As a visitor to London, you have two options for purchasing London Underground tickets.
These are Travel Cards and Oyster Cards.
I tell you all about it in this complete article!
London Underground tickets: article summary
London Underground tickets: which one to choose?
The Visitor Oyster Card is a contactless smart card with credit that you can use to pay for your journeys on any public transport system in the Transport for London network.
It is valid in all travel zones and automatically calculates the cheapest total fare for all the journeys you make in a single day.
Notable differences
The Travelcard is a paper pass for London, valid for a single day or seven days, and available for certain combinations of travel zones. It is also valid on all the network's public transport.
Whether you should take the Travelcard or the Oyster Card depends on how long you'll be in London and how often you'll be using public transport.
If you're in London for a week and plan to use the central London areas only on a daily basis, a 7-day Travelcard is available. could be the most cost-effective option.
If you're planning to stay in London for a shorter period, or want to travel to the outskirts of the city, the cost of the pay-as-you-go Oyster Card may be cheaper.
Can families or groups use the same Travelcard?
No, everyone must have their own London Travelcard, except under-11s, who must have their own London Travelcard. travel free of charge with a paying adult.
London Underground tickets: how much does the London Travelcard cost?
Travelcard prices start at £7.30 for a one-day Travelcard in central London and go up to £57.20 for a 7-day Travelcard covering zones 1 to 6.
Subscriptions for children cost about half this price.
Can I use my Travelcard on a bus?
Yes, your Travelcard can be used on any regular London bus operated by TfL, no matter what zones you cross.
Travelcards are not valid on London Sightseeing buses or on buses operated by companies other than TfL.
London Underground tickets: Travelcards at a glance
Travelcards allow you to travel as often as you like on :
They are valid for one or seven days and are issued in the form of paper tickets.
Children under 11 travel free on London Underground and London Overground services. when accompanied by a paying adult.
Children under the age of 11 travel free of charge on bus at any time.
The Oyster Card: at a glance
Oyster cards are plastic smart cards that you can use instead of paper tickets.
You get credit as you use it when you travel. This is the way the cheapest way to pay for single trips.
You can buy credits in the following values:
- 10 £
- 15 £
- 20 £
- 30 £
- 40 £
- 50 £
Please note that there is a £3 activation fee.
Whether you opt for a paper ticket or a travel card, you'll be able to move around the London network. You can then to help you get around and enjoy your vacation in England!
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Hello,
What about debit or credit cards?
Is it possible to pay with all these cards?
Thank you
Hello Udo!
Yes, you can use debit or credit cards with contactless payment to pay for your journeys on the London Underground. Accepted cards include Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro, provided they carry the contactless symbol.
Am I to understand that when I purchase an Oyster Visitor Pass at a cost of £84,
I have access to the metro, the train and the entrances to the various sites to visit identified on the site?
Does this card allow me to take the train or other public transport between Heathrow and central London?
Hello Pierre!
The £84 Visitor Oyster Card only includes credit for public transport in London (subway, bus, streetcar, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth Line, etc.) and does not give access to tourist attractions, unlike the London Pass; it does allow you to reach central London from Heathrow airport via the subway or the Elizabeth Line (but not via the Heathrow Express, which requires a separate ticket).