We are a family of 4, with 2 children ages 13 and 16 on a 4 or 5 day trip to London. We will be staying outside of London, in zone 4. We want to get into London before 9 30 am, and so we will be travelling into London during peak times. In addition to getting back at the end of the day, we may use it occasionally to get around within London zones 1 and 2. The websites we have read are VERY confusing! Please help with any insight into which card we should buy.....we also purchased a London Pass so the 2 for 1 offers on the travelcard are not as much use.....Thanks for any help!!!
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
If you are staying four or five days and travelling in peak, I would strongly recommend a 7-day Travelcard, as on Oyster you will be charged higher fares during peak time.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34047 posts
The official page with all the various prices is at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/ Have you read the official terms and conditions on the 2-4-1 offers? The official page is at http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/
I don't know any reason 2 adults with 2 valid adult train tickets or train issued travelcards can't use the Days Out voucher, then buy a child admission for the child. Maybe I'm wrong.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5468 posts
Your 16 year old would still qualify for children's fares if you applied for a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/students-and-children/16-zip-oyster-photocard) However, unless you are anticipating coming again this is unlikely to be worth it for a one off short trip. Otherwise it will be an adult rate ticket.
Your 13-year old will get child rate tickets, but will need a 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard if buying them from TfL. This is not needed if you buy from National Rail.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7949 posts
It's very difficult to answer your question from an "internet" distance. It also makes a difference as to whether you use public transportation (i.e. are comfortable with it) when you are at home. Even you (never mind "us" ) knows how many non-free attractions you're going to visit, or how many trips you will be taking on the tubes and busses. Your word, "occasionally" suggests that you don't know how spread out the attractions (within zones 1-2!!) are, and how valuable a 7-day card will be. Especially for four people, isn't never having to think about "is the cash part of the Oyster run down yet???" worth substantial DOLLARS to short-term visitors with other things to think about?
You are right that the websites are confusing. That's because there are so many options. We did not regret 7-day travelcards for our 4-day visit. Your mileage may vary from ours.
Although I haven't researched this for precise "accuracy", we noticed that an awful lot of "free" attractions have instituted stiff charges for temporary shows (even, two of them at the Tate Modern) in a desperate attempt to boost revenue. My point is that various 2 for 1 offers aren't likely to be helpful with this. Certainly when people write about multiple-admission passes in New York City, they often say that they visited something "because it was on the pass" and not because they desperately wanted to visit it.
Another comment is that crowds and the spread-out city may make it hard for you to see as many business-hour only attractions as you hope to see. I personally don't like to pay in advance for possible future benefit. (Half-kidding, but that includes some lifetime video-store memberships I bought ... ... )
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
For 4 or more consecutive days, I've always considered the 7-day travelcard to be a good value. Within the city, taxis can be affordable for a group of 4, but I think I'd still plan on having the tube/bus option easily accessible. Starting next month, public buses will only take passes, no cash payments to the driver.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34047 posts
To elaborate on the previous answer by Laura, when the ban on cash sales on the buses comes into effect next month, a Valid Oyster Card will be accepted, an in-date Travelcard valid in the zones being used (it used to be that a Travelcard only cared about zones for the tram, Underground, Overground, and trains, but buses - but now, as far as I know, buses paid for with Travelcards, Oyster based or on paper, need to cover the zones of travel), and a prepaid single bus ticket from the yellow machine next to some stops and also available at TfL agents, usually newsagents and corner shops, will be accepted.
None of this is new, these methods of payment have been accepted for some years, it is only that the option of paying the driver cash and s/he issuing a ticket has been ended.
There are also various non-tourist passes such as a Freedom Pass, issued to London residents who are disabled or past pension age, Pensioner bus passes (after 9:30 am) from around England and various passes given to other needy groups...
just to clarify ...