How to best get from Heathrow to Victoria Station? Oyster and Travel cards have diferent zones, prices, etc.I've read tons but still confused. I'll be in London with my husband, 2 kids (12 and 15) and my mum-70. I'd like to have a card that gets us to Victoria(hotel there) and then around town 4 days. Least hasselis better if only a bit more $ is ok. Thanks a million! ---Suzanne
Posted by
Sacramento, CA, USA
158 posts
I too was confused...so....When my Dad (age 76) were in London last month,we asked at the underground station...
We took a bus that was direct from Heathrow to Victoria station.
They said if you aren't going to be there for 7 days straight.....we were better off with buying a regular ticket.
My Dad "could" do the underground and then the touring but it left him tired ...if you have been there before you'll know that the stations have lots of stairs -
if you want to e-mail me privately, I can give you a lot more informaiton on lessons learned and tips!
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
The Oyster Card can be used on buses as well as on the Tube. Get the real info at www.tfl.gov.uk. I was in London a couple of days in May and just put some money onto my Oyster Card before leaving the airport. I've been using the same Oyster Card for several trips, so I just "top it up" when the amount on my card gets low. Your kids may qualify for a youth rate. Ask at the Underground (Tube) station ticket window at Heathrow. The system is complex, but you save money by using the Oyster.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Kids 11-15 travel all day in off-peak hours (after 09:30 on weekdays and anytime on weekends) in all zones for £1 when accompanied by an adult who has a travelcard. You can load a seven-day travelcard on an Oyster card. You can buy one- or three-day paper travelcards.
Zone 1-2 seven-day travelcard (all hours only): £24.20. Zone 1-2 three-day travelcard (all hours only): £17.40. Zone 1-2 one-day travelcard: £5.30 (off-peak), £6.80 (peak).
Even though you'll only be in London for four days, the simplest thing to do would be to have the adults buy Oyster cards and load seven-day travelcards on them. Load an additional £10 to be used as pay-as-you-go to get from LHR to Victoria and back to LHR and to cover any other trips you take outside zones 1-2. Top off the cards with more money as needed. You can get a refund of any unspent PAYG money.
If you are not going to arrive in London until at least four weeks from now, you could order photo Oyster cards for the children. Those cards would allow them to travel during peak hours as well as off-peak for the same all-day price of £1. See here.