I'm wondering:
1. Whether to get the oyster card or the travel card and if I should do it there or online before I leave.
2. If anyone has an opinion about the different bus tours.
First off WHAT bus tours are you referring to? Secondly, buy the Oyster when you get there. Same with the travel card.
If there are 2 or more of you, do you want the 2 for 1 offers?
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g186338-c195600/London:United-Kingdom:2.4.1.Travelcards.Step.By.Step.html
We just returned from London last night. Our research found that Oyster cards can only be purchased in London and Visitor oyster cards outside of London including Heathrow. Therefore we purchased a ticket into London and then purchased our Oyster card in London. It included a 7 day travel card (zone 1 and 2) , cash credit for a trip to Watford and return to Heathrow. We were very pleased with our plan. With the Oyster card at the end of our visit we could just turn the card at the ticket office for pounds (minus 3 £ if returned in less than 1 month). Our research said that with the Travel Oyster card you must submit a form and a check in £ will be issued to you for the remaining value (minus 3 £). We found out we had friends going to London next month and will let them use (and top off) ours. I hope this is helpful. We had a great time and walked tooooo much!
Frank
Frank and Emma, Thank you so much for that extra bit of info on Oyster vs. Visitor Oyster cards. Very helpful.