The DLR links London City Airport to the rest of the tube network, and you will likely find yourself using it if you are taking trips around east and south east London. For instance it is the best way to get to the ExCeL , which hosts a number of large trade shows and events. In terms of fares, the DLR is the same as the Overground and Underground, part of the overall London fare zone, and in fact some tube stations also contain DLR stations. There are some exceptions, with all suburban trains in zones for example, and to select destinations, covered.
If you asked someone what the most used form of public transport in London was, they might guess Underground. It would be wrong though, because the number of journeys taken on London buses is over two billion a year. This is likely because there are just so many bus routes in London, serving a huge area — you can basically get anywhere in London by bus. There are also many bus services that operate round the clock, meaning you can still get home after a night out on public transport in many instances.
Buses are generally a little slower than rail services because they have to contend with traffic, which in London is pretty terrible most of the time. However, an advantage is that normally there are no steps involved and no lengthy walks around the Underground system. You do not need to touch out when you disembark. Now, for something a little bit different. Did you know that London has a cable car service? As well as being a handy way to get to the ExCeL exhibition centre and the O2 Arena from the south side of the river, it also offers panoramic views of this part of the city as you cross.
London has a big old river running through it, so it makes sense that this waterway is also used as a public transport system. And so it is, with Thames Clippers operating a service under license from TfL. Essentially this gets you from one end of London to the other. It is used by commuters though, so rush hours can be a little busier. As with other TfL services, the easiest way to pay is by Contactless card or by Oyster card, touching in and out as you board and disembark. Alternatively you can buy tickets online and print them out, or you can buy tickets in person at the pier.
The last option is the most expensive — contactless, Oyster and online ticket purchases are the most cost-effective. Note that Thames Clipper is a little more expensive than services like the tube or buses, but the point to point service and relatively fast speed, plus the views of London from the river, can make it worth it. London definitely has some iconic modes of transport, from the famous red bus through to the tube. But perhaps most famous of all is the black cab.
Taking a black cab in London is definitely an experience. All you have to do is flag one down by waving at them the taxi light will be illuminated if it is available , and the driver will stop to pick you up. Fares are paid on completion of the journey, and are set based on distance and time using the meter in the cab. In London rolled out a new public transport option — the bicycle! There are public cycle points all around the city, and with the increase in cycle lanes, these are becoming a popular way to take short trips.
To use the cycle hire system you just need a credit or debit card. Find out more about the London cycle system here. Walking is by far the cheapest way to travel around London, and a personal favourite of ours. Given the range of public transport options in London, the accessibility situation is definitely varied.
Buses for example are pretty good, with every route serviced by low-floor vehicles and offering a wheelchair space. An aging network, built well before accessibility was something to consider, has not helped efforts to improve the situation, although certainly efforts are being made.
Some stations do have platform to street step free access, but you will need to plan your tube journey carefully. There are services all over the city, often running through the night. If you want to try something a bit different, then the Emirates Air Line or the Thames Clippers will provide that. Any tips to share? Pop them in our comments below!
Unregistered cards will not be eligible for refunds in the case of a card being lost or stolen. Those with registered accounts can also use their accounts to track their travel, check their card balance, top off their card, and purchase travelcards online. Visitor Oyster cards can NOT be registered and protected. Visitors should therefore be protective of their cards and treat them like cash. For help with an issue, I would check the website for help first or ask a staff member at a London transport station or ticketing office. Note that fees may apply for the call.
Here are some more things to know about Oyster Cards! This allows users who have a contactless payment card to use this to pay for their journey, rather than buying a ticket or Oyster card. Contactless Cards compare in this article we wrote. Contactless cards can be a particularly good option for those who already have a credit card or debit card with contactless technology that does not incur international transaction fees when used in the UK.
Since some people have both Oyster cards and contactless enabled payment cards in their wallets or billfolds, there is a possibility that multiple cards could be scanned at once. To avoid this happening, we recommend taking out the card you intend to use and only scanning that. Read more about avoiding card clash here. In London there are often multiple routes that you can take between two locations, some of which are cheaper than others. For example, when traveling across London, it can be cheaper to avoid Zone 1. In order for the system to know which route you are taking, there are a small number of pink card readers that you can touch your Oyster card at certain Overground and Underground stations.
These inform the system of your route, to help ensure you pay the right fare. Note that pink card readers do not validate your journey nor do they charge you, so you still need to be sure to use the yellow card readers at the beginning and end of your journey. We have rarely used or even saw these and it is likely that most visitors will not be using these but we wanted to point this out for those who really want to save money.
