Tips for Buying and Using the Oyster Card in London

November 18, 2016 - 34 Replies

London is one of the top travel destinations in the world, but navigating this large city can be overwhelming for a first time visitor. Using an Oyster card, a credit card sized transport smartcard, is an easy way to save time and money if you are planning to use public transportation in London. An Oyster card can be used on just about every form of transport within London including public bus, tram, and rail services within the city. Our goal is help you decide if an Oyster card is a good fit for you and to help you effectively use your card on public transportation in London. First we’ll cover the main types of Oyster cards that are available, how to choose the best one, and how to buy an Oyster card. Then we’ll talk about where you can use them, how to use them for travel, how to recharge the cards, registering your card, and note important travel exclusions for visitors. Finally we’ll cover special issues such as how to get refunds, avoiding double payments, available discounts and concessions, the alternative option of using contactless cards, the use of pink readers, and tips for those traveling with children.

What is the London Oyster Card?

An Oyster card is a credit card sized card that can be used to electronically pay for travel on London transport. All you have to do is load the card with credit, and then you can use it for nearly all your public transport needs around London without having to buy individual tickets.

Why You Should Buy An Oyster Card in London?

The best reason to get an Oyster card is cost savings and convenience! It is significantly cheaper to travel in London using an Oyster card than it is to purchase individual tickets for each trip. The only reason you would want to just buy individual tickets is if you are only using public transportation once or twice during your stay. However, the average visitor will use public transportation multiple times each day and the Oyster card can save both time and money. As an example, traveling from Zone 1 to Zone 2 on the tube will cost you £2.40 off-peak using an Oyster card versus £4.90 if you buy a single ticket. So you’d pay more than twice as much if you bought individual tickets versus using the Oyster card! For another example, a tram fare in London is £1.50 using the Oyster card versus £2.60 for an individual ticket. In almost all cases, the Oyster card will save you money over purchasing an individual ticket.

Oyster cards also have a capping system, which can save you even more money. There is a maximum amount that you can be charged on a daily basis (days run from 4.30am to 4.29am the next day) for traveling in different zones. After you exceed that amount in one day, your travel is free for the rest of the day. Capping varies based on the zones you travel in, but for example, for peak travel in Zones 1 & 2, the maximum daily fee is £6.60. So no matter how many times you travel on public transport using your Oyster card in London’s zones 1 and 2, you will never be charged more than £6.60 a day.

An additional cost saving benefit for families is that children under the age of 11 (up to four), can travel for free on London’s public transport if in the company of an adult holding a valid Oyster card.

In terms of practicality, it’s a lot more convenient to use an Oyster card when traveling in London. They’re accepted on nearly all forms of London’s public transport network, and you just swipe them on the Oyster reader to validate your transport. You don’t have to keep fiddling with loose change or buy individual tickets – an option that isn’t always available anyway. For example, on London buses there are no facilities to buy tickets onboard or at most bus stops.

If you’re interested in learning about all the different types of transport options available, check out Laurence’s post which gives an overview of all the major London transport options. There are a lot of ways to get you around London!

Types of Oyster Cards

There are two main types of Oyster card: the standard Oyster card and the Visitor Oyster card. We’ll talk about each and their primary differences to help you decide which is the best fit for you.

Standard Oyster Card versus Visitor Oyster Card

The standard Oyster card is a credit card sized piece of blue plastic. The Visitor Oyster card is the same format, but is more elaborately visual, with an artistic design. Other than external appearance, the standard and Visitor Oyster cards offer the same functionality in terms of transport options and are used in the same way. They can both be recharged (topped up) and are designed to be a travel card that you can keep and use for a prolonged period of time. Both cards allow you to obtain a refund for any unused balance (see more on obtaining refunds later in the post). The main differences are the fee for obtaining the card, ability to use travelcards with the card, offers attached to the cards, and where you can buy them.

Fees. First, in terms of fees, the blue standard Oyster card has a refundable £5 deposit that you can have refunded when you are done with it. The Visitor Oyster card has a non-refundable £5 activation fee.

NOTE: The Visitor Oyster card activation fee changed from £3 to £5 beginning September 17, 2017.

