London Buses: Do Children Ride For Free?

London's public transport system offers free or discounted travel for children, making it an excellent option for families to get around the city. The fare rules and options for children's tickets on London buses are complex and subject to frequent change. This introduction will cover the basics of child fares on London buses, including eligibility, payment methods, and discounts. Understanding these will help ensure a seamless journey for families travelling with children in London.

Children under 5 travel free on London buses

London's public transport system offers free and discounted travel for children, making transport around the capital easy for families.

Children under 5

Children under 5 can travel for free on London's buses, but they must be accompanied by a fare-paying adult with a valid ticket. This rule applies at all times on all London buses and there is no need for the child to have their own Oyster card or ticket. Up to two children under 5 can travel free per adult on National Rail trains.

Children aged 5-10

Children aged 5-10 can also travel for free on London's buses, with or without a fare-paying adult. They do not need an Oyster card or ticket and can travel alone. Up to four children can travel free with one adult on London's buses.

Children aged 11-15

Children aged 11-15 can travel for free on London's buses if they have a Zip Oyster photocard. Without a photocard, the best option is to use a contactless debit or credit card and pay the adult rate bus fare.

How to pay

London's buses are cashless, so you will need to pay your fare with an Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card.

Children aged 5-10 travel free on London buses

Children aged 5-10 can travel for free on London's buses, with or without a fare-paying adult. This also applies to the Tube, DLR, London Overground, and some National Rail services, as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Up to four children can travel free with one adult.

Children aged 5-10 can travel unaccompanied on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, and Elizabeth line with a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard. They can travel alone and without a photocard on trams and buses.

London buses are all cashless, so children will need an Oyster card, Travelcard, or contactless payment card to ride. Bus fare is £1.75, and a day of bus-only travel will cost a maximum of £5.25.

Children under 11 can also travel free on most public transport services in London when accompanied by a fare-paying adult or with a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard.

Children under 5 can travel free at any time on all public transport without a ticket as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

Children aged 11-15 travel free on London buses with a Zip Oyster photocard

London's public transport system offers free or discounted travel for children, making it an excellent option for families to get around the city.

Children aged 11-15 who are UK residents can travel free on London buses and trams and at child rates on the Tube, DLR, and London Overground services with an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard. The child rate single fare with an 11-15 Zip Oyster card is 95p during peak times and 85p during off-peak times for zones 1-6. There is a daily cap on spending, which is £4.25 during peak times and £1.80 during off-peak times for zones 1-2. This card is not available at underground stations, but it can be applied for online. It is also available to non-UK residents, but applications should be made 3-4 weeks in advance, and there is a non-refundable £15 administrative charge.

If you are visiting London from outside the UK, you can get a Young Visitor Discount set up on an Oyster card at any Tube, London Overground, or Elizabeth line station. This discount allows children aged 11-15 to travel at half the adult fare for up to 14 days. The discount can be added to a regular Oyster Card or Visitor Oyster Card, which costs £7 (non-refundable). The Oyster card can then be topped up with credit, allowing your child to travel. The daily cap for the underground and buses with the Young Visitor Discount is £4.25 for unlimited travel in zones 1-2 and £2.65 for unlimited bus travel across London.

Children under 11 can travel free on most London public transport services when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

Children aged 16-17 pay half the adult rate on London buses with a Zip Oyster photocard

London's public transport system offers free or discounted travel for children, making it an excellent option for families to get around the city. Here's a detailed guide specifically about children aged 16-17 using London buses:

Zip Oyster Photocard for 16-17 Year Olds

Children aged 16-17 who live in the UK can benefit from discounted travel on London buses by applying for a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard. This card entitles them to pay half the adult rate on bus fares, providing a significant saving for this age group. The process involves an online application, with a non-refundable £20 administrative charge. For those based outside the UK, it's important to plan ahead as the card application needs to be submitted at least four weeks before arriving in London.

Using London Buses with Zip Oyster Photocard

London buses are cashless, so the 16+ Zip Oyster photocard can be used for convenient contactless payment. The standard bus fare is £1.75, and with the discount applied, children aged 16-17 will pay half of this adult rate. Additionally, there's a daily cap to maximise spending; no matter how many buses or trams are taken in a day, the total charge will not exceed £5.25. This makes London buses an affordable option for multiple journeys.

Other Benefits of Zip Oyster Photocard

The 16+ Zip Oyster photocard is not limited to bus travel. It also offers discounted travel on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, and most National Rail services within London. This comprehensive coverage makes it a versatile option for children aged 16-17 to navigate the city independently at a reduced cost.

Alternatives for Short-Term Visitors

For short-term visitors to London, the process of obtaining a Zip Oyster photocard might be less feasible due to the time and cost involved. In such cases, there are alternative payment methods available. Children aged 16-17 can be considered adults and can utilise options such as purchasing an adult-priced Travelcard, using a standard Pay as you go Oyster card, or opting for contactless payment methods. These alternatives provide flexibility for visitors while still granting access to London's extensive bus network.

Students aged 18+ can apply for a Student Oyster photocard

Students aged 18 and over can apply for a Student Oyster photocard if they are living in a London borough during term time and are enrolled at a school, college, or university registered on the TfL scheme or on a mandatory work placement in London. To apply for the photocard, you will need to provide an active email address, a student enrolment ID from your school, college, or university, a London borough address, and a digital photo. There is also an administration fee of £20, payable by credit or debit card.

The photocard entitles you to discounted travel, saving you 30% on adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. You can buy discounted Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets online, at Oyster Ticket Stops, Tube stations, and Visitor Centres. You can also buy discounted Travelcards at some National Rail stations.

To use your Student Oyster photocard, simply touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on the yellow card readers. You only need to touch in on buses and trams. It's important to note that you won't receive the 30% discount when using the "pay as you go" option. However, you can add a 16-25 Railcard or 26-30 Railcard to your Student Oyster photocard to save 34% on pay-as-you-go off-peak fares and daily caps on the Tube, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and most National Rail services in London.

Your Student Oyster photocard will be valid for up to three years of your course. Once your course ends, your school, college, or university will notify Transport for London, and your photocard will be stopped.

Frequently asked questions