Hi
We'll be flying from SFO 8PM on Virgin Air direct to LHR l1:00AM arrival in late March to early April. Will definitely be sleeping so won't be tired traveling on arrival. What train do we need to take to get to Edgware station. I heard we shouldn't take the Heathrow Express it will cost just as much as a taxi! Also what is the difference Oyster card and London travelcard. We'll be based in Edgware town and would like to sightsee. Already been to all the sites of London, Stonehenge and Bath. Will go back just for Harrods though! Where else should we go.....not crazy about museums but anything else would be great! Suggestions
please so I'll know which card to buy, oyster or London travelcard! Thank you
Joanna
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Steve's description of Oyster cards and travelcards is both incomplete and misleading. The link he gave is for the London Pass which comes in two versions, one for attractions only and one for attractions plus a travelcard. In either version the London Pass is not a good value. If you buy a travelcard, do so at either a Tube station or a National Rail station.
Oyster cards are sold at Tube stations. You can load money on an Oyster card and use it as a pay-as-you-go card. The Oyster computer will automatically give you the best fare and you will never pay more than 50 pence less than the cost of a one-day travelcard for the zones in which you travel that day. You can load a 7-day travelcard on an Oyster card. Or you can do both at the same time. For example, you could load some pay-as-you-go money for your travel from Heathrow to London and back to Heathrow on the Tube and load a 7-day, zone 1-5 travelcard on the Oyster card for your rides from Edgware to London, your travel within London, and your rides back to Edgware. (Edgware is in zone 5.) If you have any unspent pay-as-you go money on the card when you leave London, you can get a refund.
You can buy 1-day travelcards at Tube stations, but they cannot be loaded on an Oyster card. You can buy them for either off-peak hours (after 09:30 on weekdays and anytime on weekends) or for peak hours (anytime any day). 7-day travelcards only come as peak (anytime cards).
You can also buy paper travelcards which bear the National Rail logo for the zones of your choice at National Rail stations (not Tube stations). Doing so qualifies you for many 2for1 offers. You need to print vouchers for the offers of your choice. Read all about it and print the vouchers on the Days Out Guide site.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
Re the 2 for 1 offers with paper travelcards. You can get blank 2 for 1 entry ticket vouchers at main railway stations. They can be found in the leaflets/brochures (London Attractions) promoting the offer. The leaflets are usually displayed near the ticket windows or failing that, a Travel Centre located in the station.