over 60s travel london

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TFL 60+ London Oyster photocard

The 60+ Oyster pass is a travel scheme provided by the Mayor of London and Transport for London.

Eligibility

• Be over 60 but not yet be  eligible for a Freedom Pass  
• Have your sole or principal residence in London

Apply for a 60+ Oyster pass on the TFL website

Using the pass.

The pass allows free travel on buses, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London. Pass holders also get a discounted fare on River services and the Emirates Air Line.

60+ Oyster pass holders are not entitled to free travel on services outside of London.

Transferring your 60+ Oyster pass to a Freedom Pass

Once you become eligible for a Freedom Pass you are no longer eligible for a 60+ Oyster card.

As long as you didn't opt out of TFL sharing your data with London Councils you will be sent a letter asking you to confirm your name and address. Once we have received confirmation of your details we will issue you with a new Freedom Pass. You do not need to re-apply or send us a new photograph.

If you have received your letter to transfer your 60+ Oyster pass you can transfer it online here  

View the Freedom Pass privacy statement to find out what information we collect, why we collect it, and how long we keep your information for.

If you do not wish to share your data or if your address has changed since you applied for your 60+ Oyster pass you will need to complete a separate application form for the Freedom Pass once you become eligible.

If you have changed your mind about whether or not you would like your data to be shared please contact TFL on 0343 222 1234 to amend your record.

Do Over 60s Get Free Travel in London?

Mobility Extra Team

As the population continues to age, many resources are becoming available for older adults, and one such perk is discounted or free travel. A common question among the +60 age group residing in the bustling city of London is whether they can benefit from free travel. The answer is yes, but there are specific conditions and requirements that need to be met.

Those who are 60 years or older and live in a London borough are eligible for a 60+ London Oyster photocard. This photocard grants free travel on buses, trains, and other modes of transport within and around London. However, it is essential to note that this free travel privilege is typically limited to certain times such as from 09:00 or 09:30 on weekdays, and any time on weekends and public holidays.

To obtain a 60+ London Oyster photocard, individuals need to apply through the Transport for London (TfL) website. It’s worth mentioning that once someone becomes eligible for a Freedom Pass, they should transfer their 60+ Oyster pass to it. The Freedom Pass extends these benefits to more services and times, enhancing the advantages available to older Londoners.

Free Travel for Over 60s in London

London offers several travel concessions for people aged 60 and over, ensuring accessible and affordable public transport options across the city. This section discusses two key provisions: the Freedom Pass and the 60+ London Oyster Photocard.

Freedom Pass

The Freedom Pass is available to older adults who have reached State Pension age and live in a London borough. It grants free access to a variety of public transport options, including buses, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, and some National Rail services within London. Elizabeth Line services are also covered when they become operational.

To apply for an Older Person’s Freedom Pass, check your eligibility and fill out an application on the London Councils website. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive an Oyster card, which serves as your Freedom Pass. Simply touch in and out at the gates or validators, and you’ll be able to enjoy unlimited travel on London’s public transport network.

60+ London Oyster Photocard

For those who are aged 60 or over but have not yet reached the State Pension age, the 60+ London Oyster Photocard offers an alternative for free travel in London. This concession allows holders to travel for free on buses, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, and some National Rail services within the London fare zones.

To be eligible for a 60+ London Oyster Photocard, you must be 60 years of age or older and reside in a London borough. Applications can be submitted via the Transport for London (TfL) website. Once approved, you will receive an Oyster Photocard, which must be touched in and out at the gates or validators while travelling.

Keep in mind that the 60+ London Oyster Photocard is a temporary concession until you become eligible for the Freedom Pass. Upon reaching State Pension age, you will need to apply for the Freedom Pass to continue enjoying free travel across London.

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for free travel in London if you are aged 60 or over, you can apply for the 60+ London Oyster photocard . This allows free travel on buses, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, and most National Rail services in London. Discounted fares are also available on River services and the Emirates Air Line. However, free travel on services outside London is not offered.

To qualify for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, you must:

• Be aged 60 or over
• Live in a London borough

If you meet the State Pension age, currently 66 for both women and men, you can apply for an Older Person’s Freedom Pass instead. This also provides free travel within and around London.

For disabled individuals, there is a Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass , which offers similar travel benefits.

Apply Online

To apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, visit the Transport for London (TfL) website. Older Person’s Freedom Pass and Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass applications can be made on the London Councils website.

Required Documents

To apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, Older Person’s Freedom Pass, or Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass, you will need the following information and documents:

• Proof of age (such as a birth certificate or passport)
• Proof of address (such as a bank statement, utility bill, or council tax bill)
• A passport-sized photograph
• National Insurance number (for Older Person’s Freedom Pass)

Remember to double-check your application’s details and requirements on the appropriate website before submitting.