Travelcards. The standard Oyster card allows visitors to add travelcards and bus and tram passes onto the card and the Visitor Oyster card does not. This is unlikely to matter for those staying for only a short time in London, but if you are staying a week or more in London, you may want to consider loading a 7-day London Travelcard onto a standard Oyster card. These are useful if you are visiting London for a week or more and are planning on doing a lot of travel, as these allow you to travel for an unlimited number of journeys within certain zones for a fixed price. For example, a 7 day zone 1 & 2 travelcard will cost you £33 at current prices. If you consider that the fare cap price for daily use in these zones is £6.60, then a week of travel hitting that cap every day would cost you £45.50. In that scenario, a travelcard could save you £13.10. The Bus and Tram passes can be a good choice for those ONLY using bus and/or tram travel in London. The Visitor Oyster card does not support travelcards, presumably because most visitors are in London for a shorter period of time, and the added complexity of choice that the travelcard system adds outweighs the potential benefits for most visitors.

Discounts and offers. The Visitor Oyster card is designed for travelers to London and the card can be used to obtain a number of discounts throughout the city on food, shopping, attractions, theatre tickets, and other London experiences. You can see a list of current Visitor Oyster Card discounts online. The standard Oyster card does not have these perks or discounts.

The decision over the Visitor Oyster card versus the standard Oyster card comes down to the difference in fees, whether or not you want to add a travelcard, if you plan to take advantage of the discounts associated with the Visitor Oyster card, and convenience of purchase (discussed in the next section). Both these cards give you full access to the majority of London’s public transport network, including the London Underground (Tube), city buses, Docklands Light Railway, and many overground trains, including the Gatwick Express train from Gatwick Airport.

How to Buy an Oyster Card

You have a number of options for purchasing an Oyster card for your trip to London, including online, in person, and as part of the London Pass. The ways to purchase the standard Oyster card and the Visitor Oyster card differ and are noted below. Visitors wanting to obtain a pass before they arrive in London should plan ahead and consider buying the Visitor Oyster card online before their trip.

Online

The standard Oyster card can be purchased online, but can ONLY be shipped to a UK address (free shipping).

The Visitor Oyster card can be purchased online before you visit London and is available for shipping worldwide. If you are thinking about going to a lot of attractions and museums in London, you may also want to consider the London Pass option below as well.

In Person

You can purchase a standard Oyster card on arrival into London. You can buy the standard Oyster card from places throughout London, including at most major tourist arrival points such as London Heathrow and London Gatwick. They are for sale from Underground ticket machines, Oyster ticket stops (a series of businesses around London, see Oyster map here for nearest location), London Overground ticket offices, train station ticket offices, and London Transport Visitor Centres.

Visitor Oyster cards can also be purchased in person, but not once you are actually in London (except if you purchase them with a London Pass, see below). You can buy them from overseas travel agencies and some UK visitors’ centers. They are also available onboard Eurostar trains traveling to London and at Gatwick & Stansted airport.

As part of the London Pass

You can also purchase the Oyster card as part of a London Pass purchase, killing two birds with one stone. A London Pass is a fantastic way to save money on London attractions (read our full London Pass review here), giving you free access to over sixty of London’s top attractions, as well as some skip the line privileges. When you buy a London Pass, you have the option to add a Visitor Oyster card, which comes preloaded with a set amount of credit depending on the length of London Pass you choose. You can then reload it with credit as needed.

London passes with a Visitor Oyster card can be purchased online or in person in London. You can only buy them in person at the London Pass Redemption Centre Desk located at 11a Charing Cross Road London, WC2H 0EP.

How to Use an Oyster Card to Travel Within London

We’ll cover where you can use your Oyster card, how to use it at the stations, how to add credit to your card, and even how to get a credit refund. These are the same for both the standard Oyster card and the Visitor Oyster card.

Where you can use your Oyster Card

Travel Within London

An Oyster card covers the majority of public transport options in London, including buses, trams, Underground Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), TfL Rail services and London Overground services in Zones 1-9, all suburban national rail services in zones 1-9, Thames Clipper River Bus services, and the Emirates Air Line cablecar service. This essentially means that almost all tourist attractions and hotels can be easily reached via public transportation with the Oyster card and you can get to all the major rail stations within the city if you are planning a rail journey to another part of the country or to an international destination.

