We are traveling to London next week (arriving 6 am) and we have a slight time crunch to our first tour. I am just wondering what the process is to purchase an Oyster and Travelcard at Terminal 2 on our way out. What is the process?
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5866 posts
Follow the signs to the underground. You can buy an Oyster card at a machine or at the manned ticket office there. You can load pay-as-you-go money and/or a travelcard on the Oyster. Keep in mind that the travelcard on an Oyster is not valid for the 2 for 1 discounts. If you are asking about a paper travelcard, you will need to buy that at a rail station.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34005 posts
what time do you have to be where?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
We are supposed to be at Piccadilly circus at 9:30. Do there tend to be lines for the underground tickets? Just wondering what to expect trying to get out of the airport. Sorry I haven't heard of the 2 for 1 option. What is that?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34005 posts
If your group has an even number of people in it and you can demonstrate that you have a ticket valid for a rail journey to dozens of attractions in the UK, including many many in London (and a paper Travelcard issued by a railway - not anything issued by Travel for London TfL - qualifies for most covered attractions in London) you can obtain entry at the full price cost for one for each pair. 2 for 1.
There are restrictions, but it is a good scheme if you jump through some hoops. Hard to beat half price. Useless for single people, less beneficial for groups with an odd number of folks.
Is your hotel near Piccadilly Circus or do you need to drop your luggage somewhere on the way.
If you get in at 6 you should be on the tube - no changes to Piccadilly Circus - by 8 and in Piccadilly Circus by 9.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks much for the information! My plan is to stop at the hotel for luggage drop off if we get out early enough (it is a little further down the Piccadilly line). Otherwise, I will use LuggageHero
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7207 posts
The machines to purchase the Oyster are easy to use and only takes a couple minutes. The longest wait is for the people is in front of you getting their cards.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you!
Posted by
Hampshire, England.
1075 posts
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
The site Nigel mentioned is here: https://tfl.gov.uk/
It will be useful all the time in London so I suggest you try it out now to get your confidence up.
Posted by
2816 posts
We were just in London for the first time and found the machines for Oyster cards easier to use than similar machines in Atlanta or Chicago (neither of which we live in).
Posted by
755 posts
Here’s Rick buying an Oyster Card...the video shows how quick and easy it can be. Rick buys Oyster Card