Using the Pass and Travel Benefits

Coverage and travel options.

If you are 60 or over and living in London, you can access free travel on buses, trains, and other modes of transport within and around the city using the 60+ London Oyster photocard.

The 60+ London Oyster photocard provides coverage for the following transport options:

• Trains (including Thameslink)
• London Underground
• Docklands Light Railway
• London Overground
• Tram services
• River services (if operated by TfL)

Using Your Pass

To use your 60+ London Oyster photocard, you will need to touch in and out on the yellow card readers found at stations, on buses, and trams. Travel is free on weekdays from 09:00 and anytime on weekends and bank holidays for Older Person’s Freedom Pass holders, while Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass holders enjoy free travel at all times.

Remember to carry your 60+ London Oyster photocard with you at all times when travelling, as you might be asked to show it when using transport services.

Discounts and Offers

Aside from the free travel benefits, there are additional discounts available for 60+ London Oyster photocard holders and other eligible passengers such as disabled people and veterans. Some of these include:

• Pay as you go fares at a discounted rate for river services not operated by TfL
• Discounted travel for unemployed people seeking work in London through the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card
• Santander Cycles membership discounts for easy access to the cycle hire scheme

For children under the age of 11, they can travel free on most TfL services when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket or Oyster card.

About the author

Notice:MobilityExtra.com is an information and guidance-only website. The information on the site is not tailored advice to each individual reader and, as such, does not constitute actionable legal advice nor actionable financial advice. All information, guidance or suggestions provided are intended to be general in nature. You should not rely on any of the information on the site in connection with the making of any personal decisions, and you should always do your own in-depth research first and speak to specialists.

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London Bus Fares – OAP Passes For Senior Citizens Over 60

• Do seniors get cheap bus fares?
• Senior bus passes
• Freedom Pass
• Freedom Pass travel times
• How to get a Freedom Pass
• 60+ Oyster photocard
• 60+ Oyster photocard travel times
• How to get a 60+ Oyster photocard

Do seniors travel for free on the bus?

Senior citizens over 60 can travel for free on a London bus if they live in the UK and have have one of the bus passes described below.

Senior citizens who don’t have a pass, and all foreign tourists, have to pay a normal adult bus fare .

Can you use an OAP bus pass in London?

You can use an OAP bus pass that was issued by a council outside of London by taking advantage of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, or ENCTS (denoted by the red rose symbol on the front). This allows pensioners to travel for free on London’s buses after 9 AM Monday to Friday, or any time of day during the weekend .

Note: It only applies to buses carrying the TFL symbol:  (which is pretty much all of the buses in London). If the bus doesn’t carry the TFL symbol then you should check with the driver first. They might still allow you to travel using your pass, but you might have to travel at certain times of day, like 9:30 AM to 11 PM for example.

And OAP passes issued by a council in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland won’t work either. Only the ones issued by an English council.

Can you use a senior bus pass on the tube?

No. Senior bus passes can only be used on the bus. They don’t work with any other form of public transport, so you can’t use them on the trams or London underground.

What is a Freedom Pass?

If your main home is in London and you’re old enough to receive a woman’s state pension (regardless of whether you’re a man or woman) then you can save on bus fares with a Freedom Pass (also known as an Older Persons Freedom Pass ).

It’s basically just a credit card-sized piece of plastic which you tap down on the big yellow Oyster readers that you find at the front of all the buses.

Where can you use a London Freedom Pass?

A Freedom Pass entitles you to travel for free on London’s buses , the London Underground , London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Elizabeth Line, trams, and most of the National Rail trains within London (standard class only).

Senior citizens also get a discount when buying a ticket on the Uber Thames Clipper and IFS Cloud Cable Car .

Does a Freedom Pass have time restrictions?

Yes. Free bus travel only applies outside of the morning peak period (4.30 AM to 9 AM, Monday-Friday). If you need to travel before 9 AM then you’ll have to pay the normal bus price instead. There are no time restrictions at the weekend.

How do you apply for a Freedom Pass?

You can apply for a Freedom Pass online at londoncouncils.gov.uk if you’re old enough to receive a woman’s state pension (regardless of whether you’re a man or woman). If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible then you can enter your date of birth into their eligibility calculator .

You will also need to provide them with an email address, a passport-style photograph, proof of age, and prove you live within a London borough. (Note: People who you work inside London but live outside are not eligible.)

Suitable documents to prove your age include a birth certificate, passport, driving licence or medical card. Documents for proof of address include a recent council tax bill, utility bill or television licence. Bank or building society statements are not accepted.

What is a 60+ London Oyster photocard?