For more information on pink card readers and locations you can find them, see the official website he re. There are a number of discounts and concessions available for people who meet certain requirements or are part of a certain demographic; however most of these discounts are only possible for London or UK residents. There are potential discounts for students, seniors, children, those seeking jobs, disabled travelers, and veterans. Most of these require applying for and obtaining a special photocard to receive free or discounted travel in London. Visitors traveling with children should check out the next section.
Oyster cards can be a great value for families traveling with children, and many public transit services are free for younger children. Families with children age 11 or older should be sure to examine discount options prior to their trip. Find out more details here. Here are some tips for using the Oyster card for families with children: London transport prices and policies are always changing, so be sure to check for the most updated prices and policies regarding public transportation fees and Oyster cards online at the Transport for London website before your trip to London!
So there you have our information and tips on buying and using an Oyster card in London! It may sound a bit complicated but once you have one, Oyster cards are easy to use and to recharge. Have you been to London? What was your experience using public transportation in London? Did you use an Oyster card? As always feel free to ask us any questions you may have about using an Oyster card or just any questions about travel in London. However, I still have a few doubts. Suppose I arrive at Heathrow and depart from Gatwick 9 hours later on the same day.
Once there, I touch the yellow circle at the gate in order to access the train leaving for Gatwick. Or is it on the other side of the gate?
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In other words, how do people ask for a refund if they need their cards to pay for the last ticket? I know that it will have been 9 hours from my first usage, but does the 48 hour limitation apply to ticket machines only, or will I still be able to ask for a refund in person? You can actually get a refund for the Oyster Card at Gatwick Airport, so once you are already at the airport.
To do this, go to the rail ticket desk in the Onward Travel area in the South Terminal. This is the only place at Gatwick Airport where you can get a refund if you return your Oyster card. I believe the Visitor Centres can refund at any time and will return the balance to your debit card or pay in cash. There is also the option to mail by post your card with its remaining balance to Tfl from outside London and they will refund you by a mailed cheque in GBP probably not a good option for you!
Hi Fandy, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, and so happy to hear your found our Oyster Card tips helpful. Do let us know if you have any questions about your upcoming trip to London. That would be the most convenient and cost efficient for me. However, things do change from time to time, and it is a good idea to confirm if you want to buy them aboard the train. If you find out they are not, please do let us know and we will edit our information for future readers. Hi Jessica, I called Eurostar and the agent initially said the Oyster Card is not available on their trains.
After I told him that this information is published online, he double checked and said it is sold. He said it is a Visitor Oyster Card for 5 pounds with no credits though? Have you any idea on this? I also called Gatwick Airport Concierge Counter South Terminal and a lady said they are only opened at 9am; hence we will not be in time to get an Oyster Card.
Again she advised that it is Visitor Oyster Card?? With loaded credits though. She advised that if not we can get single tickets at Gatwick train station. As we will reach 5am in the morning, do you know if the staffed counter will be opened then? If yes, can we get a standard Oyster Card from the counter? If not, is it possible to get a standard Oyster Card from the automated machine at the train station? We are not in time to buy one online and have it post to us.
Yes, as we note, it would be the Visitor Oyster Card that is sold aboard the EuroStar as you will be outside of London, which is why they can sell it. If you purchase the Visitor Oyster Card aboard the EuroStar, you will have to then add whatever credit you want to it to use it. No, that information is incorrect about Windsor. You can use an Oyster Card, but it will charge you. Or you can purchase a single train ticket or the standard Oyster Card from an automated machine at the transport station there.
Sounds like the concierge hours are different than those listed online, so getting a card there may not be an option given your travel times. There are few differences between the two cards, unless you want to use the discounts that come with the Visitor Oyster Card.
An Oyster Card or contactless card is probably the best option as they will save you a small amount on the ticket prices although it depends on the time of travel , but you can also just buy individual tickets. So you have three main options for public transit. Many cards issued from the UK and Western Europe work, some other international cards work as well. They work similar to an Oyster Card, and you can find out more here ; or 3 You can purchase 2 individual tickets to each destination.
You can purchase tickets directly from machines at the station and many of the larger stations also have staffed desks where you can purchase them from an agent. If you decide to purchase an Oyster Card, you can get a refund for any extra money at Gatwick Airport before you leave if you wish, or save it for your next visit to London. It should be around days for London sightseeing. Can you please re explain the capping logic? Is the same applicable for other zones, likes Zone 6? How much money would I need on an Oyster card for a day London trips considering this 6.
