RELATED LINKS

On this page, fare zone maps (pdf), public transport london, fares & payments, london airport transfers, cruise port transfers, travel to / from london, most popular tours.

London Toolkit

  • Guide to hotel areas
  • Bed & breakfast
  • Backpacker hostels
  • Airbnb London
  • Central London tours
  • Tours from London
  • Hop-on hop-off bus tours
  • Harry Potter tours
  • Stonehenge tours
  • Downton Abbey tours
  • Windsor tours
  • Cotswolds tours
  • Private tours
  • Ticket & pass offers
  • Central London attractions
  • Attractions outside London
  • Harry Potter attractions
  • Tower of London
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORT
  • London City
  • London Southend
  • Southampton

Rome Toolkit

London Travelcard v Oyster Card v Contactless card in 2024

Make an informed choice on the right london travel pass for you.

London Travelcard versus Oyster card

For the visitor to London, the question of which travel pass to purchase can be confusing. Those living and working in London will almost always have an Oyster Card in their wallet and, as a general rule of thumb, the Oyster Card is the benchmark to be beaten, although people are fast migrating to contactless payment cards.

Many will have a long-term travel pass attached to the Oyster, and these can be valid for as short as a week or as long as a year.

Buying a single ticket for one journey is rare, you are penalised very heavily financially. A one-way single ticket on the Underground in Central London is double that of an Oyster fare and not far off the maximum you can pay in a day of unlimited rides using Oyster.

Where to use   Where to buy   Visitor Oyster   Returning the card   Cheapest option   Price caps   Fares   Concessions   Group tickets   Child fares

tootbus promo priced tickets sale London

On the buses buying a one-way ticket is just not an option offered.

The Contactless payment card is the newest option available along with mobile payments and the authorities hope this will become the dominant channel in the longer term. However for short-term visitors the adoption rate is far less and for good reason, especially if you are from overseas and do not have a British sterling or pound currency credit/debit card.

For the tourist or those making short visits to London there are aspects of the Travelcard that make them appealing and if understood can make Travelcards cheaper than Oyster cards or Contactless payment cards, especially if you are visiting the major sights on a first time visit.

So all in all it can be quite confusing for the visitor planning their visit to London to make an informed choice.

This page discusses the differences between Oyster, Contactless Payment Cards and Travelcards so you can identify the right product for you. Our detailed Travelcard , Contactless payment cards and Oyster card pages give a full explanation of each.

Where you can use London travel options

All three options, Oyster card, Contactless payment card and Travelcards cover the same London public transport, with the exception of Gatwick Airport (see below):

- The London Underground network.

- The London red local bus network.

- The railway network in Greater London.

- Docklands Light Railway, TfL Rail and Overground Railway.

- Heathrow Express

- Discount on many scheduled river services (though not Contactless payment card and fragmented implementation on Oyster/Travelcard).

Using Oyster and Travelcards on the Heathrow Express and other Heathrow services

From 19 February 2019, Oyster cards, contactless bank cards and mobile devices are accepted on the Heathrow Express. This will speed up the process of ticketing for this train for customers who can now enter with just a tap of your card on the ticket barrier. Prices are the same as buying your ticket at the station, with a single peak charged at £25 and off peak £22. You can save money by booking your tickets online in advance or in advance using the Heathrow Express app. Children aged 15 and under can use a Zip Oyster card to travel free on the service.

You can also use Travelcards on the London Underground and TFL Rail train services to Heathrow.

Using Oyster and Travelcards to and from Gatwick Airport

You can use Oyster or Contactless payment cards on the trains to/from Gatwick Airport but it may well be cheaper to buy tickets from the railways instead. You cannot use Travelcards to/from Gatwick Airport and it may be cheaper to travel using rail tickets between Gatwick and London than using Oyster.

Stansted, Southend, Luton airports and City Airport and London's public transport system

Stansted , Southend and Luton airports are outside London and beyond the scope of London public transport or TfL, so the airport buses and trains from these airports are not covered.

City Airport is serviced by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and is covered.

Ask Bob about Oyster Cards London

Differences in ease of purchase/charges

Both Oyster and Travelcard can be purchased on demand from Underground stations, Visitor Centres and literally hundreds of retail outlets, such as newsagents and convenience stores inside London.

There are few places outside London you can purchase them. Note at Underground and DLR stations there are no manned ticket desks, just ticket machines.

You can purchase Oyster cards and Travelcards online from the TfL online shop (banner link below) and have them delivered to your home address wherever in the world.

Oyster cards you purchase in this way are Visitor Oyster cards, the differences are explained further down the page.

Please note: Contactless payment cards are your normal personal credit/debit cards, so as long as your cards support the Contactless payment technology then you don't have to do anything. You just use your credit/debit card as an Oyster card.

Deposits & admin charges

When you buy a Visitor Oyster card you pay an activation fee (currently £5) which is not refundable. For standard Oyster cards purchased in London you pay a £7 deposit which is refundable (see Oyster v Visitor Oyster section below).

For short-term visitors, contactless payment cards and Travelcards are the only travel passes where you do not incur the deposit/admin charges of Oyster purchase.

Oyster Card v Visitor Oyster Card

Oyster Card

There are two types of Oyster card. If you buy in London you get the standard Oyster card. If you buy outside London, including airport trains and National Express coaches, overseas agents and online you will get a Visitor Oyster card.

Oyster & Visitor Oyster card differences - key facts

Oyster fares and caps are the same whether you use a standard Oyster or a Visitor Oyster, a common misconception.

For Visitor Oyster cards you pay an activation fee (£5 in 2024) which is non refundable. If you buy an Oyster card in London you pay £7 in 2024.

You cannot load 7 day Travelcards on Visitor Oyster cards only standard Oyster cards. If you are in London for 5 plus days having a 7 day Travelcard loaded on your Oyster can save you significant cash. For 5 days daily travel in London, Oysters and 7 day Travelcards for most visitors will be almost identical in price. For 6 or 7 days the sixth and seventh days are effectively free for a 7 day Travelcard compared to the Oyster total price.

At the end of your trip both Visitor Oyster cards and standard Oyster cards you can cancel at ticket machines and get any cash left on the Oyster refunded (in cash/coins).

For a standard Oyster card you can, if you wish, register online. With Visitor Oyster cards you cannot. The main advantages of being registered online is that if you lose your Oyster you can stop its use, you can get a good audit trail of your journeys and you can request a refund of cash left on your Oyster online direct into your bank account.

Visitor Oyster cards have “special offers” made available to purchasers, normally discounts on anything from food to theatre tickets relevant to visitors. Whether you would make use of any of these offers is another thing and the specifics of offers are often not clear.

Transport for London

BUY VISITOR OYSTER CARD & TRAVELCARD FOR LONDON

London Travelcard & Oyster Card

Visiting London? Save time and money on London public transport

• Visitor Oyster Card • Travelcard for 1 day anytime / off-peak or 7 days anytime • Group day travelcards available

Returning your Oyster card at end of trip

If you plan on returning to London at some time then you can retain your Oyster and use it again on your return however far in the future.

Otherwise you will want to reclaim your Oyster deposit and any cash balance left on your Oyster or Visitor Oyster. You can do this using any ticket machine (though notably not at Gatwick Airport). The machine will cancel the Oyster card and refund your deposit plus any cash left on your Oyster up to £10.

If you forget to get the refund whilst in London you can post the Oyster card back to TfL customer services requesting the refund. For overseas visitors the big disadvantage is that the refund will be in the form of a cheque in British pounds.

This procedure is the same for both Oyster cards and Visitor Oyster cards.

Can I share Oyster cards? Do I need photo ID?

Only one person can travel with an Oyster card at any time. If 2 people are travelling together they need 2 Oyster cards. However, if you only have pay as you go credit on your card, another person can use your Oyster card when you are not travelling. If you have a Travelcard, Bus & Tram Pass or discount added to your Oyster card, you can't lend it to someone else.

No photo is required for an Oyster and your name is not stamped on the card.

You can register the Oyster card if you want but that is entirely voluntary. For concessions, principally child fares, a separate Oyster Photo ID card is often required if your child is 11 years or older and wants child fares (see bottom of the page).

No photo ID is required when you buy an Oyster card, except where children are concerned. You may well need an Oyster Photo ID card of one kind or another to access child rates. See the child concession table at the foot of this page for which one (if any) and fees.

No photo ID is required when you buy adult Travelcards from anywhere but railway stations.

For a 7 Day Travelcard or longer (adult or child) bought from a railway station ticket office (not Underground) you need to bring along a passport size photo for a rail photocard to be made up on the spot and free of charge.

7 Day Child Travelcard or longer bought from anywhere but a railway station or with TfL online shop requires an Oyster ID Card. Adults do not. See the child concession table at the foot of this page for which Oyster ID Card (if any) and fees.

Contactless payment cards - are your cards compatible?

Like all new technologies, compatibility and speed of introduction varies across the world. To make sure Contactless payment cards are even going to be an option for your credit/debit cards take a look at our Contactless payment card dedicated page linked below.

Also do remember if you are a visitor with a non-UK issued credit/debit card you'll probably be hit for foreign exchange charges by your card issuer like all other foreign purchases.

Contactless payment cards - more details

Oyster card compared with Contactless payment cards + Travelcard - which is cheapest?

As a general rule a Travelcard is more expensive than an Oyster card or Contactless payment card. The exception is if you make 3 or more journeys for 6 days or more within a 7 day period. In this case a 7 day Travelcard works out cheaper than an Oyster or Contactless payment card. Otherwise an Oyster on a Pay As You Go basis or a Contactless payment card is cheaper. If you are a resident or long-term visitor there are monthly and annual Travelcards.

You can load 7 day Travelcards onto an Oyster card and switch between Oyster Pay As You Go and Travelcard as your travel patterns change. You cannot do this on a Contactless payment card.

If you use a credit/debit card using Contactless payments whose home currency is not British pounds your card will be charged like any other overseas purchase so you should check whether you will be hit for punitive foreign exchange charges by your card issuer - there is a wide variance between different cards. The best cards have no fees.

If you have children under 16 year of age then your decision will probably be driven by access to child fares. Travelcards often give you access to child rates much easier than Oyster for short duration visits - see the getting child rates section further down this page.

Discount entitlements can't be added to a Contactless payment card. So if you are eligible for free or discounted travel, you should continue using your existing Oyster card. This in effect rules out children using Contactless payment methods.

If you are doing the sights in London like the Tower of London. London Eye, Madame Tussauds etc. then you really should read about the 2 for 1 admission promotion which Travelcards can qualify you for, but Oyster cards do not.

Oyster v Contactless payment cards v Travelcard peak & off peak travel - the differences

Price caps apply to Oyster cards and Contactless payment cards. A price cap is the maximum you can pay in any one calendar day (see next section down).

The 1 day Travelcard peak travel period is Monday to Friday before 9.30am, there is no afternoon peak period. If you travel in the peak period you need a peak 1 day Travelcard. The substantial variance in fares is detailed on the price table below. All Travelcards with a duration 7 days or longer cover both peak and off-peak times.

Oyster / Contactless payment cards price caps v Travelcard prices

Travelcards are a flat rate pass where you have unlimited rides for the time period purchased.

Oyster / Contactless payment cards are charged on a per journey basis but has a daily maximum you can be charged. Once you hit this 'price cap' through individual fares aggregating, you are charged no more for subsequent journeys made that day.

The daily Oyster/Contactless payment cards price cap is less than the cost of a 1 day Travelcard so over one day is cheaper. Over longer periods Travelcards can work out cheaper depending on your travel. For instance a 7 Day Travelcard is less expensive than an Oyster or Contactless payment cards if you travel 3 or more times each day for 6 days or more in a 7 day calendar period.

Travel zones

All travel (except the buses) is charged by the number of zones you travel through. Most tourists never get out of zones 1 and 2 where all the main sights and hotels are, but there are exceptions like Heathrow Airport in Zone 6. Look at the London Underground page for a full explanation and zone maps.

Using an Oyster card with a 7 day Travelcard loaded onto the Oyster card

Most visitors will just travel in the central zones, 1 and 2. If you are staying more than 5 days in Central London then a 7 day Travelcard zone 1-2 is probably going to be cheaper than just an Oyster card.

7 day Travelcards can be loaded onto your Oyster card and be used in combination with Oyster on a Pay As You Go basis for a single journey.

Note this flexibility is not available on Visitor Oyster cards or Contactless payment cards.

This is useful if you want to take the occasional trips outside the central area (zones 1 & 2), perhaps to Heathrow Airport in zone 6 from Central London in Zone 1. By loading some PAYG money onto your Oyster as well as the Travelcard zone 1-2 the ticketing system will recognise the zone 1 and 2 Travelcard for the zone 1 and 2 segment of the journey and take the fare for zones 3 to 6 from the Oyster PAYG amount on your card.

Similarly if you are staying in London for 9 days you might buy an Oyster Card and use it on a PAYG basis for 2 days and have a 7 day Travelcard loaded and use that for the remaining 7 days.

Price caps for Oyster & contactless card payments, compared to Travelcard prices

From 5 march 2023.

* Travelcard peak fares apply for any travel made Monday to Friday before 9.30am. All other travel is off-peak.

** Prices for a 7 day Travelcard. Also the 7 day cap for contactless payment cards between Monday to Sunday - not available on Oyster.

SPECIAL CAP FOR BUS TRAVEL ONLY: £5.70 (When you only travel on London's buses on 1 day).

CHILDREN'S OYSTER CAPS: Off-peak: £1.70 (zones 1-9). Peak: approx half of adult cap.

Oyster Card & Contactless Payment Card Fares - Compared to Single Cash Fares from 5 March 2023 - March 2024

No return fares.

ANY BUS JOURNEY: £1.75 (no fare zones)

* Peak fares apply Monday to Friday between 6.30am and 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm except public holidays

Should your journey not use TFL services (London buses/trams, Underground, Overground, DLR and TFL Rail), completely, for example part of your journey is via a different operator, most likely a railway company, then the standard Oyster/Contactless single fare based on zones may not be followed.

Children travel free if under 11 year old or are between 11 and 15 years with an Oyster 11-15 Photocard. On services operated by the railways such as Gatwick trains for example, only children under 5 travel free, child rate fares are available with the appropriate age Oyster Zip card.

Children's fares (11-15 yrs old) with an Oyster 11-15 Photocard on Oyster for any trip within zones 1 to 6 is £0.85 off peak, £0.90 peak

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 railways Seniors 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 onto a standard Oyster card (note, not a Visitors Oysters card) at an Underground station after showing your Seniors Card.

If you have a railways Seniors Railcard you can also buy 1 day off-peak zone 1-6 Travelcards at with the discount applied.

Child concessions

This is a complex subject and is covered in detail at the foot of the page. 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.

Child Fares - more details

Group tickets - 1-day Group Travelcard for groups of 10 or more

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 and read more on our page below.

Group Travelcards - more info

Group travelcard full details and prices in London for groups of 10+ people

Oyster versus Travelcard - getting child rate travel

One of the biggest nightmares for those on short visits to London with children is accessing child rate fares if they do not qualify for free travel.

Note child fares are not supported by Contactless payment cards.

If after reading the table below you find that you require an Oyster ID Card, then are taken aback by the cost and time required to obtain one for your child read on. These are your options for travelling without the Child Oyster ID Card (if your child is under 16) at child rate:

Pay for individual journeys at child rate

Buy an adult Oyster Card and load a Young Persons Discount onto it. For short-term visitors staying less than 14 days this is probably the best choice.

Purchase a 1 day Child Travelcard each day

Purchase your Travelcards or Oyster Cards online from the TfL online shop (banner below)

Purchase 7 Day Travelcards or longer from railway stations (you will need to bring a passport size photo with you for a railways photo card which is made up on the spot free of charge).

Children's Fare Concessions

London transfers between airports, cruise ports and hotels

PlanTripLondon – Things to do in London

Oyster card or Travelcard in London: How to choose

Oyster card or Travelcard London

When planning a trip to London, you need to think houw you’re going to get around and what tickets you’ll need to pay for public transport.

Buying single tickets is simply not recommended, as it works much cheaper to use a transport card or contactless payment. The transport cards that you will need to look into are basically the oyster card and the travelcard. Using contactless payment works out exactly the same as using an oyster card.

However, deciding what works best for you can be a little daunting, so we will explain the main differences and hopefully help you make that decision.

London Oyster card, Travelcard or Contactless payment

One important thing to remember is that every person needs their own card. Unless you are just using buses, in which case, more than one person can use the same card. But for trains, underground, overground, trams, riverboat services or anything else you need one card per person.

London Oyster Card: What is it

The London Oyster Card is a pay-as-you-go plastic card, the size of a credit card. In order to get one you need to pay £7, and you can top it up as many times as you need and use it again and again. It’s valid for travel on the Underground, overground, DLR (docklands light rail), TFL rail, Emirates airline, and some trains. It’s also valid for travel within any of London’s Travel Zones , so you don’t need to choose what zones you will need it for when buying one. Every time you use it, the fare will be calculated depending on the travel zones that you have travelled to and from, and the time of the day you have made the journey (peak / off-peak).

It is the best option if you are visiting London and going to use London’s public transport a few times a day, for example, if you need to travel to get to central London from your hotel, then to get to a different place in London and then back to the hotel.

With an oyster card, you will pay for each journey you make, and there is a maximum daily cap. Once you have reached this daily cap, you will not get charged any more for extra journeys.

