What are the benefits of an Oyster card?

The advantages of an Oyster card are that you can top up your credit online and add an electronic 7 Day Travelcard onto the card. You can also get an Oyster card before you arrive in London if you live in the UK. If you do not live in the UK, you can still get an Oyster card but only when you arrive in London.

Is it cheaper to use an Oyster card or contactless?

There is a very small financial advantage to using a contactless card if you're in London for more than a week and travel extensively every single day (weekly capping) but otherwise it's no cheaper than using an Oyster.

How much discount does an Oyster card give you?

You can also add the discount to your standard Oyster card or your 18+ Student Oyster photocard to get a 34% discount on single off-peak pay as you go fares on London Underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) services. Peak times are from 06:30 to 9:29 and from 16:00 to 18:59 Monday to Friday.

Are buses free with Oyster?

16+ If you have a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard and live in London, you get free travel on buses and trams. If you live outside London, you get 50% off adult fares.

Does Oyster card expire?

Unused credit on your Visitor Oyster card

The pay as you go credit on your Visitor Oyster card never expires so you can keep your card until your next visit, or lend it to family and friends. If you don't need your Visitor Oyster card, you can get the remaining credit refunded.

Oyster Card VS Contactless - EXPLAINED

How much is a bus on Oyster card?

London buses are all cashless, so you need an Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card to ride. Bus fare is £1.65, and a day of bus-only travel will cost a maximum of £4.95. You can transfer to other buses or trams for free an unlimited number of times within one hour of touching in for your first journey.

How do Oyster cards work?

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, Emirates Air Line and Thames Clippers River Bus services. You can also travel on most National Rail services in London and some outside London.

How do you get senior discount on Oyster card?

To qualify for these discounts, holders must present their railcard and passport when purchasing the Oyster card at any London Underground ticket office or at a National Rail ticket office that issues Oyster cards, see senior discounted pay as you go travel.

Are Oyster cards worth it?

An Oyster card may be the most cost-effective option if you are only visiting for a few days. A 7 Day Travelcard is a good option if you are visiting for a week and only plan to visit central London. You can also use contactless payment, which has both a daily and weekly fare cap.

What is the cheapest way to get around London?

The cheapest way to travel is with an Oyster card. An Oyster card allows you to travel between all parts of London on the Underground, Trams (DLR), Overground, some river boats, Emirates Air Line, and the iconic red London buses.

Is Oyster card free for over 60s?

If you're 60 or over and live in a London borough, you can get free travel on our transport services with an Oyster photocard.

What do you get free at 60 UK?

In the UK, everyone over the age of 60 gets free prescriptions and NHS eye tests. You can also get free NHS dental treatment if you're over 60 and claiming pension guarantee credits or other benefits if you're under state pension age.

Do Over 60s get free travel in London?

In England you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the State Pension age. If you live in London, you can travel free on buses, tubes and other transport when you're 60, but only within London.

Can I use my Oyster card on the train?

If you have a Pay As You Go Oyster card, you can use it to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, the Emirates Airline, London Overground and National Rail services in London.

How do I add money to my Oyster card?

If you need to add more value/credit to your Visitor Oyster card you can simply 'top up' at one of the machines in the stations, or by going to one of the Transport for London ticket desks. Any credit you don't use can be kept on your card for use at a later date.

Do Oyster cards only work in London?

No. Oyster cards are only useable within the TFL zones and down to Gatwick. No Oyster Card is a London specific product and can only be used on National Rail services in the Greater London area plus a few specific routes outside.

What are Zones 1 to 6 in London?

When it comes to getting around, London is divided into 'zones' 1-6, with 'Zone 1' being the city centre and 'Zone 6' being the outskirts of the city. The system itself exists as a method for TfL (Transport for London) to calculate a customer's travel distance and charge accordingly.

Where can I top up my Oyster card?

You can top up your Oyster card with Pay As You Go and season tickets at stations, online and at Oyster Ticket Stops. There are currently 3,900 Oyster Ticket Stops and you can find your nearest one on the TfL website.

Are buses still free in London?

All buses in London are cash-free.

Do you need an Oyster card to travel in London?

You can get a standard Oyster card in London if you don't have a contactless card or device, or a Visitor Oyster card. You pay £5 and then add pay as you go credit or a Travelcard to pay for your journeys.

Do you tap off buses in London?

Step 6: When you are exiting the bus you don't need to tap out (like you do for other public transport), just make your way to the doors that are at the back or the middle of the bus.

How far can I travel on my 60+ Oyster card?

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.