family travel on the tube

London Underground - 2024 fares and how to use them

Be informed and in control using london's underground / metro system.

For the visitor to London the Underground or Tube will probably be the transport of choice to get around town. The Underground is normally the fastest way to get around town, often much faster than any taxi.

There is invariably an underground station nearby where you want to go and also your hotel and finding your way around the system is very easy.

There are currently 13 Underground lines, with the Elizabeth Line the latest, which opened in May 2022.

Journey planner Map DLR, overground & TfL Oyster card, contactless & Travelcards Night service Fares Concessions Child fares Group tickets Purchasing tickets Access

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Key points about the London Underground

It is still encouraged to wear a facemask when using public transport in London, but it is no longer mandatory.

The authorities penalise you heavily for buying single journey tickets. In the centre you can pay more than double the price than if you used an Oyster Card for example.

A single journey on the London Underground can involve 1 or 2 changes of train. Your journey starts when you go through the ticket barrier of the station entrance you depart from and finishes when you pass through the ticket barrier at the exit of your destination. You cannot break a journey on a single fare, once you go though an exit barrier of a station that is journey completed.

The buses, Underground, DLR and London suburban trains are managed by a central government body called Transport for London (TfL) chaired by the Mayor of London. The transport passes that nearly everyone uses, Oyster and Travelcard, allow you to travel seamlessly across all modes of transport, bus, Underground, train and DLR using the same ticket/pass.

Children under 11 travel free on the London Underground and DLR (Docklands Light Railway) at all times. Child fares are available for those under 16 and it is possible to get discounted fares if you are under 18 or studying in London with an ID card.

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are over 60 you can get a pass that makes free bus and Underground travel available. If you have an English National Concessionary bus pass you cannot use it on the London Underground (but you can use it on London's red buses).

The London Underground is closed from around midnight until around 5am, getting started a little later on Sundays. However on Friday and Saturday nights, much of the Underground runs through the night. In Central London there is a very good night bus network when the Underground is closed.

You will rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes for an Underground train at any time of the day.

London Journey Planner - for all types of transport across London

Use the TfL (Transport for London) journey planner to plan your travel. The journey planner covers all public transport.

TFL Journey planner

London Underground map

The London Underground map is a classic design that when first launched was immediately taken up worldwide for similar systems. The clarity, simplicity and ease of use compromises strict geographical accuracy.

The Circle line doesn't really go around in a squashed circle and it is not apparent for instance that Bayswater Underground is only 100 yards from Queensway.

In 2016 the Night Tube was introduced. On Friday and Saturday nights only Underground trains run through the night. For lines that operate a night service see the Night Tube map linked below or on the right-menu.

In May 2022 the long awaited Elizabeth Line opened its first section. The Elizabeth Line provides a route connecting East and West London. Find out more about the new Elizabeth Line .

Underground map Tube & rail map Night tube map

Docklands Light Railway (DLR), overground and TfL rail trains

To the east of London in the Docklands region you will see a region covered by something called the DLR (Docklands Light Railway). You can treat this network as just another Underground line.

Not in the centre of London, but in the suburbs you will find a train network called the Overground which can also be thought of as being part of the Underground for ticketing purposes.

Commuter trains into the suburbs are very confusing for the visitor. You can still use Oysters and Travelcards on these but those lines run by the national railways only give free travel to children under 5.

In the north and east of London most of these services are now run by TfL Rail or the Overground so free travel is available to children under 11, but to the south and west of London, services are still dominated by national railways companies.

The Tube and rail map usefully shows which railway stations are in which travel zones. Travel zones are the basis for fare charges on London's railways and Underground system.

London Underground Night Service - the Night Tube

In 2016 the London Underground began to introduce a full 24/7 service on Friday and Saturday nights only. Introduction has been on a phased basis.

Night Tube services are now running on the Central, Victoria, Jubilee line, Northern line (Charing Cross branch) and Piccadilly line (but not Acton to Uxbridge branch). The Night Tube will offer a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays. Standard off-peak fares are levied for travelling on the Night Tube using Oyster and Contactless cards.

Travelcards are valid from the first day of issue (using the date printed on the card), and for journeys starting before 4.30am the following day. For example, if you buy a 1-day Travelcard at 11am on Friday, you can use it until 4.29 on the following Saturday.

Night Tube map - current lines operated

London Underground fares

The London public transport system is divided up into zones that radiate from the centre. Nearly all the hotels and the main sights are in Zone 1. Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6 and the furthest zone out is Zone 9.

The majority of visitors will only travel in the two most central zones 1 and 2. The Underground Map (link above) has the stations and their zones marked.

Some stations, such as Turnham Green, are in two zones. You use whichever zone for these stations is most beneficial in working out your fare.

Underground fares

You can see from the table below there is big financial incentive not to purchase individual tickets and use an Oyster card or Contactless payment card .

The other main way of paying is purchasing a Travelcard , which is a pass giving you unlimited travel for a set time period. The cost goes up with the coverage of zones required. The more zones you require the more expensive the Travelcard.

London Underground Fares from 3 March 2024 - March 2025

Oyster cards, contactless payment cards & travelcards.

As you can see from the above fare structure the authorities do not want you to buy single tickets, they want you to purchase one of the three payment options, Oyster cards, Contactless payment cards or Travelcards.

The Oyster card is a permanent reusable electronic ticket which is topped up from time to time by its owner. Londoners also have their season tickets loaded onto Oyster cards as well and there are passes for one weekly and monthly durations. All can be loaded onto the one electronic Oyster card.

Contactless cards are standard credit or debit cards that support the contactless payment technology, the total cost of all the journeys that you make in one day is calculated at the end of the day and a single charge is made to your Contactless payment card account.

Unlike the Oyster card the contactless facility has a 7-day cap as well as the Oyster daily cap used by Oyster.

You can use Oyster cards on all of London's public transport, not just the Underground, but buses, overground, DLR, suburban rail services and some river services.

Travelcards are another alternatives. Travelcards are valid on the same modes of transport but are unlimited travel passes for a fixed flat fee. Travelcards are available for 1 and 7 days, 1 month and 1 year durations.

You can purchase and subsequently top up Oyster cards and Travelcards from Underground stations and a wide variety of other outlets throughout London including neighbourhood stores, but not Contactless payment cards.

Oyster cards - more details

Contactless payment cards - more details

Travelcards - more details

Understand the differences between Travelcard, Oyster Card and contactlessd card. Ask bob if still confused.

Seniors concessions

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are of pensionable age you can get a Freedom pass giving free travel. If you are 60+ and live in London the Seniors Oyster ID Card that makes free bus travel available. You can apply online or get a form from your local Post Office.

Anybody with an English National Concessionary bus pass can use that on London's red buses too and travel free of charge.

If you have a Senior Railcard you can get your 1/3 discount on off-peak Oyster fares. You have to ask a member of staff to load the concession on to a standard Oyster card (note, not a Visitor Oyster card) at an Underground station after showing your Seniors Card.

If you have a Senior Railcard you can also buy a 1 day off-peak zone 1-6 Travelcard at the discount applied.

Child concessions

This is a very complex subject and is covered in detail in the table below. Generally, a child is defined as under 16 years old, but in the last couple of years it has been possible to get child fares after jumping through a few hoops up to the age of 17.

Children under 11 can travel free on the London Underground, DLR and buses without a ticket. If a child is between 11 and 15 years old, you require an Oyster 11-15 Photocard (which has a fee, see below). This allows 11 to 15 year olds to travel at child fares on the Underground, DLR, Overground and some trains, free on the buses.

If you are a short-term visitor (in London for up to 14 days) with kids between 11-15 you can take advantage of the Young Visitor Discount. This means you can get half price fares on an Oyster card on a temporary basis for your child without going through the hoops and expense of getting an Oyster ID card. You do need to read carefully the rules of this scheme though.

Children's Fare Concessions

Group tickets - 1-day group travelcard for groups of 10 or more.

This ticket is for groups of 10 or more travelling together.

