I have been trying to figure out the most cost-effective way of commuting 10 times from the Denmark Hill station to London for two adults and four children (ages 16, 14, 8, 4).
Is the Oyster card the most cost-effective way to go or is there some Family Card (or other option) that would be better?
Thank you.
The answer really depends on whether you want to take advantage of the 2 for 1 offers to attractions:
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/
If you do, then a PAPER travelcard bought from a NATIONAL RAIL station would be the best option.
Are we talking 10 journeys on 10 separate days or something else?
Are you intending to travel around when you are in central London or are these strictly there and back again?
Are you planning going anywhere out of Zone 2?
How are you getting to and from Denmark Hill on arrival / departure?
The oyster card is probably the easiest option. Remember that children under age 11 travel free on the tube and those 11 to 15 pay the children's fare. For the children's fare you will need to get a children's oyster card which requires advanced application or use paper travel cards. Children five and under travel free on trains and those under 16 pay a 50% fare.
Have fun!
The issue that makes this a more interesting question is that Denmark Hill to central London is a few minutes of national rail journey, as the Overground would just take you round the outer core. This makes it more expensive than if it were an over/underground route where the 8 year old would travel free without need for a zip photo card. The 16 year old is of course an adult in fare terms.
Also there are group save arrangements possible on the national rail part of the journey but that doesn't help any round London travel.
Knowing how long they will be in London would help to figure out potential costs.
To get to London, they could take the Overground to Clapham North and transfer to the Northern line, so it's really a matter of deciding on PAYG Oyster for everyone or Travelcard on Oyster for adults and 16yo + child-rate paper travelcard for the 14 yo or to get the 2 for 1 offers, paper National Rail travelcards for everyone,
Thank you for the questions and information ...
10 days, 10 round-trips from Denmark Hill station, each day a different area of London to go site seeing.
What about a bus rather than metro? I prefer a bus if that's an option. Cost?
Thank you!
Do you intend to get moving in the mornings in the peak hours - before 9:30am Monday to Friday? Or travel on trains in the afternoon peak hours - 1645 to 1900?
If the first, peak time travelcards or Oyster fares will be required, adding lots of cost.
If the second, off-peak travelcards will not be valid on the train, but are valid on Overground, Underground and buses.
Denmark Hill is both quite convenient to the Overground loop, but much more difficult than many other places to get to the areas most tourists visit since the loop was completed last year. Fewer trains now run from there into London mainline stations.
As mentioned, wherever you are going you will have to change onto the tube or buses. Direct buses will not be much help from Denmark Hill. Although several of the buses go north of the River, and past some tourist attractions, but travel time will be long.
I am grateful for all of the posts but I find this confusing and I am very used to using the metro in NYC, Paris, Madrid ...
We will probably travel off-peak both ways.
Should I get Oyster cards for the 14 and 16 year olds?
It looks like the 8 and 4 year olds do not need to pay as long as they are traveling with me. Is that right?
Do I need an Oyster card?
Is there a family pass that will cover all of us rather than separate cards? We will always be together.
What are we talking about in costs per person?
Sorry if I am being dense but it does not seem straight forward and it does seem expensive and complicated.
[First paragraph deleted as I missed a post earlier]
For most people it isn't really that complicated as they would just buy an Oyster card and top up where necessary. Many here though are trying to wring the ultimate pennies of value from anomolies in fare systerms, and associated special offers etc which is what makes things seem over complicated.
If you were near an underground station it would also be easier to understand. Using commuter rail systems in addition to metros can complicate matters in other places too.
Children aged 8 are not entitled to travel free on national rail red routes, although they can on TfL services and national rail green routes. Denmark Hill is on a red route at least where travel to a London terminal is concerned.
As I said you can get a group ticket just for the railway journey to a London terminal but they don't exist in the TfL system for fewer than 10 people.
There is no single product that covers an irregular length such as 10 days.