Travel to Airports

You can also use the Oyster card for some additional train services, including to Gatwick Airport. It is not currently valid for Heathrow Express, Stansted Express, or services to London Luton airport. You can however use an Oyster card to travel via Underground from all Heathrow Terminals, which is the most cost effective way of getting from Heathrow Airport into London. You can also use your Oyster card to get to and from London City Airport, via the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

Exclusions you should Know

As mentioned above, the Oyster card does not cover Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect services. Oyster cards are not accepted on East Midlands Trains, Grand Central, Hull Trains, Virgin Trains, or Virgin Trains East Coast services – essentially, you cannot use your Oyster Card for rail or bus services where the journey starts or finishes outside of London, with the specific exemption of those destin ations listed on the Oyster website. If in doubt, ask a badged member of staff at a station.

There are a some popular tourist destinations inside and near London that you might want to visit, and wonder if you can use your Oyster card to visit, such as Hampton Court Palace, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, and Windsor Castle. For Hampton Court Palace, you can use your Oyster card to travel to it, as it is in Zone 6 and can be reached by train or bus. For the Harry Potter studio tour, you can use your Oyster Card to travel via National Rail train to the Watford Junction station and then you can take the studio tour shuttle to the film studios (must have a studio ticket purchased in advance). For Windsor Castle, you cannot use your Oyster card, as Windsor Castle is outside London. However, as a tip for those who have a London Pass, you can use your London Pass to travel to Windsor Castle from Paddington Station for free. Read more about how to do that in our full review of the pros and cons of the London pass.

How to Use the Oyster Card for Travel

Using an Oyster card is very easy and it is the same whether you have a standard Oyster Card or a Visitor Oyster Card. All the forms of transport that accept an Oyster card have a large circular yellow reader that you just have to touch your card onto. For access to tube stations, this card reader controls the turnstiles or gates.

For most journeys in London, including London Underground Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), rail journeys, and Thames Clippers boats, you have to touch a yellow reader both when entering and exiting the station/dock. In most cases it is hard not to tag the card as you exit, because the majority of these stations have a gate to exit that is activated to open with your Oyster card. However, not all do, so it is important to remember to tag off. The reason this is important is because fares vary based on distance, so if you don’t touch out, the system will assume you have gone the maximum distance, and may charge you a much higher fare than you need to pay.

When you touch the Oyster reader, it will show either a green light or a red light. A green light indicates that you have sufficient credit for your journey. At gated stations, this will open the gate or allow you to proceed through the turnstile. If the light is red, this indicates that you do not have enough credit, and you need to purchase more credit before you can continue your journey. If you have enough credit and think there is something wrong with your card, find a staff member to assist you.

For bus and tram journeys which are fixed price, you only need to touch the Oyster reader at the start of your journey when you board. Do NOT touch out when you get off a bus or tram, or you will be issued with an additional fare. For more information on each form of public transportation, check out Laurence’s post that covers the basics of all forms of London public transit.

How to Top Up Your Oyster Card

There are a number of options for topping up (aka recharging or reloading) your Oyster Card, or adding more travel credit. The easiest way is at London Underground Tube, London Overground or TfL Rail stations, where you can use ticket machines to top up your card. Simply touch your card to the yellow reader at one of these machines and follow onscreen instructions. Don’t forget to touch your card to the reader at the end of the process to check to ensure the top up is correctly applied. You can also add credit in person at a ticket desk in a station or Visitor Centre or at a Oyster Ticket Stop within the city. Finally, if you have a UK address, you can register your card online, and top it up online using a credit or debit card.

Adding a Travel Card

If you purchase a standard Oyster card, you can add travelcards to your Oyster card if you would like to pre-pay for your travels. The most common reason a visitor would use this option is to add a 7 Day Travelcard. These can be added at ticket machines at Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and National Rail stations or ticket offices at London Overground, TfL Rail and National Rail stations, London visitor centres. If you reside within the UK and have registered your standard Oyster card, you can also add travelcards online.

Getting a Refund on your Oyster Card

When you leave London, you have the option to get a refund for your Oyster Card for any unused credit that is left on the card. You can also keep the card for a future visit as the credit never expires. If you had a Visitor Oyster card and may return to London, this might be a better option at the activation fee of £5 is non-refundable, so that money is lost. For a standard Oyster card, the £5 deposit is refundable, so you can get this money back if you wish.

