traveller69

I would appreciate advice on what travel card – oyster card (not sure what the oyster card is) to buy for our upcoming visit to London. I have read so much about them and gone to the websites but it still leaves me a little confused as to which card we should buy. This is our plan. We will travel from the airport to the hotel by car – just airports of one of those companies. We will be in London for 3 full days. We will be taking a car service back to the airport as well. On one of the days we will be taking a full day city tour but the first evening and two of the days we will be using public transportation to do more sightseeing , shop and go to the theatre. Then three weeks later we will be in town for one day. We will be staying by the airport at Jury’s by the Picadilly line I believe so we will go back into the city for several hours that day as our flight doesn’t leave until 7PM. So, can you please tell me what we should buy and will it be still good to use on that one last day on our return. Thank you so much!!

Merseyheart

The Oyster card is just a fancy, promotional name for a Travel Card on the tube. ("The world is your oyster!&quot Go to a ticket clerk, tell them you'll be in town for three days, probably traveling in zones one and two, and ask how much it will cost. Pay with your credit card. They will put that value on your Oyster. Slap it on the reader when you go in to the tube, and when you leave the tube.

You can also ask the ticket clerk to add some value for your final day in London. The airport is out in zone 6, I believe. Hang onto the card---you can use it for future trips. Have a fine time in London.

yk

If you don't need to use any 2-for-1 offers; then your best option is get the Oyster Pay As You Go. You get the Oyster card and you pay a deposit for it; then add about £20 on the card. When you travel around, you just tap in/tap out using the Oyster.

genabee6

The oyster card is you best bet. You can get the visitor one and use it whenever you come back to London as they never expire. The card itself is 2 pounds and then you add 10 pounds to that. You can also put more money on that if you run out.

An all day pass (after 9:30am off peak and in zones 1 and 2) is 5 pounds. SO, if you go that way, you'd be paying the same amount. That's what I did and I wouldn't do it again.

Get the oyster and save yourself some money and the hassel of going to the machine and getting a new pass each day.

Here's a tip if you've never been before: You slap your oyster card when you first go through and also when you leave the tube to get out. SO, remember to have it handy when you get off and leave the station...you'll cause a huge line of not so happy people behind you while you fish it out!

janisj

You don't have to "fish it out". If the card is in your handbag or pocket just run it near the reader and it will detect the card and deduct the fare.

traveller69: PAYG on an Oyster is probably your best bet. Paper tickets from a train station will get you some 2 for 1 deals but in just 3 days I really don't think the hassle will be worth it.

Just go up to the ticket window in any tube station as Merseyheart says - the agent will sell you the best option and load it on the Oyster, and you're set to go.

traveller69

Thank you all very much for the answer - I now know what to buy. Just one more thing - do they accept charge cards at the ticket booths?

Thanks again!!

Merseyheart

Charge cards? A credit card? Oh, yes. On my most recent visit to London, I just told the clerk: I'll be here for a week, zones 1 and 2, and they promptly charged me about 25 GBP on the card. I was actually in town longer than that, but the clerk said they only sell it in weekly installments. On my second-to-last day there, I was prepared to top up, but the clerk said I already had enough on my card.

'Tis simpler than it seems.

historytraveler

You can always check the balance on your card at any oyster ticket machine. Even some buses will give you your balance when you swipe your card. No need to wait in line and ask for your balance.

traveller69

Thanks everyone I can't wait to get there. We are doing a 15 day Mediterranean cruise after that but London right now is the highlight for me.

travelingtish

Just returned and the Oyster Card is 3 pounds, not 2 pounds. But it is refundable. You can pretty much put what you want on it ('though I'm sure there's a minimum). Some turnstiles/readers in Tube stations will tell you, if you take the time to read it as you go through, how much you have left. If you run low, you can just add a little. I'm not planning to go back anytime soon, so I turned mine in and got a refund for my 3 pound deposit and also the money I hadn't used.
I tried to do that at one of the tube stations in town and the guy was a jerk and said I could only do that at the airport. So I asked around at the airport and found the correct window and they gave me back something like 5 plus pounds. And the guy there laughed and shook his head when I told him the tube person told me I had to do it at the airport. He said the other guy just didn't want to be bothered.
It was so convenient. You pay less per trip and there is a limit to how much they charge you each day. So at some point, if you make enough trips, you are travelling free the rest of the day. Can't beat that!

traveller69

travelingtish - thanks that is great to know. I won't worry about putting too much on the card if I know I can get the unused amount back. I doubt I will be back to London for several years so I'll get my deposit back as well.

smschloss

This information was helpful to me as well.
I am traveling to London for a week in August with 3 adults and one 14 year old.

this is my plan - please respond!

