Cheapest way to travel London Underground?

pulliptears

I'm taking the kids down to London in June for a few days to visit the Natural History Museum, British Museum etc. We have taken advantage of cheaper travelodge rates and booked a hotel we have stayed at before in Wembley (mainly because it has decent parking and is right on the tube line).

Because of the places we want to visit Im thinking we will need unlimited tube passes for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Does anyone know the cheapest way of doing this? Travel will be off peak and I need passes for

2x Adults
1x 16 year old (I presume adult)
1x 12 year old

Also, is there a way to order in advance etc?
Thanks all

nikflo

oyster cards are good, don't think you need them for the kids, but if you do they won't be much. you can buy oyster cards in advance or from the station when you get to london. not sure they will be worth it for you though, if not then you could always but a one day travelling card every day and with that you would get unlimited travel in london.

pulliptears

nikflo wrote: »

oyster cards are good, don't think you need them for the kids, but if you do they won't be much. you can buy oyster cards in advance or from the station when you get to london. not sure they will be worth it for you though, if not then you could always but a one day travelling card every day and with that you would get unlimited travel in london.

Thanks nikflo

I wondered if they did a 3 day pass or something? Im trying to work out the budgets before we go...

Mum_of_3_3

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/2732.aspx

How often do you go to London? If this is likely to be your only visit for years get a 3-day travelcard when you're there from any tube station.

However, if you go quite often Oyster will definately be the cheapest for getting around and won't charge you more that the standard railcard would.

Your 12-year old should travel free, but not sure about your 16-year old would travel at a child's rate see here for details http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1063.aspx

The kids will need photocards, so I guess the sooner you order these the better

I was dubious about Oyster Cards to begin with, but the day-rate-cap for an Oyster is cheaper than a day-travelcard.

M_o_3

PS Actually looking at the hassle a photocard would be for your boys (you need to collect them from a London TIC for instance & show a birth cert etc!!), it may be easier to get them 3-day travelcards anyway. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1055.aspx

Also have breakfast before you travel on the tube/bus etc as an off-peak (post 9.30am) travelcard is cheaper than an anytime card.

If you're sticking to Central London you'll only need zone 1&2. I know a day card is about £7 so I guess a 3-day will be about £20???

alanrowell

Depends on what else you will be doing as a paper travelcard bought at a rail station booking office (NOT a Tube station booking office) allows you to use the offers on www.daysoutguide.com

If not then it doesn't matter if you get a travelcard or use Oyster PAYG as the costs won't differ that much though as you are at Wembley you might want to use the train to get into central London which means you couldn't use Oyster PAYG.

As for the kids - the 16yr old is an adult & the 12 yr old can get a daily travelcard for £1

Neither needs a photocard which will take 3 weeks to sort out

p00hsticks

pulliptears wrote: »

Thanks nikflo

I wondered if they did a 3 day pass or something? Im trying to work out the budgets before we go...

You can get a three day off-peak travelcard but only for zones 1-6; if you're only going to need zones 1 & 2 it's cheaper to get three daily off peak ones.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/fares-and-tickets-zones1-6.pdf