This in scope is the same as a 1-day off-peak Travelcard for zones 1-6 and 1-9 providing unlimited travel on all services after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

The pricing is particularly attractive if you have kids in the group and those staying in one of the outer zones, however if you are staying in the centre of London zones 1 to 3 it will be cheaper to purchase individual Oyster cards.

If you are a group of 10 or more then do check out this product.

Purchasing tickets & fares levied

There are no longer manned ticket offices at Underground and DLR stations. All tickets are dispensed by ticket machines in the ticket hall and there will be a member of staff hanging around these.

The same machines will allow you to top up your Oyster cards or see what the balance is on your Oyster card and they will also allow you to cancel your Oyster card and get your deposit and any cash left on the Oyster refunded.

If you prefer talking to people selling the tickets there are Oyster ticket stops. These are many of these and typically are convenience stores or news-stands that sell public transport tickets as a sideline. These outlets will have a sign in their front window.

The fare you pay is set by which zone your departure and destination stations are in. Your journey starts when you go through the ticket barrier of the station entrance you depart from and finishes when you pass through the ticket barrier at the exit of your destination. You cannot break a journey on a single fare, once you go though an exit barrier of a station that is your journey completed.

Access to platform & luggage

To gain access to the platforms, and again to exit a station you have to pass through automatic barriers (pictured). There is always one wide ticket barrier for wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with large suitcases.

If you have a single ticket, the barrier at your destination will not return your ticket. There is a manned side gate by the barriers. If you have a Travelcard you insert the Travelcard into the same slot as for the single tickets, the barrier will check that your Travelcard is valid for both date and zones travelled.

If you have an Oyster card or Contactless payment card you swipe the card over a bright yellow pad, the barrier will check validity and will record the station you have started your journey before opening the barrier. The barrier may display the balance on your Oyster too.

At your destination station, exiting through the barrier in effect tells the system you have ended your journey and it works out the fare to be deducted from your card.

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Family guide to London Transportation

WithKids.world > Travel Tips > Family guide to London Transportation

Author: Jordan August 25, 2016 2 Comments

“What’s the best way to get around London?” is a question that I’m frequently asked by readers. The short answer to how to get around London with kids is: the Tube + buses, Uber and walking – depending on the situation. But there are exceptions. In this post, I’ll cover all of the main family transportation options – including how to use the Tube in London, as well as buses, Uber, taxis / black cabs, minicabs (what are those anyway??), rail, bikes… and of course, walking! I’ll also address options for paying. And lastly, what Apps you should use.

But first, a cute public service announcement:

The Tube for Families (aka the London Underground)

London Tube Map

By far the most-used form of transportation in the city, the Tube (aka the Underground) is marked by these iconic signs, and follows this well-known route map:

The Tube operates in Zones 1-6. The outer zones matter for commuting locals – but they rarely matter for tourists who will travel almost exclusively in Zone 1 in Central London (and maybe on rare occasions to Zone 2) on the Tube. One thing to be aware of, is that the map is a marvel of graphic design, but as such doesn’t necessarily represent the actual geographic alignment or orientation of stations relative to each other. If you’re interested (which you likely are not) in learning more about this, you can find more here . But suffice to say that just because two stations look very near each other, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are. Thankfully the TFL (Transport for London – the official City agency that manages transportation) has recently released a version of the map that does show walking distances between stations!

But while the Tube is the default transportation option for most individual local travelers, many tourists find it intimidating. There are several good reasons for this – including “it’s confusing”, payment and fares, crowds, and the general pace (especially considering kids and/or strollers). Let’s address each of those.

First: “it’s confusing”. The map is fairly chaotic, and it can make figuring out how to get around London with kids seem intimidating. London is not built on a grid (in fact, it often seems like the opposite of a grid – whatever that is!). If you’ve used the subway system in New York – which is probably the only American public urban train system that is comparable to the Underground – you’ll find that London’s system is far less orderly – with lines going in all directions as opposed to NYC’s north/south orientation in Manhattan. This can be intimidating for a visitor who is not familiar with the map – especially with kids in tow. My primary piece of advice here is to use an app (Citymapper – see below), to simplify any particular journey – which will usually require the use of one or at most two lines (with one change).

Once you start using the system, most people find that it’s actually very intuitive to use. When you get to the station, try to know as soon as you enter in which direction you want to head (north/south, east/west) – and what the last station in that direction is (check the map). This is important information because you’ll likely need it to get yourself to the right platform. If you’re not sure, consult your app, or a pocket tube map before you get into the narrower tunnels of the underground. Or just ask a station employee if you see one. They’re very knowledgeable and helpful.

One parent should press their Oyster card to the yellow circle, and the gate will open and stay open long enough for one or more kids to follow behind. Sometimes there will be a station attendant there to watch or assist.

Tip: the gate will usually open more easily if you touch your Oyster card before you stand on the metal platform under the gate. Not sure why – that’s just been our experience.

Some stations tend to be a lot more chaotic than others. In general, the more lines that a station serves, the more confusing it tends to be.

Unfortunately London Underground stations are not particularly stroller/buggy/pram friendly – and there are lots of stairs, which can be a real challenge. With two parents, we found that it’s usually easier to just carry a stroller up/down stairs, rather than have the kid get out. Just be careful on the stairs, of course. One thing to look for is handicapped accessible stations – which are marked on the tube map. These will have ramps or elevators (lifts) that you can use.

I highly recommend making taking the tube into a game. If you have kids who are older than 5, it’s fun to make it a challenge to see if they can figure out how to get from point A to point B. Just be sure that you leave extra time as they learn to navigate!

Payments and fares: As mentioned, kids under 10 are free! This will usually make the tube the cheapest way to travel for families with young kids (although with a stroller it might not be the easiest way to travel). Kids 10-15 years old need a special Oyster card which you can get through a manned ticket booth. You’ll need ID for the kids to verify their age, so bring their passport.

Here’s a very helpful video on Oyster cards and how to use them. In addition to an Oyster card, you can also get a daily or weekly travelcard, or pay for individual tickets. Never get individual tickets – it’s basically the same effort as getting an Oyster card, and you pay more. Once you have an Oyster card (with a positive balance), you just tap the card at the turnstile and you’re in. Easy! With an Oyster card, if you take the Tube or busses several times in a day, you’ll benefit from the automatic daily cap system – which is the maximum charge that you’ll pay in any given day. For Zone 1, the daily cap is £6.50 – which is basically two, one-way trips. So once you’ve traveled twice, all subsequent tube and bus trips in that day are free! Pretty cool, huh?

And here’s a reference for fares . Fares are kind of confusing because they depend on the Zones in which you’re traveling (mostly Zone 1 in Central London), as well as the time of day that you’re traveling. A “ride” counts from when you enter the Underground, to when you leave – regardless of whether you transfer. You don’t have to re-enter the system or pay again if you switch lines during the same journey. But since the fares are capped, it really doesn’t matter too much what the individual fares are.

You may notice on the chart that the daily Oyster cap in Zone 1 is £6.50. But you can get a daily Travelcard for £12.10. So why would you ever get a Travelcard? You wouldn’t. It makes no sense, and I’ve never been able to figure out why anyone would ever get one. If I’m missing something, please let me know in the comments!

Crowds / Pace . This is a big reason why many families are afraid to take the Tube. It can definitely get crowded, especially around morning or evening rush hour. Or in the summer, the major tourist zones around Oxford and Bond Streets, Buckingham Palace (Green Park), Westminster, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square can be very busy anytime.

Tube Station Etiquette:

DO NOT stop in a fast moving spot in a station to examine the tube map to figure out which platform to go to – especially at commuting times (8-9AM, or 5-7PM). The walking tunnels do get fairly tight as you get near the platforms – and if you don’t keep moving you’ll cause a significant traffic jam. Most likely no one will say anything, because they’re British, but you will be the unlucky recipient of many an angry glare!

On the escalators, make sure that your whole crew is standing on the right , in a single-file line. The left side of the escalator should be left open for those who want to trot down, or climb up – rather than just waiting as the escalator moves. If your kids are standing on the left side of the escalator chatting, they are at risk of being run over by a busy Londoner who has somewhere VERY important to be. Should they impeded his progress up or down an escalator, he will be very disappointed in your lack of parenting skill.

