London In Sept. for 2 70 yr. olds , Any general help is appreciated....

If you do not already have Oyster cards, most recommend using “tap and go” enabled credit cards for payment. The daily capping works just as on an Oyster card.

For things to do in London, check out the array of offerings on Thamesfest, a monthlong celebration of the River Thames.

https://thamesfestivaltrust.org/whats-on/

Not too far in Chelsea is https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/about/mission/

We have also enjoyed the Chelsea walk by London Walks https://www.walks.com/our-walks/chelsea-londons-ancient-riverside-village/

and this pub https://butcombe.com/the-admiral-codrington-pub-chelsea/food-drink/

Enjoy the planning!

Adding to the above post, check out London Walks. They have a walking tour of Hampstead Heath. Also, Rick Steves has audio guided walks via his app. You have phones, yes?

The reason we were thinking Oyster card is that I believe we get clipped for 2.5 % + exchange ever time we use a CC.

The reason we were thinking Oyster card is that I believe we get clipped for 2.5 % + exchange ever time we use a CC.

I would suggest getting a credit card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee. Capital One does not, my Chase Sapphire Preferred also does not, and there are quite a few more. Here is one random site that lists some of the credit cards that do not charge those fees. But if you cannot, for some reason, get a new cc, then yes, go for the Oyster card.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/no-foreign-transaction-fee

I like my oyster card. I like using it much better than a credit card.
My suggestion is to schedule no more than 2 major sites a day. Anything else will be pushing it. Have some "back up" ideas in case you find extra time or energy in a day and want to add something.

Almost everything that you will pay for in the UK is paid by credit card. It is getting pretty close to a cashless society. You have time to get a new credit card (if needed) if you act now. There is no reason to pay foreign transaction fees, just have a card that does not charge them.

Site off the Beaten Path: Bletchley Park. Easy to get to my rail. Very interesting if you have interest in WW II history or computers.

We still use cash, and I planned in bring cash with us , is cash not excepted in most places ???

Whatever you decide to do, don'y buy the Visitor Oyster online before you come. It will cost more and be less inflexible than just buying cards when you arrive.

Bear in mind that you will only be charged once a day for your travel inside London. If you stay central that will be a maximum of £8.10, which will generate a charge on a credit card of 20p, hardly a fortune. And you will of course have charges every time you load money on to your Oyster card, either doing that by card or when you change money to £s to pay it.

It’s been 10+ years since we stayed at Nell Gwynn, but we liked the location. It looks like Sainsbury small market across the street is still open which was handy. There is a bus stop in front of either the complex or school next door. We used either the South Kensington tube stop or the Sloane Square one, depending on which met our needs. My husband is retired military, so we enjoyed the National Army Museum which is nearby and close to the Chelsea Physic Garden.

I am 70 and go to London almost every year. I have an Oyster card that I bought at least 12 years ago. I continue to use it every time I go. Upon arrival I check to see how much money I still have credited to the card from my previous trip and then top up 20£ or more as needed during the rest of my trip. I was in London for about six weeks in April and May and used the Oyster card almost daily on busses and the tube. On my trips I like to have some cash and pay in cash if possible especially for minor purchases under 10£. This past trip I noticed that more and more places were going to card only, particularly smaller coffee shops, bakeries, etc. If you like gardens then Kew Gardens is not to be missed. My son, who lives in London, rarely uses cash for anything.

We were in England for 3 weeks in May/June and spent one of the weeks in London (first -timers). While I don't see a cash payment being refused in most places be prepared for wait staff, vendors, etc. to be unprepared for a cash payment. Tap and go credit cards are the norm nearly everywhere. Most of the churches we visited had contactless credit card stations just as you entered, so you could make a donation if you wished to. The only place we used cash was at the laundromat.

I also second the suggestion for getting a Capital One card. The money we spend on any transaction adds up and can be redeemed on travel purchases (airfare, hotels, trains, car rental, parking, etc). And no foreign transaction fees.

And do check out the London Walks website. We went on two walks and loved both of them.

I found all of the previous replies about cashless to be spot on when we went a month ago. I will say while I used my tap and pay for almost everything, (like Claudia we all did get the Oyster cards- I worried about losing my CC)
Additionally, I took 100 pounds over and used it during our for minor purchases like a bottle of water, snacks, monetary museum donations, street musicians hats, etc. I also suggest having some coin change handy at all times in the event you need a WC that is pay to go.

Have fun!!

From braidrich’s posting history it appears that they are Canadian. Unfortunately many of the no foreign transaction fee options available to us the the US are not an option for them. Perhaps some Canadians will share what they have found.

As far as the 2.5% fee does it matter? If you have one charge of £50 our multiple charges that total £50 wouldn’t the fee be the same? Or are you saying there’s a per transaction charge too?