⇒ Read More about London Oyster Card

Contactless Payment on London Transport

This is slowly becoming the most popular option for paying for London’s public transport. Contactless payments work exactly the same as the oyster card, with exactly the same fares, and it saves you having to spend £7 on an Oyster Card.

A few things to have in mind if you are travelling to London from abroad are transaction fees and exchange rates. But in this case, you’ll find that nowadays, cards such as Revolut have made travelling much easier.

⇒ Read more about contactless payments on London Transport

London Travelcard

The London travelcard entitles you to unlimited travel for a set number of days within the London Travel Zones chosen.

This card that can be purchased for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year, and with it, you have unlimited travel for the London transport zones you have chosen.

Generally speaking, a one-day London travelcard is something I don’t usually recommend as the oyster card’s daily cap is cheaper than the one day travelcard. A 7-day travelcard is helpful if you are going to use London’s public transport a lot (which doesn’t need to be the case if you plan your trip well), if you are going to be travelling outside of zones 1 – 4 every day or if you go are going to spend more than five days in London.

⇒ Read more about the London Travelcard

How to choose between Oyster Card, Contactless or Travelcard

To choose between an oyster card or travelcard to save as much money as possible when planning a trip to London, there are two things that we must take into account: The number of days that you are going to be in London and the travel zones that you are going to travel to and from:

Number of days

As a general rule, after comparing prices, I usually recommend a London Oyster Card or Contactless payment method if you are going to be in London for less than five days. If you are staying in London for more than 5 days, it’s probably worth getting a 7-day travelcard.

Travel zones

If you are buying a travelcard, you need to know what zones you’ll be using. London’s most popular attractions are mostly in zone 1. Some tourist attractions can be found in zone 2, such as Camden Town Market. But you also need to have in mind where your hotel is.

⇒ Read more about London Travel Zones

Oyster Card Daily Capping: Something to keep in mind when choosing between Oyster Card, Contactless or Travelcard

I must mention that the oyster card has a daily cap, and once this daily cap has been reached for certain travel zones, you can travel for free within the same travel zones. You still need to use your oyster card as you normally would, but you won’t be charged.

The cheapest one-day travelcard for costs £15.20. This is the price of the 1-day travel card for zone 1, zones 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4. The maximum daily cap when using an oyster in zones 1 and 2 of London is £8.10, £9.60 for zones 1-3 and £11.70 for zones 1-4. So, if you use an oyster card and travel in zones 1 and 2, once you have reached £8.10 you can travel free within zones 1 and 2.

2023 Fares Comparison: Daily Oyster Card Cap – 1 Day Travelcard – 7 Day Travelcard.

What’s cheaper according to number of days and travel zones, taking into account 2023 fares, what you should never do if you land at heathrow airport.

If you are thinking about buying a London travelcard for your stay in London if you are going to be in London for more than 5 days, and you arrive at Heathrow airport, we wouldn’t recommend that you buy a 7-day travelcard for zones 1 – 6 at Heathrow underground station to use during your whole stay as you will be paying too much.

I would recommend that you buy an oyster card at Heathrow underground station, and add a zone 1-4 travelcard onto it (if you are going to be in London more than 5 days), but use it with pay-as-you-go credit to get to central London on the first day and then again when you return to Heathrow airport.

Transport passes for children in London

Children under the age of 11 travel free within London travel zones. Children over 11 can also benefit from reduced fares; you can find out more about this in our article: Travelling in London with kids .

Find out more

For more information, visit London’s official transport website: Transport For London

Related Posts

London underground, london travel zones, travelling in london with kids, contactless payment on london transport.

' src=

What is your recommendation for buying a ticket for an 11 day stay in London (2 adults and children 16 and 13 years old). Hotel accommodation in Sutton with daily travel to and from the city centre, travel within zone 1-2 during the day + a day visit to the Harry Potter Studio. Thank you very much.

' src=

Hi Jan, Personally I wouldn’t recommend Sutton if you are going to travel to Central London every day as you would need to combine Underground with trains. We know some people that live near Sutton and most of the times the trains have delays or cancellations. The Harry Potter Studios are located in North London, while Sutton is in the South, so that day you would need around 2 hours to go there and another 2 hours to come back…

Also, depending on the airport that you would be arriving to, I would recommend a different area to find accommodation.

Hope it helps. If you have any questions about any other areas let us know.

Have a nice day!

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

toptiplondon header image

  • Places to Visit
  • Sightseeing
  • Practical Tips
  • Where to Stay

London Oyster Card

The Oyster card is a reusable electronic card which is used to pay for travel on all types of public transport in London: buses, underground, DLR (Docklands Light Railway), trams and local trains. There are two main ways to use the Oyster card:

As a Pay as you go (PAYG) Oyster card You add money to the Oyster card and use it to pay for single journeys or for travel for the whole day (the ‘daily cap’). It’s a bit like a Pay as you go SIM card for mobile phones. When you use your card (by tapping in and out at the ticket barriers), the cost of travel is deducted from your Oyster card balance. To store season tickets Weekly or monthly Travelcards or Bus Passes are ‘loaded’ onto an Oyster card.

See Travelcards or Bus tickets & passes

You can also add some extra money to your Oyster card if you have a Weekly or Monthly Travelcard. This is useful if you need to travel outside your weekly Travelcard zone.

Are you visiting London for the first time? Read our guide to London’s transport tickets and passes .

Pay as you go (PAYG) Oyster card: an overview

The PAYG Oyster card is the cheapest and most flexible way to pay for travel, especially if your visit to London is between 1–5 days. Even if it’s only for a few journeys, it’s much cheaper than paying the full cash fare.

How much does an Oyster card cost?

The Oyster card costs £7 . You then add money to the card to pay for your travel. The £7 fee is not a deposit. You do not get this money back.

How does it work?

Once you have an Oyster, you add money to it (‘ top up ‘) and the fare for your journey is taken from your Oyster card balance when you use it.

It works out the cost of the journey and how many journeys you take when you tap your card on the Oyster card reader (‘ tap in and out’ ) at a tube or train station ticket barrier, or by tapping the reader when you get on a bus.

Oyster single fares: 2024 prices

The Pay as you go Oyster card is the cheapest way to pay for single tickets on the underground. For journeys in central London (zone 1), ticket prices are more than 50% cheaper with an Oyster card.

Here’s a comparison between Pay as you go Oyster card single fares and the standard tube ticket fare from a ticket machine (‘Cash single’).

Oyster single fares 2024

See single ticket prices for travel in zones 2,3,4,5 & 6

Oyster single fares: peak and off-peak times

If you use your Pay as you go Oyster card only few times a day, the price you pay for each single journey depends on the time of day you travel.

Off-peak fares apply on Fridays from 8 March until 31 May 2024

Peak Monday–Friday 6.30am–9.30am and from 4pm–7pm. If you travel into central London (zone 1) from an outer zone, there is no afternoon peak fare . The off-peak fare is charged. Off-Peak Off-peak fares are charged at all other times, including Public Holidays.

Oyster one-day fares: 2024 ‘daily cap’ prices

If you plan to travel by tube at least 3 times in one day, you benefit from the Oyster card ‘daily cap’. This is the maximum amount deducted from your card for travel in one day.

Oyster Daily Cap from 3 March 2024

There’s a cheaper ‘daily cap’ if you only use the buses

How does the Oyster daily cap work?

For example, if you load £10 onto your Oyster card and travel by underground in central London (zone 1- off peak):

  • If you make 1 journey £2.70 is deducted from your card
  • If you make 2 journeys, £5.40 is deducted
  • If you make 3 journeys, £8.50 is deducted. You have now reached the ‘daily cap’ and all other journeys until 4.30am the following morning are free. £1.50 of Pay as you go credit will remain on your Oyster card

Oyster Weekly Travelcard Cap

Your Oyster card will automatically cap at the weekly Travelcard fare (this is also available on a contactless card ). The cap starts on Monday and ends Sunday, so it mainly benefits Londoners or those working in London.

How much money do I need to add to an Oyster card?

It’s up to you how much money you add to the card. The beauty of the Oyster card is that it’s flexible.

Some people add enough for a single journey, especially if they’re not a frequent traveller. Some add the price of the daily ‘cap’ for the zones they’re visiting for that day. Others just add £15 or £25 and keep an eye on the balance.

Best option for visitors

For visitors, the best option is to add the cost of the daily cap to your card x the number of full days in London. Add a little extra to cover any single journeys at the start or end of your trip if necessary. For example, to and from Heathrow airport.

If you do this then you won’t need to worry about topping up your card again. If there is money on your Oyster card at the end of your trip, you can get it back or keep it on your card for your next visit (it never expires).

Aim to have £10 or less of Pay as you go money on your card at the end of your trip and you can easily get a refund at an underground station ticket machine . Refunds are more complicated if you have more than £10 left on your card.

Where to buy an Oyster card

Oyster cards are available from the following outlets. You can usually top up your card as well.

Underground ticket machines

There are no longer any underground ticket offices. Oyster cards are available from ticket machines. The machines take notes (not £50 notes), coins and credit/debit cards.

Local shops and newsagents

Many newsagents and corner shops are licensed to sell London Transport tickets including Oyster cards. They normally have signs in the window saying ‘Oyster Ticket Stop’.

Find an Oyster Ticket Stop .

London train stations ticket machines

Oyster cards and oyster top-ups are available from ticket machines in London train stations

TfL Visitor Centres

Transport for London has several Visitor Centres at Heathrow, Victoria, Kings Cross/St Pancras International, Liverpool St & Piccadilly Circus.

How to use an Oyster card

Underground.

London Underground Ticket Barrier

It’s important to touch in and out when using a PAYG Oyster card. Even if there’s no physical barrier or if the barriers are open, you still need to touch the yellow card reader when you enter and exit the station. If you don’t, the full cash fare (£4–£7) is deducted for your journey.

If you have a lot of luggage or are pushing a pushchair, station attendants will quite often push open the barrier for you. Do make sure you touch the yellow reader for the reason mentioned above. The attendants don’t always remind you to do it.

Place your card flat on the yellow card reader near the driver when you get on the bus. You do not need to touch out when you get off the bus.

How to check your Oyster card balance

If you want to check how much money you have on your Oyster card, there are several ways to find out:

From an underground station ticket machine

Place your card on the yellow card reader on a ticket machine and your remaining balance will flash up on the screen. This is the easiest way to check your balance.

Via an Oyster account online

If you register your card online with TfL , you can check how much money you have on your card.

Via the Oyster app

Check your balance on the official Oyster app. You will need to register your Oyster card. ( ios or android ).

On an underground station ticket barrier

When you place your card on the yellow card reader on a ticket barrier, the balance on your card flashes on the screen. When you arrive at your destination and touch out at a barrier, your remaining balance flashes on the screen along with the fare charged for that particular journey. This doesn’t work on all barriers.

How to get back unused money on your Oyster card

Anyone can get any unused money on your Pay as you go balance. See how to claim back unused money on a PAYG Oyster card .

The Visitor Oyster card

The Visitor Oyster Card is aimed at tourists — you might be offered one by a tour company or airline before you arrive.

The card comes pre-loaded with money and there’s a £5 fee (plus postage).

You can’t load a weekly Travelcard or Bus Pass to a Visitor Oyster, which makes it less flexible than the ‘ordinary’ Oyster. It can only be used as a Pay as you go card, and the ‘daily cap’ is still applied.

The Visitor Oyster Card is only worth buying if:

  • You’re happy to pay for postage to your country and you can order it in advance
  • You want to pay for your travel before you arrive
  • You’re arriving after the tube stations have closed and can’t use a contactless card payment and want to use the night buses

Otherwise, just wait until you arrive in London and get an ordinary Oyster card from one of the places listed above.

Related pages

  • Guide to London’s transport tickets & passes
  • Oyster single tickets
  • Oyster refunds
  • Contactless cards
  • London Transport zones

Last updated: 22 February 2024

Transport tickets & passes

  • Guide to London's transport tickets
  • One day & weekly Travelcards
  • Zone 2–6 weekly Travelcards
  • Bus tickets & passes
  • Oyster card
  • Oyster card refunds
  • Child tickets & passes
  • Local train tickets

Useful information

  • Plan your journey
  • London transport zones

Popular pages

  • Left luggage offices
  • Congestion Charge
  • 2 for 1 discounts at London attractions
  • Oyster cards
  • Top free museums & galleries
  • Cheap eating tips
  • Heathrow to London by underground

Copyright 2010-2024 toptiplondon.com. All rights reserved. Contact us | Disclaimer | Privacy

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Company Logo - Home Link

Oyster Card vs Visitor Oyster Card vs Travelcard

oyster card e travel card

This post compares the different Oyster Cards, as well as the Travelcard.

You'll also find information on using your contactless debit/credit cards or Apple or Google Pay while you use the London Transport Network.

  • What is an Oystercard?
  • Using Contactless Debit or Credit Cards
  • Using Apple Pay or Google Pay
  • Benefits of an Oyster Card
  • Visitor vs. Regular Oyster Card
  • Group Travelcard
  • Which One, If Any, Should You Buy?
  • Tips On Using the Underground
  • Things to Do in London

WHAT IS AN OYSTER CARD

An Oyster Card is a plastic smart card, which you can use to store money for rides on the London Underground and throughout the London public transport system.

This also includes buses, trams, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, TFL Rail, most National Rail services in London, Emirates Air Line cable car, and the Uber Boat River Bus Services .

Essentially, they replace paper tickets and allow you to avoid buying a ticket each time you ride.

Rather than inserting a paper ticket, you tap your Oyster Card on a yellow reader on top of the ticket barrier at the start of your journey and then again at the end of your journey.

Regular Oyster Card

There are 2 different types of Oyster Cards: a Visitor Oyster Card and a Regular or Standard Oyster Card . They function in essentially the same way but with a few key differences.

For example, both cards operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, but only the Regular Oyster Card can also load travelcards, which are 1 day, 7 day or 1 month passes.

We explain more of these differences in the following sections .

NOTE: The T urboPass , one of the tourist discount passes, includes a Visitor Oyster Card for free.

Children under the age of 5 can travel on all London transport networks for free (including the Underground, TfL Rail, and buses), provided they are with an adult who has a valid Oyster Card, Travelcard, or single-ride ticket.

Children aged 5 - 10 can travel for free with the Zip Oyster Photocard .

Children from 11 - 15 qualify for a ZipCard (free travel) or a Young Visitor Oyster Discount, which is a discount added to a regular Oyster card and is valid for 14 days.

Single fares and daily cap for the underground and buses are 50% cheaper than adults with this discount.

To get it, you must pay a non-refundable £7.00 fee. Or, if you are only in town for one day, you can pay for a 1-Day children's Travelcard.

Only one person can use one card. If you have 2 or more travelers, you will need 2 or more Oyster Cards.

Using Contactless Debit and Credit Cards

oyster card e travel card

Contactless payment cards are now accepted across all London transport networks and ask in the same manner as an Oyster Card. See if yours is valid here .

The majority of Londoners now simply use their contactless debit/credit cards rather than an Oyster card - and you can, too!

(Please make yourself aware of your bank's policies and card issuer policies before you travel. Most contactless cards will work including visa, Mastercard and American Express, but you may be subject to foreign transaction fees.)

This means there is no preparation needed when planning to take the Underground, you simply tap in and out with your payment card.

You also don't need to worry about 'topping up' before you make any journeys.

Contactless cards are also subject to the same price capping as an Oyster Card, so you never pay more than you would have spent had you purchased a daily travel card.

You are also able to take advantage of the 'bus hopper' fare. However, you won't get the same discounts available with the Visitor Oyster Card .

To learn how to use the cards and other tips on using the underground, read our post on navigating the London Underground .

London Walking Tours

Using Google Pay or Apple Pay

If you have Google Pay or Apple Pay on your smartphone or smartwatch, then you don't need to buy an Oyster card, or a travel card, at all!

These two payment methods will get you the exact same rates, and price capping (listed below) that you would be subject to when using an Oyster Card.

This means there is no need to go through the extra steps of buying one and topping up.

As with contactless credit and debit cards, you are also able to take advantage of the 'bus hopper' fare.

However, you won't get the same discounts available with the Visitor Oyster Card .

Benefits of Using an Oyster Card

Below we list the general benefits of an Oyster Card, whether it's a Visitor or Regular Oyster Card.

But remember, as of 2023, all of these benefits and rates apply to visitors using their contactless cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay!

Cheaper Than Single Paper Tickets

Actually, they are much cheaper. As you can see below, most visitors traveling in Zones 1 and 2 can save between £2.50 and £3.50 per ride. 

Most visitors to London stay within Zones 1-2, central London, though some have hotels or guesthouses outside of the city centre.

If you are flying in and/or out of Heathrow Airport, then your fare would be from Zone 1-6 to wherever your final destination is. 

The Elizabeth Line to Heathrow Airport is priced differently - any journey to Heathrow that begins, or passes through Zone 1, is priced at £12.20 - £13:30, depending how Far East you travel.

Children under 11 travel for free and there is a 50% discount on Oyster Card fares for children 11-15 years of age with the Young Visitor Oyster Discount.

To receive this discount, you need to speak to a Tube staff member at any Underground station, including Heathrow, or you can purchase it on the automatic machines in any station.

Daily Limit

In addition to cheaper individual rides, when traveling with an Oyster Card, a 'cap' is automatically applied once you reach a certain amount each day.