While there are crowds, they are mostly manageable except for during rush hour, when some lines (like the Central Line) can get really packed. If you’re trying to take the Central Line from Notting Hill Gate to Oxford Circus at 8:30AM, it may be so crowded that it will be difficult to actually get on a train. And if you’re trying to keep track of two or more kids, this can be very stressful. My advice: if at all possible, plan your day so that you don’t need to travel during these times. If you want to take the tube to go to dinner at 6:30PM, consider heading to that neighborhood around 4:45PM so that you’re within walking distance. There will likely be something interesting to explore in the area. Or take an Uber.

What’s the Overground?

Essentially it’s just an extension of the Underground system, and it runs mostly in a loop around the outer part of London. It’s not very likely that you’ll encounter it as it doesn’t cover Central London – but if you do you can use your Oyster card just like you would any other underground train.

To really get everywhere via public transport, you need to learn to use the bus system. Buses have many advantages over the tube for tourists. One of the biggest is that you can see! Unlike the Tube which is, well… a tube – the bus lets you see London during your journey, which gives you a much better feel for where you are, and the relative locations of different sights and neighborhoods. Second, red London busses – especially the double-deckers, and certainly if your kids can snag the front seat on the second deck – are an iconic and fun part of the London experience. And third – when traveling with kids – especially if you have a stroller – the busses can be much easier to manage because you don’t have to worry about dealing with any stairs, or long station walks. Buses have a space on the lower deck for strollers so that you don’t have to collapse them. You can usually wheel them down the aisle – or sometimes the driver will let parents with a stroller board via the back door (which is right in front of the stroller area on the bus). You should definitely ride at least one bus while you’re in London, and you may find that they provide the best method of traveling with kids.

The bus routes can seem very intimidating – but with an app like Citymapper, it’s definitely manageable for a tourist with kids. Citymapper will tell you not only where to pick up the appropriate bus – but it will also alert you when you are approaching your stop. See more in the App section below.

One downside is that buses – even given that they have dedicated bus-lanes – are still subject to traffic which can be slow at times. This is especially true at rush hour – and also in August – when the major tourist areas can become very crowded. During this time, buses can be crowded as well. If you get on and the stroller area is already full, it can be a major headache trying to deal with so much crowding. In this case, I’d suggest trying to be patient, and waiting for the next bus – or trying an Uber or taxi. They’ll still have to deal with traffic, but at least you’ll be more comfortable while you wait! Most of the year however, this won’t be an issue.

You can NOT pay cash to ride a bus. It’s just not an option. You can use either a contactless credit/bank card (which you probably don’t have if you’re American since we haven’t adopted this fantastically convenient technology yet), or an Oyster card.

Hop on / Hop off Buses: These buses are another option that many tourists consider for getting around London. There are three companies (The Original London Tour, Big Bus, and Golden Tours) that offer the HO/HO Buses – and they’re all pretty similar. Each company has a few different routes that cover the major Central London attractions (Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Tower of London, Big Ben & Parliament, etc). You get a one-day, fixed price ticket for the buses that allows you to hop on and off wherever they stop (as the name suggests). You can get a family ticket for 2 adults and 2 kids for about £65.

I think that there are two key benefits of using these buses: 1) They have human guides that offer commentary, and if you get a good one you can learn some interesting facts about London – especially if it’s your first time; and 2) If the weather is nice, sitting on the open-air second deck can be a delightful way to see the city and get a feel for the layout.

That said, I think that for most families, there are also significant downsides to using the buses. They’re expensive. A family of four can enjoy unlimited travel all over London on the public buses and the Tube for less than £15/day. They can be infrequent and crowded – especially in the summer. They can get stuck in traffic – especially because they tend to take very crowded routes. Of course, this is the case with regular buses as well (even with the bus lanes). And while a good guide can be a lot of fun, that’s a matter of chance. I’ve had several readers lament that they were unimpressed with theirs.

For most families, I’d recommend other options instead of the HO/HO buses. You can easily put together your own double-decker bus tour of the best London sights using Bus Routes #24, #11 and #9 .

Most of the time, your Oyster card will not work on Rail between cities outside of London. However if you’re traveling within London, sometimes it’s more convenient to use rail – and in those cases you can usually use your Oyster card. For example I used to use my Oyster card between Ealing Broadway and Paddington Station, or when traveling from Waterloo Station to Richmond (which takes about 20 minutes, as compared to 45 minutes on the District Line). This is fairly confusing – and it’s best to just ask a station attendant if you have both Tube and Rail options from the same station and you’re not sure which is best.

Cars (Black Cabs, Uber, Minicabs and Rental Cars)

And what about cars? Even though few people drive them into Central London, you’ll still see them everywhere. The local government does a lot to encourage use of public transport – and to discourage private car use in the city. This includes the daily “congestion charge” of £11.50/day for driving in Central London between the hours of 7AM and 6PM on weekdays. Also, parking is very difficult. As a result, you’ll find a disproportionate number of private cars are very high end cars – as well as cars with private drivers.

But many of the cars that you’ll see are commercial: the famous Black Cabs, Ubers, and private hire or “minicabs”.

Black Cabs , along with red busses, are iconic sights in London. You may have heard legends about “The Knowledge”, which represents the test that every official London Black Cab driver must pass to prove that they know their way around the many thoroughfares and circuitous side streets of the Capital. Black Cab drivers are part transportation, part tour guide. And many take the later part of their job very seriously. They’ll answer any question that you have about the area, and they’ll take pride in their ability to do so. The certification and licensing process is both thorough and expensive, and this is one of the reasons why the fares in Black Cabs are so expensive – with a typical ride of a mile or two usually costing about £10-15.

You’ll find that in Central London, taxis will almost never have car seats. This is just something that we got used to living there – but tourists may find it a bit unnerving. If you choose to use car transportation, this is one of the risks that you will likely have to weigh – as it’s simply not practical to carry car seats with you throughout London. If this isn’t something that you’re comfortable with, then stick to buses or the Tube instead.

Uber – For many of my readers, Uber is the preferred way to get around London with kids. Uber is very common in London – and if you’re an Uber-user in the US, the app will work just as you’re used to in London as well. Two tips for using Uber in London: 1) if you have a local UK phone number, put that number into your Uber account so that the driver can reach you when necessary; and 2) be sure that you’ve informed the credit card on-file in your Uber account that you’ll be traveling, so that it’s not flagged for fraud.

Uber is typically significantly cheaper than Black Cabs – by as much as 50%. It’s more expensive than taking the Tube or bus – but if you are comfortable spending a bit more, it will definitely be the most convenient method of transportation.

The standard UberX will usually be a Toyota Prius or similar, and can usually hold a maximum of four people. If you have small kids, the driver usually won’t mind if you put a child on your lap. Of course it’s your call whether you want to take this risk from a safety perspective. For larger families, request an Uber XL.

Private Hire / Mini-cabs – This is a term used to describe private taxis (not Black Cabs). It’s unusual to use these for point to point transportation in London – but it’s common to use them to get to or from the airport. While I typically suggest an Uber to get to the airport, using a booked car to get from the airport when you first arrive is a great option. A good car service will make sure that they track your flight, and they will have someone waiting inside the airport with a sign with your name on it, which is a welcomed convenience – especially when arriving with kids and luggage off of a red eye! I recommend booking in advance using JustAirports.com. My readers have had good things to say about them!

Rental Cars – Renting a car is an option if you’re looking to head out of the city for a daytrip or longer. However there are a few factors to consider. One obvious one is that you’ll need to be comfortable driving on the left side of the road! Another is the previously mentioned Congestion Charge – which is administered via the omni-present traffic cameras around London. Here’s a map that shows where the charge applies. You’ll need to pay the charge online for each day that you drive in the congestion zone – however tourists may not realize that they need to pay, since they won’t receive any notice other than signs that are publicly posted. If you don’t pay the same day, the charge goes up – and it will continue to increase for each day that goes by without paying. For a rental car you’ll be responsible for the charges – but they may take several days or weeks before you receive any notice – which could potentially result in very significant fees. Something to be aware of if you have plans to rent a car in Central London. For most visitors, and most destinations, a train will usually be the best option. However if you’re headed out to the British Countryside, the coast, or the Lake District, a rental car may indeed be the best choice.

