Travelling in London with kids

With two children, we’ve spent years using buses, the Underground and trains with buggies, tired children, bags and all the other things that come with family travel.

This guide explains how travelling in London with kids works in practice: child fares, Oyster options, airport journeys and what it is really like to use London transport with a buggy. Where possible, we also point out the option we would choose ourselves as a family.

Travelling in London with kids: Fares and transport passes

When travelling in London with kids, it is important to know the different child fares on London’s transport network depending on their age. There are transport passes for children, valid for London’s Underground network, buses, DLR, Overground and trains within London travel zones.

Children under 11 years of age

Children aged under 11 travel free on London’s buses and trams, at any time, and do not need a ticket. They also travel free on the Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line when accompanied by a paying adult. Some National Rail services offer free travel too, but check your train operator before travelling.

Up to 4 children can travel for free with an adult with a valid ticket. When entering the London Underground with a child (or more) under 11, it is advisable to use the larger access doors. These doors are wider and don’t close as fast as individual doors. They are designed for people travelling in London with kids, luggage or for disabled people.

Children aged 11 to 15

Children aged 11 to 15 can travel at a reduced rate on London’s public transport. The options can look confusing at first, so we’ve broken them down by age. For this reason, we’ve summarised the main options below. This should make it easier to work out which option is most suitable for your family.

Each child aged 11 to 15 needs their own Oyster or Visitor Oyster card to use the Young Visitor discount. A contactless bank card cannot carry that discount and charges adult pay as you go fares.

Option 1: Oyster card with Young Visitor Discount

For many visiting families, this is the option we would look at first. An Oyster card with a young visitor discount will apply half adult rates for 14 days. After 14 days, this discount will expire, and the Oyster card will charge full adult rates again. You can keep the card for a future visit or request a refund of unused pay as you go credit; the Visitor Oyster card fee itself is not refundable. Read our Oyster card.

Buy a standard Oyster card at a Tube station, or order a Visitor Oyster card online before your trip, then ask TfL staff to add the Young Visitor discount. TfL says the discount can be set by staff at most Tube stations or at a Visitor Centre; do not assume every rail station can do it. Heathrow’s Tube stations are one option.

Take the child with you when asking for the Young Visitor discount. Each child needs a separate Oyster or Visitor Oyster card, and staff can tell you where the discount can be set.

Option 2: 11–15 Zip Oyster photocard

An 11–15 Zip Oyster photocard provides free bus and tram travel and child fares on many other TfL services. It requires an application, so visiting families should compare the application requirements and fee with the simpler 14-day Young Visitor discount. See TfL’s current 11–15 Zip guidance before applying.

Option 3: 1 Day Child Travelcard

A child Day Travelcard for ages 11–15 covers unlimited travel on participating services within the chosen London travel zones. Compare its zones and price with an Oyster or Visitor Oyster card carrying the Young Visitor discount: the better choice depends on the journeys and days you plan, so neither is automatically cheapest for every family.

Option 4: 7 Day Child Travelcard

Children with an 11–15 Zip Oyster photocard can buy a child-rate 7 Day Travelcard. For a short visit, compare the cost and application process with using a separate Oyster or Visitor Oyster card with the Young Visitor discount. Check TfL’s current child fares before buying.

Young people aged 16 and 17

The Young Visitor discount is for ages 11–15, so older teenagers should not assume they can use it. Eligible 16- and 17-year-olds can check TfL’s 16+ Zip Oyster photocard rules. Otherwise, plan for adult pay as you go fares with a separate Oyster card or contactless card or device for each traveller.

For current visitor payment options, see Transport for London.

Travelling in London with kids: Travelling to Central London from the airport

Stansted, Luton and Gatwick airports are outside London’s travel zones, so TfL’s under-11 rule does not automatically cover the airport train. Child rules depend on the operator and ticket: on Thameslink, for example, under-5s generally travel free with a fare-paying adult, while ages 5–15 need a child ticket; eligible off-peak journeys may offer Kids for £2.