Now, if you are also traveling within other zones, then the point in which it will cap is higher. You can learn more about capping here. There is capping for all zones, but it is a higher rate as you include more zones. See link above for the capping rate details for the different zones. If you are using it to get to and from an airport, you should check that fare on the Tfl website and add it as well. But you can always add money, and most Underground stations have machines where you can do this. Just a reminder that if you are visiting Windsor Castle and have a London Pass, you can get free travel there and back to central London without using you Oyster Card.
You just have to follow the rules outlined in the guidebook and website.
How to Get Around London: A Guide to Public Transport in London
Thanks for the reply and taking the time to answer all questions very thoroughly. Wishing you all the best and a big HI from Romania. Hello and thank you in advance. I am planning to visit London from October 4 to 7. I will be staying in zone 1 and will visit only areas in zone 1 and 2 but need to go back to Heathrow airport. Which is the best card to buy and how much does it cost? I would appreciate your assistance Best Wishes Carlos.
You can purchase the standard Oyster Card at the airport, or you can purchase the Visitor Oyster Card in advance or as part of the London Pass. The cost will depend on how many trips you take and the time of day. Last time I was in London, most of the tube stations were not equipped to top off Oyster cards with cash. I just want to enter a London address and find the nearest ticket stops. Hi Shahmeran, Sorry you are having such a difficult time finding this information. Also most of the larger station have manned ticket counters. If you want a guarantee of a person, you can plan to stop at one of the stations with a tfl Visitor Centre, you can find a list and hours here: I just have one question I am not sure about.
The amount depends on how many days the pass is valid, and you can check that amount here. But they should still have credit to keep using it to explore more of London after returning to Waterloo. But if they run out during their trip, they will need to top if off and can add credit at any time.
If you are worried about your friends not knowing how to do it, I would just tell or show them how to check the balance of their cards and top it off if needed at a station so they know how to do it. It works the same as any other Oyster Card. Hello, We are visiting London in August and will be in London for 3 days before proceeding to Edinburgh, I have already been to London many years back, wherin i have seen the major attractions, but want to see the SHARD and just roam around. DO i buy a one day london pass along wiht oyster card, and on other days just top up my Oyster card, since i will be able to do hopin hop off and the cruise in one day , and other days roam at my own leisure.
It will also give you the opportunity to visit or revisit a lot of the other attractions in the area if you wish. The London Pass covers over 60 attractions so it is likely there are many you have not visited yet or may want to see again. Your other option is to purchase just the London Pass and purchase the Oyster Card at the airpot or once in London.
You can top up any Oyster Card as you travel around. You can top up a card at most Underground and Overground machines or if you need help, you can ask an attendant. If you are traveling to Edinburgh, you might want to check out our London to Edinburgh travel guide. We have few questions: What will be the total charges? How much amount do you suggest to top up in the Oyster card? Yes, you should be able to apply to get a refund on the deposit and any remaining balance on your Oyster Card. But you may want to put a pound or two extra just to be sure. Note that the fares are capped within a midnight to midnight GMT period so the above assumes you are traveling all within 1 calendar day.
If you are traveling on 2 separate days e. HI Jessica, Thank you for your prompt reply. You have provided us a very useful and details information about the Oyster card. It will help us a lot during our visit to London in October. Thank you very much. This is such an amazing article! We are planning our very first trip to Europe and I have another question for you.
We will be landing at Heathrow then headed directly to Kings Cross for a train to Edinburgh for a couple of days. We will then head back to London where we will spend about 6 days with one day headed to Portsmouth. We are thinking of getting the London Pass for our time in London but do you have any advice on how to arrange transportation to Portsmouth? I appreciate any help you can give us. If you are looking for any tips for what to do in Edinburgh we live nearby and have a ton of content such as this top Edinburgh attractions post and this post about lesser known attractions in Edinburgh.
The London Pass is great for saving on sightseeing, and you can see our London Pass review here. If you enjoy warships, be sure to check out HMS Belfast free with London Pass and you might enjoy this list of military related sites in London. To Portsmouth, you have a few options train, bus, rental car, join a guided tour , but I would probably recommend taking a morning train from London.
Tips for Buying and Using the Oyster Card in London
It is about a 2 hour train and the nearest train station to the historic dockyard is Portsmouth Harbour. If you are interested in visiting a lot of the attractions at the harbor, you might want to check out this discount pass that includes entry into 11 different sites at the dockyard. It will depend on how long you want to explore Portsmouth. You can squeeze them both into one day but it will be a busy day. Then in the evening could take a train back from Salisbury to London. Note that Stonehenge has recently implemented a timed entry system so it is recommended that you book your tickets in advance.