Tip: You do not need an international driver’s license to rent a car in the UK. If someone tells you differently, they’re trying to sell you an international driver’s license 🙂

Walking – Walking is often the best way to get around in London. If you have young kids and you’re concerned about whether their little legs can manage a day full of walking, consider bringing a light, folding stroller. This is useful for a couple of reasons. First, it’s obviously good to have if you want to do a lot of walking and your little one can’t keep up. But second, if your kids still nap, a stroller can be a great option that allows a younger kid to get some sleep while the rest of the crew keeps moving. This gives you much more flexibility than if you have to head back to the flat mid-afternoon every day.

But perhaps the biggest benefit of walking is that it gives you the opportunity to stumble across something interesting. And isn’t that one of the best parts of travel? If the weather is good, consider walking as the first option!

Biking – When we lived in London, I biked to work (about 10 miles from Ealing to Central London) whenever I could. It was a fantastic way to start the day, and London has great biking weather for most of the year. But for tourists? With kids? I wouldn’t recommend it. Traffic, driving on the left side, motorcycles and inconsistent bike lanes are all hazards. Plus you won’t have a helmet (unless you want to carry them around all day!). But there is one exception that I would make to this rule. If all of your kids are older (about 12+), and are big enough to handle the ubiquitous rental bikes, biking through Hyde Park on a nice day is a ton of fun! Just dip your (chip enabled) credit card into one of the machines and give it a try. Or another great family biking option is in Battersea Park – which has a rental bike center (that’s open on weekends and in the summer).

Let’s say that you want to go from Buckingham Palace to the British Museum. Pop open the CityMapper app and enter your starting point and destination, and it will give you your options:

Note that it highlights the options and relative durations for walking, biking, car and public transportation. For public transportation, it also shows you several different options – usually the best tube and bus routes. Were there any disruptions or closed or delayed lines, it would show you that as well.

Click on the Walk icon, and it will show you a recommended route and distance. If you do choose to walk, I’d suggest actually using Google maps if you want turn-by-turn directions with verbal cues while you walk – as the CityMapper app doesn’t offer this feature.

Now, let’s say that you want to take the Tube. Click on the first option via the Piccadilly (blue) line.

Here, the app shows you where to get on and off, and how to walk to and from those stations. One feature that I really like is that it also shows you your total walking time. This is useful, because it will show you that in this example, you might choose to take the Tube, but you’ll still actually spend 22 of your 28 minutes walking to and from the stations! As compared to 34 minutes if you were to just walk to the destination. Is it worth 6 minutes more time to not have to worry about the hassle of getting in/out of the station? That’s for you to decide!

What about taking a bus? It takes about the same time as the tube – but with only 14 minutes of walking, instead of 22!

CityMapper will work remotely – so if you’re trying to plan out your day you can download the app from home and check the best way to get from point A to point B even before you go! Also, you can save the route for offline use. This is particularly useful in the Tube for getting off at the right stop without Wifi!

Final thoughts – How to get around London with kids

When you’re planning your itinerary before your trip, consider how you’ll get from one activity to the next. Use Citymapper to estimate the travel times, and make sure that you’ve planned enough time with some padding for mistakes early in the process. Try to view transportation in London as one of your family travel experiences – since it’s probably very different from how you get around at home! Have fun, make it a game, and whatever you do, don’t stand on the left side of an escalator!!

Would you like some help or advice in planning your trip? If so, just leave a comment or send me an email. We also offer Custom Family Trip Planning services. Click here to find out more.

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Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am going through difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else getting identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!!

Great read, i am from northern england and will be using your advice when i take our family of 4 to our capital. Thanks I will update on how it goes..

Welcome to MummyTravels

Can you keep travelling with kids in tow? MummyTravels was set up to answer that question, and over the past decade my daughter and I have been proving family travel is not just possible – it’s fantastic.

I’m Cathy, and my award-winning family travel blog covers everything from the best destinations to tips, reviews and the essential products you need for family holidays. From days out in the UK to long-haul adventures, I’m sharing inspiration from around the world (over 60 countries so far) and first-hand practical advice on how to do it yourself.

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Travelling in London with kids

When planning a family trip to London, one of the things we need to think about is how we are going to get around London. And in particular, how travelling in London with kids works.

You are probably asking yourself what fares children have to pay on London´s public transport. And you may even need to know how to use London´s public transport with a buggy.

Travelling in London with kids: Fares and transport passes

When travelling in London with kids, it is important to know the different child fares on London´s transport network depending on their age. There are transport passes for children, valid for London´s underground network, buses, DLR, overground and trains within London travel zones .

Children under 11 years of age

Children aged under 11 travel free on London´s buses and trams, at any time, and do not need a ticket. They also travel free on London Underground, DLR (docklands light railway), overground and Tfl rail. They don´t need a ticket as long as a paying adult accompanies them.

Up to 4 children can travel for free with an adult with a valid ticket. When entering the London underground with a child (or more) under 11, it is advisable to use the larger access doors. These doors are wider and don´t close as fast as individual doors. They are designed for people travelling in London with kids, luggage or for disabled people.

Children 11 – 16 years of age

Children between the ages of 11 and under 16 can travel at a reduced rate on London´s public transport. Understanding what tickets are more suitable can be a bit complicated, as there are several options. For this reason, I am going to summarise the different options below. Hopefully, you will be able to decide which option is more suitable for you if you are travelling in London with kids.

Children from 11 to 16 years old can also travel with an adult oyster card or travel card if necessary. In this case, they will not benefit from reduced rates on travel.

Option 1: Oyster card with Young Visitor Discount

This is the best option if you are planning a family trip to London. An oyster card with a young visitor discount will apply half adult rates for 14 days. After 14 days, this discount will expire, and the oyster card will charge full adult rates again. The oyster card can also be returned at the end of your trip, just like a normal oyster card .

All you have to do is buy an Oyster Card or a Visitor Oyster Card, either online or at an underground station, and then ask a staff member to set the Young Visitor Discount. This discount can be applied at any underground station in London, including the underground station at Heathrow Airport .

An adult will need to give their personal details to register the oyster card before the discount can be applied, and you might be asked to confirm the child´s age. You and your child will need to be together when asking for the Young Visitor Discount to be set onto an oyster card, and an adult can request the young visitor discount to be set for up to 4 children (on separate oyster cards).

Option 2: Zip Oyster Photocard

The zip oyster photocard will entitle children up to 16 years of age to reduced fares on the underground and overground and other TFL services, as well as free travel on trams and buses. The zip oyster photocard is normally the best option for children that live in London, as the process to get an oyster photocard for a child can take some time and there is an initial registration fee of up to £20 – so this is normally not the best option for tourists.

To get a zip oyster photocard if you live in London, all you need to do is fill in a form that you’ll find at your local Post Office and return it to the Post Office. You will also need to include a passport-sized photo and a copy of the birth certificate or passport and pay the fee. You should get the zip oyster photocard in 2 weeks.
If you are a UK resident, you will need to do the process online on TFL’s website, and you should get the zip oyster photocard within 4 weeks.
If you live outside the UK you will need to do the process online on TFL’s website. When applying, you will need to choose which London Visitor Centre (Liverpool Street Station, Victoria Station, Euston, Gatwick, King’s Cross station) you want to collect the zip oyster photocard from, as it will not be sent to your home address. You need to apply at least 3 weeks in advance but can apply up to three months in advance.

Option 3: 1 Day Child Travelcard

A one-day child travelcard will allow unlimited travel at any time of the day on any form of public transport in London for the chosen London Travel Zones . No ID is needed to purchase this one-day child travelcard, but fares using an oyster card with a young visitor discount are normally cheaper. If you are visiting London for several days and choose this option, you will have to buy a one-day child travelcard for each day, and this will work out a lot more expensive than using an oyster card with a young visitor discount.