If there is less than £10 credit on your Oyster card, you can get this refunded at any Underground Tube station Oyster machine. Just follow the on-screen instructions. Note that 48 hours needs to have elapsed from the time you first used the Oyster card in order for you to be able to get your refund. If you get a refund from an Oyster card machine at a station, your card will also be canceled, meaning you will lose the £5 activation fee if you have a Visitor Oyster card.

If you think you may be back to London, a better option to obtain refunds for those with either type of Oyster card is to go to a TfL visitor center. Here they will be able to refund the credit on your card, but they will return the card to you in working order, meaning you will be able to use it again. This way you will not need to pay an activation fee on your next visit.

Finally, you can apply for a refund by post, by sending a letter to TfL Customer Services, 14 Pier Walk, 4th Floor, London SE10 0ES, United Kingdom. Refunds are issued in the form of a GBP cheque, which may be problematic to cash for visitors who are not from the UK. I’d suggest avoiding this option if possible, and getting a refund in person at a visitor center if you can.

You can read all about the various options for getting a refund on your visitor Oyster card here, and standard Oyster cards here.

Note that if you have unused credit on an Oyster card, another option is you can give the card with unused credit to a family member or friend who plans to visit London. This is a particularly good idea for those who do not plan to return to London and forgot to get the credit refunded before they left the city.

Registering and Protecting your Oyster Card

Standard Oyster cards can be registered, but only if you register it with a UK address. If you have a UK address (or if you have friends or family with a UK address), it is recommended that you register your card so that you are better protected in case of theft or loss. 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.

I have an Issue with my Oyster Card

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. If that doesn’t work and you still need assistance, you can call the Transport for London hotline at +44 343 222 1234 (8am to 8pm GMT) and choose the Oyster card option. Note that fees may apply for the call.

Things to Be Aware Of Concerning Oyster Cards

Contactless cards as an Alternative Option

In recent years the Oyster card system has been upgraded to support new “contactless” card technology. 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. You can read about the different types of payment option for London’s transport and how Cash vs. Oyster Cards vs. 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.

Avoiding “Double scanning” and “Card Clash”

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. The main thing to be aware of is that if you keep your Oyster card in your wallet or billfold, and don’t take it out to scan it, if your wallet also contains a contactless debit or cred card then the Oyster reader will not know which card to charge, which may result in you being charged more than once for your journey. 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.

Pink Card Readers

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.

Discounted Fares with Oyster Card

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. If you think you may be eligible, you can check out the various London transport discounts and concessions online BEFORE deciding to purchase a Oyster card. Visitors traveling with children should check out the next section.

Special Tips for Families Traveling with Children

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. Both the standard Oyster card and Visitor Oyster card can be used with discounted travel with children. Here are some tips for using the Oyster card for families with children:

- If you are traveling with children, they are eligible for discounted travel on London transport. Up to four children under the age of 11 can travel for free with an adult holding a valid Oyster card on Tube, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services. You will need to see a member of staff at stations with barriers in order to get them in and out of the station on your card.

- Children under the age of 11 can travel for free on buses and trams in London unaccompanied by an adult, and they do not need an Oyster card or a ticket.

- Children aged 11 – 15 can apply for a Zip Oyster photocard. This entitles them to free travel on all buses and trams in London, and half price fares on other TfL services in London. Children aged 16 -17 can also apply for a Zip Oyster photocard, which entitles them to half-rate travel on all TfL services. A Zip Oyster photocard can only be applied for online. If you are in the UK, it takes a week to process. Applications from outside the UK must apply at least four weeks in advance. Full details and the application process can be found here.

- If you are already in London, or are too late to apply for a Zip Oyster photocard, you still have options for discounted child fares. You can have what is called a Young Visitor discount applied to a normal Oyster card. For this to work, you need an Oyster card for each child aged 11-15. This can be either a visitor Oyster card or a standard Oyster card. The Young Visitor discount allows for half adult fares on bus, tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and eligible National Rail services that accept Oyster. Unlike the Zip Oyster photocard, it does not give free travel on bus or tram services. To have the Young Visitor discount applied to an Oyster card, you need to see a member of staff at a Tube station, TfL Rail ticket office, TfL visitor centre (excluding Gatwick Airport) or the Victoria National Rail Station ticket office. See more about the Young Visitor discount here.

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. If you’re visiting London, you can plan in advance and purchase your Visitor Oyster card or London Pass online now!

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.