If you decide to do Stonehenge on a separate day from Portsmouth, you have a few options, you could take the train from London to Salisbury and get the shuttle as noted above, take the Stonehenge Express bus from London , or you could join a guided bus tour. You can see some examples of these tours here and here. Hope this helps and please let me know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to the UK!
Great informative article, thank you!! Hubby and I will be travelling to London for the first time later this year aa part of our uk trip and plan to purchase the oyster card when we arrive at heathrow airport. As you have suggested I will register the cards using my relatives uk address. I have a few questions please. We will be arriving at heathrow airport around 6am.
Will there be an oyster card cashier open at that time of the morning? If not how do we purchase one at heathrow airport, register and top up? We will be landing in terminal 2 as far as i know. Do you know if there is an oyster cashier or ability to purchase at this terminal. We will most likely be very sleep deprived from travelling from australia so as much info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help. Hi Sarah, Glad you have found our Oyster Card tips helpful for your trip! The Heathrow Visitor Centers and manned ticket windows at the Heathrow Underground stations may not be open that early, but you can purchase the Oyster Cards standard ones at most Underground ticket machines.
Heathrow currently has three London Underground stations — one for Terminals 2 and 3 and one each at both Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. To register a card, you need to set up an online account and then register the specific cards online. You can top up as needed via ticket machines, manned Underground windows, or online if you are able to register the cards.
If you want to have a Oyster Card in hand when you arrive, you might want to consider a Visitor Oyster Card instead as those can be mailed to you in Australia before your trip. However, these cannot be registered if that is important to you. I really appreciate this guide to Oyster Cards, the most comprehensive one around!
Comes in really handy for my upcoming trip to London this April! It would be real helpful if someone could help clarify: Does the same daily cap apply to Regular OysterCard? Or there is no cap for it?
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No the fare charges are the same for them both. Basically the usage for both is the same across the two Oyster Cards. The daily caps are the same for both the regular and the Visitor Oyster Card. Thank you Jessica for the prompt response. It has been a great help to the planning of my trip to London! But still a little confused.. I just am not sure which to buy.. And the airport is in Zone 6. Would we have to purchase something additional that covers Zone 6?. I am quite positive we will just have the 2 trips in this zone. I hope this inquiry makes sense Thanks in advance for any advice!
Hi Lisa, Yes, so what you said does make sense. Note that the above only applies to the standard Oyster Card, not the Visitor Oyster Card which comes with pre-loaded credit and does not allow you to add Travelcards. Both cards work in all zones throughout London. To determine if the Travelcard is a good deal, I would estimate how often you plan to travel to see if it makes sense to get the Travel Card or not. It really depends on how many journeys you plan to make each day using public transit. If you plan to use it multiple times a day, then the Travel Card makes sense, if only a couple times a day you are probably better off without the Travelcard on the Oyster Card.
Wishing you a great trip to London, and if you are looking for sightseeing ideas, you might find our 6 day London itinerary helpful. It makes sense now.. As for the Travel Card I think we will be using public transit alot.. We are also planning a 3 day London Pass for some of the attractions re: Tower,Thames cruise etc…but we are really still in the planning stage: Again,thankyou for such a quick reply and also for the itinerary!
Yes, the London Pass is great if you are planning to visit a lot of attractions and one of our favorite city discount passes. If you are ordering the London Passes online, I find the accompanying guidebook really helpful for planning out time with the Pass. Feel free to reach out if you have further questions as you continue to plan your vacation!
Hi there Thank you so much for taking your time to give these precious, detailed informations. What do you suggest? All the best, Florina. Thanks so much for your kind words and I am glad you found our information on Oyster Cards helpful and useful! I think either should be fine as the travel centre will be open at Luton and if that is convenient for you, it can be an easy place to purchase the Oyster Cards. But you can also get them at Kensington train station and you can purchase them from a machine or from an attendant if you need any help. I think there is a ticket window at the station that is staffed until around 8pm on weekdays.
But if not, there will be staff in the station to help with any info until very late if you have any issues with the machines. Am so happy and thankful I found your website while searching for info on oyster card. Thank you for taking time to explain extensively the pros and cons. Your info and tips are so helpful. Thank you for unselfishly sharing your knowledge. Take care, more power to you and Laurence. Hi Connie, Thank you so much for your nice comment and I am so glad that the information helped you better understand the Oyster Cards.