For example, the most you will ever spend in one day when traveling within zones 1 & 2 with an Oyster Card is £8.10 . For the Young Visitor Discount (ages 11 - 15), the cap is £4.05 .

There are different caps for each zone as the cost of travel depends on the distance you go and the time of day.

We recommend how much to put on your card per day, but you can see the price and cap table here.

Buses also cap out at £5.25 per day (with each ride costing £1.75). 

Contactless debit and credit cards are also subject to price capping!

Hopper Fare on Buses

The London mayor recently introduced the 'hopper' fare.

This means that you will be able to switch between as many buses as you like within 1 hour without being charged more than the initial £1.75 fare.

Free London Bus Tours

London is huge and many journeys require that you take 2 or more buses to get there.

With the hopper fare, you will only need to pay £1.75 total for all of those rides as long as the total time does not exceed 1 hour. Note that the hopper fare is applicable for all journeys made by bus & tram!

Valid to get to and from Central London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports

Heathrow Airport is at the very end of the Piccadilly Line, and on the new Elizabeth Line , and therefore can be reached via the Underground with an Oyster Card or Travel Card. 

Unfortunately, Oyster Cards do not work on the Heathrow Express - yet! 

Heathrow Airport Underground Station

Gatwick Airport, which is not on an Underground Line, can only be reached by bus or train.

Oyster Cards can be used on the Gatwick Express, which is the fastest train from Central London to that airport. 

Oyster Cards Never Expire

If you plan to visit London again in the future, then you can simply hold onto the card and it, as well as the money on it, will never expire.

Your £5 purchase will be refunded automatically as pay-as-you-go credit after one year when you make a journey with your card.

You must collect your refund within six months or you won't be eligible to receive it.

NOTE: There is a limit of £10 on refunds.

VISITOR OYSTER CARD

The Visitor Oyster Card can be purchased in advance and mailed to you anywhere in the world.

This is great for those of you who feel stressed out about the idea of buying an Oyster Card while in London, and therefore would prefer to just have it sorted prior to arrival. 

Visitor Oyster Card

Adding money to your card is easy and we explain this process in the next section .

However, there are a few drawbacks to the Visitor Oyster Card. Firstly, it costs £5 plus postage for the card to be sent, and unlike the Regular Oystercard, you won't get the £5 back.

Secondly, you can't register a Visitor Oyster Card, something you can do with a Regular Oyster Card.

So, if you have a tendency to lose things, then this might be a consideration for you.

The larger drawback is that you can't apply any of the Travelcards (these are explained later) to the Visitor Oyster Card.

So, if you were planning on using those, or put it another way, you plan to be in London for 6 or more days, then maybe don't buy a Visitor Oyster Card. 

There are also some discounts that can be applied to certain restaurants and tourist attractions with the Visitor Oyster Card.

None of the deals are that spectacular and you generally get much better discounts with a tourist attraction discount pass but check out their list in case any appeal to you.

Ultimately, if you want to have your card before arriving in the UK, or are not likely to benefit from a travelcard, then buy a Visitor Oyster Card.

Regular Oyster Cards can only be purchased in the UK. 

They are very simple to buy and can be purchased all over the city, including the airports, but if you don't want to bother with that, then opt for a Visitor Oyster Card. 

REGULAR OYSTER CARD

Just about everybody who lives in London used to have an Oyster Card! These days, however, most of us use our contactless cards instead. You'll also see many a Londoner scanning their phone or watches when going in and out of the tube barriers.

However, if you'd still like to use an Oyster card, keep reading to find out more. Note that Oyster fares are the same fares you will pay using your contactless cards, phones, or watches.

Regular Oyster Card

You simply add money onto your card at either a Tube station (all stations have kiosks where you can add money via cash or card), or online.

Or, you could top up at any of the roughly 4000 shops in London where you see an Oyster Card sign. These are called Oyster Ticket Stops.

You can also top up your Oystercard at a Transport for London visitor centre, including Heathrow Airport, Kings Cross St. Pancras International Station, Victoria Station, Piccadilly Circus Station, and Liverpool Street Station.

It is very simple to do and we walk you through this process in the next section.

The other options are to load your Oyster Card with a 1-Day-Travel Card, Monthly Travelcard, or even a Yearly Travelcard.

We explain more about Travelcards and when you should choose them later in this post. 

Oyster Cards are reusable so you can load and reload your card as many times as you need to while you’re here.

Visitors can even take their Oyster Cards back home with them and either keep them as souvenirs or hold onto them until their next trip to London! 

How to Buy a Regular Oyster Card

To get yourself an Oyster Card you can simply go to the window at any London Underground Station, including Heathrow Airport, and request one, or use some of the many self-service ticket machines at busier Underground Stations.

You will need to pay a £7.00 deposit, which will be refunded automatically as pay-as-you-go credit after one year when you make a journey with your card.

In addition to collecting your deposit at, you can also retrieve any extra money you put onto the card that you have not yet spent, up to a £10 limit.

However, the money you have loaded onto your Oyster Card does not expire, which means if you don’t spend it all before you leave, it will remain on your card until your next visit.

So if you plan to come back, simply hold onto your card.

For those who like to plan in advance, and don’t mind a non-refundable deposit of £5.00, it is possible to order a pre-loaded Visitor Oyster Card to be sent to you before you even leave the house!

How to 'Top Up' an Oyster Card

When using your contactless cards, or Google or Apple Pay, topping up is a step you get to skip.

However, for those of you still wishing to use an Oystercard, topping up is simple!

You simply go to a kiosk inside any Underground station and tap your Oyster Card on the ta card reader.

Select how much money you want to add to the card. Pay that amount either by credit/debit card or cash.

Then tap the yellow card reader again to close the deal. Watch the video below for a visual guide. 

Alternatively, as mentioned above, you can also add money to your Oyster Card at any of over 4000 shops that have the blue "Oyster Card" sign in their window.

These are called Oyster Ticket Stops. These are literally EVERYWHERE, so don't worry about not being able to find a place to top up. 

The one thing you should be mindful of is that you cannot top up your Oyster Card on a bus or at a bus stop.

If you board the bus and it flashes red for insufficient funds, the driver will tell you to leave.

Luckily, there is usually a business-savvy shop nearby that offers top-ups, but this is something to watch out for if you are planning to travel by bus. 

How Much Money Should You Add?

Because of the daily caps, you can have some certainty as to how much you need to add to your card.

Below is an example that assumes that you will be flying into and out of Heathrow Airport (during peak hours), will otherwise travel exclusively in Zones 1-2, and also assumes that you will reach the cap each day.

These prices could be slightly higher or lower, so do check out the fare table to make your calculations.

  • 1-Day - £21.50 (see note below)
  • 2 Days -£30.40
  • 3 Days - £45.60
  • 4 Days - £60.80
  • 5 Days - £76.00
  • 6 Days - £91.20
  • 7 Days - £106.40

A 1-Day Travelcard is cheaper than a Visitor Oyster Card if you are only in town for the day as you won't get the £5 fee back.

Though, this does not take into account any discounts that you might use with the Visitor Oyster Card.

You can also use the single fare finder on the Transport for London website to help you budget: www.tfl.gov.uk

TRAVELCARDS

Travelcards are prepaid cards that give you unlimited access to specific zones within London.

You can choose to either order these in advance (in which case you will be given a paper Travelcard) or you can buy them upon arrival (in which case you will be using a plastic Oyster Card with the Travel Card loaded onto it).

Oyster Card or Travel Card

They work in the same way and can both be used on the Underground and buses and also give you a 3rd-off discount on Uber Boat Thames Clipper rides.

The only difference is that you must pay shipping and handling fees to receive the paper card, and in our opinion, these are much easier to lose!

As mentioned above, there are 4 different durations of Travelcards, but the most pertinent to visitors are the 1-Day Travelcard or the 7-Day Travelcard. (There's also a 1 Month and 1-year travelcard)

However, there's little reason you would ever need the 1-Day Travelcard as there is already a cap on Oyster Cards that limits the amount you can be charged per day (£8.10).

In fact, you will likely lose money if you choose the 1-Day Travelcard over a standard Oyster Card.

However, the 1-Day Travelcard makes you eligible for the 2-1 ticket program when travelcards are purchased from National Rail stations.

Many of London's top attractions allow you to get 2 tickets for the price of one when you show a valid travelcard.

A 7-Day Travelcard can be worth your while, as a 7-Day Travelcard for Zones 1-2 is £40.70 which works out less per day than the £8.10 daily cap.

It might also be worth considering if you purchase it through the London Public Transport Card , which includes a free private airport transfer.

For children over the age of 5, a one 1-Day Travelcard is £7.60 off-peak or £10.75 any time.

Don't forget that a contactless debit or credit card will 'cap out' at the price of a daily travel card meaning you never have to decide whether or not it's worth the money for your daily journeys.

GROUP DAY TRAVELCARDS

If you are visiting with 10 or more people, then a Group DayTravelcard may be the way to go.

All ticket holders must travel at the same time for the tickets to be valid, so keep that in mind!

Group travel cards are valid Off-Peak only so they are usable from 9:30 on Mondays to Fridays but any time on weekends and holidays.

Group travel cards cover Zones 1 - 6 and cost £10.00 for adults and £5.00 for children aged 5 - 16.

These can be purchased in advance or from ticket machines at Underground stations.

WHICH ONE, IF ANY, SHOULD YOU BUY?

As we said above, if you have Google Pay or Apple Pay on your smartphone or watch, just use that! If you don't, read below to find out the best option for your travel needs.

This depends on what it is you want to do and where you want to go! Note that the London Underground Map is divided into 9 different zones.

Zones 1 and 2 are in the centre, where most of the popular visitor attractions are.

When traveling across London, it’s worth remembering that the further outside of Zones 1 and 2 you need to go, the more expensive your journey can become. 

As a general rule of thumb, you can determine which ticket will be best for you depending on the length of time you are in town. 

In London for 4 Days or Fewer

Pay-As-You-Go:  The best part of Oyster Card (or contactless debit/credit card) Pay-As-You-Go is that you will never be charged more than it would cost to purchase a 1-Day-Travelcard.

Once you have spent the equivalent amount on your Oyster Card, that you would have spent for a 1-Day-Travelcard, your Oyster Card will stop deducting money from your Pay-As-You-Go balance.

Note: Oyster Card Pay-As-You-Go can also be used on KPMG Thames Clipper River services! 

In London for 5 Days or Fewer:

If you are not going to be in London for a month, which you can purchase a travel card for, then just using pay-as-you-go is your best option by far.

What are the Ticket Rates for 1-Day-Travelcards?

Rates vary depending on the time you wish to travel and how many zones you want to cover.

Zones: Most London attractions are within Zones 1 – 2 but a Zone 1 – 6 covers absolutely all of them, as well as Heathrow airport!

Time: 1-Day Travelcards and single-fare paper tickets come in two different formats: Peak and Off-Peak.

Peak means that you can use your ticket or 1-Day-Travelcard any time to travel on the Underground.

Off-Peak means your ticket is not valid on weekdays between 6:30 - 9:30 am or from 16:00 - 19:00 (4 pm till 7 pm) Mondays through Fridays.

Peak and Off-Peak do not apply on Single Cash fares or bus journeys.

NOTE: Don’t forget that you can get the 1-Day Travelcard with a London Public Transport Pass , which also provides a private transfer from the airport to the city center. 

If you need both services, this could be a good way to lower the overall price you’ll pay for a 1-Day Travelcard.

Anything Else?

We have some more interesting facts on our blog . This guide is only an overview of the most popular, cheapest, and easiest tickets you may need while you are in London.

However, for more information, including tickets for children, travel beyond Zone 6, or bus and tube maps please see the Transport for London Website: www.tfl.gov.uk .

If you found this post helpful, please share this with friends and family.  Also, be sure to check out our pay-what-you-like London walking tours .

London Travel Tips and Hacks

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

oyster card e travel card

North America

United kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

London Travel: Which Oyster Card is Best for Visitors?

oyster card e travel card

With so much to see and do in every corner of the city, transportation is an essential part of your London adventure. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel is with an Oyster card, which can be used on the capital's buses, trams, and metro. Oyster cards can also be used to pay for journeys on the DLR, London Overground, Transport for London (TfL) Rail, Emirates Air Line, the River Bus and most National Rail services within the city. In short, an Oyster card gives you full access to all of London's diverse public transport options .

What is an Oyster Card?

An Oyster card is an electronic plastic smartcard that can be loaded with pay-as-you-go transport credit. There are two options available to tourists: the regular Oyster card used by London natives, and the Visitor Oyster card, which is specially designed for use on one-off trips. Both cards work in conjunction with the yellow card readers installed at all transport stations, calculate the cheapest possible fare for each journey, and offer a daily capped rate that makes unlimited travel affordable. 

Both versions of the Oyster card are significantly cheaper than traditional paper Travelcards. For example, travel within transport Zones 1 and 2 is capped at a daily maximum of £6.60 with an Oyster card, while a Day Travelcard for the same zones costs £12.30. At the end of your trip, you can request a refund of any unused credit, or give your Oyster card to a friend or family member. Pay-as-you-go credit on both cards is fully transferable and never expires. 

Visitor Oyster Cards

If you're traveling to London for a short visit, a Visitor Oyster card is probably the most convenient choice. You can order one online ahead of your trip, and have it delivered to your home so that when you arrive in London, you don't have to waste time queuing to purchase a regular Oyster card. This is especially helpful if your flight arrives at Gatwick Airport, as all Oyster cards can be used on the trains from the airport to central London. Visitor Oyster cards cost £5 (plus postage), and can be pre-loaded with credit options ranging from £10-50. 

If you run out of credit during your visit, you can load more money onto your Oyster at any Oyster Ticket Shop (of which there are more than 4,000 across London) or TfL Visitor Centre. It's also possible to load credit at any Tube, London Overground or TfL Rail station, and at several National Rail  stations. Visitor Oyster cards are only compatible with pay-as-you-go credit and cannot be loaded with multi-day travelcards or passes in the way that regular Oyster cards can. However, a major advantage of this card is the special offers and discounts it offers at selected restaurants, shops, galleries, and entertainment venues.

Regular Oyster Cards

For long-term visitors, a regular Oyster card could be the more cost-effective option. These cards can only be purchased upon arrival, from Oyster Ticket Shops, Visitor Centers and most London Tube and rail stations. They cost £5 ( refundable at the end of your trip ) and can be loaded with any amount of pay-as-you-go credit. Unlike Visitor Oyster cards, this option can also be loaded with multi-day travel cards that give even cheaper fares for longer stays; or with discount cards including Bus & Tram Passes and National Railcards. Remember that only pay-as-you-go credit can be used by someone else after you leave. 

Regular Oyster cards are compatible with the TFL Oyster App, and can be registered with a contactless and Oyster account . The latter allows you to easily see how much credit you have left, to view your journey history and to apply for refunds online. 

Alternative Options

If neither Oyster card option sounds like a good fit for you, there are alternative ways to pay for transport in London. Although they don't offer the same discounts, paper Day Travelcards may appeal to those that prefer to keep things traditional. This ticket allows for unlimited travel within a 24-hour period on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, London Overground, and most National Rail services within London. Discounts are also available to Day Travelcard holders wishing to make use of the Thames Clippers River Bus and the Emirates Air Line cable car. 

For the more tech-savvy, contactless cards allow you to pay for journeys of £30 or less by touching the card to the same yellow card readers used for Oyster payments. The benefits of contactless payments over Oyster cards include not having to worry about running out of credit or queuing to top up your Oyster when your credit is running low. Contactless payments on the same card are automatically capped on a daily and weekly basis, so you'll still benefit from reduced fares.

However, if your card is issued outside the UK, you may have to pay overseas bank charges . Similarly, while American Express contactless cards and nearly all Mastercard or Maestro cards are accepted, some other foreign cards may not work on the London transit system. The same issues apply to those intending on using Apple Pay . Check with your card issuer in advance to find out whether your card is compatible, and what charges you may incur by using your card overseas. 

A Guide to Free Transport in London for Children

Stay Cheaper By Staying Close to - Not in - London

London's Best Bus Routes for Sightseeing

Avoiding Peak Times on the Tube in London

Monopoly Board Locations by London Bus

How Do I Get From Gatwick Airport to London?

Getting Around London: Guide to Public Transportation

What's the Best Way to Bring Spending Money to the UK?

How to Travel from London to London City Airport by Underground and Taxi

Getting Around Sydney: Guide to Public Transportation

Heathrow Airport Guide

Know Before You Go: A Traveler's Guide to UK Currency

Getting Around Amsterdam: Guide to Public Transportation

Sightseeing on the Number 11 London Bus

Getting Around Britain - A Guide to Transportation Options

Pay-as-You-Go Cell Phones In London

UK Travel Planning

Oyster Card v Contactless – What’s the Best Way to Pay for London Transport?

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: September 22, 2023

Confused? Wonder i ng which is best for you? Oyster Card v Contactless? Read on for our practical guide to help you decide which method is best for your London travel needs.

If you’re planning a trip to the UK capital, then no doubt you’ll be wondering about the best way to pay for London Transport . Using the city’s tubes, buses, trains and even boats and more is the ideal way to travel around – but should you get an Oyster Card or pay by using your regular contactless card?