Option 4: 7 Day Child Travelcard

To buy a 7-day child travelcard in London there are 3 options: 1 – By adding a weekly travelcard into a zip oyster photocard. This is undoubtedly the most complicated option, as you need to request a zip card oyster photocard first and then add the 7-day travelcard onto it. 2 – Buy a 7-day child travelcard online . This is probably the easiest way of getting one, as you don’t need a zip oyster photocard, and they’ll send it to your home address before you travel. 3 – Buy a 7-day child travelcard at a national railway ticket office (not an underground station).

16 – 18 years old

People aged 16 to 18 can also apply for a 16 – 18 zip oyster photocard, which will apply half adult rates on any form of public transport in London. Travelcards at a reduced price can also be added onto zip oyster photocards.

You don’t need to live in London to be able to apply for a zip card, but there is a processing fee which makes it hard to justify if you’re just visiting London for a few days. In this case, I’d recommend using a normal oyster card (adult rates) for anyone over 16.

For more information about travelling in London kids visit: Transport for London

Travelling in London with kids: Travelling to Central London from the airport

Stansted , Luton and Gatwick airports are all located outside London’s Travel Zones , so fares when travelling with kids too and from these airports are different to fares when travelling in London with kids, so under 11 years old’s will need a ticket.

An oyster card is valid for travel into Central London from Gatwick Airport, but children under 11 also need a train ticket to get to central London from Gatwick Airport, even if they are accompanied by an adult.

Heathrow and London City Airports are both inside London Travel Zones , so fares are as explained above. Children under 11 travel free, and Children under 16 can travel with an oyster card with a young visitor discount.

⇒ More information: London Airport Transfers

Travelling in London with a buggy

One of the things we need to think about if we are going to be travelling in London with kids is if we are going to need to travel around London with a buggy. If you are planning a trip with a baby, it may be that you wish to bring your buggy to London, or if you have older children, you will probably need to use a stroller if you are planning on spending the whole day walking around London.

When you first become a parent in London, using public transport with a buggy isn´t easy at first. Still, you eventually learn how to get around and quickly learn how to read London´s accessibility maps and find the best routes. The truth is that travelling in London with a buggy can be very easy if you know which route is best, or it can be a complete nightmare if you have to go up or down 300 steps when there are no lifts.

This is why we are going to explain how to travel on London´s public transport with a buggy.

Travelling on London´s buses with a buggy

Public buses in London have a dedicated wheelchair and buggy space as well as easy street-level access, and travelling by bus with a buggy normally is the easiest option to get around London. You can enter the bus via the back door, which makes it a bit easier too. Up to two pushchairs are allowed in the dedicated buggy space on a bus, but do bear in mind that during busy periods you may be asked to wait for the next bus or collapse your pushchair.

Travelling on the London Underground with a buggy

The trick to travelling in London with kids using a pushchair is to check London´s accessible underground map in advance and choose your route carefully. Being able to plan your route by choosing accessible stations makes life much easier. It may just mean that you need to get off at the next stop and walk 5 minutes, rather than having to take a buggy and a baby up 100 steps.

Unfortunately, not all underground stations in London are accessible. Most underground stations in London will have escalators, and many stations will also have stairs before reaching the platform. Many other stations have lifts to some platforms, and some stations are completely accessible, with lifts from the ticket office to the platform.

Travelling in London with a buggy is easier if there are two adults as one of you can carry the baby whilst the other one can take the buggy up or down the stairs. If it´s just one adult taking a buggy then I would encourage you to check the best route first. Whenever I had no choice and had to get off at an underground station that wasn’t accessible with a buggy, there has always been someone willing to help me. If you need help going up or down the stairs and you ask a staff member for help, for health and safety reasons, they will ask you to carry the baby and take the buggy for you. I have to say that a lot of people will use the escalators with a buggy, but I would recommend that you use stations with lifts.

London Underground Accessibility Maps

On the London Underground map, you will see that accessible underground stations are marked with the symbol of a wheelchair, in either a blue circle or a white circle.

Blue circle: Fully accessible station. This means it is possible to go from street level onto the underground carriage without any steps. In these cases, the platform will have a slightly elevated area that avoids steps to get onto the train.
White circle: Accessible Station. This means that there are no steps from street level to the platform. There is some unevenness when getting onto the train. This is important for someone using a wheelchair, but it usually isn´t a problem when taking a buggy onto the train.

In addition to this map, there is a Step Free Tube Map , which is a lot more detailed and the one I recommend you check when travelling on the London Underground with a buggy. This map highlights the degree of accessibility at each station in detail and explains how accessible it is to change between underground lines at different stations.

14 Family Traveler Vlogs to Watch in 2021

If you found this because you were searching for new YouTube family travel vlogs to follow, you’re in luck. There are tons and tons of lists out there featuring the same Top 10 Family Travel Vlogs but we really wanted to highlight some new(ish) channels to inspire your travels. We’ve gathered 9 awesome YouTube family travel vlogs to check out this year and hope you’ll subscribe to follow them around the world.

We know there are a TON of family travel vlogs to follow, so we narrowed down our favorite, growing families that post on the regular. These are all worth binging, so put a pause on Netflix and put down the Apple TV remote. Time to get your wanderlust on. And maybe your baby fever, too.

Family on Standby

Because we have absolutely NO shame, and this is our list, we’re putting ourselves on this list. Now, chances are that since you’re here, you are already an awesome subscriber. If you already subscribe, maybe consider joining the new Standby List ! Don’t worry – we didn’t count ourselves in the 9 family travel vlogs, so you’re totally not getting ripped off!

But if you’re new around here, we are Nick, Brittany, Olivia, and Everett: AKA Family on Standby. We are a family of four traveling the world and living the non-rev lifestyle. We don’t buy plane tickets – we fly standby – and that means we only go if there are open seats. Sometimes we try Hawaii and end up in Athens. Other times we get where we want to go. And sometimes we even go … nowhere. Follow us along on our journey to prove to parents that travel with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. Or well planned.

The Backpacking Family

Blighty born travelers who have had a baby boy who has inspired them to show the world that life doesn’t end with children, it begins. Many hang up their backpacks after they have babies, we just filled ours with nappies and became more determined to explore. As we grow as a family we want to educate him through this precious shared gift we call planet Earth. The Backpacking Family

That’s definitely a message we can get behind. Their videos are exciting, adventurous, and thoroughly entertaining.

Family Travel Vlog

We are the family behind Family Travel Vlog, Dale (aka Dad), Natasha (aka Mum) and our three beautiful, noisy, adventurous girls, Skylar, Kiara and baby Summer. We are starting this channel as a way to record and share our adventures. On our channel you will find travel inspiration, family moments and lots of tips based on my experiences. Family Travel Vlog

If they can travel to Bali with three tiny kids, surely the rest of us can handle it! They started their channel with a similar purpose to ours – to document their kids’ adventures and to prove kiddos are portable.

Camp David Adventures

Living day to day life is an adventure in itself, add two parents trying to do their best, two kids going into Adolescence, and a recent relocation and you have Camp David Adventures! We want to document this important time in our lives. What better way than a vlog? The work will be worth it and we will all have some fun along the way!! Camp David Adventures

You can’t go wrong with Disney. And that means you can’t go wrong with Disney 3x in 1 day! Their family travel vlogs are mixed with adventure and at home life. Definitely worth a follow!

Unofficial Bucket List Family

We are the “unofficial” bucket list family, my name is Loren, I’m originally from Romania, and my wife, Julie is from New Zealand. We have a beautiful baby daughter whose 2 year old and before we had her we loved to travel and plan to do more traveling with her. Each week during the weekend we will be posting a NEW VIDEO of places that we’ve been in New Zealand, Tahiti, Kauai or here in Southern California. Unofficial Bucket List Family

Tons of travel in New Zealand, So Cal, and Tahiti, plus airport lounges and in the skies above. Unofficial Bucket List Family travel vlogs are always insightful and fun – a how to for family travel!

Traveling Graces

Join us as we strengthen our family through experiencing new adventures around the world with our two kids! We hope to inspire you through our family travels and make it attainable for you as well. Traveling Graces

Treehouses, boats, wherever. The Traveling Graces are always up for an adventure and we’re always there to follow along on said adventure.

