London’s extensive public transportation network can seem daunting at first, but paying for your journeys doesn’t have to be. The easiest and often most cost-effective method is “pay as you go”. This system allows you to pay only for the actual journeys you make, without needing to pre-calculate fares.
Pay as you go is available across all London Transports including the Tube, buses, trams, DLR, London Overground, and most National Rail services within London. You can utilise this system with a contactless payment method (card or mobile device), a Visitor Oyster card, or a standard Oyster card.
Choosing pay as you go not only simplifies your travel but also offers excellent value. It’s generally cheaper than purchasing single paper tickets, and it comes with the added benefit of daily and weekly capping, which limits your spending no matter how much you travel. To ensure you’re charged correctly, always remember to touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on readers – except on buses and trams where you only touch in.
Contactless Payment: A Convenient Option
Using your contactless credit or debit card, or a mobile device enabled with contactless payment, offers a straightforward way to pay as you go on all London transports. This eliminates the need to purchase a separate ticket or card, streamlining your travel experience. Most major contactless cards are accepted, including those from overseas, though it’s worth checking with your bank about potential international transaction fees.
Visitor Oyster Card: Ideal for Tourists
For visitors specifically, the Visitor Oyster card is a pre-loaded smartcard designed for easy pay as you go travel. This card is not available for purchase in London; you must buy it before arriving. It’s an excellent option for tourists as it saves time by avoiding ticket queues upon arrival. Like other pay as you go methods, the Visitor Oyster card benefits from daily fare capping within the zones you travel.
Topping up your Visitor Oyster card is simple if you run out of credit. If you find yourself with unused credit at the end of your London visit, you can get a refund for up to £10 of pay as you go credit from Tube station ticket machines, Visitor Centres, or through the dedicated webpage after you’ve returned home. Importantly, the Visitor Oyster card is valid for travel to and from London’s main airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, using services like the Tube, Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express, and Gatwick Express.
Visitor Oyster cards can be purchased online from various retailers before your trip to London, ensuring you’re travel-ready as soon as you arrive.
Oyster Card: A London Standard
The standard Oyster card is readily available in London for those who prefer not to use contactless payment or a Visitor Oyster card. For a £7 activation fee, you can obtain an Oyster card and then load it with pay as you go credit or a Travelcard to cover your journeys. This card is a durable and reusable option for frequent or longer-term visitors.
You can purchase a standard Oyster card from:
- Tube, London Overground, and Elizabeth line stations (excluding stations from West Drayton to Reading)
- Over 3,700 Oyster ticket stops located in local shops across London
- Official Visitor Centres
- Online (for UK residents only)
For extended stays of a week or more, consider adding a Travelcard to your Oyster card. This can be more economical if you plan to use public transport daily during your visit.
Travelcards: Unlimited Travel for a Set Period
Travelcards offer unlimited travel within specific zones for a set period, making them ideal for visitors planning extensive daily travel. They are valid on buses, Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and National Rail services in London.
Day Travelcards and Group Day Travelcards can be purchased:
- Online in advance from the TfL Visitor Shop or VisitBritain Shop
- At Tube station ticket machines
- At ticket offices in London Overground and Elizabeth line stations
- At most National Rail stations
- At Visitor Centres
However, for travel within Zones 1-9, pay as you go with daily capping generally works out cheaper than buying a Day Travelcard, offering both flexibility and value.
Travelling with Children: Reduced Fares and Free Travel
Children under 5 years old travel for free on London transports when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
For children aged 5-10, they can also travel free on:
- Buses and trams
- Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and some National Rail services when accompanied by an adult using pay as you go or holding a valid ticket (excluding Group Day Travelcards). Up to four children can travel free per adult.
Child-rate Day Travelcards and Group Day Travelcards are also available for purchase online from the TfL Visitor Shop or VisitBritain Shop before your arrival.
For older children aged 11-15, you can request a Young Visitor discount to be applied to a standard Oyster or Visitor Oyster card. This discount, valid for up to 14 days, provides a 50% reduction on adult pay as you go fares. This needs to be set by a member of staff at a Tube station.
Navigating London transports is made simple and affordable with the pay as you go system. Whether you opt for the convenience of contactless, the tourist-focused Visitor Oyster card, or the standard Oyster card, you’ll find an efficient way to explore this vibrant city.