Wherever you roam in London, having a simple, no-fuss way to pay for your journeys will make life so much easier. Freeing up some of your time and money so you can focus on other things. Such as shopping at the markets , enjoying afternoon tea or following in the footsteps of The Beatles . 

This article will take an in-depth look at the differences between paying for public transport by contactless or using a Transport for London (TfL) Oyster Card . By the end, you’ll be able to make an informed choice about which option will suit you best. 

Covered are all the pros and cons of each option, including the ways in which may benefit you in terms of saving money. We also discuss using the Pay As You Go system on London Transport in general, before considering the special deals you may be able to get as an Oyster Card holder, or when buying one in conjunction with a London Pass . 

First, let’s take a look at the three different ways you can pay for public transport in London, plus the benefits and pitfalls of each. 

💷 Cash

💳 contactless, oyster card, pros of both payg systems, differences between the payg systems, the tfl oyster & contactless app, the oyster card and the london pass, the oyster card and special discounts, is there a difference between using an oyster card and contactless, is it cheaper to use oyster or contactless, does contactless cap like oyster, oyster card v contactless – which is best for you, london travel guide & itinerary planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks), oyster card v contactless v cash.

  • You can clearly see what you’re spending
  • Cash fares often cost more
  • Some forms of transport don’t accept cash
  • Lost or stolen cash may be impossible to recover

There is of course a third option open to anyone who’s heading to London. Cash. Why not pay for your journeys with pounds sterling?

Alas, various forms of transport – such as London buses – cannot even accept cash payments. Where cash is accepted, it is also often the most expensive way to pay. Cash is thus best avoided. 

This also saves you having to change as much money, so really it’s a no-brainer. If you were robbed, you’d also lose all your cash, and this may not be covered by your travel insurance. By contrast, a card can be cancelled in a matter of moments. 

So we recommend ruling out cash altogether (though it’s always wise to carry a small sum in case of an emergency). Now, let’s consider using an Oyster Card vs contactless payments. 

A pile of UK coins and notes.

  • Paying by card means there’s less need for currency exchange
  • Fare capping means you pay a maximum sum per day
  • You don’t need to carry around more than one card
  • Contactless payments are widely accepted
  • Smartphone payments are enabled
  • Your issuing bank may charge you for foreign currency transactions
  • Oyster Card holder discounts are not available
  • You will need to have your credit card readily on hand (may be more risk of theft)

Contactless is, if you like, the new version of cash. Instead of handing over notes or coins, you simply tap your contactless card when paying. The chip inside is read by the machine, and the amount debited directly from your account.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, contactless has become the main form of payment in the UK. It’s a simple, stress-free way to pay for goods and services – including, of course, London Transport.

The potential issue here is how much a foreign bank – that is to say, one based outside the UK – will charge you for each transaction made in pounds sterling.

Do note that Euros are not the currency in the UK, as the country has now left the EU. Do check the applicable fees carefully before you travel and pay by contactless, as you may get an unpleasant surprise otherwise!

If you want to pay using Apple or Android pay, this should be possible when using contactless with a device instead of a card. 

So is there a better option when it comes to paying for travel in London?

Credit cards on a keyboard.

  • As it’s pre-loaded, it can be easier to track your spending
  • An Oyster Card is specially designed for London Transport
  • Visitor Oyster Card holders can benefit from special discounts
  • More than one person can use an Oyster card (at different times)
  • You get a cool souvenir for your scrapbook – especially with the multi-coloured visitor Oyster Card!
  • A £7 cost applies when you get a standard or visitor card
  • You’ll need to top it up in advance of travel
  • You can’t use an Oyster card at any station between Reading and Iver
  • Some funds are likely to remain unused
  • Taxis don’t accept Oyster Cards

Like contactless, an Oyster card is a payment card. It’s available as a standard or visitor Oyster Card, and either way you can top it up in advance before paying for your trips on London Transport. 

The obvious question that comes to mind here is why you might want to carry around an extra card. Are there any benefits to paying by Oyster Card versus contactless? 

There are some extra costs associated with having an Oyster Card. Whether you go for the standard or visitor version, a non-refundable £5 fee applies before you can use it.

On the plus side, an Oyster Card you’ve bought can be used by a friend or family member during a future visit. 

It’s also unlikely that you’ll use every penny stored on the Oyster Card. This means London Transport is quids in if you don’t return the card to redeem this. Many people never do. If you’re likely to be one of them, then you could also lose out.

This is because you can only top up an Oyster card in £5 increments, adding between £10 and £50 each time. Note that you can’t use Oyster Cards to pay for London taxis, though they do accept contactless payments.  

Visitor Oyster Card holders can benefit from some special discounts. These are aimed at tourists visiting London, and give money off admission prices to popular attractions. 

Now you have some idea of the differences, let’s move onto which forms of London Transport let you pay as you go. In other words, which allow you to use either contactless or an Oyster Card!

Oyster cards.

Pay As You Go on London Transport

You can use an Oyster Card or contactless payment card on the following forms of transport:

  • London Underground trains
  • London Overground trains – including some outside London
  • Most Elizabeth line services
  • The Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
  • Trams 
  • Thames River Buses
  • The Emirates Air Line

As transport for London points out, some of the same benefits apply to both Oyster Card holders and those making contactless payments.

  • Only the journeys you make are charged for
  • Travel anywhere you want to, whenever you like
  • Keep track of your journeys via the TfL Oyster and contactless app
  • Fare capping may mean you never pay more than the price of a One Week Travelcard or Bus and Tram Pass, even if multiple journeys are made between Monday and Sunday. One day’s travel will also cost less than a One Day Travelcard or One Day Bus and Tram Pass
  • You’ll need to top up an Oyster Card in advance of travel

Graphic of updated UK Train Guide.

Though historically there were key differences between using an Oyster Card and paying by contactless, there is now very little between them. 

The key now is to make sure you download the TfL Oyster & Contactless app before using London Transport for the first time. This is a free app, and is available via both the App store for Apple and Google Pay for Android. 

If you do choose to use an Oyster Card, you can top up via the app. You can also view your balance, be notified of upcoming Travelcard expiry dates, and see your journey history. The app can be used in conjunction with more than one Oyster or contactless card.

The London Pass is also worthy of consideration when you’re weighing up whether to use an Oyster Card or a contactless card. 

Some London Pass packages include an Oyster Card as part of the deal. So what is a London Pass? It’s a visitor card for those who want to see London, giving the holder use of or entry to more than 80 London attractions.

The Pass can last for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days. It also includes use of hop-on, hop-off bus routes, which, combined with London Transport, can get you to just about every corner of the city. 

You can get more information in our guide to the London Pass.  

London pass.

Big brands work in partnership with the London Pass , promoting their goods and services to visitors who will spend money in the UK. To attract custom, they post special offers that are exclusively available to Oyster Card holders. 

This means you may be able to take advantage of special deals on shopping, entertainment and food while in London when you have a Visitor Oyster Card.  

Oyster Card v Contactless – FAQs

Both an Oyster Card and contactless use the Pay As You Go system provided by transport for London. The difference is in the type of card, and the fact that an Oyster Card should be preloaded with credit before travel. 

They are otherwise very similar, but Visitor Oyster Card holders may additionally benefit from exclusive deals only available to cardholders. You can use the TfL Oyster & Contactless app with either type of card. 

As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass. Visitor Oyster Card holders may also be given access to exclusive deals and discounts. 

The fare cap works in the same way for Oyster and contactless cards.

However you must take care to touch in, using the same card or device each time, as you board or alight from a bus, tube, train or boat. Not doing this means you may be charged the maximum fare, as Transport for London cannot track the capping accurately. 

While you don’t strictly need one, there are certain Oyster Card benefits available to visitors. You may also be able to avoid bank charges for foreign transactions by topping up and using an Oyster Card instead of a contactless card. 

If you’re considering the London Pass, then it’s worth looking at the option of getting an Oyster Card along with this. A Visitor Oyster Card may also give you access to deals on food, shopping and entertainment that are only available to holders. 

The bottom line is that both Oyster and contactless cards use the same Pay As You Go system. You cannot use a London bus and pay cash, so it’s best to pick between those two options when visiting the city. 

An Oyster Card can also make a cute souvenir for a scrapbook charting your London adventures if you’re into that sort of thing. But you may pay the £5 Oyster Card fee in return for that privilege!

Find out more about the types of Oyster Card and whether it’s worth you getting one in this post . 

  • London Travel Guide – links to everything you need to know to plan your trip
  • Looking for accommodation? Read our guide to where to stay in London
  • First time visitors? Read our top tips for visiting London for the first time
  • How to get around London? Read our guide to using public transport in London and our guide to London’s manin trains stations.
  • What to see and do – Complete London bucket list with guide to all the top sights and attractions & Guide to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
  • How to purchase tickets for London attractions – Guide to purchasing tickets for the lost popular London attractions & Best London bus tours reviewed
  • Boat trips and cruises – Comparison guide to the best boat trips and cruises on the Thames
  • Visiting on a budget? Read out budget guide to London with tips to save money when visiting
  • Free things to do in London – Discover 32 free things to see and do in London
  • Best day trips? Read our guide to the best day trips by train and our guide to the best tours from London
  • Love castles? Our guide to the most popular castles to visit from London
  • Beatles fan? Read our guide to the Beatles in London
  • Visiting in the winter? What to do in London in winter
  • UK Train Travel Guide

London Travel Guide and itinerary planner.

Which is better: Oyster, contactless or travelcard?

Oyster card, contactless card and travelcard

Which card should you choose?

One of the first decisions that a tourist has to make when travelling around London is whether to use an Oyster card , contactless card or travelcard .

The first thing to be aware of is that using cash to buy individual tickets is definitely the worst idea, as single tickets on the train are more than double the cost of Oyster and contactless, and you can’t even buy single tickets on the bus anyway. So which of the three cards do we recommend?

Oyster cards

Oyster card and Visitor Oyster card

An Oyster card is a credit card-sized piece of plastic. You load it up with money before you travel and then tap it down on the Oyster card readers on the buses and trains. The computer will then automatically deduct the correct fare from your credit. When you start running low on credit you can just top it up again at a ticket machine.

They come in two different types: normal blue Oyster cards are aimed primarily at the locals, whereas Visitor Oyster cards are aimed primarily at the tourists (although they are basically both the same, so it doesn’t really matter which one you get).

What are the benefits of using an Oyster card?

  • The biggest benefit of using an Oyster card is its joint cheapest fares for single journeys (along with contactless)
  • The Oyster daily cap is always cheaper than buying a 1-day travelcard
  • Oyster pay-as-you-go credit can be used in zones 1-9, whereas travelcards are only valid in the zones you buy them for
  • If you register your card online then you can turn on the ‘auto top-up’ feature which takes money out of your bank account whenever your credit gets low, so you don’t have to worry about running out
  • Pay-as-you-go credit never expires, so you can carry on using any leftover credit on your next visit
  • Visitor Oyster cards also come bundled with a book of discounts vouchers which can save you money at shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. These discounts are constantly changing all the time, but in the past they’ve included things like 10% off a boat ride, 10% off souvenirs in a particular gift shop, or 20% off a meal in a particular restaurant. The instructions for each venue will come with the vouchers, but most of the time all you have to do is show your Visitor Oyster card when you pay the bill, and the staff will apply the discount

What are the downsides of using an Oyster card?

  • One of the downsides of using an Oyster card is that you can’t pay two fares with one card, so each traveller in your group will need their own
  • The weekly cap only works from Monday to Sunday, whereas weekly travelcards can start on any day of the week you like
  • You have to pay a £7 deposit whenever you buy a new Oyster card, which cannot be used for fares. Once 12 months have passed by this deposit will be transformed into £7-worth of credit. But the £7 deposit on a Visitor Oyster card does not – you’ve lost that forever
  • You can’t buy a Visitor Oyster card in central London, only the normal blue Oyster cards. If you want a Visitor Oyster card then you have to buy it online in advance and have it posted to you

Contactless cards

Contactless cards

A contactless payment card is just your normal everyday debit or credit card. It works in exactly the same way as a London Oyster card . You just tap it down on the Oyster card readers on the buses and trains and the computer will automatically deduct the correct fare from your bank account.

What are the benefits of using a contactless card?

  • One of the main benefits of using a contactless card is that it’s just your normal everyday bank card or credit card, so you probably already have one
  • Contactless also has the joint cheapest fares for single journeys (along with Oyster)
  • The contactless daily cap is always cheaper than buying a 1-day travelcard
  • Contactless can be used in zones 1-9, whereas travelcards are only valid in the zones you buy them for
  • Unlike Oyster cards, you don’t have to pay a £7 deposit to set it up
  • Unlike Oyster cards, there’s no need to keep topping it up with credit because the money comes straight from your bank account
  • Contactless cards can be used in conjunction with Mobile Pay on your phone

What are the downsides of using a contactless card?

  • One of the downsides of using a contactless card is that you can’t pay two fares with just one card, so each traveller in your group will need their own
  • Unlike with Oyster, you can’t load a travelcard onto a contactless card
  • Not all foreign-issued cards are accepted, and foreign cards might have a transaction fee added on by your bank every time you buy a ticket, bumping up the price of your journey

Travelcards

Travelcards

Travelcards are credit card-sized pieces of paper. They can also be loaded onto an Oyster card . You choose the duration you want it to cover (either 1-day, one week, one month or one year), whether you want it to cover just the bus/tram, or the train/bus/tram together, plus the zones you want to travel through, and then you’ll be entitled to unlimited travel in those zones until it expires.

What are the benefits of using a travelcard?

  • The biggest benefit of using a travelcard is that you can make an unlimited number of journeys over one day, one week, one month or one year
  • Depending on how many journeys you make in total, a weekly travelcard might work out cheaper than the Oyster and contactless weekly cap
  • Unlike Oyster cards, you don’t have to pay a £7 deposit the first time you buy it
  • You can take advantage of National Rail’s 2-for-1 offer to get cheap entry into 150+ tourist attractions. All you have to do is print out the relevant voucher from daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london and then hand it over at the attraction, alongside a valid National Rail travelcard for the same day of travel. But here’s the catch: the travelcard has to be printed on orange paper. That means that you have to buy it from a National Rail station (the big overground hubs like Euston , King’s Cross , Liverpool Street , Paddington , Victoria and Waterloo ). Travelcards bought at London Underground stations are no good, because they will be printed on TFL’s pink paper. And travelcards loaded onto an Oyster card are no good either

What are the downsides of using a travelcard?

  • One of the downsides of using a travelcard is that you can’t share one between two people, so each person in your group will need their own
  • One day travelcards are always more expensive than the daily cap on Oyster and contactless
  • Unlike the pay-as-you-go-credit on Oyster and contactless cards, travelcards can only be used in the zones you bought it for. If you later decide that you want to travel outside of those zones then you’ll have to buy a completely separate ticket
  • Travelcards are only valid for 1-day, one week, one month or one year – you can’t buy a travelcard that covers any other stretch of days

How do Oyster, contactless and travelcard fares compare?

Bear in mind that travelcards only allow you to travel between a set period (either one day, one week, one month or one year), whereas the Oyster daily cap and contactless daily cap apply all the time.

You can think of the daily cap as a price ceiling – it doesn’t matter how many buses or trains you ride each day, the maximum amount that the computer will take from your Oyster or contactless card will never rise above the cap.

Peak and off-peak fares – For Oyster and contactless peak fares apply to all journeys that start between 6:30 AM and 9.30 AM (Monday to Friday), or 4.30 PM and 7 PM (Monday to Friday). It doesn’t matter what time the journeys finish. Any other journey is classed as off-peak. Note: Between the 8th March and 31st May 2024 TFL are running a trial called ‘Off-Peak Friday Fares’, where Fridays will be classed as off-peak all day.

For travelcards, off-peak applies to any journey that starts after 9.30 AM (Monday to Friday).

Which is the cheapest: Oyster, contactless or travelcard?

The Oyster and contactless cap is always cheaper than buying a one day travelcard … but bear in mind that you also have to pay an £7 deposit on top the first time you buy an Oyster card , so a 1-day travelcard can still work out as better value.

The Oyster and contactless weekly cap is identical to buying a weekly travelcard, but you need to make enough journeys to make a weekly travelcard worthwhile. If you make at least three or more journeys on six days, or two or more journeys on seven days, then a 7 day travelcard will be worth it, otherwise you should go for an Oyster card or contactless instead.

Where can you use Oyster, contactless and travelcards?

Buses – Oyster cards, contactless cards and travelcards can be used on TFL buses all over London. And because buses don’t have zones you can use a train/​bus/​tram travelcard in whichever zone you like, regardless of which zones you actually bought it for.

London Underground, London Overground, DLR, TFL Rail, National Rail – The pay-as-you-go credit on Oyster cards and contactless can be used in all of the Oyster zones (1-9), but travelcards can only be used in the zones you bought it for.

You can also use Oyster and contactless on the Heathrow and Gatwick Express, but bear in mind that it won’t count towards the daily cap – it will just be deducted from your credit.

Taxis – Contactless cards can also be used to pay for black cabs (assuming that the fare is less than the current limit of £100). But Oyster cards and travelcards cannot.

IFS Cloud Cable Car & Thames Clipper – You can use Oyster cards and contactless to pay for a ticket on the cable car and Uber’s Thames Clipper service, but bear in mind that the cost will not count towards the daily cap – it will just deduct the relevant fare from your credit. Travelcards cannot be used to pay the fare.

