7 day travel card purchased online from TfL *does* have National Rail logo!

That's interesting. I asked this question about a week ago, and pointed out that the cards available online had the crow's foot logo. I was told that they still wouldn't be accepted, and all of the threads I researched emphatically said this as well. So did a couple of other forums I frequent.

Is it possible that the policy, or maybe the design of the cards has recently changed? Here's what the card looks like on the website:http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/travelcards/1-day/product/day-anytime-travelcard.html

You may just have been lucky.

Granted, the FAQ on the Days Out website is ambiguous as regards the significance of having a logo on the ticket, but it does say

London Underground issued tickets (including Travelcards issued by London Underground ticket offices and agents) are NOT valid and will not be accepted at any attraction.

If you've discovered another loophole they've overlooked, I wouldn't bank on it not being closed in due course.

Interesting - one question - does it list any train stations on it? ie - does it say something along the lines of valid for all London all Stations? What is the starting station? Most will say for example, valid from Bath to London Stations...

I asked TfL before I purchased, and their reply said that the travel cards did have the NR logo and were eligible for the 2for1 promotion (I am taking a printout of that email with me.) The only station or rail line id I can find is "LT" (London Transit?)

I will post an update when we get back as to whether I had any problems using the travelcard for a 2for1 promotion (plan to see the Tower, Eye, etc) As I said, the cards do have the logo. At any rate even without the few 2for1 discounts I may/may not get, I have the convenience of having the cards with me and I saved L15 on my son's travel card by being able to get a children's visitor travel card in advance (otherwise could only get one day child rate travel cards in London.) And as I think one respondent pointed out, the second admission would be at child rates anyway so I wouldn't be losing much.

Its worth a shot, and perhaps no one will notice the difference. If they look the same they may work, even if they arent eligible if the employee doesnt look too closely.

I think the catch might be that they dont list train stations - they say London Transport (which I think refers to TFL = not eligible). National Rail will list the starting station and the ending station (or say something like All London Terminals) therefore proving that you have used their train system to visit the attractions.

Please let us know, its good to know for future reference.

The National Rail logo on the 7-day travel cards is presumably because the travel card covers all transport within central and greater London, which can include overground rail. However, in terms of 2 for 1 offers, I thought that had to incorporate a journey from outside the London area. So, I think Jamikins is correct, and if your cards don't clearly start at a non-London point of origin, may not get you entry into the attractions after all. Report back and let us know how it goes.

. I was told that they still wouldn't be accepted>

not surprising - I have found ticket takers at many sights blase and probably did not even look for some obscure logo and let you in - why not they may think.

Still waiting to hear if a TravelCard can be issued manually at Gatwick Airport train station - that would simplify the whole process for many. Heathrow I guess is definitely a no go for national rail logo.

There are very different designs for the paper travelcard the OP mentions, and the ones issued by National Rail companies. The former have got a lot of red print, the latter are black on orange (sort of ).

Whether anyone at the relevant attractions actually takes any notice may well be variable. If it works for the OP, all well and good, and of course the basic point remains that travelcards of any description are better for getting around than buying individual tickets.

Just to clarify, they dont have to start at a non-London station, just at a National Rail station. Ie. I come in from Woolwich Arsenal which is a national rail station (also a DLR station for TFL) so if I buy a ticket at the national rail station, instead of the dlr, it is valid even though Woolwich Arsenal is in zone 4 of London.

mdieri,
From your post, it sounded like you had already been to London and successfully used the Travelcards that you purchased online at the 2for 1 attractions. But you haven't gone yet, so you don't know if the info you were given is accurate or not. I also have a feeling that Palenque is right--some people slip through because ticket takers are not diligent about checking.

When you return, I hope you will be so kind as to post how it worked out for you. I know it doesn't make much difference for you because your second admission is a child rate, but for 2 adults it does make a difference. I am very curious as to the answer. Have a wonderful trip to London.

Hope it works out, mdieri. At least it has the logo. Do let us know.

I do hope it works for you -- my suspicion is it won't. It does have a small national rail symbol on it (since it is good for local trains) but it is not 'national rail' issued and it is very obvious it isn't a 'train ticket'.

Let us know what happens . . .

The card mdieri refers to ISN'T a National Rail Travelcard.

The Days Out FAQs are occasionally poorly worded, but the key sentence that the ticket must be issued "by a National Rail operated ticket office" is printed in bold and is spectacularly unambiguous.

If mdieri's accurately understood TfL (though all he seems to have asked is whether it's got the National Rail logo, which means nothing), TfL are giving him wrong information - and IMHO quite rightly, since there's no reason to expect them to know anything about this absurd promotion.

