Can anyone explain the difference?

IrishKev

Hi,
I'm going to London at the end of June with 3 others, and we'll need a Travelcard to get around the city reasonably cheaply. The one day Travelcard seems to be the best option for us (we're going for two nights), but I'm having trouble knowing all of the differences between the Off-Peak card and the Anytime one. I know that the Off Peak card is not valid until 9.30am, but are they both valid until closing time that night? Is that the only difference between them? The reason I'm wondering is that a Child's Off Peak day card is £2, but an anytime one is £7.40. Seems a bit too much of a difference to work before 9.30am.
Also, what is the age that qualifies for a Child's card? Is it under 18? And does anyone have any experience whether they are strict about what age you are (as in could an 18 or 19 year old get a child's ticket with no trouble?)
Another question, is there a two or three day Travelcard that we could get instead that would save more? I can't seem to see one on the TFL website, has anyone got something like that before?
Thanks in advance

thebiglad

The principle of charging more for pre 9.30am travel (Mon-Fri) is the same as with Port Tunnel varied pricing here in Dublin - to keep away casual travellers during peak periods apart from that there is no difference in the ticket.

Under 5 is considered as a child

The travel cards are really useful and actually even worth paying a small premium to have but consider how many zones you need before you purchase - if you are just around central london then single zone is fine - if you are coming in from or going to Heathrow for example then you will need zone 6. There are of course also options in between.

3 day travel cards are good value too if you plan to move around quite a lot on all the days, of course if you are placing yourself in 1 location (i.e. Kensington for Museums) for a whole day then the benefit may be reduced.

River ferries are not included but you will get a discount - if it is a nice day then a ride on the river is worth the fare (although I think at least one of the London Sightseeing tours does a combined boat and bus tour - check out along the Embankment to pick one up).

Before you go (especially if on a weekend) check the TFL website to make sure that the lines you want are operating (and if work out in advance your alternative routes).

IrishKev

Thanks very much for your reply, much appreciated
Pity about Under 5 being considered a child, I thought I saw somewhere on the TFL site about under 18 being a child but couldn't find it again when I looked today.
About the 3 day travelcards, is there any chance you could give me a link? I searched all over tfl.gov.co.uk but can't see them anywhere. All I can see is the one day, 7 day, and then annual.
Thanks again

thebiglad

They were available last year, maybe withdrawn, might be worth asking at ticket office on underground when you arrive if you want one.

I have done some looking into this anyhow and in doing so discovered that children under age 10 travel free with an adult using the Oyster card - may be worth looking into getting an oyster card therefore.

Never used Oyster myself but as I understand it you buy them when you arrive and they charge you a deposit for the card plus the amount you wish to pre-load. then you swipe the card with each journey and it charges you the single fare - once you reach the equivalent daily expenditure of a travel card spending is capped.

As I said never used Oyster but I have seen it discussed on Boards and the TFL has info too so you should be able to get plenty of info on it

It is a bit more hassle with the deposit etc but it may save you if children are under 10.

IrishKev

Hi again,
Yeah I heard about Oyster cards alright, no point in us buying them though, as we're only young and have no children!
Rang London Underground service there, and there are no more three day travelcards, we'll have to buy three one days instead. Also, the woman said under 15's are allowed to buy children tickets, so hoping I can pull a fast one Do you know if they are strict with this? Do they check children/adult tickets strictly?
Thanks