Child and student discounts

Zip Oyster logo Free and discounted travel is available for under-18s. An Oyster photocard may be required and these are now available free.

Discounted travel is also available to students over 18.

Who gets free travel and when?

Zip is the new name for Oyster photocards for young people. All 11-15 year olds must now carry their Oyster photocard with them to travel free on buses and trams. They must touch in as they board a bus or at the tram stop before boarding a tram. If they do not, they will be liable for a penalty fare.

11-15 year olds who do not have a valid Oyster photocard must pay the full adult cash fare until they get one.

For help or advice, please call the Oyster helpline on 0845 330 9876 - open between 08:00-20:00 daily.

Under-5s

Children under five can travel free at any time on buses, the Tube, trams, DLR, and London Overground as long as they are accompanied by someone with a valid ticket or who is using Oyster to pay as they go.

5-10 year olds

Children aged 5-10 years can now travel free at any time on buses, the Tube, trams, DLR and London Overground at any time.

On buses and trams

Unaccompanied 5-10 year-olds can travel free at any time. They do not need a ticket or photocard to do so

On the Tube, DLR and London Overground:

Up to four 5-10 year-olds can travel free when accompanied by an adult who has a valid ticket, is using Oyster to pay as they go or has a Freedom Pass
If they are travelling unaccompanied, 5-10 year-olds need a 5-10 Oyster photocard to travel free at any time

Under-11s travelling with an adult will not be issued with tickets and will be allowed to pass through the ticket gates at stations. Please note, if they have an Oyster photocard they should not use it when being accompanied or they could be charged a fare.

11-15 year-olds

Children aged 11-15 can travel free at any time on buses and trams, and across the entire London bus network including sections outside Greater London.

All 11-15 year-olds must have a valid Child, Under-14, 14-15 or 11-15 Oyster photocard to get free travel on buses and trams and some child-rate travel on the Tube, DLR and London Overground.

16-18 year-olds

Children aged over 16 and under 19 on 31 August prior to the start of the academic year who are in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme, and who also live within a London borough, can travel for free on buses and trams across the entire London bus network, including sections outside Greater London.

Please note, 16-18 year-olds must have a valid 16+ Oyster photocard to get free travel on buses and trams.

16-17 year-olds who are not resident in London or not in full-time education must have a valid 16+ or 16-17 Oyster photocard to travel at child-rate on buses, trams, the Tube, DLR and London Overground.

Applications for the 16+ Oyster photocard scheme will not be accepted at Post Offices between 1 July and 31 August.

From 1 September, Post Offices will resume accepting applications for 16+ Oyster photocards.

If you need to apply for your first 16+ Oyster photocard during July and August, please phone the Oyster helpdesk on 0845 330 9876.

If you need a like for like replacement for your 16+ Oyster photocard, please phone 0845 0170 330 or apply for a replacement online

Applications for 5-10 and 11-15 Oyster photocards will still be accepted at Post Offices as usual throughout July and August.

Behaviour Code

If you are using an Oyster photocard with free bus and tram travel concession on one of our services, it may be withdrawn if you:

Do not follow TfL`s Behaviour Code or
Commit a crime on one of our vehicles

The Behaviour Code states that:

When on London's public transport network or premises, you should always act sensibly and treat others as you would like to be treated.

Your travel concession may be withdrawn if we believe that you have behaved in an antisocial way.

Antisocial behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

Putting your safety or the safety of others at risk
Use of offensive or threatening language
Behaving offensively, bullying or threatening others
Smoking
Playing music out loud
Damaging or defacing an Oyster photocard
Letting anyone else use your Oyster photocard
Committing any crime on, or in connection with, London's public transport network, in particular, but not limited to:
- Physical or verbal assault
- Unlawfully carrying a weapon
- Criminal damage or trespass on London's public transport network or premises
- Theft, robbery or burglary
- Misusing controlled drugs
Breaching:
- London Regional Transport Railways, DLR, Croydon Tramlink or National Railways Byelaws
- Any provision of regulation 6 or 7 of the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990
- Transport for London's Conditions of Carriage

Publications

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