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London Pass and Oyster Card? need clarification and advice

Hello Everyone,

We are traveling to London from Paris next Saturday and staying for a week. We will be visiting the traditional places in London and using the subway system and buses to get from the apartment to multiple locations.

Would you recommend the London Pass? with or with our travel addition?

Also what is difference between the transportation cards… Oyster card vs London travel card?

How are taxis service?

What would recommend for transportation between Euro station to Pimlico area? We will have too many baggage for the Subway system. My daughter is marching in the London Day parade.

Thanks

Albert

Posted by
8 posts

Hello Albertcortez40

I actually had the same exact questions as you did regarding the London Pass with travel and the Oyster card. So I had been check on the forum to see if anyone else had asked the same questions, and what replies they had received. In the meantime I found tons, and I mean tons of informative information in our Rick Steves London guide book. He covers in details about the differences of the London Pass and the Oyster card. Also I went to the London Pass website as well, and found out a lot of helpful information too. And what I didn't see I emailed them. I hope this helps. And that you get some replies. That's really neat about your daughter marching in the London Day parade. What an unforgettable experience it will be for her.

Posted by
1067 posts

The London Pass is generally regarded as poor value because it "forces" the visitor to try and rush around attractions to get any value out of the pass, be aware that there is a "purse" value on the pass also, The travel option with the pass is a waste of money as it's a zone 1 - 6 travelcard, visitors would generally need a zone 1 -2 card.

To answer which option is best (oyster or travelcard), for 2 or more people the 2 for 1 offers are a much better deal, I've borrowed this page from Tripadvisor that explains it all:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g186338-c195600/London:United-Kingdom:2.4.1.Travelcards.Step.By.Step.html

Also a few comments on the London Pass:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g186338-i17-k7690019-o10-The_London_Pass_Not_a_good_idea-London_England.html

Posted by
16893 posts

Most of London's major museums are free, so only a few sites covered by the London Pass make our priority sightseeing list. The zoo, aquarium, and Madame Tussaud's are not on our list.

As in Paris, a taxi can be an affordable option for 4 people within the city at any time, perhaps 10 pounds for a typical trip, and especially preferred when you have luggage. London black cabs are roomier than most Paris taxis and are easy to find.

Posted by
102 posts

The electronic cash carrying transport card was all new to me in London several years ago. Sure buy a day card, off peak card, or longer cards and use without trouble. Easy. Done it forever, it seems, since a first visit in 1995. Well the oyster card is terrific and easy to swipe by/across/near the electronic reader of the bus, or whatever you use. You can use it in Edmonds too. No, not the London Oyster (at least I don't think it works here?) but the Community Transit/etc, system public bus system card. I now carry such a card. Yes, Larry from Eugene/Springfield. I got this card specifically for use during the Jan 16-17 Alumni/Travel Fest. My hotel here is not close but is on the bus system.To make best use of local public transport for schedules and fees, I visited the system website. I discovered to gain full value of senior status (over 65 means lower cost) I'd need apply for a permit/pass. All paperwork comes to you easy, printed off computer. A small fee is exchanged and I'm now possessor of the pass and a local oyster card, ready for next month gathering. Progress travels, London to Edmonds.

Posted by
277 posts

We've taken our rolling luggage on the tube many times, but a taxi is easier on everyone especially if you have kids. We used the London Pass with travel the first time we were in London and were "forced" to go to many of the places on the card. It worked out great for us since we wanted to see them all, anyway. We were in London for three weeks, though, and once the card expired, found that Oyster cards worked best for getting around (when we didn't have luggage. BTW - we prefer buses to the underground if we have the time. It's more fun to see London through a bus window than to see the underground walls.