Always an Adventure with Kids

Raising kids is always an adventure! We love to live life to its fullest and explore what the world has to offer! Why travel with kids? They’re so young, they’ll never remember it! It’s too expensive! It’s too hard to travel with kids! I don’t have enough vacation time! Where there’s a will there’s a way! Always an Adventure with Kids

What more can we say? They refute every excuse possible for traveling with your children, just like us.

The No Regrets Family

We are the Knelsens. We’re a small Canadian family from the prairies and we’re changing things up in 2019 by pursuing our long-time dream of full-time travelling. We believe life is best-lived with No Regrets. The No Regrets Family

What an incredible adventure! They sold it all and are traveling the world full-time. Something many aspire to do, but few (ourselves included) take the leap to accomplish!

Traveling Holmes

Hello world! We’re the Traveling Holmes- a family of 3 who decided to sell everything, and leave home for an adventure around the world. We’re documenting our journey in becoming digital nomads, and will share the ups, downs, and special moments. Traveling Holmes

Sensing a trend here? They sold it all and are hitting the skies. How are they handling the life of being digital nomads?

The Family Traveler

We are a traveling family of 3 (about to be 4) and have lived in Arizona, England, Germany and are currently in Connecticut. We love to travel and immerse ourselves in the cultures of the places we visit, and that includes the food and drink of course! We also are avid Disney fans (one of us even worked at Walt Disney World several moons ago) and love to frequent the theme parks and cruise line. We hope to capture the essence of our brand of family travel and bring it to you in our videos. The Family Traveler

Something tells us you might have another vlogging family out there that will be showing you the ins-and-outs of traveling with a newborn!

Plus A Few Bonus Channels:

We love family travel vlogs, but we’ve seen some other great channels along the way! Here are just a few of them:

The Brookhart Project

Hi there! We’re Sarah and Peter from the Fab 5207 and we are so grateful you have found your way to our brand new channel. We relocated our life from the world’s greatest city, Chicago, Illinois, to the most magical place on Earth in Orlando, Florida. We hope you subscribe and follow our daily vlogs! The Brookhart Project

We are so in love with Sarah and Peter. They daily vlog their lives in Orlando. Particularly interesting where they parallel our lives – they’re battling infertility and struggling along the IVF journey. We’re invested now and hoping right along with them for success.

Tastes Seoul Good

“Tastes Seoul Good” (테이스트서울굿) delivers the best of Korean food and travels! We aim to bring viewers a unique spin on the expat lifestyle in South Korea. I an American who loves to explore the many varieties of food that can be found in this diverse country! Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date with our culinary adventures as we eat our way through South Korea! Tastes Seoul Good

Tastes Seoul good is a channel that checks all the boxes. Unique food, interesting personality, and something new learned every episode! Well worth a binge!

Great Michigan Bush Company

Watch Striker, Riddle, Scooter, Dipstick and the others fly through the Michigan sky’s. TGMBCo. Us a loosely formed group of pilots who dream of being bush pilots but have a difficult time finding a grass strip. Bush flying is the dream but living in Detroit limits the opportunity. Our aircraft include a Cessna 170, Cessna 172, Stinson 108, and Piper Comanche more planes are on the way. Our main goal is to promote general aviation and have fun. This channel will document our adventures and hopefully inspire others to get out and fly. Great Michigan Bush Company

Interested in flying? Look no further. Great Michigan Bush Company shares with us ALL the experiences of general aviation.

Wolters World

Wolters World Gives Honest 1st Hand Travel Advice to Help Fellow Travelers Get the Most out of Their Travel Experience. We Discuss the Best & Worst parts of traveling so that you can be better prepared for your vacation in a way that helps you know more about the culture & people of the city, country, or region you are going to visit. Wolters World

One of the most authentic travel vlogs out there. They don’t just share all the pretty, pleasant experiences, but walk you through some of the things to watch out for. They have videos all all subjects ranging from packing, budgeting, safety, and destination ideas.

Flying the Nest

Hi, we are Stephen, Jess and Hunter, a full-time travelling family vloggers on YouTube. We have been documenting our life ever since leaving home and travelling full time around the globe. We want to inspire others to venture out, explore, take risks and go on your own adventure! Flying the Nest

This couple used to travel as a pair until recently when they added a baby to the picture. Now they travel with a little on and have recently hit the road in a van.

The Neverland Family

Hi Family! Welcome to our channel! We are The Neverland Family – Frank, Jenni, Ellie and Max. We hope our videos can help with you with your Disney planning for you and your family. If you like what you see, don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE and LIKE our videos. We are no experts. We just do what works for our family. The Neverland Family

If Disney is your thing, they have some great mouse inspo. They frequent all the Disney parks (including the Disney cruise) and give room tours for all the hotels. Their channel can definitely help in the vacation planning process. Or just allow you to daydream.

The Tim Tracker

If you are looking for a channel that helps you plan out all aspects of your travels this is it! We are based out of Orlando, Florida and focus on all things tourism. From Disney to Universal we have you covered. We also cover Sea World, Legoland, and International Drive. Join us as we travel around Orlando and see everything it has to offer! The Tim Tracker

They are everything Orlando. Most of their content centers around Disney, but they also explore other places in the Orlando area. They used to vlog as a couple, but have recently added a baby to their clan. And they publish daily vlogs, so you’ll have new content to look forward to every day.

If bingeable RV is what you’re after, Camp David Adventures has you covered. They vlog all of their RV adventures…and make it look effortless.

More ways to follow:

Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | About Us

Do you have any family travel vlogs you think we need to subscribe to?!

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A Guide to Free Transport in London for Children

Depending on your child's age they can travel free or enjoy reduced rate travel on public transport throughout London. This can really help keep costs down when visiting London as a family.

Children over 5 can travel unaccompanied on London transport but it would be unusual to see young children traveling alone. Most primary school children in London (under 11s) are escorted to and from school by an adult (parent/carer).

Check TfL's useful guide and route maps to learn more about traveling with children.

Children Under 5

Children under 5 travel free at any time on London buses, the tube , trams, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), and London Overground trains when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

Children 5 to 10 Years

Children under 11 can travel free on the tube, DLR, Overground and TfL rail services when accompanied by an adult using pay as you go or with a valid ticket (up to four children can travel per adult). If children are traveling alone they'll need a 5-10 Zip Oyster Photocard in order to travel for free.

If children do not have a valid Oyster photocard, they must pay the full adult fare on National Rail services.

In order to apply for a 5-10 Oyster Photocard , a parent or guardian must create a web account and complete a form on behalf of the child. You'll need a color digital photo of the child and you'll need to pay a £10 admin fee.

Children 11 to 15 Years

All 11-to-15-year-olds need an Oyster Photocard to travel free on buses and trams. They must also touch in/out (place their Oyster photocard on a reader to document the journey) as they board a bus or at the tram stop before boarding to avoid a penalty fare. 11-15-year-olds can travel off-peak on the tube, DLR, and London Overground for a maximum of £1.30 a day with an Oyster photocard.

In order to apply for an 11-15 Oyster Photocard , a parent or guardian must create a web account and complete a form on behalf of the child. You'll need a color digital photo of the child and you'll need to pay a £15 admin fee.

Children 16 to 18 Years

16 to 18-year-olds who are in qualifying full-time education and live in a London borough can travel free on buses and trams with a 16+ Oyster Photocard. Other 16-17-year-olds can get a 16+ Oyster Photocard to travel at half the adult rate.

In order to apply for a 16+ Oyster Photocard, a parent or guardian must create a web account and complete a form on behalf of the child. You'll need a color digital photo of the child and you'll need to pay a £20 admin fee.

Visitors to London

Applications can be made in advance for a 5-10, 11-15 and 16+ photocards for collection on arrival in London . Visitors can apply online or ask for an application form to be sent to you. You need to apply at least 3 weeks in advance or you can simply sort it out when you arrive at any London Underground station. Be sure to bring some passport size photos.

Students aged 18 and over attending a full-time course at a university, college, or school should contact their education provider to see if they are registered with the 18+ Student Oyster photocard scheme. This allows the purchase of Travelcards and Bus Pass season tickets at 30% off the adult rate.

