Can someone explain London train tickets to me please?

[BelfastSmile]

We (me, DH, DC aged 9 & 7) are going to London in July, and we're trying to figure out how to get around.

We'll probably use the underground most days; on one day we're going to Legoland, so I think we get the underground to one of the bigger stations and then get a regular train the rest of the way.

What's the best way to buy tickets for our travels? Is there any kind of family weekly ticket for the tube? Or is it just as handy to pay as we go? Do they take cards at the barriers or anything like that?

You will use your contactless bank cards or phone and the kids will be free on the tubes, trams and buses (attendants will just let them through). To Windsor you will buy tickets from Paddington and back.

The children will be free but you need to apply a Zip card in advance. Suggest you do that now.

For you and your DH, use your contactless debt / credit card. The fare is capped so you’ll never pay more than the cost of a daily / weekly travel card.

Edit to say that after googling, turns out you don’t need to apply for a Zip card if they are travelling with you.

They don't need a zip card of they are travelling with an adult and don't look 11 afaIk.

We used contactless bank card to get around on the tube on our visit. Just tap on entering the station and tap on exit. They attendants directed me and my daughter to the disabled barrier rather than the turnstiles as children are free. This allowed me to tap the card and we both walked through together. Not sure about overground trains. I would guess you just book a ticket for these as normal.

No direct trains from Paddington to Windsor - you need to either go from Waterloo or change at Slough (which you can either use the Elizabeth line to get to, or get a train from Paddington)

Legoland is in Windsor not London so the children will need a regular train ticket to get there.
In London itself they are free on Tube and buses.

Just make sure each adult has a contactless bank card. Use the same card all day - there are daily price caps on TFL so as long as all your journeys are on the same card you won’t get charged more than the day travel card rate. You can also use Apple Pay on your phone but don’t switch between card and phone as you could get overcharged.

On buses you just tap your card as you get on. On the tube, DLR and overground make sure you tap in and out (even if the barriers are open) so that the system knows how much to charge you.

have fun!

I think there are some discounts for children under 14 on the train.

You don’t need a zip card for them for buses or the tube, you just usher them through. Both adults will need to use their debit/credit card as your travel is capped at the end of the day and they can’t process two people on one card. I see lots of tourists in London trying to pay for their partner or family on one card.

Zip cards are for 11+. Tube and bus just go through the barrier when you tap in on your card / phone. Train they will need tickets for.

Can I jump in and ask where do you tap the card? Is at the turnstile where you would normally put the ticket? I haven't been in London in years but am heading tomorrow for a few days with DS.

Yes, there’s what looks like a big yellow button on each turnstile - just tap it there.

Thank you. And same on the way out I presume.

Make sure you also tap out.

Another option for Legoland is the 702 bus from Victoria or Royal Albert Hall:
https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/services/RBUS/702?date=2024-06-10&direction=inbound

Yes, exactly the same.

Most central stations you can’t get in / out of without going through the turnstiles so it’s easy to remember to do it, but if you happen to go to one that doesn’t, there’ll be a yellow circle somewhere near!

Brillant. Thank you.

Thank you everyone, that's really helpful!

I think for Legoland we'll get the train, as the kids love going for a train ride! Will bear in mind that there's a bus too.

I have a further question... we're travelling from Luton Airport Parkway to St Pancras (on the Thameslink line, I think). They give the option to pre-book tickets, but obviously since it's flight-dependent I don't really want to specify a time if possible.

Is it necessary to pre-book? Is it likely to be very busy on a Sunday afternoon at around 4.30 or so, or could we risk just showing up and paying then and there?

Absolutely no need to prebook. Just buy tickets when you get there.

@Macaroni46 Thank you!

Can I just mention as well, don’t try to take the kids with you through the normal gates as they only allow one person at a time. All tube stations have wider gates that you can tap one card on and it will let you and the kids through together. Some smaller stations only have one wider gate that works for both entry and exit. When this is the case, the gate automatically changes direction every few seconds, so just hold your card on the reader until it lets you through. Most big stations have separate gates larger gates for in and out though. I hope that makes sense!

Just to say you'll need to buy a ticket from Luton Airport, you can't use contact less there as its not in the oyster zone. However if you buy adult tickets the child tickets will probably be £2 each.

Once you get into London tfl zone you can use contact less and children travel free.

Maps here showing where tfl zones (using contactless) start

https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/track/national-rail

Worth checking on googlemaps in Central London lots of tube stations are very close to each other and its often just as quick to walk

Just back from my trip to London. We had a fabulous time.

Just in case anyone else ends up in the same position - our cards were not charged until at least two days later. Ds' was only charged today when we got home 5 days after the first tube ride. I was charged for the first two days after the first trip and the rest all together today.

I was getting a bit concerned that it wasn't working so checked with the woman at one of the gates and she said so long as the gate opens with the card, it's working. We were using Irish Revolut cards.

Thanks so much for all this info, everyone!

Another question: we're going to Legoland Windsor one day during the week. The TfL site suggests we go to Slough on the Elizabeth Line, and then get a Great Western train to Windsor. Is the Elizabeth Line all part of the tube, and can we use contactless to get as far as Slough? Is that still free for the kids?

What about the Slough-Windsor part? That's Great Western - do we need tickets for the kids for that part? Do we need to book the tickets in advance (or would it be cheaper to do that)?

We're staying near Walthamstow Central, so basically looking for the easiest/cheapest/fastest ways to get to Windsor from there. (I know there's then a shuttle bus to Legoland)

Haven't read the whole thread but looks like you can tap out at Windsor as the contactless zone has been extended.

www.gwr.com/your-tickets/smart-tickets/contactless-payments

I believe that Luton Parkway is Thames link so also contactless.