My husband and I will be travelling to London in October, staying for 10 days in Twickenham at the Marriott Hotel at the stadium. From what I can see we are in zone 5 and will travel into the city via either rail, or bus to tube. We plan to see all of the major sights and go to to some places less travelled (Abbey Road, Wimbledon). But I'm also intrigued by the 2for1 offers offered by various transportation venues, since they encompass many of the sights we want to see. It looks to me like the Oyster Card would be the most advantageous and also be the most flexible, since we will most definitely be using tube, rail and bus via Twickenham. Any thoughts from you veteran London/UK travellers?? Many thanks!! Sue
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
The cap on the Oyster card pay-as-you-go is designed to make sure you don't pay more than a one-day Travelcard would cost. Since you are staying for so long and you are way out in the suburbs, it would be much better value for you to get a weekly Travelcard for the first week. As well as the discount over seven separate day Travelcards, it also has the advantage that you can travel earlier than 9:30am Mon-Fri without getting charged a premium for morning-peak travel, which will happen if you use daily Travelcards or PAYG. (This will save time but be ready for the trains to be packed.)
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Oyster cards won't work for the 2-for-1 offers. To take advantage of the 2-for-1 offers from National Rail you will need to purchase paper travelcards with the National Rail logo on them at a National Rail station. You can buy them for one day or seven days. They cover everything that a travelcard loaded on an Oyster card does and they cost the same. See here.
Posted by
OP
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
7 posts
So I am thinking that an Oyster card loaded with just enough to get us to the rail station to purchase the paper travelcard might work the best.
Posted by
Kansas City
132 posts
Philip, you an travel with the 7 day travel card loaded on an oyster card without the peak time charge before 9:30? How early? Are there different options for a peak time-inclusive travel card that maybe costs more than a non-peak travel card? I thought I read something like that, but I've read so much lately I am having difficulty keeping it all straight.
Posted by
Port St Joe Florida
513 posts
Sue, I haven't spent much time in London in a couple of years, but the last time I was there and used the 7 Day Travel card, I needed to have a passport size photo. It is one thing you may want to check on (probably many of the RS posters can tell you) if you are leaning towards that card.
Posted by
OP
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
7 posts
Thanks to everyone for your input!! Still evaluating everything but at least we have time before October rolls around. I appreciate you taking the time to respond!! Sue
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Seven-day and longer Travelcards have no peak restrictions so you can use them 24/7. Tubes usually start at around 5:15am. You can get "peak" one-day Travelcards that allow travel early in the morning but they're significantly more expensive. (15.80 as opposed to £8.50 for 6 zones)
Posted by
Central Indiana, USA
357 posts
7 Day PAPER Travelcards purchased at National Rail stations (good for 2 for 1 deals) require passport-size photos, but they don't have to be passport quality.