34 thoughts on “Tips for Buying and Using the Oyster Card in London”

Anda November 18, 2016 at 1:01 pm
I don’t think the Oyster Card existed when I was in London. It’s the first time I hear about it, but it seems like a very convenient way to use London’s public transportation. Great information!
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1. travelcats Post authorNovember 18, 2016 at 1:10 pm
  Hi Anda, I think the Oyster card was first introduced in 2003 although pretty limited in its use back then. Until recently about 80% of public transit was being done with an Oyster card, but now they are starting to decline in use. Transport for London introduced contactless card readers in 2015 and hope to push those now and phase out cash, paper tickets, and Oyster cards. However, contactless cards only work if you have one and not all international contactless cards are compatible and many charge international transaction fees, making Oyster cards still the better option for many travelers. One thing is certain, things just keep changing! ~ Jessica
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Paul and Carole November 18, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Thanks for this useful information, we are visiting for 5 days in April so will Pin this for future reference! Thanks for sharing. #TheWeeklyPostcard
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1. travelcats Post authorNovember 18, 2016 at 5:12 pm
  Hi Paul & Carole, Since you guys live in the UK, you probably have a contactless card that will work on the London public transit. It essentially works the same as an Oyster card but you can just use your own card you already own. If you already have an Tlf account for an Oyster card, you can simply add your contactless card to it as well. Here is a link to Laurence’s using Contactless versus Oyster card for London transit post which may be useful before your trip. ~ Jessica
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  1. Paul and Carole November 19, 2016 at 3:02 am
    Thanks for the tip regarding the contactless card didn’t know that. Will check out Laurence’s post. Thanks again for the tip!
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    1. travelcats Post authorNovember 19, 2016 at 3:12 pm
      You’re very welcome. That article should help you decide whether an Oyster card or a contactless card is best for you as there are some situations where contactless isn’t a good option (e.g., if you are eligible for a discounted fare). ~ Jessica
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annette charlton November 18, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Thanks for all this info! I seem to collect Oyster Cards… we bring them home after each trip from England but don’t always remember to pack them in the suitcases when returning. Because we are a family of five I am inevitably buying one or two more each trip for the kids. I have a fortune in UK pounds sitting in my top drawer on all our Oyster Cards… LOL !!
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1. travelcats Post authorNovember 19, 2016 at 2:53 pm
  Hi Annette, Yes, it sounds like you are probably losing money on Oyster cards so you may want to just get the refunds for the unpaid balances before you leave each time if you have that many cards. Also, if you have children, you can be getting significant discounts on their fares (or they could be riding for free on you Oyster card) depending on their ages. A lot of visitors don’t know about the discounts or how to claim unused credit. Enjoy your next trip to London! Best, Jessica
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Anisa November 18, 2016 at 6:58 pm
Wow this is definitely the most comprehensive post I have read on Oyster cards. I travel to London frequently and I didn’t even know there was a visitor card. I have the regular Oyster card and I did not know a lot of this. Thanks so much for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard
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1. travelcats Post authorNovember 19, 2016 at 2:56 pm
  Hi Anisa, Yes, there are the two main types of Oyster cards, but they essentially work the same way. One of the advantages of the standard Oyster card is that you can add the travelcards and passes which can be great if you are staying in London for a week or more. If you have a UK address, I would recommend registering your card to protect it in case of theft or loss if you have not done so already. This also allows you to do more things online like track your travel and add credit! Best, Jessica
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[email protected] on Tour November 18, 2016 at 8:43 pm
Great advice on how to use the Oyster Card.
Often these public transport cards have so many rules and regulations it just becomes too hard for the traveller.
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1. travelcats Post authorNovember 19, 2016 at 3:02 pm
  Hi Sally, Yes, with a city as big as London with so many public transportation options, it can be a bit complicated. Although I do have to say that having an Oyster card makes it a lot easier (no purchasing of individual tickets or needing to wait in line for tickets) than in many cities. Hopefully this post will help future travelers use their Oyster cards in London! ~ Jessica
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Different Shores November 20, 2016 at 12:26 am
Very useful guide. I needed this when I was in London. I didn’t know what to do so just paid contactless everywhere and got charged loads…