How long do Oyster, contactless and travelcards last?

The pay-as-you-go credit on an Oyster card lasts forever. If you don’t use all the money up during your first holiday then you can simply carry on using it during your next visit.

Contactless cards don’t expire either, because they take the money straight out of your bank account.

A travelcard is the only one with an actual expiry date, because you have to choose a start date and duration when you buy it – either one day, one week, one month or one year. Once the duration has passed then the travelcard will stop working.

Which is best: Oyster, contactless or travelcard?

So which is better? If you’re a foreign visitor coming to London for just one day then we recommend choosing a one day travelcard . The Oyster and contactless daily cap might seem cheaper, but when you factor in the Oyster card’s £7 deposit, and the fact that your bank might add on a transaction fee every time you use a foreign bank card overseas, then a travelcard will likely work out cheaper.

If you’re a foreign visitor coming to London for more than one day then we recommend buying an Oyster card or Visitor Oyster card instead… unless you’re planning on making two or more journeys on seven consecutive days, or three or more journeys on six of those days, in which case a weekly travelcard will work out cheaper.

If you’re a UK visitor then we always recommend using your contactless card , regardless of how many days you’re staying, because the fares are the same as Oyster and you don’t have to pay a deposit to get one.

London Squire book

Your comments and questions

Jane Is a two traveling together card, work out cheaper than a pay as go Oyster card

Staff Hi Jane. No, if you're talking about the railcard then it doesn't apply to Oyster pay-as-you-go fares. It's only really any good if you're travelling on trains outside of London - twotogether-railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

JohnP My sister and I are coming to London for a week of museums and galleries. We've been there three times before, but each time I get confused between travelcards, Oyster cards, etc. We arrive and depart through Heathrow, and we're staying near Holland Park/Kensington, so I THINK the 7 Day travelcard is what we should use, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions or help in explaining it more clearly would be greatly appreciated

Staff Hi JohnP. Weekly travelcards always have a start date on them (which you choose when you buy it) and they're valid for for seven consecutive days. You also have to choose which zones you want it to cover. You'll probably want zones 1-2, but it depends where you're going. Oyster cards 'might' be better because they don't have a date on them, they can be used in all the zones, and they cap the maximum price you can spend each day (regardless of how many journeys you take). You can look up the daily caps on our Oyster card page - city-guide.london/​transport/​oyster-cards.php . This might work out cheaper, but if you're making at least three or more journeys on six days, or two or more journeys on seven days, then a weekly travelcard will be better

Tony Hi. I'm London travelling across zone 1 and 2 for 3 days. Is it right that if I use a contactless card the cap will allow me to travel off-peak for less than a one day travelcard

Staff Hi Tony, that's right. The daily cap for zones 1-2 is only about half the cost of a 1-day travelcard

Bobbie I'll be in England for a month with several train trips. I just purchased a Senior Railcard. Can I get discounted fares on the tube? And how do I use it in conjunction with contactless credit card payment?

Staff Hi Bobbie. Most of the savings come from buying National Rail tickets, The only discounts you get on the tube are 33% off the daily cap for Oyster fares (off-peak only), 33% off single Oyster fares (off-peak only), and 33% off a zone 1-9 one day travelcard (when bought as part of a journey to London from outside London). You have to buy an Oyster card and get the Senior railcard loaded on to it. It doesnt work with contactless because its not possible to load the railcard onto your bank card - senior-railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

Vered Hello again, I just found 2 oyster cards from a London visit 3 years ago.. Would they still be valid? Would it be possible to put a week travel card on one of them? Thank you

Staff If you had any remaining credit refunded at the end of your last holiday then they would have been voided at the same time, so they’ll be no good. but if you didn’t then yes, you can load a travelcard on to them at a machine in the station

Susan Tchudi We're coming to London for ten days. We're staying in Kensington. We've always used travelcards in the past, but we'll probably want to go beyond zones 1 and 2, for example to Kew Gardens. So would it be better to get the Oyster card?

Staff Hi Susan. If youre staying for ten days then it will be cheaper with an oyster card, because you can only buy 1-day and 7-day travelcards. the maximum you'll pay with Oyster is the weekly cap x 1 (which is the same price as a weekly travelcard) plus a daily cap x 3 (which are cheaper than a 1-day travelcard) for whichever zones you travel through. all the caps are here: city-guide.london/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

JennyJ Hi, I am JennyJ. I go betwenn zone 1&3, there and back 3 times a week and also twice a week to zone 5 (hayes& harlington). I use an Oyster card and top up 20.00 as and when its low. What is the cap for this journey each weekplease. Is it £9 or £11 or neither. I dont know how to work out but dont think I am better off buying a card to cover zones 1-5 as only go max twice a week.

Staff Hi Jenny. The daily cap for the days when you're doing zones 1-3 is £9, and when you're doing zones 1-5 it’s £13,10. a weekly travelcard for zones 1-5 is currently £65,70, so its not worth it - city-guide.london/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php

Wangui Going through this information has been super helpful, thanks so much! My family of 4 foreigners are coming to London for 11 days from Heathrow Airport and staying at a location in Zone 6, are likely to be visiting attractions in Zone 1 everyday but also traveling to Surrey on 2 days. What is the cheapest means of travel payment to use? -VOC or travel card considering the £7 deposit and postage fee to a UK address for VOC? -If VOC then how much credit should be loaded on the cards? -Also is the weekly/daily cap applied to VOC automatic or how does it work; do the particular days eg Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday need to be specified?

Staff Hi Wangui. If it was me I would probably just keep it simple and get Visitor Oyster cards for everyone, and forget about the travelcards. Visitor Oyster cards have a weekly cap which is the same cost as a weekly travelcard anyway, so you wont be losing anything (apart from the £7 deposit - which you'd have to pay anyway because you'll need something to cover the other four days). How much credit you need will depend on where you’re going. The maximum amount you will pay each day is the ‘daily cap’ for the zones you travel through. The daily cap for zones 1-6, for example, is currently £14,10 - but maybe you’ll only be making 2 journeys each day, going there and back, so then you’d just pay two single fares instead - 2x£5,50 . If the running total between Mon-Sun reaches the weekly cap then the cost will be capped at that (currently £70,30). The caps all get applied automatically. Its all explained on our Oyster card page - city-guide.london/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

jan Hi, I am currently travelling to work from slough to zone 3, (i would also sometimes go to the other zones (1-6) - by bus/underground after work. I am using the contactless method. The job is Monday to Friday, I wanted to know if buying a weekly/ monthly travelcard would work out cheaper as I also have a 16-25 railcard. Also how does the weekly cap work? does it add your daily charges and refund you if you go over the cap?

Staff Hi Jan. Travelcards usually work out cheaper if you’re making two or more journeys on seven days a week, or three or more journeys on six days a week. You wont get it cheaper with for your railcard either, because it only gives a discount on 1-day travelcards for zones 1-9. I would recommend getting an oyster card instead because the fares and weekly cap are identical to contactless, but you can have your railcard added to it. You can’t do that with contactless. But check the travel times apply to you first, because they might not - 16-25railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/ . The weekly cap will kick in when the sum total of all your journeys that week reaches the relevant amount (its the same price as a weekly travelcard). The computer will then automatically stop charging you. Bear in mind that it only counts up the fares between Mon and Sun, and not any other combination of days, like Tue to Mon

frankie Hi, I would like to ask, if you use the same contactless card but one day you use it as the actual physical card and then the next day you use your mobile phone to pay (but with the same debit card) would it count towards the weekly cap?

Staff Hi Frankie. Unfortunately not, no. The computer wouldn't recognise it as the same card because things like Apple Pay don't pass over your card number (it passes over a unique number based on your bank card and device instead). TFL says “Always use the same device or contactless card to touch in and out… For example, don't touch in with an iPhone and touch out with an Apple Watch or contactless card” - tfl.gov.uk/​fares/​how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/contactless-and-mobile-pay-as-you-go

Betty Hi I will be in London for a week. I will be staying at a hotel at the Heathrow airport and going back and forth between there and the actual city of London. Is the Travel card best and what zones would I pick? Thank you

Staff Hi Betty. it depends how many journeys you're going to be making. If you make two or more journeys on seven days, or three or more on six days, then a weekly travelcard will probably be cheaper. We’d normally recommend getting an oyster card. All the pros and cons are described above. Heathrow to central London is zones 1-6.

Canan Hi, I'll be visiting London this summer. My daughter is 10 years old (born in 2013). Is she going to be free of charge or discounted?

Staff Hi Canan. Under 11s are free on the buses and tube (as long as she’s accompanied by an adult on the tube) - city-guide.london/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Cristina Grilo Amaral Hi, we are a family of 4 and will be in London for 6 days. We will be riding transport a lot on those days, in zones 1- 2; meaning we should make about 6 tube trips a day. We will arrive and depart via Heathrow so we have 2 journeys (1 outbound, 1 return). Can you please indicate which card you recommend? Thank you so much.

Staff Hi cristina. Price-wise, the best would be a zone 1-2 weekly travelcard put onto an oyster card, and then adding some pay-as-you-go credit onto the same oyster card to cover the two journeys out to heathrow zone 6. But if you want to keep it easy and dont mind paying a bit more, then just get zone 1-6 weekly travelcards instead

Elaine I am travelling with a 14 year old and I would use contactless for myself but what would be the best option for my 14 year old.

Staff Hi elaine. It depends on how many journeys you're making. If you're just talking about one day, there and back, then i would buy her single tickets at the self-service machine (using your card), and then use your card on the gate for yourself. So she will end up paying the adult cash fare, and you’ll get the adult contactless fare.

Mike M We are arriving in London in late May for 3 days and another 4 days in early June after travelling around UK on Britrail Pass. While in London what would be the best card to use on Underground and 1 day to Watford

Staff Hi Mike. I would get an oyster card. there are no dates on those, so you can carry on using your credit when you return in june. You can also use them out to Watford (assuming you’re going to see the Harry Potter studios)

Ali Hi, we are a family of 4 travelling to London over Easter from the UK. We have a friends and family railcard, and I'm just wondering what is the best way for us to travel around, given we will be sightseeing in London for a few days, and also travelling to Paris via Eurostar. We also will be visiting London again in the summer for a few days. It is myself, my partner and 2 kids (ages 7 and 14). Am I right in thinking contactless is best for 3 of us (and doesn't my 7 year old travel free?). Or should I sort getting an oyster cards for us instead? Thank you for your advice in advance. Cheers Ali

Staff Hi Ali. Contactless will be the cheapest for the two adults. Your 14-year-old can't use contactless if they don't have their own bank card (the system doesn't allow you to tap your card down twice to pay two fares), so I would get the 14-year-old an Oyster card and then have the 'Young Visitor Discount' applied to it once you arrive in London - more info about that here - city-guide.london/​transport/​child-train-fares.php . The 7-year-old will travel for free.

Ali Thank you so much for that perfect and swift response. Amazing!

Sue Can we pay contactless for ourselves and our grandchildren?

Staff Hi Sue. No, each person needs their own bank card. The system doesn't allow you to tap down multiple times to pay multiple fares. What you can do is use your card to buy them a paper ticket at the machine (which will be charged as a cash fare) and then tap down on the gate for yourself (for a contactless fare)

Sue We are coming to London for one day with two grandchildren 12 and 25 years old. If we use our debit contact less card for us can the grandchildren use our credit contactless card? Although we know that would be a full fare.

Staff Hi Sue. If you mean you want to use one debit card to pay two contactless fares, and one credit card to pay two contactless fares, then no. The system doesn't let you tap down twice to pay two fares. Each individual needs their own card. But you can use one card to buy more than one paper ticket from the machine. But then you'll be paying the cash fare.

Hiko Hi,I’d like to know about 7day travel card. I’m plannning to go to Birmingham,Brighton,Wembley,and sightseeing inside zone1-2.(My son loves soccer!) My hotel is in zone1.I will stay there about 8days. If I buy 7day travel card with zone1-2,how can I go outside of that zone? Can I ride the national rail with my travel card such far area?? Does the card pay the difference, when I go outside of the zone2,like Wembley zone4?

Staff Hi Hiko. I would buy yourself an Oyster card and have the travelcard loaded on to that (rather than getting a paper travelcard). Then you can load some extra pay-as-you-go credit onto the same Oyster card to cover the extra fares. You can ride National Rail trains with a zone 1-2 travelcard, but only in zones 1-2. If your journey goes further than that then the computer will recognise that the travelcard covers 1-2, and automatically take the extra money from your pay-as-you-go credit. But places like Birmingham and Brighton are too far away for travelcards and Oyster. You will have to buy totally separate tickets for those.

Siegrid I want to go by train from city airport London to St. Pancras and may pay cash. Is there a chance for paying?

Staff Hi Siegrid. Not sure what you mean by ‘chance’, but you can pay cash at some of the self-service machines, Some will accept cards only, and some cards and cash. it will say which at the top

Peter I have a 7 hour layover at Heathrow and wish to go into Covent Garden for the day. Which is the best option for me to travel into London.

Staff Hi Peter. If that's the only place you're going then I would just buy a single ticket at the machine (zone 1-6). You can choose a return journey and it will give you two single tickets. It's not worth getting an Oyster card or travelcard just for there and back.

Julia Dear all, we a family of two adults and one 12 year old want to spent Saturday and Sunday in London. We would only need zone 1 tickets. We arrive at Gatwick and already organized this transfer by bus because of the train stikes this weeekend. Would You recommend the visitors Oyster or just day travelcards for us?

Staff Hi Julia. If it's just one day then I would probably go for a travelcard, which is easier (they sell cheaper ones just for the bus, if that's what you're planning on doing). The fares with a Visitor Oyster Card are cheaper, but they make you pay an extra £5 activation fee on top the first time you buy one, which would wipe out any savings. But if you think you'll come back to London another time then it would be worth getting Visitor Oyster cards, because you can carry on using the same ones then.

Mike Is a monthly travel card valid for a calander month or 28 days

Staff Hi Mike. It lasts until the previous date the next month. So if you choose a starting date of 20th February it will end on 19th March. If you choose 10th December it will end on 9th January. So it could be a different number of days.

Marcella Am coming to London for two nights with husband, sister and brother in law who has dementia. Will be making trip from Stansted airport to Deptford and home again via Gatwick and staying mostly around Greenwich area. We can use contactless cards but my brother in law can’t really do any cards himself and we can’t use ours to put him through the barrier? Do we just get him a ticket? Are their staff available to help if need be Thanks

Staff Hi Marcella. Its not possible to pay two fares with one contactless card (it doesnt deduct two fares if you tap it down twice). Maybe the best thing to do is get him an oyster card with some credit on it, but tap it down on the gate yourself and send him through the barrier, then just follow straight behind him after youve tapped your contactless card down. It would only take a few seconds to get you both through. Or you could ask a member of staff to help. You can usually find them standing behind the extra wide barrier they always have for wheelchairs and buggies.

Cheryl Stefanik We live in the state of Washington (zip code 98198). What is the charge/fee to order an Oyster card vs. the charge/fee to get a Visitor's Oyster card? Is the only difference in function that we cannot add money to the Visitor's Oyster card online?

Staff Hi Cheryl. there's no way to order an Oyster card online and have it posted overseas. You can only do that with Visitor Oyster cards. If you want a normal Oyster card you'll have to buy it when you arrive in London. There are a few more minor differences. You can't load travelcards onto visitor oyster cards (but you probably wouldn't want to do that anyway). And visitor oysters come with their credit already added, whereas normal oysters will have it loaded on when you buy it. Visitor oysters also have a non-refundable £5 deposit, whereas normal oysters have a £7 deposit which automatically gets converted into credit for you to spend - but only after 12 months. The full list of differences can be found here - city-guide.london/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php

Gordon Jamieson If your journey requires 2 tubes how does contactless work?

Staff Hi Gordon. You tap down at the start of your journey, and again at the end. You don't have to tap down for the station in the middle because you shouldn't have to pass through any barriers when changing platforms. (If you did happen to pass through a barrier then that would be the end of the journey)

Alex A Family of 5 travelling to London in early October. 2 adults, 2 children between 11-15 years, and 1 child who is 9 yo. Which ticket/card should we opt for as the youngest child travels free (I think) and the other 2 children get discounted fares. Can we arrange for a discounted fare oyster card when we arrive in London or do I need to arrange this from Australia before I leave? Or is there a travel card that can be bought for ‘students’? We will spend most of the time in Zone 1/2 but need to go to Watford for the Harry Potter Studios one day. PS we are arriving in London on the Eurostar as I heard you could buy oyster or visitor oyster cards on the train. Thanks, Alex

Staff Hi Alex. You can get Visitor Oyster cards posted to you overseas, buy them on Eurostar, or buy a normal Oyster card when you arrive in London. i would get either of those for everyone (apart from the 9 year old), and then have the ‘Young Visitor Discount’ applied to the kids cards when you’re in London. Its not possible to do that beforehand. it’s explained on this page - city-guide.london/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php

Carol Two of us are headed to London for 14 days, most of that staying in Fulham. We are def there to sightsee in all directions. I want the card that's best for use on all forms of transportation including the Thames Clipper. Help!

Staff Hi carol. If you have a UK bank card then I would just use that, and pay contactless fares. Otherwise you should get an Oyster card - city-guide.london/​transport/​contactless-cards.php

HFPOM Hi, me and my wife are staying for 3 months in London, and we will be going from city center to Stanmore. What would be the best option? Thank you

Staff Hi Hfpom. There are pros and cons to all of them, which we’ve described on this page. But you’ll probably find that you’re better off with an Oyster card. If you have a UK bank card then might want to use contactless instead.