7 Best Family Travel Vloggers to Follow on YouTube (2024)

This list of the best family travel vloggers is a great place to start if you’re looking to watch more travel YouTube channels.

When I sit down to watch TV, my favorite thing to turn on is travel vlogs on YouTube . I love seeing where and how different people travel.

These families showcase full time travel, van life, sailing, and other travel lifestyles. In addition to showing amazing travels, these families are super captivating to watch.

Some links on this blog are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. All opinions are my own, and I only recommend products and services I personally use and believe in. Thanks for your support!

1. The Bucket List Family

Expertise : Adventure Travel & Travel with Littles

Video to Watch First : Giraffe Manor in Kenya

The Bucket List Family is the travel vlog that made me fall in love with travel vlogs. They share global travel with their three young kids.

Their story began when they sold an app to snapchat, sold all their belongings, and set out to travel the world. This travel vlog family was one of the first to set out on a crazy family adventure around the world.

The Bucket List Family has been to destinations all over from the Cook Islands to Zambia to Sri Lanka . Their family is relatable, adorable, and inspiring.

From watching their travel vlogs, I have decided that I will absolutely travel with my kids when I have them someday to enjoy similar travel experiences.

The best way to watch the bucket list family vlogs is from the very beginning, but if you are looking for somewhere to start, check out their Africa vlogs to see the wonder of adventure through little eyes.

2. Top Flight Family

Expertise : Resorts Around the World

Video to Watch First : Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani

The Top Flight Family produces a different style of vlogs than the other creators on this list. Instead of following them throughout their vacations, they share clips from their travels with a super informational voice overlay.

This popular YouTube channel shares a ton of family travel tips and is one of the more educational family vlogging channels.

The Top Flight Family travels with two young girls to amazing resorts and destinations around the world. They’ve done challenges like 21 resorts in 2021 and 22 cities in 2022.

I recommend checking out the Top Flight Family channel if you want information before visiting a specific destination (they cover literally every detail) or if you want help choosing which destination to visit next (they share the dreamiest places).

3. Flying the Nest

Expertise : Unique Destinations

Video to Watch First : Anything in Japan

Flying the Nest have been creating YouTube travel vlogs for years. For a long time, the channel followed Jess and Stephen as they traveled the world full time as a couple.

They shared a daily travel vlog as a couple, exploring the world including Asia, Europe, and the United States.

A few years ago, they had their daughter Hunter and recently their son, Koa. Now, they travel as a young family. Flying the Nest have quickly become one of my favorite family travel vlogs.

They’ve visited destinations around the world such as Disney World, Japan, and Hawaii. More recently, they’ve begun visiting unique destinations such as Mongolia and Bhutan.

This family is so cute and super knowledgeable about travel. I recommend watching Flying the Nest for inspiration of where to visit next.

4. Sailing La Vagabonde

Selfie of sailing la vagabone Riley and Elena

Expertise : Sailing

Video to Watch First : Their one hour unedited special

Riley, Elena, and their two young boys, Darwin and Lenny travel the globe in their family sailboat. Over the years, they’ve upgraded their boat and recently launched La Vagabonde III.

I love learning about the unique lifestyle of living on a sailboat. I also love seeing all the beautiful destination they sail such as the Bahamas and Vietnam.

5. Jones Family Travels

Expertise : Disney and Cruising

Video to Watch First : Disney Cruise Series

The Jone Family feels like a normal family you would be friends with, which makes their videos so comforting and relatable.

They capture their family travels with two teenage kids on vacations such as Disney, cruising, and other popular destinations around the world.

They do a great job capturing their family’s personalities, the pro’s and con’s of the destination, and travel tips.

6. Fernweh Chronicles

Expertise : Documentary-style travel

Video to Watch First : Living with the Mentawai tribe

Fernweh is a German term that is often described as a longing for distant places, a yearning for travel. Tara, George, and family run a beautiful and professional family YouTube channel, Fernweh Chronicles.

Their videos are documentary style and look like they belong on network TV. They showcase unique travel experiences such as visiting the Galapagos or staying with a rural tribe, the Mentawai.

7. Epic Family Road Trip

Expertise : Road Trips and Camping

Video to Watch First : Rain Forest Overland Jeep Adventure

The Epic Family Road Trip travel is all about adventure, camping, and off-the-beaten-path destinations. Their videos are slower paced and more tv-show style than some other vloggers.

They film their show in a “season” format with different episodes that showcase their lives exploring the world as a family. Some adventures they’ve done are camping in remote Canada in the winter, driving an overland Jeep, and living in an off-grid cabin.

Summary of the Best Family Travel YouTube Channels

These family YouTube channels all have something different to offer with different destinations and travel styles. However, what they have in common is being extremely entertaining.

Do you have a favorite YouTube channel that I’m missing? Let me know in the comments who I should subscribe to next!

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Tips for Families Traveling With a Tube-Fed Child

Note: I may earn money or products from the companies, products, or links mentioned in this post.

Most families like to travel. They want to see the world, visit family, and go on vacation. But what if you’re a special needs family? What if you have a tube-fed child? It may be more difficult to travel due to how expensive it is and because of all the medical equipment you would have to travel with.

For our family, we have a tube-fed child and we are a military family. It’s inevitable that we will travel a lot between the many moves, the living away from and traveling to see family, and anything else in-between!

Our family has also had to travel a lot for appointments whether in-state but far away, our out-of-state to see specialists we could not find elsewhere. I have traveled many times both by plane and by car across the country. Here are my tips on how to make your trip go smoother the next time you travel with your tube-dependent child and all their supplies!

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Flying With Your Tube-Fed Child:

1. Call the Airline Before Your Trip. Before you get ready to fly with your child who is on a feeding tube, call the airline you are flying with and ask them about what to expect. Ask them about their policies on traveling with a child with disabilities or medical needs and the kind of allowances you will receive.

You can also contact TSA ahead of time to let them know you are coming and what you will be traveling with.

2. Pack a Separate Piece of Luggage with Medical Supplies Many airlines will let you check a piece of luggage that has only medical supplies in it for free. We traveled with a small suitcase full of my daughter’s extra feeding tube supplies and we were able to check it for free on top of checking our other suitcases for clothing and toiletries.

You can also show a doctor’s note or travel orders from a physician showing why you are needing to travel and why you need the extra equipment.

3. Always Pack More Than You Need. When you are flying with a tube-fed child, you always want to pack MORE. Even if it’s only a short trip, you never know what you could run out of or what accidents might happen. Don’t forget to plan for flight delays or cancellations too!

Here’s a list of what to pack in your child’s medical suitcase:

IV pole (to hang your child’s feeding pump on).
Plenty of 60ml and 10ml syringes.
Several feeding tube extensions.
Plenty of tube-feeding bags.
Medical tape (if your child needs it).
An extra G/GJ button (just in case).
Backpack for the feeding pump and formula bag (if your child is old enough to wear one).
Extra formula.
Measuring cups or bottles for measuring formula.
Water bottles for flushing your child’s tube.
Any other supplies your child might need.

Here’s what to pack in your carry-on:

Any creams or medications your child may be needing.
Several 60 ml and 10 ml syringes.
2-3 feeding bags.
1 extension.
Several pieces of gauze.
Medical tape (if needed).
Extra tube-feeding formula.
Cooler to keep the formula cold (if needed).
Measuring cups or bottle for measuring formula.

4. How to Keep Your Child’s Feeding Tube Formula Cold. We ran into the problem of keeping my daughter’s tube-feeding formula cold on a plane a few years ago. My daughter was on a 24/7 feeding pump schedule and we had to make sure we had enough formula for the entire trip. The problem was, like many tube feeding formulas, once it was opened it needed to be kept cold until the remainder could be used.

Our solution was to find something small and easy that could keep them cold. We found a freezable lunch bag that you put in the freezer until ready to use. When ready, it will keep whatever you put in it cold, for up to 12 hours. This helped solve the problem of her formula going bad or being wasted.

5. What to Expect at Airport Security. Every airport will vary, but we all know that going through security can be tough and take a very long time. I suggest leaving even earlier than you would if you didn’t have a tube-fed child.

