I've got a question about the London 2 for 1 and the travelcards. On the website, the London Walks details (for example) says that the offer is not valid with an Oyster Card...most of them don't say this...does that mean I can use an Oyster Card? Also, how does it work--you just show them the travel card and you get it or do you have to bring some other offer coupon or something with you? And, short of printing a list of all that's available in the 2 for 1 from the website, is there any other way to know? Are there signs posted at the sights? My hubby and I are going to be in London for 6 days and I'm trying to decide between the pay as you go Oyster, the 7 day travelcard and the paper travelcards--we have Oyster cards we can borrow from friends so we don't have to consider the initial cost....
Posted by
OP
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
191 posts
Ok, just did a little more playing on the website and it seems a little clearer. Does this make sense:
Use Oyster pay as you go for days (4) where we're not going to use the 2 for 1...is there an advantage to pre-loading a travel card vs pay as you go? If there is, I don't see it as apparently the max that will be deducted is the amount of a travelcard.
Buy a paper travelcard for the other 2 days since it costs less than the price of admission for what we want to do.
I will bring the vouchers with me (it says there that the oyster card is not valid, couldn't find it until I registered which is why I had to ask)
Also, what's the cheapest way to get to Victoria station from Heathrow?
Posted by
OP
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
191 posts
Sorry, one more thing--I've been before and the travelcards from the tube stations look different than the ones from the train stations (don't know if this is still the case)...are they both valid? If not, can I get the 'right' kind from Victoria station?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Yes, you're right on track. Only a seven-day travelcard can be loaded on an Oyster card. And it won't be good for the 2-for1 offers from National Rail. Use Oyster for PAYG and you'll never pay more than 50 pence less than the cost of a one-day travelcard for the zones in which you travel that day. Buy National Rail paper travelcards at any mainline station for the days you wish to take advantage of their 2for1 offers.
The cheapest way to get from Heathrow to Victoria Station is to take the Tube (one change). Buy an Oyster card at Heathrow and use it both to get to Victoria and for any other rides you take in London that day. You can also take a National Express coach directly from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station for £4, but you'll still need to get from there to your hotel by Tube, bus, taxi, or on foot.
Posted by
OP
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
191 posts
Thanks! One more question that I couldn't find an answer to in the several pages that I scrolled back...do we each need a paper travelcard or just one of us? Just thinking that if we do enough walking, we may not use it up to the value that would be deducted from the Oyster, it's only the 2 for 1 that makes it completely worth it...
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
You're welcome. Only one of you needs to have a National Rail paper travelcard to qualify for the 2for1 offers. The other person certainly could use an Oystercard for getting around that day.
Posted by
London, UK
286 posts
Travelcard can look slightly different depending where you purchase them. I think they are only orange or light reddish. It doesn't make a difference though.