Ordering a 11-15 year old photo oyster card in the mail this week for my daughter and will pick it up at Heathrow. At that time I will purchase 3 adult 7 day card. We will be using it for the airport-london trip and then around London for the week, and then back to the airport.

I am hoping to put money on it once, and paying cash so not to have to have my credit card billed.

Does this sound correct? And...if staying in Kensington Olympia hilton, what is my route from the airport?

thanks so much for responding.

alanRow

<<< At that time I will purchase 3 adult 7 day card. >>>

assuming you are going to visit some of the major sites like the Tower of London then you need a 7 day PAPER Travelcard for Zones 1 & 2 which allows you to use the offers on www.2for1entry.co.uk

The 7 day paper travelcard can only be bought at train stations NOT at Tube stations, however there is nothing to stop you either paying the full single fare into the centre of London or buying a 1 day travelcard at LHR for zones 1-6

Merseyheart

Assuming that the Kensington Olympia HIlton is at that tube stop.....

Take the Piccadilly line from Heathrow (it's your only choice--it's the only line!)....when you get to one of the stops that closest to Kensington Olympia, either transfer to the District line, or go up to the surface and hail a cab. It's your choice...

smschloss

alanrow - so If i get a PAPER travelcard will that allow me to travel on tubes and buses?

PatrickLondon

From Heathrow to Olympia, take the Piccadilly Line to Earl's Court, and change there for a train to Olympia. Not much point making the easier change to the District Line at Hammersmith, because you'd still have to change platforms at Earl's Court.

Yes, a paper travelcard has exactly the same validity as one on Oyster; there's a slot to feed it into in the automatic barriers at tube stations, but you have to show it to the bus driver.

xyz123

I may be wrong about this but I think the Kensington Hilton is closer to the Earls Court station (and High Sctreet Kensington)than it is to Kensington Olympia; you ought to call the hotel to find out.

As far as paper travelcards vs. oyster, do remember oyster always caps at 50p less than the corresponding charge for a one day paper travelcard and is much uch more flexible and allows you to do whatever you want at a cheaper price..

Example, you arrive in London on a weekend or outsides the hours of 0700 to 1900 weekdays...a zone 1 - 6 travelcard off peak is £7....but let's say when you arrive in London you change your mind and decide only to take one round trip bus trip...your total outlay for the day on oyster would be £3.80 (£2 for the tube trip from Heathrow and 90p each for the bus rides...a substantial savings.

Also no need to queue up each morning to buy a paper travelcard..I just don't see the advantage of the paper travelcards over oyster.....of course there are the 2 for 1's...just don't know which attractions they are useful for but that's something you'll have to check out.

janisj

xyz123: The Kensington Olympia Hilton is next door to the Kensington Olympia station. Still a bit of a walk since you have to walk from the platform the wrong direction a bit to get to the exit and then back along the access road to the High street. If there was direct access (as the crow flies) you'd be in the hotel lobby in about 1 minute. But it ends up about a 5 minute walk.

Earls Court is much farther.

smschloss

xyz123

I definately do not wan to cue up in the mornings to buy a paper card each day.

We are hoping to be at the attractions early in the morning and travel before 9:30, which I think is peak time to travel. If we can not get a 7 day paper card, then we will get the 7 day oyster card. Why does London have 2 systems? It seems one system to travel would be much easier.

If we arrive at 9:30 on a weekday at heathrow, then we are traveling to our hotel at off peak time. In the mornings, it will be peak time to travel to attractions, but then in the evening, off peak times...

The 11-15 oyster allows my daughter to get free bus rides.

Last question:
Does the PAPER travel card allow for rides on tubes and buses?
the oyster card does - correct?

I am sure things are much easier than I am thinking.

PatrickLondon

See above...