This might be a silly question but does a family of four need an Oyster card each or is one card alright to use for everyone.

Mariebut

There are no silly questions...only silly answers (hope this ist not one of those).

You will need one oyster each: you have to "touch in" when entering the system at an underground station and "touch out" when leavig it.

So, if you would hand you oyster
back over the barrier to someone else after "touching in", this person would be registered as trying to "touch out" at an "in" gate and access would be denied.

Besides, if you should get into a ticket check on board an underground train, a bus or a tram, every passenger must be able to produce a valid ticket or oyster card.

You will find more information at:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...-of-oyster.pdf

Hope this helps

Phil.

If your family includes people 18 or under, you should note that:

- Oystercards are typically cheaper for them, and
- the process of getting the special photocards for youngsters' cheapos can take 3 weeks, though it can be done online.

So get thge relevant details for your childrens' agegroup at the TFL site now.

The answer is that you don't need Oystercards for any of your family

Under 11's travel free if accompanied by an adult

Under 16's can buy a one day travelcard for £1

And if the adults (anyone over 16) want to visit places like the Tower of London then getting a PAPER travelcard means they can use the offers on www.2for1entry.co.uk

Yes, but ALL children 5 and over need a photocard to get the appropriate reduction - whether they're using Oystercards or paper.

And visitors need to apply for these photocards online well in advance. The website (which I swear was saying 3 weeks a month back) now says allow 4.

<<< Yes, but ALL children 5 and over need a photocard to get the appropriate reduction >>>

No they don't, anyone under 11 travels free as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Anyone between 11 & 16 can buy a one day off peak travelcard which costs £1

In neither case do they need a photocard which is mainly needed for travelling without a parent / guardian / adult

Not quite true.

Rather than quoting every subclause of the new rules that affect this from June 1, martiebut shoud go to

www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1020.aspx

if she actually wants to know about children's concessions. The other members of the family might all be elderly aunts.

So from 1st June anyone between the ages of 11 & 16 will either have to apply in advance for a photocard or pay the adult rates?

Thanks everyone for the info, our children are 18 & 16 so we would probably do with ordinary Oyster cards. I thought I would get a one day paper ticket for any trips out of the city ( We are looking at going to Wimbledon Tennis Museum and Hampton Court one day) and use oysters for the rest because we should be able to walk to many attractions from our accomodation.
Have also booked Hop On Hop off bus tickets as well.