I will be in London for 5 days in May. We will be inside Zone 1-2 using public transportation multiple times per day. I have looked into the both the Oyster Card and 7 Day Travel Card.
It seems like the Oyster card will be a little more expensive since i have to pay a $3.00 per card activation. Does anyone have a recommendation on which card is better? I am planning to purchase the card online.
Posted by
Hampshire, England.
1069 posts
Don't buy a (visitor) oyster card online, buy a normal one when you get here. Visitor cards are £3 non refundable (plus postage to you), also you can't load a travelcard onto them, you can load a travelcard on a normal oyster and you can get your £5 deposit back.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Jessrosa, I don't know what you mean by "$3.00 per card activation". They don't use '$' in the UK, the currency is £ (pounds).
An Oystercard costs £5 deposit. Then you add whatever credit you want, and top it up whenever the balance gets low.
When you leave London, you can get a refund of any outstanding credit, plus your £5 deposit. See here: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/replacements-and-refunds/oyster-refunds-and-replacements
But, just keep the card for your next visit, they never expire.
Oystercard "pay as you go" is the easiest way. Fares are a lot cheaper than paying individual fares, and you will never pay more than the daily maximum.
There is no need to buy an Oystercard in advance. When you arrive, just go to the first tube station ticket office, and ask for an Oystercard with £20 credit (or whatever amount you fancy). You can top it up at any tube station, and in many shops.
If you buy a 7-day card, that requires you to guess where you are going in advance, and is not significantly cheaper.. With a "pay as you go" Oystercard you can decide to go somewhere outside zones 1-2 (for example Hampton Court), and just go there, knowing you will always be charged the cheapest fare.
Info about the Oystercard here: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/oyster/what-is-oyster
Posted by
Houston
3518 posts
Yes you pay an activation. You also pay a deposit. For a total of £5 if you buy the normal Oyster when you arrive in London. You can turn in the card for a refund of those charges as well as whatever remaining balance is on the Oyster. Just make sure all payments into the Oyster all come from the same source -- the exact same credit card or cash. Otherwise they have to mail you a cheque in Pounds you will need to cash somewhere back home and most likely pay a fee.
The main benefit to the Oyster (other than the refundability) is that if you stray out of zone 1-2 or whatever zones you purchase on the Travel Card the Oyster covers that charge. The Travel Card will not let you exit if you take the tube too far. This can be a lot more affordable than a Travel Card for the possibility you might go beyond your expected zones.
For me, the Oyster works better and costs less for the type of tube and bus travel I do when I am visiting London.
Posted by
Temora, NSW, Australia
337 posts
Hi
What you haven't considered, are the daily limits
zone 1 & 2 is 6.60£
Bus 4.50£
there is a handy guide on "paying for your travel."
Fare freezes are also being promoted.
Do yourself a favour, buy Oyster cards, keep them so you have them for next time.
Also get city mapper.
Finally, if you are unsure on the tube "ask",
Regards