Hello!
I am travelling to the UK for 5 days. I will be staying near Central London to explore it and the surrounding area.
I have been researching various money-saving transportation options, and I have narrowed it down to either the Oyster Card or buying advance tickets through apps like Trainline. There does not seem to be a general consensus on whether an Oyster card is worth the money for a shorter trip, and so I wanted to poll opinions on here.
I am grateful for any help you can give!
Is there a reason why you would not want to tap to pay? It's super easy if you have a credit card set up on your phone or watch.
Tap and Go when within zones. If you travel outside and need train tickets, don’t use Trainline. An app from one of the carriers - I like LNER for ease of use - is better than an agency. ( my opinion but shared by many.)
If Tap and Go is the easiest method, I'm all for it! I just want to know my options in case a) my card/phone does not work or b) my phone and/or wallet is stolen during the trip. I cannot control what happens, but I can prepare as much as I can.
OP what you replied is why I prefer an Oyster Card. Others like using a tap or go debit or credit card.
When I land at Heathrow I top it up and am on my way.
I also prefer the convenience of an Oyster card which I have in a carrier bought at the British Library gift shop. Fits nicely into my secure interior coat pocket.
Taking out my phone and using it is a PIA for transport on the tube.
All depends on what you feel works best for your travel style.
Thank you for the insight!
You can use the same "carrier" for your credit card if you prefer, though many like their phone since you usually have it handy anyway. As for the possibility of losing your card, phone, or Oyster card, that is extremely remote, in fact I do not recall anyone saying they did so while using the Tube. The Underground is not full of lurking thieves waiting to pounce.
shaw.april_a, welcome. You do understand that the Oyster Card does not apply to trains going outside of London, just the tube within Londons metro area. So you still need to buy some rail tickets. for some destinations, like Windsor.
further to what Stan wrote, Oyster is a system for the Greater London area. Advance tarif tickets are generally not possible for short length journeys so that tends to rule out most within the Oyster area. "Pay as you go" with contactless applies to the same Oyster area and has the same rates but has no up front fee (but you could get a foreign transaction fee from your card issuer once a day). Depending on where you plan to travel you may need a mix of Oyster and normal fares. Booking tickets tickets through an App of any sort is only worth it if you can get Advance tarif tickets at a discount from the flexible rates, which are available in advance but also when you arrive at the station. "Advance" and "in advance" do not mean the same thing!
Windsor is tap and go contactless possible, but not Oyster.
Thank you for your contributions!
What I have done is use one credit card for public transportation in London. I have a zippered compartment on the outside of my purse and I keep it in there. If I were to lose it, I have other cards. I like keeping it there because I don’t have to open my purse to tap in and out.
More global cities are adopting contactless payment (credit card, Apple Pay etc.) and they typically will keep track of the option of daily pass if it's available and applicable. To me that's the easiest option; and you only pay for what you need. I do understand some folks still prefer to use a physical card and that can be topped up; but you might end up with unused balance at the end of your trip and typically you have to pay for the new physical card.
The one exception for me is the Paris Navigo Découverte Card. If you arrive at the beginning of a week and stay for a few days; then getting the card is super worth it.
