Gettin’ Carried Away

If you’re taking a trip to London, you’ll most likely be using public transportation to get around the city. Forget about purchasing a one-day or three-day travelcard; I highly recommend getting an Oyster Card.

What is an Oyster Card?

An Oyster Card is a “Pay As You Go” plastic card (resembling a credit card) that you credit with money. That money gets deducted every time you use a London bus or the Underground.

Where can I get an Oyster Card?

You can get an Oyster Card online, but make sure to do this well before your journey, as it will be mailed to you. If you want to wait until you get to London, you will be able to get an Oyster Card at the Underground station in Heathrow Airport and in Gatwick Airport. Many of the centrally located Tube stations can also provide you with an Oyster Card. However, if you forgot to buy one at the airport, a newsagent would be good place to look, as well.

Do I have to pay for the Oyster Card?

You do have to pay a £3 deposit to get an Oyster Card. However, the money will be refunded if you choose to return the Oyster Card at the end of your trip.

How is an Oyster Card better than a Travelcard?

• A travelcard is only valid for the exact days you specify, whereas an Oyster Card is only debited when it is used. Even if you leave London for a year, when you come back, the money on your Oyster Card will still be useful.
• A single cash fare (one ride) costs £4 for the Tube and £2 for the bus, while a single ride using an Oyster Card costs £1.60 for a Tube ride and £1 for a bus ride.
• There is a cap rate for the Oyster card. This means, you can travel as much as you want in a 24-hour period, and you will be charged LESS than the total of a one-day travelcard. For example, a one-day travelcard for Zones 1 and 2 during peak hours costs £7.20. With an Oyster Card, you can take as many trips as you want during peak hours for £6.70.

This sounds too good to be true–are there any negatives to using an Oyster Card?

Just a few…

• When you return the card, if more than £5 is left on it, you’ll have to fill out a form and wait for a check. Remember, your refund will be issued in Sterling (aka £), so you’ll have to pay an exchange rate if you want another type of currency.
• There are quite a few places outside Central London where you cannot use an Oyster Card. Check out this map for a list of National Rail Service stations that only accept travelcards. Note, these are National Rail Service trains, not to be confused with Tube (subway) trains that also run in/out of many of these stations.
• If you will be using public transportation in London for a week, it may be cheaper to get the 7-day travelcard for £25.80. If you reach the cap for both peak and off peak hours on your Oyster Card all seven days, you’ll have paid about £70 to travel on the Tube and buses. However, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be on public transport that much. Do the math and see what would work for you.
• Travelcards can get you 2 for 1 admission into some London attractions like the Tower of London or the hop-on-hop-off tour buses; Oyster Cards do not. However, you have to purchase the travelcard from a rail station ticket office, not an Underground station, so many visitors don’t even get to take advantage of this 2 for 1 offer.

Inside tips:

• You may want to offer your Oyster Card to other travelers you meet in the hotel or out and about. This way, you can get your £3 back without having to wait in a long line.
• DON’T BUY THE VISITOR OYSTER CARD! It works the same way as any Oyster Card; however, you have to pay a non-refundable £2 fee to obtain the card, and it can only be purchased prior to your arrival in London. Why pay for an Oyster Card when you can use one for free (once you get your £3 deposit back)?

When all is said and done, you should buy an Oyster Card. Even though this seems like a ton of information to take in, YOU WILL SAVE MONEY. I’m happy to answer any other questions you have about Travelcards vs. Oyster Cards.