You are leaving with your children in one of the most chaotic European metropolises (yet for a while) but …. you are still doubtful about how to move. How to get around London with your children ??.
Don’t worry don’t get scared it’s easier to do than say. London is now childproof, they are organized to welcome young tourists from all over the world who come to the English capital.
Read on to find out how to get around London with your children, to find out how transport, passes and to get a clearer picture of the situation. Get ready to spend a nice holiday with your children.
How to move with children on the London Underground
The tube (subway) is easy, convenient and safe for families. Most stations are far below street level and require many steps or escalators (sometimes even two or three floors below the ground line).
Many stations do not have elevators from street level to the train platform, which makes traveling with a baby or stroller very difficult.
Also remember that two lines are created in the escalators: one to go to the rhythm of the escalator, remaining stationary (far right side) and one for those who have to run and continue at a higher speed (left side), do not get in the way, they could push you. or scream at yourself, try to respect it.
This is a map of London Underground stations and their accessibility options.
Stations marked with a green circle and an A are the most accessible.
Children up to 10 years old, travel for free on the underground and Docklands Light Rail (the DLR line). Children aged 11 to 15 have to pay.
Make sure you travel with an Oyster card or Travelcard as they offer great savings.
If you have an Oyster card, you need to scan the card both when you enter the subway station and when you exit the subway station. If you have a paper Travelcard , you have to insert it through one end of the turnstile.
If you are traveling with children aged 10 and under (who do not have a ticket) be sure to use the gate entrances instead of the turnstiles intended for people.
Going by bus with children in London
The bus is a fabulous option for getting around London, certainly a lot more fun for the kids.
Most of the buses are of the iconic historic, classic red double decker bus and offer spectacular views of street life and many famous London attractions from the top deck, kids will love it.
Unlike the subway, you won’t have to pass stairs, escalators, crowded train platforms, or transfers between lines.
Buses run approximately every 3-10 minutes depending on the route. (they are rarely late, they are quite reliable).
Oyster and Travelcards, used for the subway, are also accepted by the bus. Remember as soon as you get on the bus to scan the oyster card, at the exit you will not have to do it.
Buses in central London do not accept cash, so you need to buy an Oyster or a Travelcard (or single tickets from a tube station, but this is a much more expensive way to travel).
I recommend downloading the City Mapper application to your mobile phone to move faster and more clearly throughout London, it’s free.
Using an Oyster Card for public transport in London
Oyster cards are plastic cards (the size of a credit card) for use on the subway, bus, or Docklands Light Rail (DLR) line.
Every single oyster must be pre-charged with money at a subway station. To use them, swipe through an electronic sensor as you enter a bus or subway station (as mentioned above).
Subscription with Oyster cards not only saves you money, but makes getting around town very easy. You don’t have to worry about getting the correct gearbox or calculating the fare for a bus trip.
Turn London into a great hop-on / hop-off bus and train network. Obviously this is about making a subscription on every single oyster (method that I would recommend to avoid spending more than expected).
Alternatively you can recharge per day or alternatively, again, if you have a credit or debit card with the use of the contactless, use this in the appropriate scanning area (instead of the oyster) and you can pass without problems. But I would like to tell you to use it only in an emergency as it becomes expensive in the long run.
Things to know about buying and using Oyster cards:
Oyster cards require a £ 5 deposit which is refundable (along with any unused balance) if you return the card at a tube station.
Children aged 10 and under are free on the subway, bus and DLR, so they don’t need an Oyster card. The cost of the available Oyster card subscriptions varies according to the places you are going to visit and the length of your stay.
How travel cards work in London
Use of the Travelcard (also includes a 2 for 1 discount for attractions).
As previously written, an alternative to Oyster cards is the purchase of Travelcards. They have approximately the same cost as Oyster cards.
Their big advantage is that they allow 2 for 1 entry to several major London attractions: the Tower of London, Madame Tussauds, river cruises and the zoo .
Using Travelcards for the 2 for 1 discount isn’t straightforward, so here are a few things to note:
To qualify, Travelcards must be purchased from a London train station . These Travelcards will have the railroad logo in the bottom corner.
Travelcards purchased from any other point of sale (eg Metro station) are not valid for the 2 for 1 discount.
You can purchase Travelcards from the ticket offices of the following train stations: Paddington, Euston, St Pancras, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Charing Cross, Waterloo and Victoria . Travelcards sold at airports are not valid for the 2 for 1 discount.
Travelcards can be purchased for 1 day, 1 week or 1 month. 7-day or 1-month Travelcards require a photo ID card. Photos must be brought to the ticket office at the time of purchase.
Tickets for 1 day must be used on the same day that the visit to the attraction will occur, (although they can be purchased a day or two in advance).
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