Whats the difference between an Oyster card and a Visitor Oyster card?

A Visitor Oyster card can be delivered to your home before your visit, or Oyster cards can be purchased at all London airports and stations. Visitor Oyster card holders also enjoy a range of special offers and discounts across the city.

Is Visitor Oyster card worth it?

Great value. Pay as you go fares are cheaper than buying a paper single ticket or Day Travelcard. Your Visitor Oyster card offers daily capping. This means you can travel as much as you like in a single day and the amount you pay for your travel is limited (or capped).

Where can visitors use a Visitor Oyster card?

What type of Oyster card do I need?

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 you will get a Visitor Oyster card.

Does an Oyster card cover all zones?

You can use a Visitor Oyster card in any zones, but your fare will vary depending on which zones you travel in. The card automatically calculates the cheapest fare for the zones you use.

Which Oyster Card Should You Get When Visiting London?

Is it cheaper to get an Oyster card or a Travelcard?

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.

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.

Can two persons use one Oyster card?

If you only have pay as you go credit on your Oyster card, you can lend it to someone else. Two people can't use the same contactless or Oyster card for a journey. If you have a Travelcard, Bus & Tram Pass or discount added to your Oyster card, you can't lend it to someone else.

Are Oyster cards being phased out?

“There will always be customers, such as children or those who need to manage their finances more carefully, who will benefit from the card.” However, TfL has no plans phase the Oyster card out.

Does Oyster card work outside 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.

Can I use Oyster card to Heathrow Airport?

Yes you can use your Oyster card to get to Heathrow, either on the tube or by using the Heathrow Express. The tube will include the journey in your daily cap, the Heathrow Express will not.

Can I top up a Visitor Oyster card online?

1. Re: Visitor Oyster card: online top-up? yeah just log in online, google oyster card and then click my account, then just set up the account or enter your oyster card number.

Can I buy a Visitor Oyster card at Gatwick Airport?

The Visitor Oyster Card is delivered to your home before you arrive in London. If you do not have a Visitor Oyster Card before you arrive, you can use contactless payment cards or mobile payments to ride the London Underground, or you can buy an Oyster card at Gatwick Airport's train station.

How can I get a discount on my Oyster card?

If you're 60 or over, you can get 1/3 discount on off-peak pay as you go travel. Add your discount to an Oyster card. You can also buy discounted Off-Peak Day Travelcards to travel: At any time on weekends and public holidays.

How do you travel around London?

Are Oyster cards still valid 2021?

From Monday 27 September 2021, your Oyster card will automatically cap at the weekly Travelcard fare (this is already available on a contactless card). The cap starts on Monday and ends Sunday, so it mainly benefits Londoners or those working in London.

What happens if I forget to tap out Oyster?

Please wait at least 48 hours as you might receive an automatic refund: Oyster - we'll automatically add it to your card the next time you touch in or out of a rail journey. Contactless - the refund will show on your next card statement, or we will adjust the fares charged when you next travel.

What happens if you tap in and out at the same station?

Same station exits

If you touch contactless (card or device) or an Oyster card on a yellow card reader when you enter a station, and then touch out to exit it within a short period of time, you'll be charged a same station exit: Between 0 - 2 minutes: a maximum fare.

What's 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.

Can I use my phone as an Oyster card?

TfL has launched its own official smartphone app, for checking Oyster card balances. The new app enables iPhone and Android smartphone owners to use their phone to add pay as you go credit or Travelcards to their Oyster card.

Is it cheaper to use Oyster card on trains?

The Oyster Card is a magnetic rechargeable plastic card valid for all of London's public transport. It not only simplifies the payment system, but it is also cheaper than paying for a single journey ticket every time you ride the Underground, bus, DLR or Overground.

Is contactless cheaper than buying a ticket?

You can add money to an Oyster card or use contactless (card or device) straight away. You only pay for the journeys you make and it's cheaper than buying a paper single or return ticket (train companies may offer special deals on some journeys).

Can I use my Oyster card from Gatwick to London?

Yes, you can travel between London and Gatwick using your Oyster card, although it's not always the cheapest ticket to Gatwick.