Chris Borland Hi, my and and I are coming to London for a long weekend, (Fri-Mon) what do you recommend we use for getting about seeing the sights?

Staff Hi Chris. It depends whether you're from the UK or abroad. Like we say above, if you have a UK bank card then the cheapest fares are with your contactless card. If you have a foreign bank card then you should go with Oyster in case your bank adds on a transaction fee every time you use it overseas

You must enable javascript to leave a comment

> Forum: London Buses, Taxis & Trains

VIVI CITY: Il motore di ricerca per biglietti salta la coda e tour

Organizza il tuo viaggio

  • Biglietti Attrazioni
  • Tour di Londra
  • Transfer Aeroporti
  • Hotel a Londra

oyster card e travel card

  • Oyster Card & Travelcard

Oyster Card, Visitor Oyster Card & Travelcard - Tutto quello che devi sapere sui titoli di viaggio di Londra

  • Ti trovi in

Con Visitor Oyster Card viaggi sempre alla tariffa più economica

Conviene la Oyster Card, la sua versione Visitor, o la Travelcard?  Questa sicuramente è una delle domande che affliggono i viaggiatori che si apprestano ad organizzare un viaggio a Londra. In realtà non esiste una risposta assoluta che possa soddisfare questo dubbio, anzi la domanda è di per sè errata . L'errore più comune è considerare sempre Oyster Card e Travelcard due opzioni separate tra di esse. In realtà, alcuni viaggiatori scelgono di fare a meno della travelcard ma moltissimi scelgono entrambe!

Come è possibile? Semplice: la Oyster Card NON è un titolo di viaggio , ma un supporto magnetico sul quale è possibile caricare anche una Travelcard . In questo articolo cerchiamo di rispondere alle domande più frequenti su Oyster Card e la sua versione Visitor Oyster Card e Travelcard ; se vi rimane qualche dubbio, consultate i commenti alla fine dell'articolo!

La Oyster Card è la card magnetica che dà accesso a tutto il trasporto pubblico londinese  in modo semplice e veloce. La Oyster Card, come si accennava, non costituisce un titolo di viaggio, ma è un semplice supporto magnetico sul quale poter caricare del credito a consumo ( pay-as-you-go ) oppure un abbonamento ( Travelcard ). Nel primo caso si viene addebitati solo per i viaggi effettuati, fino al raggiungimento di un limite giornaliero (Daily Cap).

  • Puoi utilizzare la Oyster Card (con o senza travelcard) per viaggiare a bordo di: autobus, metropolitana, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, servizi River Bus e la maggior parte dei servizi National Rail.

La Visitor Oyster Card  è una speciale Oyster Card, pensata esclusivamente per chi visita Londra per pochi giorni . La principale differenza è che sulla Visitor Oyster Card NON è possibile caricare una travelcard, ma funziona esclusivamente in modalità pay-as-you-go.

  • A differenza della Oyster Card tradizionale, è possibile  ordinare la Visitor Oyster Card in anticipo  con spedizione a domicilio e risparmiare così tempo prezioso all'arrivo . In fase di prenotazione è altresì possibile scegliere in anticipo il credito necessario per gli spostamenti; credito che se dovesse terminare durante il viaggio, potrà essere ricaricato in modo facile e veloce.

Altre piccole analogie e differenze tra Oyster Card e Visitor Oyster Card:

  • Tariffe e limite di spesa giornaliero sono gli stessi sia utilizzando una Oyster standard che una Visitor Oyster Card.
  • La Visitor Oyster Card prevede una spesa di attivazione di 5£ ; la Oyster, invece, prevede il pagamento di una cauzione di 5£.
  • La Oyster Card tradizionale può essere restituita ed è possibile riavere indietro sia i soldi della cauzione/rilascio (5£) sia dell'eventuale credito residuo (per la restituzione è richiesto un documento di identità). Sulla Visitor NON si ottiene rimborso sull'attivazione della carta - la Visitor è una carta personale -  ma è possibile ottenere il rimborso sul credito residuo. Le operazioni di rimborso possono essere effettuate presso i distributori automatici o presso un Visitor Center.
  • A differenza della Oyster standard, con la Visitor Oyster Card è possibile usufruire di  promozioni in alcuni negozi, attrazioni e locali di Londra .

La Oyster Card può essere acquistata solo a Londra presso tutte le stazioni Metro, London Overground e treni TFL ( non presenti in tutti gli aeroporti ), presso i Visitor Centre e in alcuni Oyster Ticket Stops presenti in molte edicole di Londra. La Oyster Card può essere pagata in contanti o con carta di credito e, come detto prima, per ritirarla è necessario versare una cauzione di £5 . 

  • Se vieni a Londra in vacanza per pochi giorni, la cosa più conveniente da fare è ordinare la Visitor Oyster Card sul sito ufficiale del turismo Visit Britain , prima di partire dall'Italia. Così facendo, sia che atterri all'aeroporto di London Heathrow sia al London City Airport o al London Gatwick , puoi iniziare a sfruttarla da subito!

E se durante il viaggio dovessi esaurire il credito, non preoccuparti,  puoi ricaricare la Visitor Oyster Card, così come la Oyster standard,  presso tutte le biglietterie automatiche delle stazioni Metro, London Overground e treni TFL, presso i Visitor Centre, ai Terminal Emirates Air Lines e in alcuni Oyster Ticket Stops presenti in molte edicole.

Considerati i prezzi abbastanza elevati dei ticket singoli della metropolitana , la soluzione più vantaggiosa per muoversi a Londra è quella di spostarsi utilizzando una carta trasporti: Oyster Card (o Visitor) o una Travelcard (di cui parleremo successivamente).

Ecco le tariffe aggiornate al 2022  per viaggiare con una Visitor o Oyster Card a Londra:

  • Corsa singola (con Oyster Card e Visitor): £ 2.56 (Off-Peak)
  • Limite Giornaliero "pay-as-you-go": £ 7.70

Zona 1-3 (include London City Airport)

  • Corsa singola (con Oyster Card e Visitor): £ 3 (Off-Peak)
  • Limite Giornaliero "pay-as-you-go": £ 9.00
  • Corsa singola (con Oyster Card e Visitor): £ 3.6 (Off-Peak)
  • Limite Giornaliero "pay-as-you-go": £11
  • Corsa singola (con Oyster Card e Visitor): £ 4.36 (Off-Peak)
  • Limite Giornaliero "pay-as-you-go": £13.10

Zona 1-6 (include Heathrow Airport)

  • Corsa singola (con Oyster Card): £ 4.7 (Off-Peak)
  • Limite Giornaliero "pay-as-you-go": £ 14.10

Quando si utilizzano Visitor Oyster Card e Oyster Card a consumo (pay-as-you-go), il prezzo della corsa viene scalato direttamente dal credito, in base alle zone entro le quali si viaggia. Una volta raggiunto un limite giornaliero (Daily Cap) non verrà addebitato altro e si potrà continuare a viaggiare gratuitamente all'interno delle stesse zone.

  • Esempio : se si viaggia tre volte in metropolitana, all'interno delle zone 1-2, il credito speso sarà di £7.70 (tre corse da £2.56 l'una); prendendo la metro una quarta volta, una quinta e così via, il costo delle corse sarà £0 , perché si è già raggiunto il daily cap (£7.70 per le zone 1-2). Insomma, una volta raggiunto il limite giornaliero, si potrà continuare a viaggiare tra le zone 1-2 senza spendere altro!

Come detto, la soluzione più comoda per chi visita Londra per pochi giorni è quella di acquistare una Visitor Oyster Card e selezionare in anticipo il credito da caricare sulla carta. Di quanto credito c'è bisogno? Dipende da diversi fattori, tra cui quanti giorni ti fermi a Londra e dove alloggi. Facciamo qualche esempio, ipotizzando di spostarsi almeno 3 volte al giorno con i mezzi pubblici:

  • 3 giorni, alloggio in Zona 1-2: Ricarica di almeno £25, considerando che il Daily Cap è di £7.70
  • 4 giorni, alloggio in Zona 1-2: Ricarica di almeno £30, considerando che il Daily Cap è di £7.70
  • 4 giorni, alloggio in Zona 1-3: Ricarica di almeno £35, considerando che il Daily Cap è di £9
  • 5 giorni, alloggio in Zona 1-3: Ricarica di almeno £45, considerando che il Daily Cap è di £9

NB: Il credito ipotizzato tiene conto solo degli spostamenti sui mezzi pubblici a Londra. Se intendi utilizzare la Oyster Card anche per spostarti da/verso l'aeroporto, considera che all'importo da caricare va aggiunto il costo della tratta dall'aeroporto al centro di Londra (Es: Gatwick Express £19.8 0 a tratta ).

Gli aeroporti raggiungibili con la Oyster Card e con la versione VIsitor sono: Heathrow , London City  e Gatwick . Nello specifico, chi atterra all'Aeroporto di Heathrow può utilizzare la Oyster Card sia sulla metropolitana che sul treno Heathrow Express .

Sì, una Oyster Card ti consente di viaggiare anche tra zone diverse di Londra e pagherai la tariffa relativa alle zone in cui viaggi.

La Oyster Card NON è nominativa e quindi può essere prestata ad altri. Tuttavia, la Visitor Oyster Card è personale, ovvero solo una persona può viaggiarvi . Se siete in 2, ad esempio, avrete bisogno di acquistare 2 Visitor Oyster Card, una a testa.

No, la Oyster Card e la sua versione visitor NON sono valide  per usufruire dell' offerta 2x1 .

I bambini sotto gli 11 anni, viaggiano gratuitamente su tutti i mezzi pubblici di Londra (Underground, Bus, Overground, treno, DLR, tram). Attenzione: i tuoi bambini avranno comunque bisogno di un biglietto per spostarsi dall'Aeroporto al centro di Londra se atterri a Gatwick , Stansted o Luton .

Se viaggi con bambini dagli 11 ai 15 anni, puoi acquistare anche per per loro una Visitor Oyster Card e - una volta a Londra - richiedere lo sconto Young Visitor al personale presente nelle stazioni di metropolitana o presso la biglietteria ferroviaria di Victoria Station. Lo sconto è del 50% rispetto alla tariffa adulti e rimarrà attivo per un massimo di 14 giorni. In alternativa, è possibile acquistare prima di partire una Travelcard cartacea con tariffa child  (bambino).

Se hai ragazzi dagli 11 ai 15 anni e viaggi per un periodo lungo (superiore ad 1 settimana), puoi  richiedere in anticipo (on line) una Zip Oyster Photocard  alla compagnia dei trasporti londinese (Transport for London) : in pratica si tratta di una Oyster con sopra applicata una fototessera , che permette al ragazzo di usufruire di gratuità e tariffe ridotte, più precisamente:

  • Viaggi gratis su autobus e tram;
  • Viaggi a tariffa ridotta su metropolitana, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail e la maggior parte dei servizi ferroviari nazionali;
  • Viaggi a metà tariffa adulto sui servizi Thames Clipper River Bus.

La Zip Oyster Photocard va richiesta con almeno 4 settimane d'anticipo.

La Zip Oyster è un prodotto pensato non per un viaggio di breve durata ma principalmente per chi vive a Londra o per chi ha in programma di rimanerci per diversi mesi . In realtà la può ottenere anche chi viene in vacanza a Londra, ma la procedura è abbastanza macchinosa; per questo motivo la TFL mette a disposizione lo sconto Young Visitor del 50%  (di cui abbiamo parlato sopra) quando si viaggia con una Visitor Oyster Card per un massimo di 14 giorni.

Tornando alla questione Zip Oyster, la procedura per ottenerla è la seguente: NON si riceve a casa ma bisogna scaricare il modulo cartaceo e recarsi presso un ufficio postale (una volta a Londra) per il ritiro. Per la compilazione del modulo on-line hai bisogno di:

  • Un indirizzo e-mail valido
  • Una carta di credito, in quanto c'è da pagare una tassa amministrativa di di £15.00
  • Una fototessera a colori con il volto ben visibile del ragazzo in formato JPEG, GMP o GIF

Dopo la procedura, ti verrà inviata una mail di conferma con il modulo da mostrare presso un ufficio postale stesso a Londra .

Touch-in e touch-out...fondamentale!

Su qualsiasi mezzo pubblico, la regola è sempre la stessa: bisogna fare il touch-in , ovvero toccare con la Oyster Card (o Visitor Oyster) l'apposito cerchio giallo quando si entra e fare il touch-out quando si esce.

Nelle stazioni della metropolitana , il touch-in va effettuato ai varchi di ingresso ed il cerchio è posizionato alla destra di ogni singolo passaggio; stessa cosa nelle grandi stazioni ferroviarie. Ricorda di farlo sempre, all'inizio e alla fine dei viaggi, in questo modo la Visitor o Oyster Card non verrà mai addebitata più del dovuto.

Se dopo il touch-in le porte dei varchi non dovessero aprirsi, c'è sicuramente qualcosa che non va: niente panico e rivolgetevi al personale della stazione per capire cosa succede. Se non siete sicuri di quanto credito è rimasto sulla vostra Oyster/Visitor Card, vi consigliamo di controllare alle biglietterie self-service prima del viaggio ed evitare di bloccare la fila ai tornelli di ingresso o uscita.

In autobus il cerchio per il touch-in lo troveremo di fianco la cabina dell'autista. Sui bus NON bisogna fare il touch-out : la Oyster Card verrà addebitata all'inizio del viaggio.

La Travelcard è un abbonamento con il quale è possibile viaggiare un numero illimitato di volte, all'interno delle zone che abbiamo scelto in fase di acquisto, in  metropolitana (inclusa la Docklands Light Railway), autobus , DLR e treni di superficie e National Rail  - inclusi Thameslink e Southeastern; fanno invece eccezione i servizi ad alta velocità del sud-est tra St Pancras International e Stratford International -.   

La Travelcard è disponibile da 1 giorno, 7 giorni, 1 mese, 1 anno.

La Travelcard acquistata presso le biglietterie TFL viene automaticamente caricata su una Oyster Card se la durata scelta è superiore a 1 giorno.  ATTENZIONE : le Visitor Oyster Card che si acquistano online   NON supportano le Travelcard , ma solo il credito a consumo.

La travelcard può essere usata per spostarsi da/per l'aeroporto di Heathrow , in zona 6, a bordo della linea metropolitana Piccadilly . La travelcard NON è valida per viaggiare a bordo dei servizi ferroviari Heathrow Express o Heathrow Connect.

La travelcard NON può essere utilizzata per viaggiare da/per gli altri aeroporti di Londra . 

Ecco le tariffe aggiornate al 2022  per viaggiare con una Travelcard a Londra:

  • 7 Day Travelcard: £ 38.40
  • 7 Day Travelcard: £ 45.20
  • 7 Day Travelcard: £55.20
  • 7 Day Travelcard: £65.70
  • 7 Day Travelcard: £70.30

La Travelcard è disponibile sia nelle biglietterie tradizionali che online, ma c'è qualche differenza:

Come acquistare una Travelcard cartacea online

La Travelcard cartacea è in vendita sul sito VisitBritain Shop , ed è sicuramente il modo più semplice per procurarsene una prima di partire per Londra. La durata disponibile è 1 giorno o 7 giorni . Se si atterra all'aeroporto di London Heathrow bisogna scegliere la Travelcard per le zone 1-6.

Dove si compra la Travelcard cartacea a Londra?

Biglietterie Transport for London (TFL) : presso le biglietterie TFL è possibile acquistare esclusivamente la Travelcard cartacea da 1 giorno. Le Travelcard di durata superiore verranno caricate su una Oyster Card.

Biglietterie National Rail : presso le biglietterie ferroviarie di Londra è possibile acquistare tutte le tipologie di Travelcard per viaggiare su TUTTI i mezzi pubblici di Londra. È necessario essere in possesso di una fototessera che verrà allegata all'abbonamento.

Come detto, la 7 Day Travelcard (settimanale) cartacea non può essere fatta presso le biglietterie TFL (è possibile acquistare esclusivamente una Travelcard cartacea da 1 giorno, quelle di durata superiore vengono caricate su una Oyster Card) ma solo presso le biglietterie ferroviarie National Rail (è necessario essere in possesso di una fototessera). Le biglietterie National Rail, quindi, sono le uniche a poter rilasciare le Travelcard valide per l' offerta London 2X1 . Diversamente, le Travelcard acquistate online o presso le biglietterie metro NON sono valide per tale offerta.

La Travelcard Group Day (Travelcard di Gruppo giornaliera) è un biglietto cartaceo per gruppi di 10 o più passeggeri che viaggiano insieme, nella data stampata sul biglietto.

  • Non c'è limite al numero di persone che possono viaggiare contemporaneamente, purchè siano almeno 10. In caso contrario, a ognuno potrebbe essere addebitata una penale fino a £80.

Il ticket include viaggi illimitati  su autobus, metropolitana, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, nelle  zone 1-6, incluso l'Aeroporto di Heathrow :

  • Dopo le 09:30 dal lunedì al venerdì (fino alle 04:30 del giorno successivo);
  • A qualsiasi orario nel week-end e nei giorni festivi.

