Last updated: 5 March 2023
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
Fares increased on 5 March 2023. This page shows the new fares.
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 95p (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 £4.05 peak and £1.70 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
Applying for a 11-15 Zip Oyster is not worth the trouble unless you’re a resident or frequent visitor.
There are a few other options for young visitors that will save money:
- 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 £1.75. (NB only one card can be charged per passenger) or buy a £5.90 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 £4.05 per day
- Unlimited travel by bus is £2.65 per day, for the whole of London
It’s available from:
- Underground station ticket machines: you need to buy an Oyster card (£7) or use a Visitor Oyster Card. Ask a member of staff to apply the discount to the card 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) from 5 March 2023
| Zones | Peak | Off-Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Zones 1–6 | £0.95 | £0.85 |
| Zones 1–9 | £1.85 | £1.30 |
11-15 Zip Oyster daily cap prices 2023 from 5 March 2023
| 11-15 Zip Oyster Daily Cap prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zones | Peak | Off-peak |
| Zones 1–2 | £4.05 | £1.65 |
| Zones 1–3 | £4.80 | £1.65 |
| Zones 1–4 | £5.85 | £1.65 |
| Zones 1–5 | £6.95 | £1.65 |
| Zones 1–6 | £7.45 | £1.65 |
Child one day Travelcard from 5 March 2023
These are the prices for the Child One Day Travelcard.
| Child One Day Travelcards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zones | Off Peak | Anytime |
| Zones 1–4 | n/a | £7.60 |
| Zones 1–5 or 6 | £7.60 | £10.75 |
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.