If you’re not yet old enough to receive a state pension but you’re still aged over 60 and your principal address is in London, then you can apply for a 60+ London Oyster Photocard to tide you over before you qualify for a Freedom Pass .

It’s used in exactly the same way as a regular Oyster card . All you have to do to get a free journey is tap it down on the big yellow Oyster readers by the bus doors.

Where can you use a 60+ Oyster photocard?

A 60+ London Oyster Photocard entitles you to travel for free on the buses , trams, London Underground , London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Elizabeth Line (excluding the stretch that runs between West Drayton and Reading), and most National Rail trains within London.

Seniors can also benefit from a cheap discount rate when buying tickets on the Uber Thames Clipper and IFS Cloud Cable Car .

Does a 60+ Oyster photocard have time restrictions?

Yes . Free travel only applies after 9 AM Monday to Friday, or any time during the weekend . If you want to travel before 9 AM then you’ll have to pay a normal adult fare (unlike a regular Oyster card, it’s not possible to load any money onto a 60+ photocard, so you’ll have to find another way to pay ).

National Rail trains usually have a different peak period to the London Underground. Timings will differ between the train companies, but generally speaking you have to travel after 9.30 AM Monday to Friday or any time during the weekend. You can check the timings at tfl.gov.uk .

How do you apply for a 60+ Oyster photocard?

You can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard at the TFL website: tfl.gov.uk/​fares/​free-and-discounted-travel .

You will have to pay £20 and provide them with an email address, a digital passport-style photo of yourself, a valid UK driving licence or digital image of your machine-readable passport (which includes your photograph, personal details and passport number), plus a debit or credit card that is registered to your home address to prove you live in a London borough.

Other ways to provide them with proof of address include a recent utility bill, or a credit statement from your bank or building society.

If you can’t provide any of those items then they also give you the option of printing off a verification letter which you can then take into your local Post Office.

Bear in mind that you’ll have to pay an extra £10 to get it renewed every 12 months, and provide them with proof of address all over again, just in case you’ve moved outside of London.

60+ London Oyster photocards are only valid until you reach the state pension age, at which point you’ll have to apply for a Freedom Pass instead. Freedom Passes give you similar benefits, but are supplied by your local council rather than TFL.

Your comments and questions

Loz My colleagues have the 60+ freedom pass that they use before 9.30 to get to work however on the TFL site it states that it can't be used before 9.30 am? Can you confirm please

Staff Hi Loz. I'm not sure if you're talking about the 60+ Oyster card or the Freedom Pass (they are two different things). But they both used to be 9.30 AM but they've changed to 9 AM now. So you can use them after 9 AM on Mon-Fri, or anytime at the weekends.

Harry I live in Newcastle but will visit London for a couple of days in a few days time. As a pensioner I can travel free on buses. I am told that my travelcard is valid also for London buses. Can you confirm this.

Staff Hi Harry. If it has the red rose symbol on it then it will be okay (if it was issued by an English council then it should do)

Susan Shehean Can I use my North Somerset senior bus pass in London.

Staff Hi Susan. If it has the red rose symbol on it then it will be okay on TFL buses. But you won't be able to use it before 9 AM on Monday-Friday.

Noreen When can I use my 60 plus oyster before 9 am

Staff Hi Noreen. You can only travel before 9 AM at the weekend, but you have to wait until after 9 AM during the week

Ian What’s an OAP?

Staff Its just another name for a senior citizen. OAP = old age pensioner

Barbara We live in Suffolk but are down in London for 4 weeks. Our bus passes do not work. They have never worked in the 8 years we have had them

Staff Hi Barbara. Do you mean when you touch them against the yellow reader? They definitely won't work with that, but if they have the red rose symbol on them (as seen on the photo of the Freedom Pass above) then you should be able to use them if you show them to the driver

andrew giles CAN YOU GET AN 60+ OYSTER CARD IF YOU LIVE IN ROCHESTER KENT. EVEN IF YOU WORK IN LONDON

Staff Hi Andrew. Unfortunately not, no. You need to live in a London borough, and provide proof of address.

Doris Klein What is the best (most inexpensive) way to take the underground and buses for 2 adults (74 and 75) and two grandchildren (11 and 14) while staying in London for 1 week?

Staff Hi Doris. You both might be able to travel for free on the buses if you have OAP bus passes (it doesn't matter if they're not london ones, as long as they have the red rose symbol on them). Otherwise you should use your contactless bank cards. The kids should both get oyster cards and have the 'young visitor discount" applied to them. Its all explained here - city-guide.london/​transport/​child-train-fares.php#young_visitor_discount

David How can I use an ENCTS bus pass to minimise the cost of getting from Stansted airport to London?