Oyster and contactless can be used on some Gatwick routes, but tapping an adult card does not create a child entitlement. Compare the operator’s child ticket or family offer before travelling, especially for children aged 5–15.

Heathrow and London City Airports are both inside London Travel Zones, so fares are as explained above. On the Tube, Elizabeth line and DLR, children under 11 travelling with a paying adult generally travel free; the Young Visitor discount applies to ages 11–15. Heathrow Express and some other rail services have different child ticket rules, so check the operator before travelling.

⇒ More information:  London Airport Transfers

Travelling in London with a buggy

One of the things we need to think about if we are going to be travelling in London with kids is if we are going to need to travel around London with a buggy. If you are planning a trip with a baby, it may be that you wish to bring your buggy to London, or if you have older children, you will probably need to use a stroller if you are planning on spending the whole day walking around London.

When you first become a parent in London, using public transport with a buggy isn’t easy at first. Still, you eventually learn how to get around and quickly learn how to read London’s accessibility maps and find the best routes. The truth is that travelling in London with a buggy can be very easy if you know which route is best, or it can be a complete nightmare if you have to go up or down 300 steps when there are no lifts.

Below, we explain how we manage London’s public transport with a buggy and what we would recommend.

Travelling on London’s buses with a buggy

London buses have a wheelchair priority space that a buggy can use when it is free, plus low-floor access from the pavement. In our experience, the bus is often the easiest way to get around central London with a buggy. Use the front door as usual; with a double buggy, ask the driver before boarding through the rear doors. Wheelchair users have legal priority, so be prepared to fold or move the buggy if asked; if that is not practical, you may need to wait for another bus.

Travelling on the London Underground with a buggy

The trick to travelling in London with kids using a pushchair is to check London’s accessible Underground map in advance and choose your route carefully. Being able to plan your route by choosing accessible stations makes life much easier. It may just mean that you need to get off at the next stop and walk 5 minutes, rather than having to take a buggy and a baby up 100 steps.

Unfortunately, not all Underground stations in London are accessible. Most Underground stations in London will have escalators, and many stations will also have stairs before reaching the platform. Many other stations have lifts to some platforms, and some stations are completely accessible, with lifts from the ticket office to the platform.

Travelling in London with a buggy is easier if there are two adults as one of you can carry the baby whilst the other one can take the buggy up or down the stairs. If it´s just one adult taking a buggy then I would encourage you to check the best route first. Whenever I had no choice and had to get off at an Underground station that wasn’t accessible with a buggy, there has always been someone willing to help me. If you need help with stairs, ask staff, but they may not always be able to carry a buggy. If they can help, they may ask you to carry your child and fold the buggy. I have to say that a lot of people will use the escalators with a buggy, but I would recommend that you use stations with lifts.

London Underground Accessibility Maps

On the London Underground map, you will see that accessible Underground stations are marked with the symbol of a wheelchair, in either a blue circle or a white circle.

• Blue circle: Fully accessible station. This means it is possible to go from street level onto the Underground carriage without any steps. In these cases, the platform will have a slightly elevated area that avoids steps to get onto the train.
• White circle: Accessible Station. This means that there are no steps from street level to the platform. There is some unevenness when getting onto the train. This is important for someone using a wheelchair, but it usually isn’t a problem when taking a buggy onto the train.

In addition to this map, there is a Step Free Tube Map, which is a lot more detailed and the one I recommend you check when travelling on the London Underground with a buggy. This map highlights the degree of accessibility at each station in detail and explains how accessible it is to change between Underground lines at different stations.

Some of our guides that could be useful if you are visiting London with children:

• BEST LONDON MUSEUMS TO VISIT WITH KIDS
• 30 THINGS TO DO IN LONDON WITH KIDS
• BEST MUSICALS IN LONDON FOR KIDS
• THREE DAYS IN LONDON WITH KIDS
• TOP 10 LONDON ATTRACTIONS FOR KIDS
• FREE THINGS TO DO IN LONDON WITH KIDS

Alberto & Amy

Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.