Oyster Card - Travelcard - Travelpass - Please Help!
Dec 28th, 2011, 02:29 AM
#1
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Oyster Card - Travelcard - Travelpass - Please Help!
My husband and I will be in London for seven days in February. We're flying into and out of Heathrow and we're staying in Lambeth. We plan to visit the usual sights and we'll get around London by tube every day. We also plan a quick trip to Edinburgh and back by train during our visit. My problem is that no matter what or how much I read about the various cards, I still can't figure them out. I've read the threads here and have gone to the specific websites and the more I read, the more confused I get. Is it just me? I think I need a "London travel 101" class. I'd appreciate any information you can give to help me sort them out. Thanks in advance for your help!
Dec 28th, 2011, 03:11 AM
#2
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printed TravelCard issued at a train station - on paper that is - gets you 2 for 1 entries into many expensive London sights - otherwise the OysterCard is a no-brainer - you load a TravelCard on that or really Oyster Card caps off charges when you reach the TravelCard level
Dec 28th, 2011, 04:02 AM
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1. There is an Oystercard, which is an electronic card, on which you can record prepaid values, either
(a) "pay as you go" in which a fare is deducted for each journey, up to a maximum for any one day
or
(b) a "travelcard" covering a set period within specified travel zones.
For your period of stay and likely travel patterns, a 7-day travelcard for zones 1 and 2 would probably be the best value.
2. Lots of people commute into London on national rail services, and those companies also operate a range of suburban train services, and also issue travelcards valid for TfL bus and tube services. The relevance to this discussion is that these companies have a promotion to encourage their commuters to travel (preferably with their families) at other times: this offers 2for1 tickets to a range of attractions IF you present one of their tickets or travelcards (NOT a TfL ticket or Oystercard) valid for the day in question. So if any of the attractions at www.daysoutguide.co.uk interest you, it might be worth your while printing out the coupons from that site and getting your 7-day travelcard from a national rail station: will come on old-fashioned paper, as PQ says. In your case, you can't get one at Heathrow, so you'd have to pay the full cash fare on the tube into central London, and then get a paper travelcard at Waterloo if you want to use this to get the 2for1s. Whether you do or not depends on whether you're likely to want to visit any of those attractions.
3. I don't know of a "travelpass", but if you mean the London Pass, which is a commercial operation, the general opinion is that it's unlikely to be worth the money - it includes a travelcard for all the zones, which you're highly unlikely to need.
(a) "pay as you go" in which a fare is deducted for each journey, up to a maximum for any one day
or
(b) a "travelcard" covering a set period within specified travel zones.
For your period of stay and likely travel patterns, a 7-day travelcard for zones 1 and 2 would probably be the best value.
2. Lots of people commute into London on national rail services, and those companies also operate a range of suburban train services, and also issue travelcards valid for TfL bus and tube services. The relevance to this discussion is that these companies have a promotion to encourage their commuters to travel (preferably with their families) at other times: this offers 2for1 tickets to a range of attractions IF you present one of their tickets or travelcards (NOT a TfL ticket or Oystercard) valid for the day in question. So if any of the attractions at www.daysoutguide.co.uk interest you, it might be worth your while printing out the coupons from that site and getting your 7-day travelcard from a national rail station: will come on old-fashioned paper, as PQ says. In your case, you can't get one at Heathrow, so you'd have to pay the full cash fare on the tube into central London, and then get a paper travelcard at Waterloo if you want to use this to get the 2for1s. Whether you do or not depends on whether you're likely to want to visit any of those attractions.
3. I don't know of a "travelpass", but if you mean the London Pass, which is a commercial operation, the general opinion is that it's unlikely to be worth the money - it includes a travelcard for all the zones, which you're highly unlikely to need.
Dec 28th, 2011, 04:35 AM
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There are lots of options because no two people have the same travel needs. Flat "x is best" answers from someone who doesn't know the full details of every single journey you're planning are simply wrong.
The best value way to get to Edinburgh is to book (non-refundable) your train or plane NOW. There's no fancy-schmanzy alternative, and no relevant pass that affects you. Door to door times are roughly the same either way (obviously depending which doors you're travelling between), trains usually a bit pricier and scenery on the train generally irrelevant in winter since you'll probably be travelling when it's invisible. It really is very, very, tricky to see anything of Edinburgh in a one-day trip.
If that trip leaves you with four days or more travelling round London and planning to see paid-for sites, a 7 day travelcard (same price as 4.2 one-day travelcards, or 4.2 capped daily fares on an Oystercard), bought at a railway station, will almost certainly be your best bet. If you're in London for three days or less, three one day travelcards are likely to be best (you can buy them at once and get them postdated).
Oysters make sense mainly if you're not planning to visit many second division sites (most of the first division's free) and plan to take just a few bus journeys and a tube or two each day.
The best value way to get to Edinburgh is to book (non-refundable) your train or plane NOW. There's no fancy-schmanzy alternative, and no relevant pass that affects you. Door to door times are roughly the same either way (obviously depending which doors you're travelling between), trains usually a bit pricier and scenery on the train generally irrelevant in winter since you'll probably be travelling when it's invisible. It really is very, very, tricky to see anything of Edinburgh in a one-day trip.
