Is the Oyster card free for under 18?

Okay, so, is the Oyster card free for under 18s? Short answer? Nope, not a standard one anyway. It's a bit more complicated than that. I remember when my niece, Chloe, turned 11 – we were all excited about her getting around London on her own. She thought she could just grab any Oyster card and be off, free as a bird! But no, it doesn't quite work like that. What she did need was a Zip Oyster photocard. That magical piece of plastic unlocks free and discounted travel for kids between 11 and 15 – think buses, the Tube, the whole shebang. It's brilliant, really, when you think about it. Imagine, pre-Zip card days… the faff! Constantly having to get tickets… Anyway, if they're under 11, different rules apply again, of course. So, yeah, standard Oyster? No free rides for the under 18s. Zip Oyster photocard? Now that's the ticket (pun intended!).