London Travelcards come in lots of different designs. Many issued directly by TfL, and all those sold by third-party agents (like neighbourhood paper shops) as long as I can remember, include the National Rail logo, because they're valid on appropriate non-TfL railway trains, as well as TfL buses, trains, trams etc. Most Travelcards churned out by TfL ticket machines don't carry the National Rail logo because their software isn't up to it.

But Travelcards issued by railway companies are always (I think, though "always" is a dangerous term to use in this context) printed on special National Rail stock. And the TfL ticket mdieri refers to ISN'T printed on that stock.

National Rail stock is cream and red, and the logo is preprinted at the bottom left.The example at http://tinyurl.com/7nen6a9 is completely different from the TfL ticket mdieri refers to.

TfL aren't there to advise on private companies' promotional schemes, and wasting their time asking them for advice on something that's got nothing to do with them inevitably runs the risk of getting the wrong answer. Equally, admissions staff at, say, the London Eye, aren't necessarily going to be expert on ticket stocks, so mdieri might get away with his misguided plan at some or even all the places he visits. Doesn't mean anyone else will.

The simple truth is that the Days Out promotion is designed to promote the use of trains by British residents. No-one's trying too hard to prevent its misuse by short-term foreign visitors for a purpose it was never designed for. But equally, no-one's going to invest time or energy minutely rewriting every piece of literature to prevent misunderstanding, or in briefing the entire universe on every aspect in case someone's trying to be clever.

Mdieri's been told both on this board and by the Days Out promotion that the card he's bought isn't valid for the purpose he intends. He's chosen to ignore that advice. He MIGHT get away with it, or he might not. If he does, it's unwise to assume anyone else will. If he doesn't, he's only got himself to blame.

flanneruk: I really don't understand the tone of your message. I didn't choose to ignore any advice; I consulted TfL and purchased the travel cards before stumbling upon Fodor's and learning I may have a problem. Here's the wording of my query to TfL and their response: "I would like to buy National Rail travel cards so that we can take advantage of the 2 for 1 discounts on offer. Are the travel cards that we order online National Rail or not?" Their response: "They are travelcards but they have the National Rail symbol on, so Yes you are eligible for the 2-1 promo." So maybe the customer service clerk was wrong and zone 1-2 travel cards aren't valid, but at this point I have the cards and the offers printed out so I'll just hope for the best and let everyone know when I get back.

PatrickLondon: the cards I received are light green and white, heavy card stock with black print, except for the red Tube and National Rail logos. Also they have fine print on the upper right saying only valid with photocard, but that is stamped over with "Visitor No photo card required." But again no knowing till I get there and try to obtain the 2for1. I'll also report whether any success appears due only to slackjawed negligence by the admissions sellers. The only other rail ticket I've purchased is through Megabus to Salisbury, so I don't have Southwest Rail ticket stock to compare. One final disclaimer: I haven't been to London in 15 years and public transport seems to have gotten a lot more expensive and complicated in the interim. Last time I just bought single fares and didn't worry about it!

If they are light green and white they are definitely NOT eligible for 2for1. They must be the National Rail stock and are dark orange/red.

This is what they have to look like: http://tinyurl.com/7nen6a9 per Flanner's link above. No others are accepted.

Well, I'll just try anyway and hope for the best. If I see any barricades with burning tyres by National Rail stations with "Yanqui go home" signs I'll let you know where to find Patrick.

Sorry, meant flanneruk.

What's a Yanqui??

Our travel cards worked fine with the 2FOR1 vouchers.

We are in London and went to the London Eye and the Tower of London today. We used the 2FOR1 vouchers I printed out with our (green and white with NR logo) 7 day zone 1-2 travelcards completely without incident, not so much as a blink, pause or raised eyebrow. Saved me about 26 pounds on two child's admissions, if we were two adults would have saved 40 pounds. Only needed to show photo id for using my Amex. So it appears TfL informed me correctly that the travelcards we purchased online were good for the NR 2FOR1 promotions. It was very convenient to receive the travel cards at home prior to the trip, and I could not have purchased a child's seven day travel card otherwise. Only drawback was not being able to purchase tickets in advance, so had to wait in ticket lines to use the vouchers. We went to the Eye first thing which was good, since it was a gorgeous day and the lines grew very quickly. We used the Thames Clipper (discount with our Travelcards) to get to the Tower from the Eye, very pleasant and convenient. Very little ticket line and entrance line to Tower at midday although Tower itself had plenty of people (we skipped the Beefeater tour since each group seemed to have over 50 people in it) but it wasn't excessively crowded at all.

BTW the Eye and Tower were the two vouchers I planned to use; I will report back on travel card acceptance if we happen to go to Hampton Court Palace or other 2FOR1 site.

What good news!! I did the same thing that you did and I'm very relieved to know they worked. Thanks for the follow up.

Interesting, thanks for reporting back. I am surprised, but glad it worked out for you.