Ticket for East Croydon and Zone 1 / 4

[lfc84]

Hello

Despite owning Adult Oyster and Child zip cards we don't live in London so I'd appreciate some ticketing advice on what's best to buy.

Details as follows....

Group:
2 adults and 2 children
Travelling together
Hold Zip 5-10 and Zip 11-15
Also Friends and Family Railcard

Route:
East Croydon to Zone 1 return, and travel within zone 1 on tube and bus

Friday we need to get up to Wembley in zone 4 and back to East Croydon

Saturday East Croydon, multiple journeys in central London and back to East Croydon

Times:
After 0930 using all day

Days:
Friday and Saturday

Thameslink website says Travelcard is £28.40

Is that a better option compared to using Contactless or Oyster?


Will the Thameslink ticket above give us unlimited travel in central London.

If I am reading it correctly the pay as you go cap per adult is £15.30. I was having trouble working out the child fares but it became somewhat irrelevant after reading the adult cap is £15.30.

Would be grateful for some clarification

 

[PeterC]

It looks as if Thameslink are trying to charge you twice for the journey into zone1. A 6 zone travelcard is £23.60 including travel in the morning peak.

East Croyden is in Zone 5 so the cap is still £1 lower than an off peak Travelcard with according to the TfL website, no premium for peak hour travel.

Just remember to keep using the same card all day.

 

[Watershed]

Your Family & Friends Railcard can't be applied to an Oyster card. Therefore, the best option if you want maximum flexibility is indeed likely to be to buy a paper Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcard, discounted with your Railcard, covering the two adults and the older child who has an 11-15 Zip card.

The younger child travels for free with their 5-10 Zip card (within Zones 1-6), so they don't need a ticket.

You could travel slightly more cheaply if you get a Two Together Railcard for the two adults, as you then wouldn't need to buy a Travelcard for the older child - their daily travel costs would be capped at £1.90 if using their Zip card. But that relies on you using the Two Together Railcard enough during the rest of the year to offset the £35 cost.

It looks as if Thameslink are trying to charge you twice for the journey into zone1. A 6 zone travelcard is £23.60 including travel in the morning peak.

East Croyden is in Zone 5 so the cap is still £1 lower than an off peak Travelcard with according to the TfL website, no premium for peak hour travel.

Just remember to keep using the same card all day.

The price the OP quotes reflects the cost of an Off-Peak Day Travelcard for 2 adults and 2 children, with the Family Railcard.

 

[lfc84]

@Watershed thankyou...I've priced it as £25.20 for two adults and one child using the F&F railcard, and the youngest uses the 5-10 zip.