Transport for LondonScope of scheme
- Number of trips per school
- Types of transport available
- Hours you can travel
- Group size
- Age limits
- Definition of educational and cultural activity
- Where you can visit
- Definition of 'a school'
- Applying for tickets
- Download scope document (PDF 38.1KB)
Number of trips per school
Generally no more than two trips per child per term.
Types of transport available
School Party Travel tickets are not valid on London River Services.
Hours you can travel
Monday to Friday during term times*
| Buses and trams | 09:30 to 16:30 |
|---|---|
| Tube, National Rail | 09:50 to 16:30 where journey starts in Zone 1 or 2 |
| DLR | 09:30 to 16:30 where journey starts in Zones 3 - 6D |
No exceptions to these time limits can be made.
* Summer schools accepted - see definition of 'a school'.
Group size
Tube, National Rail and DLR only journey
The maximum child group size per ticket is 20 (plus minimum two, maximum four adults). Only one adult is required if the child group size is 10 children or less.
Journey involving use of bus or tram services
The maximum child group size per ticket is 10 (plus a minimum of one and a maximum of two adults).
Each application form allows you to apply for up to three tickets. On the application form, specify the number of children and adults making the trip. We will allocate the appropriate number of tickets. The tickets may, depending on the journey and bus route(s) being used, show different start and return times.
Where you need more people than stipulated above on the ticket(s), please indicate in the 'special requirements' section on the application form and we will contact the school administrator to discuss your requirements.
Where a group size exceeds that allowed for a single application, as defined above, two or more applications must be submitted. In these circumstances, tickets will be issued with either staggered start or return journey times to prevent congestion on thetransport service you will be using.
Age limits
| Children | age 5 - 18 inclusive |
|---|---|
| Teachers and parents | age 18 plus |
Definition of educational/cultural activity
The Greater London Authority's definition of 'educational/cultural activity' includes activities connected with the arts, museums, heritage, London's open spaces and sites of environmental and civic interest.
The scheme does not cover visits to places such as recreational/sporting facilities or trips of a sightseeing nature.
Where you can visit
This covers events taking place for a limited time (for instance, at a town hall, community centre, high street, shopping centre, etc).
You must also indicate which area of study the visit will support:
| Area of study | Examples of related studies |
|---|---|
| Arts | Craft, dance, drama, films, media studies, music, visual arts, etc |
| Environmental | Ecology, nature study, natural history, recycling, etc |
| Humanities | Architecture, geography, heritage, history, religious studies, social studies, etc |
| Science | Biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, mathematics, physics, etc |
Definition of 'a school'
All schools and colleges within the GLA area that teach the National Curriculum or further education subjects (eg A-levels). These establishments must be agreed as eligible by Transport for London.
Where home teachers belong to a local home teachers association and this association can provide documentary evidence to this effect, we will accept applications from the association for a group visit, subject to the standard conditions of the scheme.
Summer schools within the GLA area are also accepted, subject to the school having been agreed as eligible by Transport for London.
Top of pageApplying for tickets
Alternatively, you can download a School Party Travel application form (PDF 65.8KB) and submit it via:
Fax: 020 7918 2990
Email: school.party@tube.tfl.gov.uk
We can also send you an application form by post. Please contact us on Tel: 020 7918 3954 to request a School Party Travel application form.
Due to the School Party Travel scheme's aim to fulfil its mandate of providing tickets to all schools who have applied giving the specified notice, we cannot guarantee that any correspondence will be entered into with schools who submit their application form within the 14 day notice period.
It is the responsibility of the school to make sure that all address and contact details provided to TfL are correct and up to date. TfL is not responsible for the loss of any tickets where incorrect details have been provided or details previously provided have not been updated.
