London tube with teens
 

I've scoured the boards looking for details on transport, and have learned a lot (thank you, everyone!) but still have some questions. My family of 5 (two parents, and 13, 16 & 17 year olds) is headed to London in a month, arriving at Gatwick on Sun morning and departing Fri morning.

Southern Rail with a DaySave ticket will get us to London Bridge (nearer our City Road hotel than Victoria) for 21GBP on Sunday.

Getting back on Friday for an 11:30 am flight will likely be in peak time, and be more expensive. Taking First Capital Connect or Southern from London Bridge at close to 40GBP seems best.

In between, at least my wife and I will get 7-day travelcards on Oyster to insure we're eligible for the 2 for 1 admissions that will save us an amazing amount. My 13 year old can travel on an off-peak 1 day Travelcard for 1 GBP each day.

Assuming there's nothing I've missed above, my questions are: what to do about my 16 and 17 year olds? It appears that they will need 16+ Oyster photocards to get any discounts, otherwise they'll be treated as adults. It seems that applying for these now must be done by mail, and we're running up against that deadline with our departure now 27 days away.

Am I missing something here? Can we bring photos and ID and get Oyster photocards in London? Or do I just have to swallow hard and pay 24.20GBP for a 7 day Travelcard for each of them? Or is there another answer (for them or for my 13 year old)?

Any help would be appreciated.

You can apply for a non-resident 16+ discount card online, You must do so three weeks in advance.

https://photocard.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/got...&from=home

PS: Fodors obviously don't recognise the whole tfl URL.

Don't click on the hyperlink above: cut and paste the whole of my last line into your browser.

Thanks so much, flanneruk! The applications are winding their way through cyberspace.

If anyone has other advice for our transport planning, it would be appreciated.

I'm in a similar situation to bwcallen, but I've only just learned about non-resident oyster cards, and my 12-years nieces and I will be arriving in London on March 14. Can we get the photocards there, or MUST they be done 3 weeks in advance?

cheapalice -- if you look at the link flanneruk provided you will see &quot;This application process is for visitors who live outside London. <u>You must apply at least three weeks in advance</u> of your visit.&quot;

janisj thanks. I did look at the web site, but I was trying to determine if that was the only way to get them. I recall years ago (before Oyster) that some passes requird photographs, and that you could get them in tube stations.

That was for regular weekly transit cards (for which tourists no longer need photos). What you are asking about are special youth discount cards that must be applied for in advance, not purchased over the counter.

janisj At this point, my brain is fried. Am I correct in reading the Oyster web site to say that 12-year old visitors to London in March '08 who are using the bus DON'T need an oyster card? (I've been using the tube for years, but after traveling with my mother who has a problem with all of the tube steps, I started using the bus. I much prefer it for most trips.)

See if this TfL brochure clarifies the issue for you: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...-discounts.pdf

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1063.aspx

kids are free aged 5-10 and read the link for details on 11-13 yr olds.