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1. travelcats Post authorNovember 20, 2016 at 5:13 am
  Glad you enjoyed it and hope it helps you on your next trip to London. Although if you used a contactless payment card on yoru list trip, the fares and capping is similar to an Oyster card so you were probably charged the same as if you used an Oyster card, but it is good to check it out before your next trip! Best, Jessica
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Kevin January 5, 2017 at 6:57 am
Great info! We will be traveling with two 10 year olds for a week in April. Would it be worth it to preorder the child oyster card (zipOyster I believe it’s called)? We will mostly remain in London, but we will need to take the train in from Gatwick and are planning a day out to the Harry Potter studios. I’m wondering if it would be worth the 20 pounds to be able to tap in and out rather then have an attendant let them through. Thanks for any help!
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1. travelcats Post authorJanuary 5, 2017 at 7:31 am
  Hi Kevin,
  Glad you found our London Oyster card post helpful; it can be a bit tricky! Note that you can take the Underground (Tube) to Watford Junction station with the Oyster Card to connect to the Warner Brothers Studio Harry Potter Studio tour shuttle without needing to buy any tickets.
  In your case, my guess is that the cost savings will probably be similar to the £20 you spend on the Zip Photos Cards for 5-10 year olds, but it depends a bit on which service you take from Gatwick as the Gatwick Express is the most expensive and the other Rail trains are less expensive for both adults and children. I would examine how much it will cost you to buy the tickets at full price and then how much at the child rate in the few instances you plan to travel outside of Oyster card coverage. You can check single fares for tickets here. The other thing to double check is whether or not the Visitor Center at Gatwick will be open when you arrive into London as you’ll need to pick up the Zip Photocards if you apply for them; so for instance if you arrive late at night into the airport you won’t be able to use them for your Gatwick travels. In terms of getting through barriers, we have never had much problem with staff letting people through as most stations are well staffed at gated stations and there is often a wider aisle lane that is unlocked designated for wheelchair users/families/dog owners etc. in case there are no staff handy. If you decide not to get a Zip card for your children, I would also recommend always having proof of their ages handy just in case you need to show they are under 11 years of age. You may get asked to verify their ages if they look older for the child-rate train tickets. Best and happy travels to London! Jessica
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Arnaud April 17, 2017 at 11:18 am
Great tips! There is one thing that would need to be updated on your article.
Fares with the Oyster Card have been changed since you published this, the daily fee is now £6.60, while a 7-day pass costs £33.
I really like your blog!
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorApril 18, 2017 at 4:23 am
  Hi Arnaud, Thanks so much for the updated prices. I have updated the post with the new Oyster Card pass fees – £33 for a 7-day pass and the daily cap of £6.60. ~ Jessica
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Carrie Johnstone May 25, 2017 at 6:22 am
Hi there! Great article but I’m still confused as to which one will be best. We have two adults, one 17 and one fifteen year old. We will be traveling to London from Edinburgh on a train. We will have a half day after the train, and 4 full days of site seeing and leaving Sunday morning from Gatwick (so to be able to get to Gatwick would be helpful). I’d like to be able to ride during the busy times so we can get to the sites early. I’ll probably buy us all a 6 day London Pass as well. Do I need a Visitor or Standard Oyster card? Do I need a Travel card for a trip of that duration since I’m not there a full week? What are your recommendations?
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorMay 25, 2017 at 7:55 am
  Hi Carrie,
  The differences between the two Oyster Cards can be confusing. Since you are in the city for less than 7 days and won’t need to use the travelcards, there is not a whole lot of difference between the two types of Oyster cards for adults. If you are already buying the London Passes, I’d just purchase the London Passes + Travel for the adults.
  However, for the kids, since they are over 11, they are not eligible for free travel on your cards, but as noted in the post, you can apply to get them special IDs (Zip Oyster photocards) so they receive free and discounted travel in London. You do need to apply for this ahead of time (4 weeks or more in advance if based outside UK). I would recommend doing that if you can. However, if you do not/cannot apply for the Zip Oyster photocards, you can choose to just get them a regular Visitor Oyster Card (would come with the London Pass for your 17 year old), use the off-peak child travelcard (it also comes with the London Pass for 11-15 year olds, but does have some time restrictions), or purchase child tickets as you go. The first will save you time as you just tap it and go (and refill as needed), the second one gives you the child rates but is restricted during peak hours (if you are traveling during morning rush hour you may need to purchase a separate ticket), or you can just pay for tickets as you go (may save you money vs. the Oyster card, but takes more time). There is currently no regular Oyster Card for kids.