La Travelcard Group Day  si può acquistare online  oppure stesso a Londra, presso le biglietterie delle stazioni metro, Overground o TfL.

Ecco le tariffe aggiornate al 2022  per viaggiare in gruppo a Londra con la Travel Group giornaliera:

  • Adulto (dai sedici anni in su): £ 9.40
  • Bambino (dai 5 ai 15 anni): £ 4.70

I bambini sotto i 5 anni viaggiano gratuitamente se accompagnati da un adulto con una Travelcard Group giornaliera valida.

Non esiste una risposta precisa a questa domanda e la convenienza dipende da diversi fattori:

  • In linea generale, una  Travelcard è più costosa di una Oyster Card "pay-as-you-go" (o Visitor) . L'eccezione è se si effettuano 3 o più viaggi al giorno per 6 giorni o 7 giorni: in questo caso, usare una Travelcard di 7 giorni ti costa meno di una Oyster. In caso contrario, la Oyster è più economica.
  • Se vuoi sfruttare l'offerta 2x1 , la Travelcard (cartacea) è valida per usufruire dell'offerta a differenza della Oyster Card.

Adriano D'Ambrosio

  • Bus e Treni
  • Metropolitana

Scarica gratis la nostra Guida di Londra

Include Mappe, Itinerari e Idee di viaggio

Alloggi a Londra per tipologia

  • Appartamenti
  • Per Famiglie

Popolari nel Regno unito

Wanderlust Crew

How to Get Around London: A Guide to the London Public Transport System

T his comprehensive guide to getting around london will help you understand and navigate the london public transport system so that you can spend more time enjoying the city instead of deciphering underground maps.

First of all, if you’ve decided on visiting London, let me congratulate you on your excellent taste. It’s my favorite major city in the world and one of my all-time favorite destinations. While there are a million things to do in this amazing city, I want to be sure you know how to get around London before you go.

Our family spent several months living in London without a car and also several months living outside the city, and we have also been back to visit several times. Using London public transport is one of our favorite things to do in London and I think it’s actually part of the fun of this city and what makes it so special. While the London transport system is as extensive as the human nervous system, it can also be simplified and easy to use.

Since it’s such a huge city, getting around London can consume a good portion of your trip, but I’m going to share some tips that will help you to understand your options and make the most of your time. Sometimes transportation in big cities can be kind of a drag, but in this city, it’s all so iconic, clean and easy that it makes getting around London part of your true experience. Here are some tips to help make getting around London life go smoothly.

Don’t have time to read a bunch of reviews and blog posts? Here are our top picks for visiting London:

Wanderlust london guide.

If you’re traveling to London, you’ll want to have a solid itinerary that will help you organize your time in the best way possible and maximize your time and money. I’ve created this 5-day London itinerary that will help you see the best sites in London along with some hidden gems. It contains open-and-go day-by-day schedules and expert advice from me!

Our favorite Hotels in London

  • Marriott County Hall
  • Georgian House Hotel (Harry Potter Chambers)
  • The Mad Hatter Hotel
  • H10 Waterloo

Must Have: London Pass

Our Favorite London Activities

  • Hop On Hop Off Bus
  • Tower of London
  • Harry Potter Studio Tour

How to Get Around London: The London Public Transport Zones

London is conveniently…or maybe just confusingly…divided into 9 different zones that determine your fare on most public transport. The zones are circular with 1 in the center and 9 being the outer circle. Zones 1 and 2 are contained in central London. In the London transportation system, the fare generally gets more expensive the more zones you cross.

How Much Does it Cost to Use London Public Transport?

Getting around London is fairly affordable, especially if you’re traveling with kids , since ages 10 and under ride anything that uses an Oyster Card for free, including the Underground and the Bus. Fares for riding each mode of transportation differ. The London buses cost around £1.5 per ride. A single tube fixed price is £2.40 with an Oyster card, but the card has a daily cap and even weekly cap which you can see in the chart below, which means that if you’re riding London public transport all day long you are saving a ton of money.

Different Types of London Public Transport

  • Underground
  • National Rail
  • Heathrow Express

I know that list seems long and scary, but don’t be worried, it’s great to have options and you don’t need to use all of these! I’m going to break down each option so you’ll know the ones that will work best for you.

1. The London Underground

The most well known, and most used London public transport is the London Underground, also known as “the Tube.” It is the oldest underground transportation network in the world, first opening in 1863, and carries over one billion passengers a year. The system is vast, with over 250 miles of track and over 200 stations.

The London Underground is the best way to get around London if you want to move quickly across a large area. And thanks to its efficiency, trains are usually on time.  You can easily find “Tube Stations” all around the city that will allow easy access to its 11 different colored lines. The stations are easily recognizable with the big red circle with “UNDERGROUND” written across it.

Trains generally run at least every 10 minutes between 5 am and midnight, some lines offering 24-hour lines. You can plan your journey on the London Underground here or you can use Google Maps on your phone. To ride the London Underground, you’ll need a ticket or an Oyster Card. Oyster cards are plastic credit card like passes that you can “top up” (add money to) at any time. 

They work on the underground, bus systems, and some National Rail.  Children 10 and under ride the bus and tube for FREE ! To buy your Oyster card, find a machine in any Tube station or ask an attendant. To ride the Tube, hold your Oyster Card over the indicated area on the barriers on your way in and out. The barriers will automatically deduct your fare from your card.

2. Black Cabs

Of course, you can’t leave London without getting a ride from a London Cabby. The cabbies are required to take a difficult test to get this job. It can take years to study and pass the test and they must know the streets of London like the back of their hand! If you want to know about something you pass, ask the cabby, he most likely knows a bit about everything! London cabs seat 5 in the back.

They can get quite expensive so we try to save them for a rainy day (literally). Some cabs take credit cards, but about 80% of the ones we took were cash only. Fares are metered and paid upon completion of the journey. As a common courtesy, it’s always a good idea to go to the passenger window of the cab before getting in and telling them where you’re going to be sure they are willing to go there, especially if it’s far.

When the Taxi sign is lit, the cab is empty. To hail a cab, stand on the curb and hold your hand up. Also, look for designated Taxi pick up spots and be sure not to stand on a “zebra crossing” because they are not allowed to stop there.

My personal favorite way of getting around London is in the iconic red double-decker buses. With over 2 billion journeys a year taken by bus in London, this is the most popular mode of transportation in the city, and for good reason. Here are a few reasons why I think the bus is the best way to get around London:

  • Cheap: There is a set fare per journey, so even if you’re going from one end of the city to the other, your fare is still only 1.50 pounds! Also, kids 10 and under ride free!
  • Convenient: There are literally bus stops on almost every corner of London and the buses run continuously throughout the day and night, even stopping where there may not be an Underground station.
  • Accessibility: If you’re getting around London in a wheelchair or with kids in strollers, the bus is the most easily accessible mode of transportation, lacking the necessity of stairs. If you have a stroller you can just wheel it right on to the bus.
  • Oyster Card: You can pay for the bus using your Oyster Card by simply touching it to the yellow reader. You only need to use it at the beginning of your journey.
  • The View: Riding the bus in London provides you with incredible views of the city and allows you to see more of London while in transit than you otherwise would by being underground on the Tube. Yes, it’s slower than the Underground due to being restricted by traffic, but I think the trade-off is worth it.

4. River Bus

Guess what else you can use your Oyster Card on? That’s right, you guessed it: the riverboats of London known as the Thames Clippers River Bus. I feel like this is one of the most underutilized modes of transportation in London. Maybe because it’s a little pricer or because the boats don’t run as frequently as the buses or the Tube, but the riverboats can be a convenient way to get across the city while seeing it from a truly unique perspective.

5. Overground

The London Overground is pretty much the Underground, but, you guessed it, above ground (even though much of the Underground is also above ground). The overground is fairly new and basically covers areas that the Underground does not. You can use your Oyster Card on the Overground and the fare system with zones is the same as the Underground.

6. DLR (Docklands Light Rail)

This fully automated rail system (without any drivers) services mostly the East and South of Central London near the docklands area of London. It works just like the Underground and Overground and you can use your Oyster Card.

7. National Rail

What?! More trains? Yes! Most national rail services consist of several different lines that connect London to the rest of the country. Many commuters use these rail lines to commute from the suburbs surrounding London. Your Oyster Card will not work on National Rail lines and children 10 and under are not free, but usually ride at a discounted rate. There will be machines at the station where you can purchase rail tickets and usually a ticket office where you can talk to a human.

8. TramLink

This small tram system services South London, so if you’re staying there you’ll need to know about this one. The TramLink has a fixed fare and works like the bus so you only need your Oyster Card on the way in, not the way out.

9. Heathrow Express

If you’re coming to London you’re most likely flying into Heathrow Airport, London’s largest international airport. If so, taking the Heathrow Express is the fastest way to get into the city center. Don’t make the newbie mistake of taking a cab all the way into London! Book your tickets ahead of time online here to get the best deal. Fares range from £5-£32 depending on when you book.

10. Ride Share

  • UBER : UBER is regularly used and accepted in London. It’s an easy way to book and pay for transportation and you can now split fares with your travel buddies. It’s not quite the same experience as riding in a Black Cab in my opinion, but just as efficient. When we were there we found the price to be about the same, but you don’t have to worry about having cash on you for UBER at least. If you’ve never used UBER, don’t worry it’s fun, safe, and easy. Here’s a coupon for $5 off your first ride. 
  • Free Now : Despite its name, Free Now is not free, but it will save you a few pence! What I like about Free Now is that you can call a regular car or a black cab, which is much easier than trying to hail one down on the street! I’ve also found it to be a bit cheaper than UBER. Download Free Now for Apple . Download Free Now for Google .

Biking around London can be a really fun and inexpensive way to see the city and get you from place to place on a nice day. The bikes with “Santander” written on them are affectionately known as “Boris Bikes” after Boris Johnson who was the Mayor of London when the bike program launched.

The bikes only cost £2 to access the bikes and the first 30 minutes are free. You could technically bike somewhere for 30 minutes, check in your bike, then check out a new bike and ride it for 30 minutes and so on, potentially paying only £2/day for your bike. There are  750 docking stations and 11,500 bikes to rent around London. You can use a credit card or the app to pay for your bike. 

London has also recently put in millions of pounds to creating more bike lanes around the city to help the environment and the flow of traffic. They’ve done a nice job and you’ll see dedicated lanes for bikes all around the city, and especially in the most congested areas.

If you want to know how to get around London on a bike, you can learn more about the London Bike Scheme here .

12. Walking

Walking is a great way to see a lot of London. Most things in central London can be seen by walking and it’s a great way to make more room for all those delicious foods you’ll be eating! Plus, if you’re on a budget it’s the best way to get around London. Be sure to check the distance between you and your destination on Google Maps. You’ll be able to see a different view of London by walking the city. London is full of beautiful parks and they can make great short-cuts and lovely walks.

What is the Best Way to Get Around London?

While there’s no right or wrong answer to this questions, I definitely have my favorite ways of getting around London. As I’ve stated above, the bus is my personal favorite way to travel in London, but the Underground may be the fastest. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the chance to use every mode of transportation during your time there.

Do You Need an Oyster Card to Travel in London?

Having an Oyster Card in London is not strictly required, but I would highly recommend getting one. A London Oyster Card is the cheapest way to get around London, it covers journeys across London’s public transport networks including the Tube lines, buses, overground train station, and DLR, and can be used any time of the day throughout the week.

It makes life easier and will be more affordable. There is actually a price cap currently of £9.80 for zones 1-4. So you know that you won’t be paying more than that each day you are in London, regardless of how many times you ride.   This article from London Toolkit about the London Public Transport fares was really helpful.

Go Contactless

Use your contactless card, phone, or watch to pay for the tube map. Now riding the tube and bus is even easier with contactless payment. Just use your card, phone, or watch as you would when making a purchase. Be sure to “swipe” in and out using the same contactless card so you’ll be charged the correct fare.

Tips for Getting Around London

  • Buy an Oyster Card or Prepare Contactless Payment in Advance:  Having an Oyster Card is a great option as it will allow you to ride multiple forms of transportation around London without having to purchase single-ride tickets.
  • Download Google Maps App  and use it! Even if you have to look up directions before you leave wifi. I recommend using google maps public transit directions. These have almost never failed me! The app gives you train or bus times and even track numbers, alternate train times, bus stop letters, and exit names. Google Maps will also provide you with several options for public transportation around London. You can see below that to get from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey using public transportation you have the option to take the Underground or the River Boat.Along with detailed public transport maps and directions, Google Maps will also provide detailed walking directions from the transit stop to the destination.
  • Mind the Gap: Those signs everywhere that say “Mind the Gap”…they’re no joke! During my last trip to London, my nephew got stuck in the gap. It was pretty scary, so just be careful.
  • Stand on the Right: When riding on the escalators, stand on the right or walk on the left.
  • Travel During Off Peak : Try to avoid using public transportation between 7-9 am and 5-7 pm when trains and buses are crowded.
  • Try New Things: Don’t be afraid to try different types of transportation like riverboats.

More London Resources

If you need more help planning your trip to London, check out these great resources!

7 Day London Itinerary

London With Kids

Paddington’s Guide to London

Christmas in London

FAQ on How to Get Around London

There are several ways to get around London on a budget. The best way to save money is by taking public transportation such as the Tube, buses and overground trains. You can also rent a bike or walking is always free. Getting an Oyster card and using contactless payment are great ways to pay for your journeys. Additionally, look out for special offers and discounts when travelling.

The current price is £7 and £9.80 for zones 1-4. You can always top up your Oyster card with cash whenever you need.

It costs £20 for the Visitor Oyster card. This allows you to save £1.75 for a single journey with £5.25 as a daily cap. That’s why many tourists and even locals opt for the Visitor Oyster card when travelling around London.

Yes, as the underground stop is usually within walking distance from most places, it makes traveling around London easy. Trains always arrive in 10 minutes and the system is well connected. Additionally, there are Uber rides that are perfect for sharing in groups and other taxi services.

I hope this guide to getting around London has been helpful. You are going to love this city, and now that you know how to navigate it you’ll feel more comfortable and be able to enjoy seeing the sites without stressing about how to get between them. If you have any questions about how to get around London, please ask! You can message me on Facebook or Instagram . -Vanessa

The post How to Get Around London: A Guide to the London Public Transport System appeared first on Wanderlust Crew .

This comprehensive guide to getting around London will help you understand and navigate the London Public Transport System so that you can spend more time enjoying the city instead of deciphering Underground maps! How to Get Around London: A Guide to the London Public Transport System First of all, if you’ve decided on visiting London, [...]

logo

Can you get an Oyster card at the airport?

geographic-faq

Can You Get an Oyster Card at the Airport?

As a travel agent, I often get asked about the convenience of purchasing an Oyster card at the airport. The good news is that yes, you can indeed get an Oyster card at the airport. Oyster cards are available for purchase at all London airports and stations. This makes it extremely convenient for tourists and visitors who are arriving in London and need a convenient and cost-effective way to travel around the city.

One option for tourists is the Visitor Oyster card. This card can actually be delivered to your home before your visit, which can save you time and effort upon your arrival. However, if you prefer, you can also purchase the standard Oyster card right at the airport. Most major tourist arrival points in London, such as London’s Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, have facilities where you can buy the Oyster card.

Visitor Oyster card holders also enjoy a range of special offers and discounts across the city, making it an even more attractive option for visitors. These cards are great value and can save you time as you won’t have to queue for a ticket. Additionally, there is a daily cap on fares, so you won’t have to worry about paying any more for that day in the zones you travel in.

If you’re wondering about the process of getting an Oyster card, it’s quite simple. You can either get an Oyster card online with a contactless and Oyster account if you live in the UK, or you can purchase one at various Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents across London. The process is quick and easy, allowing you to start using your Oyster card right away.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into some frequently asked questions about Oyster cards:

FAQs about Oyster Cards

1. how long does it take for a visitor oyster card to arrive.

Orders for Travelcards and Visitor Oyster cards are dispatched within 24 hours of being placed on weekdays. If you place an order after 08:30 (GMT) on a Friday, it will be dispatched on the following Monday (excluding public holidays).

2. What is the difference between an Oyster card and a Visitor Oyster card?

The main difference between Standard and Visitor Oyster cards is that Standard Oyster cards are reusable, while Visitor Oyster cards are disposable. Additionally, standard Oyster cards do not come with a daily price cap, while Visitor Oyster cards do.

3. Can I buy a Visitor Oyster card at London Heathrow Airport?

Absolutely! London Heathrow Airport is one of the most convenient places to buy a Visitor Oyster card. You can purchase one using either cash or your credit/debit card. Most likely, you will buy an Oyster card from a ticket machine.

4. What documents do I need for an Oyster card?

In order to get an Oyster card, you will need to provide an active email address, details from your valid, machine-readable passport or valid UK driving license, a color image of your valid passport, and a digital photo of yourself.

5. How much does an Oyster card cost?

The Oyster card itself costs £7, which is not refundable. However, you can add money to the card to pay for your travel. It’s important to note that this £7 fee is not a deposit, and you will not get this money back.

6. Is it cheaper to buy an Oyster card?

Absolutely! Using an Oyster card is more than 50% cheaper than buying a paper Travelcard or single tickets with cash. Oyster cards also have a daily price cap, meaning that once you reach this limit, you won’t be charged for any additional journeys (excluding Thames Clippers River Bus, where there is no capping).

