Oyster/contactless, fares are capped to travelcard price anyway. Contactless is also quicker than a paper ticket/travelcard.

And the Elizabeth line doesn't go all the way does it? I need to get off at White Chappell?

My husband has said we will sort it when we get there but he doesn't think until it is literally happening whereas I like to have a plan.

If I use my debit card on the tube how do I specify I need 2 child tickets. It's so confusing.

No, it goes directly from Custom House to Tottenham Court Road.

You can buy from a machine(on the day) child travel cards which are paper tickets. Your kids can either put these through the barriers or show them at the gate/to a bus driver etc to be let through. You and your husband can use your contactless cards.

You and DH can use contactless cards.

If your DC have their own cards or you have a spare card they can use that, otherwise get them each an oyster card.

Tbh OP if you don't like crowds then London in August is not for you. I would try and see the sights by boat if possible. Stick to things in open spaces, the parks etc. Avoid anything that is very kid friendly as that will be very busy. Try and do things that sells tickets and cap visitor numbers at a reasonable level. Things like the free museums are horrendous.

You, use your contactless card.

Your husband uses his contactless card. Both of these you hold, one at a time as you get to the gate, over the square scanner which is at the side of the gate.

You buy two child tickets at the station and the two kids use those. These go through the slot and they pop up to be taken with you so that the kids can exit at the other end.

Please don't spend £80 per person on afternoon tea. That is utterly crazy.