Hello! We are heading to England for the first time and will be joining the Rick Steve's London in 7 days tour. Wohoo!
I've read about the Oyster and pay as you go cards in both the Rick Steve's book and online, and have reviewed several forum posts here, but i am still very confused. Any advice you can provide would be appreciated!
- Travelers will be 2 adults and a 10 year old.
- Saturday: Arriving at Heathrow and need to get to Green Park station (Zone 1), then would like to head to Hyde park (probably walking)
- Sunday: Would like to travel in Zones 1 and 2 before meeting the tour group that afternoon
- Wednesday: Free afternoon, travel in Zones 1 - ?
- Thursday: Free afternoon, travel in Zones 1 - ?
- Friday: Free afternoon, travel in Zones 1 - ?
- Saturday: Travel from Green Park to Watford station (friend picking us up there)
- Monday: Travel from Watford to Heathrow
My friend has 2 Oyster cards that she can leave at the hotel for us to pick up on Saturday afternoon. My questions are:
What is the least expensive way to get from Heathrow to Green park? Should I just buy my own Oyster card for that? It looks like Heathrow is Zone 6, but I've seen statements that "Heathrow connections" are not part of the capped fare ... ?
Are Oyster cards good for ALL zones, or a set of zones? Or do you have to specify when you buy/load the card?
Based on this chart: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tube-dlr-lo-adult-fares.pdf?hc_location=ufi I think I would be in the "Zones 1-9 + Watford Junction** " row to get to Watford junction. Does that mean that if I load the Oyster card and use it, the capped rate is $9.20 peak? But if I'm travleing from Zone 1 to Watford, what rate would that be?
What happens if I go to tap out and there are not enough funds on my Oyster card? Can i load them at that point? Is there a penalty? I don't want to overload the card ... so trying to figure out how to best manage that.
Do rates that are "Euston - X" mean for travel that starts in Euston? Or any travel through it?
I understand that travel to and from the stops on the London in 7 days tour is covered, including travel around the city. Do we get paper travelcards for those days? If so, can i just use that for my "free afternoons?"
Thanks,
Michelle