The Benefits Of A London Oyster Card
The Oyster smart card system has significantly changed the way London's "tube" operates.
An Oyster card allows you to use most of London's public transport network (though a few stations remain outside the system).
It gets you a huge discount on standard fares and helps avoid the hassle of queueing to buy tickets.
The system automatically saves you money by calculating the lowest fare at the end of each day based on your exact travel that day.
If you travel more than you expected to initially, it only charges you the lowest fare instead of pricey singles and returns.
So does the Oyster scheme have any downside?
It can sometimes be a bit complicated for new London visitors, since you have to buy an Oyster card in advance. You may need to pay a few quid deposit (but you should get this back quickly in savings).
You also need to "touch the card in and out" for all legs of your journey. But you'll pick this up fast if you mimic the scores of London commuters you'll see every weekday.
So unless your trip to London is a mere day-trip, you're advised to get yourself an Oyster. Based on current information, Oyster cards don't expire, which allows you to re-use them on future London trips.
If you do not expect to come back to London in the near future, you can usually get your deposit back (but please verify this with London Underground before you purchase).
There is a "Visitor Oyster" card which you can buy from some outlets but it's not 100% clear at the moment what its benefits are to tourists.
If you really don't want an Oyster card, you should at least make sure that you buy the cheapest London travelcard for unlimited access to the tube and buses for the entire day. But you may need to wait until after 9.30am on weekdays to access the cheapest fares.
You could also grab a weekly travelcard for an even bigger discount in case you're in London for longer, but this does mean that you need some sort of photo.
Remember that Oyster cards and travelcards are valid on both the tube and buses, though not all national rail stations are covered. Please check before you travel.
For more information about Oyster and public transport in London, do visit the official Transport for London website.
Finally, please make sure you wait until after 9.30am on weekdays to avoid London's extremely high peak-time prices.
An Oyster card allows you to use most of London's public transport network (though a few stations remain outside the system).
It gets you a huge discount on standard fares and helps avoid the hassle of queueing to buy tickets.
The system automatically saves you money by calculating the lowest fare at the end of each day based on your exact travel that day.
If you travel more than you expected to initially, it only charges you the lowest fare instead of pricey singles and returns.
So does the Oyster scheme have any downside?
It can sometimes be a bit complicated for new London visitors, since you have to buy an Oyster card in advance. You may need to pay a few quid deposit (but you should get this back quickly in savings).
You also need to "touch the card in and out" for all legs of your journey. But you'll pick this up fast if you mimic the scores of London commuters you'll see every weekday.
So unless your trip to London is a mere day-trip, you're advised to get yourself an Oyster. Based on current information, Oyster cards don't expire, which allows you to re-use them on future London trips.
If you do not expect to come back to London in the near future, you can usually get your deposit back (but please verify this with London Underground before you purchase).
There is a "Visitor Oyster" card which you can buy from some outlets but it's not 100% clear at the moment what its benefits are to tourists.
If you really don't want an Oyster card, you should at least make sure that you buy the cheapest London travelcard for unlimited access to the tube and buses for the entire day. But you may need to wait until after 9.30am on weekdays to access the cheapest fares.
You could also grab a weekly travelcard for an even bigger discount in case you're in London for longer, but this does mean that you need some sort of photo.
Remember that Oyster cards and travelcards are valid on both the tube and buses, though not all national rail stations are covered. Please check before you travel.
For more information about Oyster and public transport in London, do visit the official Transport for London website.
Finally, please make sure you wait until after 9.30am on weekdays to avoid London's extremely high peak-time prices.
About the Author:
The author shares inside advice on the best of London in addition to real-time London hotel tips on Twitter.
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