7. Can I use my Oyster card at Heathrow Airport?

Yes, you can definitely use your Oyster card at Heathrow Airport. In fact, it is free of charge to travel on the Heathrow Express and TFL Rail around Heathrow Airport between terminals if you have a free blue paper ticket. However, passengers can also choose to use a Contactless Card or an Oyster Card instead.

8. How much does it cost to travel from Heathrow to central London with an Oyster card?

If you use a Pay as you go Oyster card or a contactless debit/credit card, the single fare to central London (zone 1) is £5.60. This fare remains the same whether you travel at peak or off-peak times.

So, as you can see, getting an Oyster card at the airport is a convenient and cost-effective choice for anyone visiting London. Not only will it save you time and effort, but it will also save you money on transportation throughout the city. So, next time you plan a trip to London, be sure to consider getting an Oyster card for a hassle-free and affordable journey.

About The Author

Darin whitman, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone

Learn about the options and benefits for using eSIM while traveling abroad.

Learn about the benefits of traveling with eSIM

eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM because it can't be removed if your iPhone is lost or stolen.

With eSIM, you don't need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards (which can also be lost), or wait for them to arrive by mail.

You can have two eSIMs active on supported iPhone models at the same time. This could, for example, include one eSIM for your home and another eSIM for the place you're visiting.

You can swap which of your stored eSIMs are active simply by changing your selections in Settings. This might be helpful if you travel regularly to the same places.

What you need

An iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later

A wireless carrier or worldwide service provider that supports eSIM

Your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network*

If your iPhone has a SIM tray, you can use both a physical SIM and an eSIM while traveling internationally

Learn more about eSIM on iPhone

eSIM on iPhone isn’t offered in China mainland. In Hong Kong and Macao, some iPhone models feature eSIM. Learn about using Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards in China mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao . For travelers visiting China mainland who wish to use an eSIM for prepaid data plans, these are offered by many worldwide service providers .

Roam internationally with your existing carrier

Carriers might include international roaming on select data plans without additional fees.

Alternatively, your carrier might offer affordable travel passes or plans that you can purchase ahead of time to use at your destination.

International roaming with an eSIM works the same as roaming with a physical SIM.

Your carrier might offer the ability to digitally manage your eSIM plan and add more data as needed.

To learn more, contact your carrier.

Learn more about cellular data roaming options for traveling internationally

Purchase an eSIM from a local carrier in the country or region you're visiting

Find carriers around the world that support eSIM on iPhone .

If your iPhone is locked to a carrier, it can be used only by that carrier. You can add multiple eSIMs and plans through that carrier. To check if your iPhone is unlocked, go to Settings > General > About. If your iPhone is unlocked, "No SIM restrictions" appears next to Carrier Lock. Learn how to unlock iPhone for use with a different carrier .

Many carriers offer prepaid plan options that you can purchase from the carriers' websites or apps before you arrive, or in person after arrival, through a carrier kiosk at the airport, carrier store, or other location. Carriers will provide steps to activate your eSIM digitally, like with a QR code or carrier app. Depending on local regulations, you might be asked to show identification (like your passport) to purchase. These prepaid carrier options might offer more affordable local plans for data, voice, and text. Check with individual carriers for details.

In addition to purchasing a prepaid eSIM plan, you might wish to get a postpaid account if you plan to be in another place for an extended time.Carriers around the world that support eSIM offer postpaid plans. Depending on the country or region, you might need proof of local residency, an established local bank account, or credit card.

On your iPhone, you can store eight or more eSIMs, which can be used as needed. On supported iPhone models, you can use two eSIMs at the same time . Carrier fees might apply. Contact your carrier for information.

Purchase a prepaid data eSIM from a worldwide service provider

Many worldwide service providers offer prepaid data plans . These plans allow you to stay connected in over 190 countries and regions when you travel. Carriers offer plans that differ by the amount of data and duration. You can also purchase a plan before you travel.

Apps that offer data only eSIM plans are available on the App Store on your iPhone .

While you're abroad, you can use a data-only eSIM as your secondary line and have two active eSIM plans on supported iPhone models.

The capabilities on your primary line will continue to work when you add a data-only eSIM for cellular data. For example, you might keep your primary line for your home and set up a data-only eSIM plan as your secondary line while traveling.

To choose your data line, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. You can continue to use FaceTime, iMessage, and other apps to make VoIP calls or send messages while you're traveling.

You can also turn data roaming on and off on your home line in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. Carrier fees might apply.

If you purchased an iPhone 14 model or later in the United States but will use it while living in a different country or region

You can activate an unlocked iPhone 14 model or later that you purchased in the United States with over 400 carriers in 100 markets worldwide that support eSIM on iPhone . Contact your carrier to confirm that they support eSIM on your cellular plan. Also, check iPhone cellular band support for country compatibility.

Many worldwide service providers also offer prepaid eSIM data plans for long-term use in countries and regions across the world.

* iPhone 14 models and later that are eSIM-only can activate without a Wi-Fi network.

oyster card e travel card

Explore Apple Support Community

Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

oyster card e travel card

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

Guernsey Press

Sadiq Khan heralds ‘groundbreaking’ trial to cut Tube and rail fares on Fridays

Passengers using contactless and Oyster cards for travel in London and surrounding areas on Fridays are now charged off-peak fares.

oyster card e travel card

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a “groundbreaking” scheme to cut Tube and train fares on Fridays.

This is aimed at encouraging more people back onto public transport and into offices on that day.

The pilot applies to services run by the Tube, Elizabeth line, London Overground and mainline train operators.

Peak pay-as-you-go fares usually apply on Tube and rail services in London on weekdays between 6.30am and 9.30am, and between 4pm and 7pm.

This means someone commuting by Tube from Zone 6 in outer London into Zone 1 in the centre of the capital at peak times pays £5.60 per journey.

Under the trial, this fare has been cut to £3.60 on Fridays.

The pilot also means 60+ and Freedom Pass cards – which cannot be used before 9am on weekdays – are valid all day on Fridays.

TfL statistics show midweek ridership on the Tube is at 85% of pre-pandemic levels, but the figure for Fridays is just 73%.

It is hoped increasing the number of workers going to offices on Fridays would raise revenue for the hospitality sector through additional spending on lunches, after-work drinks and evening entertainment.

Mr Khan said: “Off-peak Fridays are here. I’m delighted that this groundbreaking trial is now up and running and that there will also be special hospitality, business and entertainment deals taking place on Fridays.

“It’s clear that many people are still not coming into the office on Fridays compared to before the pandemic, which is having a major knock-on effect on our shops, restaurants, pubs and cultural venues.

“So as well as freezing fares for another year, we’re introducing this off-peak trial to get more Londoners back to the office on Fridays and to support the hospitality, culture and retail sectors as we continue building a better more prosperous London for everyone.”

The daily pay-as-you-go price cap has been amended to an off-peak rate on Fridays during the trial.

Paper single tickets and Day Travelcards still have peak-time restrictions.

Examples of other London discounts introduced for Fridays include 20% off the bill at Gaucho restaurants, off-peak prices to see musical Wicked and half-price tickets for the Turn It Up exhibition at the Science Museum.

oyster card e travel card

More major roads to close for utility work News | 4 hours ago

UK budget’s non-dom changes could reduce appeal of the island News | 4 hours ago

French bulldog Hughie to get care from TV’s ‘Supervet’ News | 4 hours ago

More than 10% of 2022 tax returns still to be submitted News | 4 hours ago

Unique religious painting fails to sell at auction News | 4 hours ago

IMAGES

  1. Oyster Card de Londres 💳 Cómo Usar la Tarjeta de Transporte

    oyster card e travel card

  2. Fifteen years of more convenient travel thanks to the Oyster card

    oyster card e travel card

  3. Oyster Card Londra: come funziona e prezzi ⋆ FullTravel.it

    oyster card e travel card

  4. A Complete Guide To Oyster Card (Prices, Benefits, Types, How

    oyster card e travel card

  5. How to Use the Oyster Card: A Simple Guide

    oyster card e travel card

  6. Oyster Card e Travelcard, muoversi a Londra

    oyster card e travel card

VIDEO

  1. Oyster Cards And The Oyster Card Reader

  2. GX Card: The Only UNLIMITED Cashback Card

  3. Oyster card secret

  4. MAGANDANG PAGBABAGO SA E-TRAVEL REGISTRATION

  5. How to use OYSTER CARD ???? #walthamstow #oyster #uk #bus #shorts #travelcard

  6. Oyster Card vs Contactless: Which Is Better? (2024)

COMMENTS

  1. Oyster online

    Official online shop for Oyster card. Order your Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass, top up Oyster pay as you go, or view your journeys. Skip to site navigation Skip to ... Find out how much it costs and how to pay for travel around London. Opens in a new tab or window. Contactless and Oyster links. Contactless. 7 day contactless journey & payment ...

  2. Visitor Oyster card

    A Visitor Oyster card costs £5 (plus postage) and is pre-loaded with pay as you go credit for you to spend on travel. You can choose how much credit to add to your card: £10, £15, £20, £25, £30, £35, £40 or £50. The credit on your card never expires - it stays there until you use it. If you run out of credit on your card, it's easy to ...

  3. Oyster cards and travelcards in London

    Oyster cards are electronic smartcards that are used to pay for public transport in London. Visitor Oyster cards, Oyster cards and contactless payment cards are the cheapest way to travel in London. To use an Oyster card, touch the card on the yellow reader at the gates as you enter and end your journey. You don't need to touch out at the end ...

  4. Oyster card FAQs: which card to buy?

    A Visitor Oyster card costs just £5, compared to a regular Oyster card which is £7. There are a range of great value special offers and discounts available to Visitor Oyster card holders at leading London restaurants, shops and entertainment venues, plus discounts on Thames Clippers river buses and the IFS Cloud Cable Car.

  5. Buying tickets and Oyster

    Oyster cards aren't accepted at stations between Reading and Iver. Refunds. If you got your Oyster card before 23 February 2020, you can get your £5 refunded when you don't need your card anymore; If you got your Oyster card between 23 February 2020 and 4 September 2022, your £5 will be refunded automatically as pay as you go credit after one ...

  6. London Oyster Card: Everything you need to know 2023

    7.1 Oyster card and Visitor Oyster Card Fares from 5th March 2023. 8 Returning your Oyster Card. 8.1 Oyster cards bought before the 23rd of February 2020. 8.2 Oyster cards bought from 23rd of February 2020 to 3rd of September 2022. 8.3 Oyster cards bought after the 2nd September 2022.

  7. Oyster pay as you go

    Oyster cards. An Oyster card is a smart card that you add money to, so you can pay as you go. You can pay as you go to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, most Elizabeth line, IFS Cloud Cable Car and Thames Clippers River Bus services. You can also travel on most National Rail services in London and some outside London.

  8. London Travelcard or Oyster? Identify the right pass in 2024

    Oyster & Visitor Oyster card differences - key facts. Oyster fares and caps are the same whether you use a standard Oyster or a Visitor Oyster, a common misconception. For Visitor Oyster cards you pay an activation fee (£5 in 2024) which is non refundable. If you buy an Oyster card in London you pay £7 in 2024.

  9. Oyster card or Travelcard in London: How to choose

    You still need to use your oyster card as you normally would, but you won't be charged. The cheapest one-day travelcard for costs £15.20. This is the price of the 1-day travel card for zone 1, zones 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4. The maximum daily cap when using an oyster in zones 1 and 2 of London is £8.10, £9.60 for zones 1-3 and £11.70 for zones 1-4.

  10. Oyster FAQs: how to use your Oyster card

    Visitor Oyster cards and Oyster cards can be used on public transport in London, including the London Underground, buses, trams and many local train services. The fare depends on when you travel. You can top up your Oyster card at any Tube station, as well as online and at many corner shops and information centres.

  11. Oyster Card

    For example, if you load £10 onto your Oyster card and travel by underground in central London (zone 1- off peak): If you make 1 journey £2.70 is deducted from your card. If you make 2 journeys, £5.40 is deducted. If you make 3 journeys, £8.10 is deducted (£8.50 from 3/3/24). You have now reached the 'daily cap' and all other journeys ...

  12. Oyster Card vs Visitor Oyster Card vs Travelcard

    5 Days - £76.00. 6 Days - £91.20. 7 Days - £106.40. A 1-Day Travelcard is cheaper than a Visitor Oyster Card if you are only in town for the day as you won't get the £5 fee back. Though, this does not take into account any discounts that you might use with the Visitor Oyster Card.

  13. Oyster, Contactless and Travelcards

    Instead of adding money to an Oyster card, you can also use your contactless debit or credit card, mobile phone or other device for adult rate PAYG travel. ... there are many ways to get child rate fares with Oyster. Under 5s travel free with a fare-paying adult. For children aged between 5 and 18 there are different Oyster photocards available ...

  14. Oyster card

    The Oyster card is a payment method for public transport in London (and certain areas around it) in England, United Kingdom.A standard Oyster card is a blue credit-card-sized stored-value contactless smart card. It is promoted by Transport for London (TfL) and can be used on travel modes across London including London Buses, London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London ...

  15. Travelcards and group tickets

    Travelcards. A Travelcard (in the zones it's valid for) gives you unlimited travel at any time on bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services in London. You can use it on all buses, and if valid in zones 3, 4, 5 or 6, on all trams. Travelcards can start on any day.

  16. London Travel: Which Oyster Card is Best for Visitors?

    Regular Oyster Cards. For long-term visitors, a regular Oyster card could be the more cost-effective option. These cards can only be purchased upon arrival, from Oyster Ticket Shops, Visitor Centers and most London Tube and rail stations. They cost £5 ( refundable at the end of your trip) and can be loaded with any amount of pay-as-you-go credit.

  17. Oyster Card v Contactless

    This is because you can only top up an Oyster card in £5 increments, adding between £10 and £50 each time. Note that you can't use Oyster Cards to pay for London taxis, though they do accept contactless payments. Visitor Oyster Card holders can benefit from some special discounts.

  18. Which is best? Compare Oyster v Contactless v London Travelcard

    The biggest benefit of using an Oyster card is its joint cheapest fares for single journeys (along with contactless) The Oyster daily cap is always cheaper than buying a 1-day travelcard. Oyster pay-as-you-go credit can be used in zones 1-9, whereas travelcards are only valid in the zones you buy them for.

  19. London Tube Tickets: Contactless, Oyster Card, or Travelcard?

    The Oyster Card can be purchased when you arrive from ticket offices or kiosks at the train and tube stations, or even onboard Eurostar trains bound for London. A £7 non-refundable fee applies. Non-residents have the option to get the Visitor Oyster Card (with a £5 non-refundable fee). The Visitor Oyster can only be ordered online.

  20. (Visitor) Oyster Card & Travelcard: Come si usano?

    La Oyster Card è la card magnetica che dà accesso a tutto il trasporto pubblico londinese in modo semplice e veloce. La Oyster Card, come si accennava, non costituisce un titolo di viaggio, ma è un semplice supporto magnetico sul quale poter caricare del credito a consumo ( pay-as-you-go) oppure un abbonamento ( Travelcard ).

  21. London Oyster card FAQs: the basics

    Travellers from outside the UK can buy a Visitor Oyster card* before arriving in London, and it will be delivered to your home address. It costs £5 to buy a card (non-refundable) plus postage. With a Visitor Oyster card, you can get up to 26% off the fare for the IFS Cloud Cable Car cable car and up to 19% off single journeys on the Uber Boat ...

  22. How to Get Around London: A Guide to the London Public Transport ...

    A single tube fixed price is £2.40 with an Oyster card, but the card has a daily cap and even weekly cap which you can see in the chart below, which means that if you're riding London public ...

  23. Contactless and Oyster

    Find out more about Oyster. Find out more about Oyster cards here. 7 day contactless journey and payment history. Access up to 7 days history without an account. Fares. Find out how much it costs and how to pay for travel around London. Toggle Navigation Skip page navigation Contactless and Oyster Contactless. 7 day journey & payment history

  24. Can you get an Oyster card at the airport?

    As a travel agent, I often get asked about the convenience of purchasing an Oyster card at the airport. The good news is that yes, you can indeed get an Oyster card at the airport. Oyster cards are available for purchase at all London airports and …

  25. What's the best ticket for me?

    You can use contactless (card or device) or an Oyster card to pay as you go on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, most Elizabeth line services, IFS Cloud Cable Car and River Bus services. You can also travel on most National Rail services in London and some outside London. Oyster card. You can use an Oyster card. Benefits

  26. Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone

    You can swap which of your stored eSIMs are active simply by changing your selections in Settings. This might be helpful if you travel regularly to the same places. What you need. An iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later. A wireless carrier or worldwide service provider that supports eSIM. Your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network*

  27. Sadiq Khan heralds 'groundbreaking' trial to cut Tube and rail fares on

    Passengers using contactless and Oyster cards for travel in London and surrounding areas on Fridays are now charged off-peak fares. This is aimed at encouraging more people back onto public transport and into offices on that day. The pilot applies to services run by the Tube, Elizabeth line, London Overground and mainline train operators. ...

  28. Mayor confirms landmark off-peak Fridays trial to start on 8 March

    Pay as you go with contactless and Oyster fares on Tube and rail across London and parts of the Southeast will be off-peak all day on Fridays from 8 March until 31 May 2024, in an initiative that will be closely watched around the world ... restaurants, and cultural sector. Slashing travel costs will encourage even more people to enjoy our ...