Kids Travel Free on London Transport
London's public transport system is a great option for families, as children travel free or at discounted fares in most cases.
In some instances, children need their own Oyster card, or Zip card, which is a young person's Oyster photocard. The Zip card allows children and some students to travel free or at a discounted rate.
Children under five can travel free at any time on the Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), buses, trams and London Overground as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.
Children aged five to 10 can travel free at any time by Tube, DLR and London Overground as long as they travel with an adult who has a valid ticket (up to four children can travel free with one adult) or have a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard. They can travel without a photocard and unaccompanied on trams and buses. Find out more about 5-10 Oyster photocard on the Transport for London website.
Children aged 11 to 15 years can travel free on buses and trams and at child rate on Tube, DLR and London Overground services, provided they have an 11-15 Oyster photocard. Find out more about the 11-15 Oyster photocard on the Transport for London website.
16 and 17-year-olds can purchase seven-day, monthly or longer period travelcards, plus bus and tram passes, at child rate, and pay half the adult rate for pay-as-you-go on buses, Tube, DLR, London Overground and trams, provided they have a 16+ Oyster photocard.
16 to 18 year olds who live in a London borough and are in qualifying full-time education can also apply to get free travel on buses and trams, and reduced rate on some services.
Find out more about the 16+ photocard on the Transport for London website.
Information correct at time of writing, please check Transport for London for the latest fares before travelling.