Children travelling on underground trains

I confess my friends and I sometimes used to fare dodge on London buses on the way to school. The trick was to go upstairs if the conductor were downstairs, and vice versa. Then you ran down the stairs at the last minute and jumped off at your stop as the bus pulled away. You couldn't do it now.

Under 18s who live in London have a Zip Oyster and travel free.
Makes perfect sense as many catch the tube and buses for educational purposes.

Ellianne

But 20 should read 10 years!!

Under 18s who live in London have a Zip Oyster and travel free.

Those from outside London, like my GC, can get a Young Visitors Card for age 11-15 which gives them discounted travel for two weeks.

But 20 should read 10 years!!

Phew! Riverwalk. Thought so! 17.04

Grannylicious

They will need a child’s Oystercard for free tube travel, that’s how they get through the gates. Only not needed for the buses, so you may want to apply for one before you go?

tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/5-10-zip-oyster-photocard

5-10 year olds only need a Zip Oyster if they are travelling without an adult, e.g. going to school. They would go through the wide gates - this is how I travelled when my GC were younger.

From TFL link you provided:

When you don't need a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard
Your child doesn't need a photocard to:

Travel free on buses and trams
Buy child-rate paper tickets (unless they look older than 10)
Travel accompanied by an adult on Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and some National Rail services

Apologies if someone's already suggested it - An Open Top Bus Ride is good. Kids will like it and it's a good way for you to get your bearings too. The Toy Museum near Covent Garden is well worth a visit, as is Hamleys in Regent Street - the latter only if you're feeling rich of course!! Seriously, it's an experience in itself, even if you just let them spend say a fiver.

Grannylicious

They will need a child’s Oystercard for free tube travel, that’s how they get through the gates. Only not needed for the buses, so you may want to apply for one before you go?

tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/5-10-zip-oyster-photocard

Are you sure? I thought if children up to 20 years were accompanied by a fare paying adult they don't need a card? At least that is the case when I travel with my GC. I just waltz them through the wider barriers.

I've taken several groups of my minded children to London over the years.
The most popular attraction was probably HMS Belfast. Lots of ladders to climb down so you need to be fairly agile!
The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park is another one to consider, my granddaughter enjoyed that.

On the Underground make sure one adult gets on the train first, then both children, then the other adult last.
I always take a full-length photo of each child on the day, plus a head and shoulders shot. If they got lost I could show the photos to an official and it would be easier than trying to describe what they were wearing. Thankfully it's never happened!

Have a great time, we've all always really enjoyed our trips ?

They will need a child’s Oystercard for free tube travel, that’s how they get through the gates. Only not needed for the buses, so you may want to apply for one before you go?

tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/5-10-zip-oyster-photocard

I think you should pick one main thing a day and research what is possible nearby.

If you go to one of the major museums it could take all day!

Tower Bridge is a must - particularly if you go up to the museum and the high walkway. They have talks and learning sessions and you can see the engine rooms.

I took my own children, grandchildren and any overseas visitors over the years - it's such an iconic structure.

Like everything else you need to book

Tower Bridge

If you only manage a fraction of the great suggestions on here you will have a fantastic couple of days which your grandchildren will remember all their lives!

My children when they were young absolutely loved the Natural History Museum and always asked to go back on trips to London.

A river boat ride was a must too.

Aren’t we all lucky to have such a fabulous capital city ?

Museum of London is great , all my grandchildren enjoyed that when they were in years 3/4 learning about the Saxons and Romans , not too crowded but you also need to book . Nearby St Paul’s but expensive, you can then walk across the “wobbly” bridge to the Tate Modern and a nice walk along the embankment or a boat trip . Trafalgar square and the National and Portrait Galleries . St James Park is near Buck house at Pelican feeding time . Near the V+A ,Natural history ( lovely wild life garden and butterfly house ) and Science museums are Kensington Gardens for a picnic and the pirate ship playground . All the above is free but will require booking for most .I think it’s the No 11 bus route that takes in all the sights but not sure .

Oh!
Exciting!
Just noticed that there are tickets available for Sophie Taeuber-Arp at the Tate Modern!
That would be a good one to go to I think.!

www.wallpaper.com/art/sophie-taeuber-arp-haegue-yang-tate-modern

We once went to London with my children on an away day on the train just to see the Peter Pan statue in Kensington gardens, their choice.

We had an M&S picnic and stayed the day.
I'd say don't pack too much into one day

Ellianne-????

I would definitely take them up the Shard if it's possible. The view from the top is truly spectacular.
My son and I had fun climbing the Monument, Pudding Lane to view London as the Georgians would. 311 steps is not for the faint hearted.

Don't forget the Transport Museum while at Covent Garden. That's an easy distance from Leicester Square. My lot love the M&Ms shop there. We always eat in Chinatown.
HMS Belfast is another thing that kids love.

If you are travelling by train you can get 2 for 1 entry on a lot of things www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

I'd definitely plan in advance because there are still Covid restrictions in place.

Covent Garden is always fun, the street entertainers readily engage with children

I took each of my kids for a day out in London when I lived in the wild north, and they each chose their own agenda.

One wanted to see ‘the biggest toy shop in the world’ - Hamleys.
One wanted to do the Monopoly board. We spent a lot of time on buses for that trip.
One had a tape (remember those?) of London songs, so we visited all those locations (‘Let’s all go down the Strand’, ‘I live in Trafalgar Square’, ‘They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace’ etc)
One wanted to do political places - Buckingham Palace, No 10, Whitehall, Houses of Parliament - and to see the Queen. Our trip coincided with a state visit so an hour on the Mall watching soldiers and coaches was the highlight of that trip.
One just wanted to see the chamber of horrors at Madame Tussaud’s.

It might be worth asking the children to do their own research and suggest to you what they would like to do.

Goodness, so many replies! Going to print out this thread to ensure I miss none of your fantastic suggestions. GrannySomerset, I too grew up in York, and yes, very good point about how much walking is involved - we shall have to pace ourselves. Elliane, thanks again for suggesting bright caps and mobile numbers in back packs.

You're all right, I really must plan this out so carefully, and I had no idea that you had to book places at museums.

This Gran is going to be spending much time on the computer in the next couple of weeks!

So pleased that I asked the question - any more suggestions very welcome, all will be so very much appreciated and considered carefully

Thanks again

My DGS and his parents came back from London last night. He enjoyed the Transport museum, History museum, Rainforest cafe and especially his visit to the BIG toy shop Hamleys. They also visited a pop up Disney experience at Covent Garden. It’s free but you need to book a slot.
He is only 4 but yes they did walk a lot. One of the days they had walked 16,000 steps.
Some of the theatre’s are opening up again now.I would recommend Mary Poppins the musical. Great for kids and adults. It’s not a cheap option but a magical experience.
.

I'm sure you have all the practical stuff in place, but as a suggestion the kids could wear summer caps in a bright colour so you can always spot them quickly in a queue, on the tube or just walking along the roads. Also write your mobile phone number inside their backpacks.

midgey

I agree with GrannySomerset you walk for miles in London! Even catching the tube means a lot of walking to the platform! I remember thinking last time I visited that that was probably why most Londoners are thin!

And fit with all the escalators!