How do I get a monthly Oyster card?
At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At ticket machines at Tube, London Overground, most Elizabeth line and National Rail stations (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At Visitor Centres (All Visitor Centres sell 7 Day and Monthly Travelcards. Using pay as you go (paying only for the journeys you make when you travel) is the easiest and cheapest way to pay for travel in London. You don’t have to work out the cost of your journey in advance or buy tickets.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.If you have a Railcard or other discount, it may be cheaper to use your Oyster or Smartcard as you cannot apply a discount to pay as you go with contactless. However, you can travel further beyond London using pay as you go with contactless than you can with an Oyster card.One of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel around London is to use Oyster or contactless payment. You can use Oyster and contactless to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, the Cable Car, Elizabeth line, London Overground and National Rail services in London. London is divided into nine fare Zones.
Is an Oyster card better than a Travelcard?
A London transport Oyster card. Image courtesy of Shutterstock. 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. Generally, using an Oyster card is better value than buying a Day Travelcard. Oyster cards have daily and weekly spending caps which are the same as the cost of a Travelcard.A Visitor Oyster card costs £10 (plus postage) and is pre-loaded with pay as you go credit for you to spend on travel. You can choose how much credit to add to your card: £10, £15, £20, £25, £30, £35, £40 or £50. The credit on your card never expires – it stays there until you use it.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. You can also pay for your travel with a contactless payment card.A Visitor Oyster card costs £10 (plus postage) and is pre-loaded with pay as you go credit for you to spend on travel. You can choose how much credit to add to your card: £10, £15, £20, £25, £30, £35, £40 or £50. The credit on your card never expires – it stays there until you use it.Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass.
Should I buy an Oyster card before I go to London?
You can use it to pay for travel on public transport in London. Visitor Oyster cards are only available to buy before you arrive in London. They’re great value and can save you time as you won’t have to queue for a ticket. The price you’re charged for travel with Oyster or a contactless card is the same – and in both cases the overall amount you can pay in a day or a week is capped. However, using Oyster or a contactless card is cheaper than buying paper tickets for your travel.If you use the same card for all your journeys, your fares will be automatically capped daily and weekly (Monday to Sunday) so that you always pay the cheapest fare. Pay-as-you-go capping also applies when using Oyster or Visitor Oyster card.You can use it to pay for travel on public transport in London. Visitor Oyster cards are only available to buy before you arrive in London. They’re great value and can save you time as you won’t have to queue for a ticket. There is a daily cap on fares, you won’t pay any more for that day in the zones you travel in.A Travelcard gives you unlimited travel in the zones for which it is valid on National Rail services, London Underground and DLR. You can use it on all London Buses and, if valid in Zones 3, 4, 5 or 6, on all London Trams. Travelcards can start on any day.
Is it cheaper to pay by card or Oyster?
Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass. You can add money to your Oyster card at stations, online with a contactless and Oyster account, local news agents, or through the TfL Go app. Touch in with your Oyster card at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on yellow card readers to pay the right fare.
Is Oyster monthly worth it?
Initial Cost—The card has an upfront cost of £5, which might not be worth it if you’re not travelling much. Limited Utility – If your month-long stay has you mostly walking to nearby destinations or your travel is limited to specific zones, an Oyster card might not offer much value. 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.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. This may work out cheaper than a Travelcard.
Can I use my Oyster card at Heathrow Airport?
Yes, you can use your Oyster card on the Heathrow Express. Just like getting the tube or London Overground, you simply tap your Oyster on the ticket barriers as you enter and leave the station. At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At ticket machines at Tube, London Overground, most Elizabeth line and National Rail stations (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At Visitor Centres (All Visitor Centres sell 7 Day and Monthly Travelcards.