We have loads of London and Edinburgh related content on our blogs that should help. There are some wonderful free museums in London for just about any interest e. You can take a look at our 2 day London itinerary and our 6 day London itinerary which give you more than enough ideas on attractions you might want to see in those 2 days. Feel free to ask us any questions as you plan your free days in London and wishing you a great trip to the UK!
Thank you for all the great tips and posts about the Oyster Card and getting around London! States that it takes 4 weeks. Are we able to get a non-visitor Oyster card and load a 7 day travel card for them with the child discounts when we get to London? If so, should we do it at Heathrow airport when we arrive? Also, any recommendations on where to stay if we want to use the most out of our London pass also many thanks for your itinerary recommendations using a London Pass!
Appreciate any advice you have, thanks! Hmmm, you should still be able to create an account to order the Zip Oyster Cards for your children as long as they will both be under 18 at the time of your trip. The directions for overseas visitors says: In fact, the postcode is not required to sign up. Maybe try creating an account again? Here is the link below:. Let me know if you are able to get it to work. If it is still now allowing you to create the account, I would give them a call or email them for assistance because you should be able to do so. Now if you are not able to do the above for any reason, you can get a Young Visitor discount applied to a normal Oyster card once in London.
How to Get Around London: A Guide to Public Transport in London - Finding the Universe
Of course the further away, the better the prices may be. I would first start looking and finding hotels and accommodation that fit your budget and style. Then narrow down by checking locations from the central area for example use Westminster Abbey as the point of reference using Google maps and see if you can find something within a 35 minute public transit commute. Hope this helps and let me know if you are able to get the child Zip Photocards ordered online through the TfL website. Hello Jessica I tried your link and it worked!
Better than through website itself.
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However, when I tried to apply for my 16 yo though, the fee was 20 pounds! Thanks for the other additional information in your reply. Your information has been invaluable. So grateful for your quick reply. Um, yes, sounds like the fee is not worth it for a short trip. Probably a better solution for those staying in London for a few weeks or longer to get their money worth.
Was the fee the same for both of your children? Hi Jessica, Thanks for the amazing information ypu have shared on this website regarding the oyster card and other travel cards. I am planning a trip to London from Asia this December with two 4 yr olds. I would be grateful if you could detail me which card I should use to explore London city attractions and parks. Do we need to get a London pass as well or just the oyster card? Do I need to purchase it online before the trip? We will be there for 2 weeks. Please suggest an itinerary for our 2 week stay in London. We plan to stay at Wembley.
For adults, regarding public transit, you can purchase an Oyster Card in advance online or get one once you get to London. You also have the option to purchase it as part of the London Pass package. All these options are described in the article above with links to where it can be purchased. Now, the Oyster Card is only for travel on public transit within London, it does not get you into any museums or attractions.
For that you can purchase a London Pass. You can purchase the London Pass online in advance and have it delivered to your home before your trip and it is valid for 1 year. Or there is one place you can purchase it in-person once in London. The London Pass can be purchased just as an attractions pass, or you can also add on the Travel Option to it so that it also come with an Oyster Card.
The kids, since they are only 4, again will get into most London attractions for free so they do not need a London Pass or Oyster Card. Here are a couple of posts about the London Pass and a London itinerary to help you plan:. That is awesome Jessica. You just made it so simple for us. I spent days looking at various websites which confused me more and more. Now I know I just have to get London pass with travel card and I will choose either Smartmobile option or pick up at London. Thank you for your excellent suggestions on how to tour in London. I will consider that for sure.
Thank you once again! If you want to do the London Pass with travel Card, you will need to either purchase it online which you can then pick up in person in London for free with email confirmation or purchase it in person once in London. So the travel option available with the standard physical card purchased online or in person.
Hope that makes sense and wishing you a great trip to London. Feel free to ask if you have any further questions! Before I read your article, I read through various online articles some clearly outdated and became increasingly confused. Or for example are the caps determined by each transportation mode, i. Yes, the public transportation system in London is vast and a bit complicated in terms of options. And yes fares, tickets, routes, etc. Now for your question about the Oyster Card caps, the answer is a bit complicated.
But if you plan to use the Underground, bus, and light rail then you can check the link for the capping rates for All services below. Information on both are below:. From the Price capping site https: There are different caps for:. For 1, all service, price caps are: Journeys made on buses and trams are included in the caps. For 2, If you only use the Bus and tram, there is a different cap: Hi Jessica, how wonderful to find you!