We learned this the hard way when traveling back home one time, and we almost missed our flight due to security taking longer than we anticipated.

Because every airport will be different, I can’t tell you exactly what to expect, but I can tell you what we experienced. When we went through security in Atlanta Airport, we were able to put most of her supplies through on the conveyer belt.

For the actual pump, they told us she could walk through with it on and me holding her. They did have to test the feeding bag of formula and any other open cases of formula, which takes a bit longer.

When we were traveling from Logan Airport in Boston, things were a bit different. They had us stop the feeding pump and took everything to a separate place where they checked everything separately, scanned and patted down both me and my daughter, and made sure we weren’t carrying a bomb. They were very serious about this and it took almost an hour to get through even with hospital and military orders being shown to the TSA agents.

Traveling by Car With a Tube-Fed Child:

1. Pack a Separate Piece of Luggage with Medical Supplies. When you’re driving a long way with your child who is on a feeding tube, you are going to want to be prepared. Pack a separate piece of luggage with extra feeding tube supplies and make sure you load it in the car last so you can easily get to it if needed. Make sure the IV pole is also easily accessible for when you make stops along the way.

2. Pack More Than You Need. Make sure to pack and plan for the unknown. You never know if there may be extra stops or emergencies along the way. The list of what to pack in your child’s medical suitcase is going to be the same as above. Just make sure to pack more than enough for the entire trip.

Since you will be driving, print out “In Case of Emergency” paperwork to put in your cars or to have in a binder in the car. On the paperwork include emergency contacts, pertinent medical information, and any diagnoses that a medical team or family member may need to know about. You may even want to include the name of your child’s tube-feeding formula, the current volume and rate of the pump, their medications, and times they should be given.

3. Call Your Child’s DME Before You Leave. Whether you are moving or traveling across the country, remember to call your child’s DME (Durable Medical Equipment Company) before you leave. Make sure all your DME equipment is working and in good shape. Tell them you are traveling or will be relocating so they can make sure you have enough supplies and formula to get you to your destination.

4. Bring a Cooler to Keep Formula Cold. When traveling by car, bring a cooler to keep in the backseat to keep your child’s tube-feeding formula cold. During stops bring the cooler and the formula into the hotel or home to keep cool.

As a parent to a special needs child, traveling can be hard. Being prepared, organized, and having the right supplies and tools will help your travel time go smoothly. Good luck!

What aboutraveledve you ever travelled with your tube-fed child? What was your experience? Do you prefer to travel by plane or car?

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Where Kamala Harris Stands on the Issues: Abortion, Immigration and More

She wants to protect the right to abortion nationally. Here’s what else to know about her positions.

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By Maggie Astor

Published July 21, 2024 Updated Aug. 24, 2024

With Vice President Kamala Harris having replaced President Biden on the Democratic ticket, her stances on key issues will be scrutinized by both parties and the nation’s voters.

She has a long record in politics: as district attorney of San Francisco, as attorney general of California, as a senator, as a presidential candidate and as vice president.

Here is an overview of where she stands.

Ms. Harris supports legislation that would protect the right to abortion nationally, as Roe v. Wade did before it was overturned in 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

After the Dobbs ruling, she became central to the Biden campaign’s efforts to keep the spotlight on abortion, given that Mr. Biden — with his personal discomfort with abortion and his support for restrictions earlier in his career — was a flawed messenger. In March, she made what was believed to be the first official visit to an abortion clinic by a president or vice president.

She consistently supported abortion rights during her time in the Senate, including cosponsoring legislation that would have banned common state-level restrictions, like requiring doctors to perform specific tests or have hospital admitting privileges in order to provide abortions.

As a presidential candidate in 2019, she argued that states with a history of restricting abortion rights in violation of Roe should be subject to what is known as pre-clearance for new abortion laws — those laws would have to be federally approved before they could take effect. That proposal is not viable now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe.

Climate change

Ms. Harris has supported the Biden administration’s climate efforts , including legislation that provided hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits and rebates for renewable energy and electric vehicles.

“It is clear the clock is not just ticking, it is banging,” she said in a speech last year , referring to increasingly severe and frequent disasters spurred by climate change. “And that is why, one year ago, President Biden and I made the largest climate investment in America’s history.”

During her 2020 presidential campaign, she emphasized the need for environmental justice , a framework that calls for policies to address the adverse effects that climate change has on poor communities and people of color. She has emphasized that as vice president as well.

In 2019, Ms. Harris, then a senator, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, introduced legislation that would have evaluated environmental rules and laws by how they affected low-income communities. It would have also established an independent Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Accountability and created a “senior adviser on climate justice” within several federal agencies. In 2020, Ms. Harris introduced a more sweeping version of the bill. None of the legislation was passed.

Ms. Harris was tasked with leading the Biden administration’s efforts to secure voting rights legislation, a job she asked for . The legislation — which went through several iterations but was ultimately blocked in the Senate — would have countered voting restrictions in Republican-led states, limited gerrymandering and regulated campaign finance more strictly.

This year, she met with voting rights advocates and described a strategy that included creating a task force on threats to election workers and challenging state voting restrictions in court.

She has condemned former President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. In a speech in 2022 marking the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, she said that day had showed “what our nation would look like if the forces who seek to dismantle our democracy are successful.” She added, “What was at stake then, and now, is the right to have our future decided the way the Constitution prescribes it: by we the people, all the people.”

Economic policy

In campaign events this year, Ms. Harris has promoted the Biden administration’s economic policies, including the infrastructure bill that Mr. Biden signed, funding for small businesses, a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that capped the cost of insulin for people on Medicare and student debt forgiveness.

She indicated at an event in May that the administration’s policies to combat climate change would also bring economic benefits by creating jobs in the renewable energy industry. At another event , she promoted more than $100 million in Energy Department grants for auto parts manufacturers to pivot to electric vehicles, which she said would “help to keep our auto supply chains here in America.”

As a senator, she introduced legislation that would have provided a tax credit of up to $6,000 for middle- and low-income families, a proposal she emphasized during her presidential campaign as a way to address income inequality.

Immigration

One of Ms. Harris’s mandates as vice president has been to address the root causes of migration from Latin America, like poverty and violence in migrants’ home countries. Last year, she announced $950 million in pledges from private companies to support Central American communities. Similar commitments made previously totaled about $3 billion.

In 2021, she visited the U.S.-Mexico border and said : “This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. We’re talking about children, we’re talking about families, we are talking about suffering.”

More recently, she backed a bipartisan border security deal that Mr. Biden endorsed but Mr. Trump, by urging Republican lawmakers to kill it , effectively torpedoed. The legislation would have closed the border if crossings reached a set threshold, and it would have funded thousands of new border security agents and asylum officers. “We are very clear, and I think most Americans are clear, that we have a broken immigration system and we need to fix it,” Ms. Harris said in March .

Israel and Gaza

Ms. Harris called in March for an “immediate cease-fire” in Gaza and described the situation there as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” She said that “the threat Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated” but also that “too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.”

In an interview later that month , she emphasized her opposition to an Israeli invasion of Rafah, the city in southern Gaza to which more than a million people had fled. “I have studied the maps,” she said. “There’s nowhere for those folks to go, and we’re looking at about 1.5 million people in Rafah who are there because they were told to go there, most of them.”

She has said on multiple occasions that she supports a two-state solution.

Racial justice

Racial justice was a theme of Ms. Harris’s presidential campaign. In a memorable debate exchange in 2019 , she denounced Mr. Biden’s past work with segregationist senators and opposition to school busing mandates.

She has called for ending mandatory minimum sentences, cash bail and the death penalty, which disproportionately affect people of color.

Amid the protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, she was one of the senators who introduced the Justice in Policing Act, which would have made it easier to prosecute police officers, created a national registry of police misconduct and required officers to complete training on racial profiling. It was not passed.

Her record as a prosecutor also came into play during her presidential campaign. Critics noted that as attorney general of California, she had generally avoided stepping in to investigate police killings.

Maggie Astor covers politics for The New York Times, focusing on breaking news, policies, campaigns and how underrepresented or marginalized groups are affected by political systems. More about Maggie Astor

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