Oyster

Although this doesn't specifically answer your question, will you ride the tube enough to justify getting a card to save money?

My wife and I were in London for 6 days, we stayed in the Pimlico area, and we only rode the tube from the train station when we came in from Bath with our luggage the first day, once when it was getting late and we were several miles from our hotel, and to get to the train station for the next leg of our trip to Paris.

For us, one of the best parts of London was walking just about everywhere we went, and knowing that if we get tired, hungry, etc... there'd be a pub around the corner for a little break. Unless you plan on visiting sites that are quite a ways off the map, you can't beat walking. Just be sure to remember which direction your traffic is coming from when you go to cross a street!

Yes, my mom and her friend are slightly older, so I don't think we'll be doing as much walking as I usually do.

I love to walk in London! It's so much fun. I agree with you totally.

I was in London last Saturday. The Oyster Card is just phantastic and I'll never do London without it anymore. It works the following. At the airport you buy the card and upload some funds to it. The deposit for the card is GBP 3.00 only. Every time you enter the tube you hold the card onto that yellow plate, every time you exit it do the same. It'll always show you the remaining funds on the card. At off-peak times the ride from Heathrow to the city center would be GBP 4.00 - with Oyster it's only 2.00 every off-peak tube ride downtown is only 1.50 with oyster and every bus ride is just 1.00 no matter how far you get (no sweeping out necessary on bus rides due to flat fee). It's easy, cheap and most convenient and totally fashionable. You'll see...

Kristie, to answer your question. The day travel card is 6.70 and I've listed the prices for the single trips using Oyster above. You have to do your own math depending on your expected usage of public transport.

Any thoughts? We'll be in London for 1 week - would getting a one-week pass (travelcard?) be more cost effective than Oyster? We'll do at least one round trip each day, plus 1-3 short "here-to-there" stops each day.
Thanks.

Ron, I'd use the Oyster card if I only had a few rides per day.

If I remember correctly, your daily usage with an Oyster pass is also capped, they promise, at a rate that's below the similar cost for a day (or 3-day) pass or travelcard. And with Oyster, you can get the balance refunded before you leave...I don't think that's possible with a travel card.