Staff Hi David. Assuming that it has a red rose symbol on the front then you should be able to just show it to the driver at the front of the bus. You'll probably have to travel after 9 AM (Mon-Fri)

David Which buses would be best to get from Stansted to London using an ENCTS pass (evening)? The journey planner only shows me National Express, which does not accept my pass.

Staff To be honest, I think you'll be better off just paying for National Express. There are public buses from the airport, but none of them go direct to London. We can't even find a route planner that attempts it solely by public bus. But here's a site with the bus stops and bus numbers - bustimes.org/​localities/​stansted-airport

DOUGLAS In June I will be traveling to Heathrow, via Euston & have a buss pass, so can I use this to get a bus to Paddington Rail Station, or is a Bus from Euston to H/Row an option? Thank you. Regards Doug

Staff Hi Douglas. As long as has the red rose symbol on it then it should be fine. But be aware of the time restrictions. And it wont work on airport transfer buses - just TFL ones

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Benefits and Entitlements

If you're 60 or over or you have a disability, you might be eligible for public transport concessions – from discounts on your rail journeys to a free bus pass.

What transport concessions are available?

Can i get a free bus pass, can i get a discount on rail travel, can i get a london freedom pass, what if i have difficulty using public transport, what if i'm unable to use public transport.

There are several national public transport concessions available to older and disabled people. Some entitle you to discounts on your fares, while others allow you to travel for free.

Eligibility for these concessions depends on whether you have a disability or your age. 

Depending on your age and your circumstances, you might be able to get one of the following free bus passes, which allow you to travel free on local buses:

• an older person's bus pass
• a disabled person's bus pass

What age do I have to be to get an older person's bus pass?

You can get an older person's bus pass when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66 for both women and men.

Apply for your older person's bus pass on GOV.UK

If you're 60 or over and live in London, then you can get free travel on buses, trains and other modes of transport in and around London with a 60+ London Oyster photocard.

Apply for your 60+ London Oyster photocard on the TFL website

How can I get a disabled person's bus pass?

There's no central provider of the disabled person's bus pass – to find out if you're eligible and how to apply, you need to get in touch with your local council.

Find your local council and apply for a disabled person's bus pass on GOV.UK

Are there any other discounts if I'm an older person or I'm disabled?

It's a good idea to contact individual transport operators to see if they offer discounts.

For instance, National Express offers Coachcards. These are discount cards for older or disabled customers. You buy them for a set fee of £12.50 and they get you a third off the cost of your travel across the year.

Find out more and order a Coachcard on the National Express website

Depending on your age and circumstances, you might be entitled to one of the below railcards:

• a Senior Railcard
• a Disabled Person's Railcard

Both railcards are discount cards. You buy them for a set fee to last either 1 or 3 years and they get you a third off the cost of your train travel.

Can I get a Senior Railcard?

The Senior Railcard is available for anyone aged 60 or over to buy.

You can apply on the Senior Railcard website using a valid passport or UK driving licence as ID. Alternatively, you can apply in person at most staffed railway stations.

Find out more about the Senior Railcard and apply online

Can I get a Disabled Person's Railcard?

The Disabled Person's Railcard is available to you if you meet one of the following criteria:

• you're registered as deaf or use a hearing aid
• you're registered as having a visual impairment
• you have epilepsy
• you receive a disability-related benefit, such as  Personal Independence Payment
• you receive War or Service Disablement pension
• you receive Attendance Allowance
• you receive Severe Disablement Allowance
• you receive War Pensioner's mobility supplement

Find out more about the Disabled Person's Railcard and apply online

Freedom Passes give London residents free travel in the city – including National Rail services, the Underground, buses, river services and trams – and free local bus journeys nationally.

If you live in London, you can apply for a Freedom Pass if one of the following applies to you:

• you've reached State Pension age
• you have a disability.

Find out more about Freedom Passes and apply on the London Councils website

National Rail has an interactive tool called Stations Made Easy, designed to help people find their way around stations and find more accessible routes, avoiding potential difficulties like stairs. This may be helpful if you have difficulty using public transport because of your health. 

Find out more and use the tool on the National Rail website

If you're disabled, you can't use public transport, or you don't have access to a car, you might also be able to use a community transport scheme – such as a social car, dial-a-ride, or taxicard scheme.

Shopmobility schemes help people shop in town centres by lending out wheelchairs and scooters. Some local councils also offer concessions on local public transport.

To find out what's available in your area, you can contact your local council or your local Age UK.

Find your local council on GOV.UK

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Apply for an older person's bus pass on GOV.UK

Apply for a disabled person's bus pass on GOV.UK

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We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.

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Last updated: Apr 14 2023

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