We offer the Visitor Oyster card, the London Day Travelcard and the Group Day London Travelcard. Which one suits you depends on how long you are staying, which zones you will travel in and how many of you are travelling.

Compare London travel tickets

Both let you pay as you go on the Tube, buses and most rail services in London, with daily capping. There are some differences in fees, discounts and how they work for children.

Read our Visitor Oyster card vs contactless guide

You can use a Visitor Oyster card to travel to and from London’s airports, and we also sell Visitor Oyster cards bundled for Heathrow and Gatwick airport transfers.

See our guide to London airport transfers

While London may be huge, navigating the capital with children is surprisingly easy. Ensure you have the correct information to make the most of exploring this exciting destination with your little ones.

Children can travel free on London transport services:

• If they’re under 11, they can travel free on buses and trams

• Up to four children under 11 can travel free with a fare-paying adult on:

Tube

DLR

London Overground

Elizabeth line

Some National Rail services

They can also travel with a discounted fare if they are aged between 11 and 15 years old.

• Every child aged 11 years old or older needs a ticket to travel.

• Children aged 16+ will need an adult ticket.

Best tickets for families

If you are travelling with children, here are the best tickets options available in London:

Group Day Travelcard

• These are sets of individual tickets for a family/group of 10+ members travelling together.

• This could be the most cost-effective choice with child-rate travelcards available for 5 to 15-year-olds.

Visitor Oyster cards

• If you opt for this option, note that you should buy the Oyster cards in advance for everyone in your party, including your children.

• Once once you arrive in London, ask TfL staff to add a Young Visitor discount. This will give you a half adult rate pay-as-you-go discount for up to 14 days.

This discount can be applied at:

• most Tube stations

• Transport for London Visitor Centres

• Victoria National Rail Station ticket office

Facilities and children access

Strollers and buggies

Most public transportation in London is stroller-friendly. Stations typically have elevators, escalators, or step-free access, making it easy to navigate with a pram or stroller. Foldable strollers can be taken on buses and the Tube.

Baby changing facilities

Many Tube stations have baby-changing facilities, and you can also find them in shopping centres, museums and some parks.

Priority seating

London’s public transport has priority seating for passengers with young children, pregnant women and people with disabilities. Look for designated areas on buses and trains.

Tips on how to travel comfortably as a family

London's public transportation system is family-friendly and, with thoughtful planning, you can comfortably and safely explore the city with your children.

For a secure and pleasant journey with your loved ones, consider the following tips:

• Opt for off-peak travel: To avoid crowded trains and buses, plan your journeys during off-peak hours. This is particularly beneficial when travelling with children. In the morning, this is usually from 9:30 am.

• Plan your routes: Utilize the TfL journey planner or mobile apps to chart your routes and estimate travel times. This will help minimize walking distances, especially with children in tow.

• Travel light: Keep your belongings to a minimum for a more manageable journey in the bustling London public transport. A lighter load is especially advantageous when navigating with children.

• Prioritize safety: Maintain a vigilant watch over your children, near the platform edges and when entering or exiting stations. Hold their hands and ensure they are familiar with safety guidelines.

• Bring entertainment: Pack snacks, books or games to keep children engaged, especially on longer journeys.

• Be aware of emergency services: Familiarise yourself with the locations of emergency intercoms and staffed stations in case you require assistance during your travels.

London has undertaken significant initiatives to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Here are key aspects of accessibility within the city:

Public Transportation

The London Underground (Tube), buses, trams and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) feature accessibility measures such as step-free access at numerous stations, dedicated spaces for wheelchairs and audio-visual announcements.

Many buses are equipped with ramps and kneeling systems to facilitate easier boarding.

Accessible Taxis

London's black cabs are specifically designed to accommodate passengers with mobility challenges. Look for the "Taxi" sign to identify licensed vehicles.

Blue Badge Scheme

International visitors with disabilities can utilize their international disability badges in London, benefiting from the Blue Badge Scheme offering parking concessions and designated accessible parking spots.

Wheelchair Rentals

Various providers in London offer wheelchair and mobility scooter rentals, helping tourists who have mobility needs.

Assistance Services

Transport for London (TfL) provides assistance services at Tube and train stations for visitors with disabilities. Advance or same-day assistance requests can be made.

Accessible River Cruises

 Some Thames river cruises feature wheelchair-accessible vessels and facilities.

Access London Guide

TfL offers the Access London guide, furnishing information on accessible travel, including station accessibility, step-free routes and accessible bus routes.