  The Oyster cards can be used to get to Gatwick (underground and National Rail) from central London (e.g., Kings Cross, Victoria Station) and it is pay as you go so I’d advise traveling during off-peak hours if you can to save money. The cards can also be used on the Gatwick Express train to the airport; however, it costs £19.80 for a single journey.
  Since you are coming from Edinburgh, it is easy for you to either pick the passes up in London on arrival or you can have them mailed to you beforehand (if you were flying in it is often better to have them beforehand so you can use them to get into the city).
  Hope this helps and hope you have a great time in Edinburgh (our current home!) and London,
  Jessica
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John June 18, 2017 at 3:48 am
Hi. You cover an enormous amount here on London Oyster cards but there is one more little thing please. I have a visitor Oyster card from a previous trip. Now my wife and I are heading to London for 4 days. Can we both operate off the one card or does my wife need her own. Obviously if we use just one we will need to top it up with more credit than if just I use it. It would mean we don’t need to get a standard Oyster card on arrival and not pay 5 pound ( even though it is refundable – just less hassle using just one ).
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorJune 18, 2017 at 6:31 am
  Hi John, Glad this was helpful to you. In terms of your question about two people using one London Oyster card, unfortunately only one person can use a Oyster Card at a time to travel. If you are traveling at separate times, you could potentially then share the same card but if you are traveling together you cannot as it will tag on and off every time you swipe it. So your wife will need to get a Oyster card or buy individual tickets to travel with you. In terms of current fees, the blue standard Oyster card has a refundable £5 deposit that you can have refunded when you are done with it. The Visitor Oyster card has a non-refundable £3 activation fee. So if you want you can get the £5 deposit refunded to you at the end of your trip. The great thing about both cards is that you can save them and use them on future trips and just keep adding credit. Hope this helps and have a great time in London! Best, Jessica
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Sue K July 1, 2017 at 7:41 am
We are two couples travelling together in our 60 s we have Oyster cards from our previous visits Is it possible for us to load our cards before we arrive in London We will only be there 4 days but in the past found plenty of use for them was hoping to load on line if possible. Cheers Sue
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorJuly 1, 2017 at 7:43 am
  Hi Sue,
  The short answer is that it depends but you are probably not able to add credit online unless you have a UK address. If you have a Visitor Oyster Card, then there is no way to top them up online. However, if you have a standard Oyster Card then you can register them online and top them up when logged into your account; however, I believe you need to have a UK address to be able to have an online account. If you have a UK address, you can find out more about that here.
  If you are not living in the UK (or purchased a Visitor Oyster Card), it is easy to top up your Oyster Card at any of the Underground stations through the machines. This is what I would recommend doing as it is very easy to do it at the machines and probably quicker than registering and topping up online if you don’t live in London or visit that often.
  Best,
  Jessica
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Subodh Mehta August 11, 2017 at 7:26 pm
The best-written description and advice I have found so far about Oyster cards. Thanks a lot, Jessica and Laurence, is really useful. I am taking a trip to London with my wife for 5 days in September in two parts. Oyster card seems a very good option. Not sure about London pass as I have read opposing views on the pass.I will explore this site further for other parts of Europe too.
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorAugust 12, 2017 at 1:43 am
  Hi Subodh, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Glad that you found this article useful and glad it helped you decide about whether or not to get an Oyster Card for your trip to London. The London Pass is typically a good value and will save you money if you plan to visit a number of attractions. However, it depends on your time in London as it has to be used on consecutive days. So if you are in London for 3 days and then 2 days, I would recommend checking out the 3-day London Pass. The potential money savings increases with the pass duration. Enjoy your trip to London! Best, Jessica
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soo August 13, 2017 at 10:14 pm
Is it cheaper for me to load a 1 month travel card into my Oyster card as I will be staying in London for almost 7 weeks?
Most travels will be in zones 1 and 2 with a few days to zone 4.
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorAugust 14, 2017 at 11:25 am
