We will be in London in April and from what I have read we should buy the Oyster card. In reading about them I have seen Oyster card and Visiting Oyster card. Is there any difference? I have also read that you can order them online before traveling. Would that be advisable or just wait until we arrrive at Heathrow? Thanks!
Posted by
Chicago
7838 posts
Ok to wait til you get there. I still have the regular one
This is the site where you can see which one is better for your travel
https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8442 posts
We just got regular Oyster cards from a machine at the airport underground station. We turned them in at the same place for a refund of the remaining balance. They are used everyday by the people who live there, so its not something unusual.
Posted by
PA
2740 posts
And you can always hold on to your card for your (or a friend/relative's) next trip. We leave with enough on there to get in town from Heathrow at the off-peak rate, so we (or whoever borrows them) do not have to top it off immediately.
Posted by
Houston
3518 posts
Visitor Oyster has several restrictions on it the regular one does not.
Mainly, you can cash out your regular Oyster when leaving and get all the remaining funds plus the £5 deposit back from a ticket machine in the Tube (provided you made all payment for it from the same type or source of funds, such as all cash or all credit on the exact same card). Visitor card offers no refund of any type. Of course with either type the money you put in is good forever so you can save the card for your next trip.
Second, you can add Travel Cards to the regular Oyster but not the visitor one. Sometimes, the Travel Cards can save you money over the Oyster discount.
Third, if you order for delivery there will be additional fees charged. Since it is so easy to just get an Oyster on arrival, why waste money on delivery.
Posted by
Glostrup, Denmark
1323 posts
I returned my last Oyster card long ago and now only uses my contactless credit card. See if you have a card that can be used: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/what-are-contactless-payment-cards?intcmp=8610
Posted by
1 posts
Wish contactless credit cards were more available in the US.
Posted by
Chicago
1325 posts
Capital One now has contactless Visa cards. There is no need to buy the visitor Oyster card, buying a regular Oyster is as simple as buying a pop from a vending machine.
Posted by
Los Angeles
305 posts
If I travel from Heathrow into London does that count towards my daily cap or will I be charged more with my travel within zone 1?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32750 posts
Heathrow is in Zone 6 so your daily cap will be based on a Zone 1 - 6 cap.
Either use a contactless card for the Heathrow trip or use the (slow) buses all the way to avoid setting a high cap for the day. Each day the cap is for all the zones you have used it in.