While London has made significant progress in improving accessibility, it is advisable to plan ahead, consult with specific venues and transportation providers and ensure that your needs will be met during your visit. Facilities and services may vary between locations, emphasizing the importance of a detailed itinerary and having contact information for assistance.

London's public transport network spans the central region of London as well as the broader surrounding areas of Greater London, divided into 9 distinct zones, labeled Zone 1 through Zone 9.

The core of London, housing the majority of major attractions, falls within Zones 1-2.

Suburban locales and renowned landmarks such as Wembley Stadium and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon are encompassed by Zones 1-4.

Zones 1-6 extend across almost the entirety of London, including Heathrow and London City airports.

Compare tickets by zone

Embarking on a journey as a family or a group may seem daunting, but fear not. There are numerous ways to make your exploration in and around London more seamless for you and your group.

Just make sure of the points below:

• Each person needs their own ticket, except for under 11s who travel free with a full-paying adult (up to 4 children per adult).

• Group Day Tickets are available for groups of 10 people or more. Please refer to our Group Day Travelcard page for advice on how much credit to start with on your card.

Find out more about the Group Day London Travelcard

Booking regularly for tour groups or schools? Find out about our trade accounts.

Yes. London schools can use the School Party Travel Scheme.

Trade accounts are for businesses and organisers buying London transport tickets in bulk, such as tour operators, travel agents, hotels, language schools and school group organisers.

If you’re booking a one-off trip for 10 or more people, you can buy the Group Day Travelcard without a trade account.

Trade customers can save money on bulk orders of Visitor Oyster cards and Travelcards through our commission scheme. Trade prices show automatically when you’re signed in to your approved trade account.

Fill in the form on our Trade account page. We’ll review your application and email you once it’s approved.

If you have any questions, email our Trade team at tfltrade@goldentours.com.

Here is a list of the countries we ship to and the delivery time estimates (in days):

During checkout, you can select the "Tracked" delivery option, which allows you to keep track on your order during transit until it arrives safely to the delivery address.

Orders placed before 09:00 am UK time Monday-Friday are usually dispatched on the same day. Orders placed after 09:00 am UK time or at the weekend will be dispatched the next working day.

No orders will be dispatched on weekends or bank holidays.

If you have a customer account, you can check the status of your order by clicking on the TfL Visitor Shop website’s Login area. 

Orders are shipped from the UK and delivery times depend on the delivery method you choose. When ordering transport tickets we recommend that you select a trackable service.

The acceptance of parcels depends on the specific hotel and its policies. Most hotels are generally willing to receive packages on behalf of guests during their stay or in anticipation of their arrival.

Before sending a parcel, it is crucial to confirm whether your hotel accepts deliveries. If they do, please notify the reception or security teams about the expected delivery from us. Additionally, ensure that the parcel's recipient name matches the name under which the room is booked.

To reduce the risk of loss, we highly advise opting for a tracked service. This allows you to monitor the progress of your parcel throughout its journey.

To follow your Tracked Delivery order’s journey:

- Log into your account (if you registered with us when placing your order).

- You will see a list of any orders you have placed and their status: Processing / Complete / Closed.

• If the order status says ‘Processing’, the warehouse has not yet shipped your order.

• Once the order is shipped the status will change to ‘Complete’ and you should receive a second email notifying the shipment. Note that a Tracked Delivery method is a tracked service and the tracking number should be given in the second email.

• If the order status is ‘Closed’, please contact our customer service team as this might be related to a refund and you might require our assistance.

Unused cards can be returned to us within 1 month of purchase for a refund of the price paid, excluding delivery (see our terms and conditions). After that, refunds of remaining credit are handled by TfL:

• By phone: 0343 222 1234 (08:00–20:00, 7 days a week; charges may apply)
• By post: send your card with your name, address, email and phone number to TfL Customer Services, 9th Floor, 5 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN
• In person: at Visitor Centres, including Heathrow Visitor Centre (Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 Tube station) and Victoria Visitor Centre (Monday–Friday, 9:00am–4:30pm)

The £10.50 activation fee is not refundable. The card is cancelled once refunded. See the TfL refunds page for details.

Travelcard refunds are handled by TfL. You can get a refund of the price paid, excluding delivery charges, if your Travelcards are unused, or if TfL strike action means you cannot travel on your travel date.

Post your Travelcards with your name, address, email, phone number and the reason for the refund to TfL Customer Services, 9th Floor, 5 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN. See the TfL refunds page for details.

The travel date is printed on the ticket and cannot be changed. To travel on a different date, apply to TfL for a refund and place a new order. See our terms and conditions for more details.