  Hi Soo, It depends on who much you are traveling and I would compare the daily fare X the number of times you think you’ll be traveling each week and then compare that cost against the 1 month travel card to see which will be the better value for you. If you are making a few trips each day on public transit then you’ll probably save money with a monthly Travelcard. If you already have a registered Oyster Card, you can purchase and add the Travelcard online or at a station. Best, Jessica
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Tamara September 4, 2017 at 11:48 am
This information is so awesome! Thank you so much. Next month, my husband and I are traveling to London, then to Southhampton for a cruise. We will stay in Paddington for 2 days, then 1 night in Southhampton before the cruise. Since Southhampton isn’t in the city of London, would we be able to travel from Paddington to Waterloo with the Oyster card, then take a train to Southhampton that I heard about? Not sure how that works.
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorSeptember 4, 2017 at 12:15 pm
  Hi Tamara, Ok, so you are staying near Paddington station in London and then heading to Southampton correct? You can use the Oyster Card to travel from Paddington to Waterloo station but you can’t use it to get to Southampton as it is way too far outside of London. So once you get to Waterloo, you will need to purchase a regular train ticket for your journey onto Southampton (you can buy at the station or book in advance online). Normally it is cheaper to book in advance online if you can. Have a great time in London and enjoy your cruise – we were just in Southampton about a week ago 😉 For tips on things to do in London you can check out our 2 day London itinerary and our more detailed 6 day London itinerary. Best, Jessica
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  1. Tamara September 4, 2017 at 12:37 pm
    Thanks so much. Any tips on what train we should select in Waterloo for our trip to Southampton? I will definitely check out the two day London itinerary. Anything fun to do in Southampton?
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    1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorSeptember 4, 2017 at 1:14 pm
      Hi Tamara, Any Overground train will be about the same and takes about 1 hour 15 min to 1 hr 30 min- just depends on the date/time and which station you want to arrive into in Southampton. You can put your details into the Transport for London journey planner for the options. We were actually there on our way to catch the ferry to the Isle of Wight so don’t have any recs but I would stop in at the tourism office for some suggestions and a walking map. Enjoy your trip, Jessica
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Debbie September 27, 2017 at 4:43 am
I am travelling to London from Kent in October with my 12 year old daughter. We arrive Friday evening and Leave Sunday afternoon. My head is spinning with travel options – last time I went to London I just gave 30 pence to the bus driver.
If I tell you what I plan to do perhaps you can tell me (in words of one syllable) if it is viable/sensible?
OK, the plan is to:
1 .Buy return rail tickets on line in advance
2. Buy 2 blue oyster cards with £20 on each online. (Staying in Kings cross, Shopping in Oxford St., Camden etc.)
3. Go to ticket office when we get to London Bridge and have staff put child discount on 1 oyster card for my daughter.
4. I know I can use my debit card but I would rather be waving around my oyster card in public than my debit card!
Any (simple) advice appreciated 🙂
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1. Jessica & Laurence Norah Post authorSeptember 27, 2017 at 5:22 am
  Hi Debbie,
  Yes, traveling in London can be confusing as there are so many options and so many types of public transit. A good and bad thing! I think getting an Oyster Card is a good choice for you and I think your plan sounds like it would work fine. The only things I would add is that 1.) check out whether a Zip Oyster Card or just applying a child discount to a regular Oyster Card would be a better value for your daughter, and 2.) I would be sure to register both of your Oyster Cards online once you receive them in the mail to better protect them in case they are lost, stolen, or damaged.
  See specific answers below to your questions:
  1. Yes, buying train tickets in advance can definitely save you money in the UK!
  2. Yes, I’d get a regular Oyster Card for you (not a Visitor one since it sounds like you live in the UK) and then you can top them off as needed at the Underground stations if you use more than the £20. For your daughter, I’d check the difference online between applying for the Zip Oyster photocard versus the Young Visitor discount applied to a normal Oyster card. As she is 12, a Zip Oyster Card (she could use until age 16) would give her free travel on any bus or tram in London plus child rate on most other forms of transit (Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line and most National Rail services in London).
  3. Yes, that is a good plan if you want to apply a child discount to a normal Oyster Card. If you get a Zip Oyster card, it should work just like the regular Oyster Cards and you should be able to top them off in self-service Tube machines, at ticket windows, or online.
  4. Yes, definitely can be safer. I’d register your Oyster Cards online once you have them to better protect them if lost or stolen and then you can also track your credit, top them off, and get other information online from your account.
  Hope this helps, and wishing you a fun and safe trip to London!
  Jessica
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