Elizabeth Line GuideGood Service

Child fares & railcards

Who travels free, who needs a photocard, and why a railcard means using Oyster rather than contactless.

Free

Under 11

With a fare-paying adult, up to four per adult. No ticket needed.

Child rate

Ages 11–15

Needs an 11–15 Zip Oyster photocard. Without one, the adult fare is charged.

a third off

Railcard on Oyster

Off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares. Link it at a ticket machine - it will not work on a contactless bank card.

The one time Oyster beats contactless

Most railcards can be linked to an Oyster card at a ticket machine or Visitor Centre for a third off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares. Contactless bank cards cannot carry a railcard discount — if you hold a railcard, use Oyster. Everywhere else the two charge identical fares - see Oyster & contactless.

Child fare & railcard questions

Do children travel free on the Elizabeth line?

Yes, under-11s travel free with a fare-paying adult - up to four children per adult, with no ticket or card needed. Just use the wide gate.

What do 11 to 15 year olds pay?

Child-rate pay as you go, which needs an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard. Without one they are charged the full adult fare, so apply before you travel - the photocard takes a few weeks to arrive.

Can I use a railcard on the Elizabeth line?

Yes. Most railcards can be linked to an Oyster card at a Tube station ticket machine or a Visitor Centre, giving a third off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares. The discount cannot be applied to a contactless bank card.

Does a railcard discount work with contactless?

No. Contactless bank cards cannot carry a railcard, so if you hold one you need to use Oyster to benefit from it. This is the one case where Oyster beats contactless on price.

Does the railcard discount apply at peak times?

No - it applies to off-peak pay-as-you-go fares only. At peak times you pay the standard adult fare even with a railcard linked.

Do children travel free to Heathrow?

Under-11s travel free to Heathrow on the Elizabeth line the same as anywhere else on the line, accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

Rules from TfL, reviewed by 2027-03-01. Adult single prices are on the fare finder; TfL doesn’t publish per-journey child fares, so we don’t estimate them.