I am visiting London for 1 and a half days and would like to get the travelcard for each day. I will mostly be using the zone 1-2 trains one day one-visit the usual tourist sights-place, Westminster Abbey, Tower, Covent garden, Trafalgar square, Picadilly. My hotel is in Russel square. However I have a flight to Rome from Gatwick at 11 am the next day. Will the zone 1-6 travelcard cover the trip from Victoria to Gatwick? If not, what the the most economical options- would the Oyster card make more sense? Thanks
No, travelcard zone 1-6 will not cover the trip to Gatwick. I would suggest getting a 1 day travelcard for your day in London. Then from Victoria station take the Southern Line to Gatwick, there is a train that leaves every few minutes, it's about a 30 minute ride.
What Robin says is spot on. Croydon - or actually Purley - is about as far as you can get on a travelcard or Oyster card. That leaves you about 15 or 20 miles short. Just get a single from Victoria. (a single is British for a one-way)
I second the day travel card idea. You can buy them online and British Rail will send you the card(s) in the mail.
You dont need to get 1-6 zones. Just put extra money on the Oyster card for when you go out of zone 1&2. Its like 2 pounds each way. Same thing as when coming to and from Heathrow (Zone 5).
Plan on getting to Gatwick around 9 a.m. for that flight.