Last updated: 5 September 2022
Discounts for children on London transport are straightforward for children aged 10 and under. For children aged 11-15 it’s slightly more complicated.
Children under 5
Children under-5 travel free on all types of transport in London when travelling with an adult.
- up to 4 children are allowed per adult on London buses, the underground (tube), DLR and London Overground.
- up to 2 children under-5 travel free per adult on National Rail (trains)
Children aged 5-10
All children aged 5-10 travel for free on:
- the underground (tube), DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services within London as long as an adult accompanies them. Up to 4 children can travel per adult
- London’s buses with or without an adult
Children aged 11-15
Children aged 11-15 travel for free on London’s buses and at child-rate Pay as you go Oyster fares on the underground (tube), DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services IF they have an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard.
The child-rate single fare with an 11-15 Zip Oyster is 90p (peak) or 85p (off-peak) for zones 1-6.
Like the ordinary adult Oyster card, there’s a daily cap – the maximum amount deducted from the card in one day. It’s £3.85 peak and £1.60 off-peak for zones 1-2.
This is the cheapest deal for 11-15 year olds. The card is not available from underground stations, although you can apply online. It is available to non-UK residents but you’ll need to apply at least 3-4 weeks in advance. There’s also a non-refundable £15 administrative charge.
Travel in London without an 11-15 Zip Oyster
There are a few other options:
- Young Visitor Discount on an Oyster card
- Child-rate one day Travelcard (from an underground or train station)
- Pay the child full-fare (underground only, not bus)
Bus-only travel for 11-15 year olds
If an 11-15 year old does not have an 11-15 Zip Oyster, Visitor Oyster Discount or child-rate Travelcard the best option is to let them use your contactless debit/credit card and pay the adult-rate bus fare of £1.55 (NB only one card can be charged per passenger) or buy a £5.50 adult-rate one day bus pass. See London bus tickets & passes for details.
Young visitor Oyster discount
If you don’t want to apply for an 11-15 Zip Oyster, the cheapest way for 11-15 year old visitors to travel is the Young Visitor Oyster Discount. This is a special discount added to an ordinary Oyster card. It’s valid for 14 days. After 14 days, the discount automatically expires and the card can be used as a ordinary adult Oyster card.
There’s a £7 fee for the Oyster card (non-refundable). Single fares and the daily cap for the underground and buses-only are 50% cheaper than adult fares.
For example:
- Unlimited travel by underground in zone 1-2 is £3.85 per day
- Unlimited travel by bus is £2.50 per day, for the whole of London
It’s available from:
- Underground station ticket machines: you need to buy an Oyster card (£5) if you don’t already have one and then ask a member of staff to apply the discount via the ticket machine.
- Transport for London Visitor Centres (not Gatwick)
- Victoria train station ticket office
Children aged 16-17
Children aged 16-17 can apply for the 16+ Zip Oyster Photocard. With this they:
- pay Oyster Pay as you go fares at half the adult rate on the bus, tube and most National Rail services in London. (Children resident in London with a 16+ Zip travel free on the buses)
- can buy a child-rate weekly or monthly Travelcard.
You must apply online. There’s a non-refundable £20 administrative charge for the 16+ Zip Oyster. If you live outside the UK, you must apply for your card at least 4 weeks before arrival in London.
Without a 16+ Zip Oyster, a 16 or 17 year old is classed as an adult and must either:
- pay the adult fare
- buy an adult-priced Travelcard, bus pass
- use an ordinary Pay as you go Oyster card with an Oyster or Contactless payment.
18+ Students
Students aged 18+ resident in London during term-time can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard. It might also be possible to apply for a 16+ Zip Oyster.
There are no other discounts for students not studying and living in London.
Child ticket prices (11-15 years)
11-15 Zip Oyster pay as you go single fares (PAYG) 2022
| Zones | Peak | Off-Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Zones 1–6 | £0.90 | £0.80 |
| Zones 1–9 | £1.75 | £1.20 |
11-15 Zip Oyster daily cap prices 2022
| 11-15 Zip Oyster Daily Cap prices 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zones | Peak | Off-peak |
| Zones 1–2 | £3.85 | £1.60 |
| Zones 1–3 | £4.50 | £1.60 |
| Zones 1–4 | £5.50 | £1.60 |
| Zones 1–5 | £6.55 | £1.60 |
| Zones 1–6 | £7.05 | £1.60 |
Child one day Travelcard 2022
These are the prices for the Child One Day Travelcard.
| Child One Day Travelcards 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zones | Off Peak | Anytime |
| Zones 1–4 | n/a | £7.20 |
| Zones 1–6 | £7.20 | £10.10 |
Off Peak: Valid for travel after 09.30 am Monday–Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays.
Anytime: Valid for travel before 09.30am Monday–Friday.
See London’s Transport Zones if you’re not familiar with the zones and the areas they cover.
Child single full fares 2022
These are the full fares for the underground for children aged 11-15 for travel without an 11-15 Zip Oyster card, Visitor Oyster Discount or a Travelcard.
| Zones | Cash fare |
|---|---|
| Zones 1–3 | £3.10 |
| Zones 1–4, 5 or 6 | £3.10 |