Another Oyster vs Travelcard ?

Get them at Heathrow. Each of you need one. Once through immigration withdraw some pounds from an ATM, follow directions to the Underground Station at Heathrow, go to the ticket window, put down the refundable 3 pound deposit and load each card with 20 pounds. The cards are good for ALL travel Zones. Simply more expensive to travel outside zones 1 & 2. So if you use the card to travel from Heathrow to London that will be a pricier ride than from London to Kew Gardens. Heathrow is in Zone 6, Kew Gardens Zone 3. Top up at 5 pounds. BTW at most of the Underground stations you can find a pocket sized tube map on a counter by the manned ticket windows. If not ask for one. Easy to carry, shows ALL tube stations in ALL Zones. Very practical resource.

£5 for the deposit on an Oyster Card now... Kew Gardens stop is in both zone 3 and 4 as it is on the border. Get it when you arrive. Why pay shipping and worry about delivery dates when it is so easy to get at the station? It is so nice not to worry about always getting the lowest fare available - the computer does it all for you. OTOH, Tower of London participates in the two for one scheme if you have a valid train ticket or paper Travelcard issues by a National Rail outlet.

Swear it was only 3 pounds in 2011 but I'm probably wrong. Besides I trust Nigel's word.

Nigel,
We are arriving in London from Oxford on Great Western. I purchased our tickets online, but will get them at the kiosk in the Oxford Train Station. Does this suffice as National Rail tickets valid for 2 for 1?

Ok - I think I have my answer. But just to be sure, Nigel, let me tell you what I have so far... Husband and I have reservations for travel from Oxford to London on September 21 on First Great Western. I have a printed confirmation but no tickets in hand. I pick those up at the station kiosk in Oxford. There is no National Rail logo on my confirmation. Then we have tickets on East Coast for travel from London to Newcastle on September 25. I printed out our tickets online and it DOES have the National Rail logo at the top. Is First Great Western National Rail also? If we have to use our East Coast tickets for the 2 for 1 London attractions, does it matter that we will be visiting the attractions before we use our tickets? We will be in London the 21 - 25 Sept. Am I making this harder than it really is??

Cindy, Probably. What type of tickets will they be? From the FAQs on the Daysout website: What kinds of train tickets are valid for this promotion? 2FOR1 and special offers/admission vouchers are available with almost ANY type of train tickets issued to London (or to the Attraction Destination) on normal 'paper' ticket stock (i.e. not electronic or 'smartcard' but for exceptions see below) and valid on the day you wish to the visit the attraction, theatre, or restaurant, e.g. National Rail issued tickets include Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Travelcard, Advance, Anytime, Season Tickets, GroupSave and various promotional travel tickets that may be issued from time to time, etc... By way of recognition most 'paper' rail travel tickets show the Double-Arrow (or 'crows-foot') National Rail logo, then you're safe to assume it is valid. If you are unsure in any way please ask at your local staffed National Rail station. London Underground issued tickets (including Travelcards issued by London Underground ticket offices and agents) and Eurostar-issued tickets are NOT valid and will not be accepted at any attraction.
What period of time will my train tickets be valid to claim the offers? If you hold Return train tickets which are valid for more than one day on the return journey, e.g. Off-Peak Returns to London valid for one month, you can use them to claim any of the offers within that same one month period of return travel validity. If for example you buy Return tickets to London, outbound on a Monday and returning on a Friday, you will be able to use the vouchers throughout the Monday-Friday period, provided you show both outward and return portions of your tickets (remember to tell the train company staff that you need to keep your outward tickets!). ... to be continued ...

... continued ... to continue with the FAQ: If for example you are buying single tickets, e.g.Advance tickets to London for a one-way journey on a Monday, and Advance tickets for departing London on a Friday you will be able to use the vouchers during the Monday-Friday period, provided you show both outward and return tickets (remember to tell the train company staff that you need to keep your outward tickets!).
Please always remember to present your valid rail tickets alongside your 2FOR1 and special offers/admission vouchers at the attractions box office. ... The website with the FAQs is http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/faq#1

Thanks Claudia... It was previously £3... From the official Oyster page: You will need to pay £5 deposit when you get a new Oyster card. This is refundable if you return the card.

First Great Western and East Coast are both National Rail associated companies, yes. The question posed to you at 9:19 above is what type of ticket. The quoted FAQ noted the eligible types of tickets. I repeat that the types that will work are: Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Travelcard, Advance, Anytime, Season Tickets, GroupSave and various promotional travel tickets that may be issued from time to time In terms of using the 2 for 1 plan relative to your ticket use, can I ask you to read he next post at 9:21 about using two Advance tickets. There's a fair chance that that's what you will have, but unless you say I can't tell.

Thanks, Nigel! We're good to go.