If that trip leaves you with four days or more travelling round London and planning to see paid-for sites, a 7 day travelcard (same price as 4.2 one-day travelcards, or 4.2 capped daily fares on an Oystercard), bought at a railway station, will almost certainly be your best bet. If you're in London for three days or less, three one day travelcards are likely to be best (you can buy them at once and get them postdated).
Oysters make sense mainly if you're not planning to visit many second division sites (most of the first division's free) and plan to take just a few bus journeys and a tube or two each day.
Dec 28th, 2011, 07:20 AM
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This isn't that hard.
FIRST, before you go to London, go to this website: www.daysoutguide.co.uk and print out every 2for1 voucher of interest to you.
SECOND, when you get to London and drop your stuff at your temporary abode, go to the London Bridge National Rail station (the one with the M&S Simply Food, EAT, Boots and other ubiquitous shops) and go to a manned booth at the ticket office. Get a 7-day Travelcard for you and hubby. You will receive a flimsy plastic-coated card with an orange bar on the bottom.
THIRD, use the Travelcard every day for bus, Tube, etc.
FOURTH, present the Travelcard and the 2for1 vouchers at qualifying sites (Tower, Hampton Court Palace, Churchill War Rooms, etc.) and save much money (the Tower is about 18 quid - that's $28-30 per person).
As for Edinburgh - there's no same day "quick trip to Edinburgh and back" because it's a nearly four-hour train ride each way. If you leave at 6 and return late at night the same day, you will spend more than 7 hours on the train.
FIRST, before you go to London, go to this website: www.daysoutguide.co.uk and print out every 2for1 voucher of interest to you.
SECOND, when you get to London and drop your stuff at your temporary abode, go to the London Bridge National Rail station (the one with the M&S Simply Food, EAT, Boots and other ubiquitous shops) and go to a manned booth at the ticket office. Get a 7-day Travelcard for you and hubby. You will receive a flimsy plastic-coated card with an orange bar on the bottom.
THIRD, use the Travelcard every day for bus, Tube, etc.
FOURTH, present the Travelcard and the 2for1 vouchers at qualifying sites (Tower, Hampton Court Palace, Churchill War Rooms, etc.) and save much money (the Tower is about 18 quid - that's $28-30 per person).
As for Edinburgh - there's no same day "quick trip to Edinburgh and back" because it's a nearly four-hour train ride each way. If you leave at 6 and return late at night the same day, you will spend more than 7 hours on the train.
Dec 28th, 2011, 08:02 AM
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London is divided into zones, zone 1 is the central zone, containing the business districts, various shopping districts e.g. oxford street, kensington, bond street, covent garden and most of the big theatres, museums, London Eye etc etc. The other zones are then arranged in concentric rings outwards from zone 1. The furthest out zone is 6 which takes up to an hour to travel to from zone 1 by tube. (There are also so extensions in the north west make zones 7-9 but you won't need to worry about those).
A travelcard allows unlimited travel on buses, trains, tube within the zones on the ticket. You can't get just a zone 1 travelcard. The cheapest ticket is a zone 1-2 travelcard although there are 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 travelcards but most tourists don't need to visit outside of zone 2 unless meeting London based family or friends. You have said you are staying in Lambeth, which falls into zones 1 and 2 so a weekly zone 1-2 travelcard will be perfect for you.
You can either buy a weekly paper travel card for zones 1-2 (slightly expensive option) or get an Oyster card which is a plastic reusable card and "load" a 7 day 1-2zone travel card onto it. I'd recommend doing this because they are less fragile than a paper ticket and you don't even have to take them out of your wallet/purse to use them either. Then you just "tap in" on the buses and at the tube/train station barriers to entry/exit.
You want to book Edinburgh train ticket in advance though as turn up on the day tickets are extremely expensive, a one-way ticket is £140+ ($220) per person on standard class with no-extras but will be cheaper if you book ahead and can travel off peak.
A travelcard allows unlimited travel on buses, trains, tube within the zones on the ticket. You can't get just a zone 1 travelcard. The cheapest ticket is a zone 1-2 travelcard although there are 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 travelcards but most tourists don't need to visit outside of zone 2 unless meeting London based family or friends. You have said you are staying in Lambeth, which falls into zones 1 and 2 so a weekly zone 1-2 travelcard will be perfect for you.
You can either buy a weekly paper travel card for zones 1-2 (slightly expensive option) or get an Oyster card which is a plastic reusable card and "load" a 7 day 1-2zone travel card onto it. I'd recommend doing this because they are less fragile than a paper ticket and you don't even have to take them out of your wallet/purse to use them either. Then you just "tap in" on the buses and at the tube/train station barriers to entry/exit.
You want to book Edinburgh train ticket in advance though as turn up on the day tickets are extremely expensive, a one-way ticket is £140+ ($220) per person on standard class with no-extras but will be cheaper if you book ahead and can travel off peak.
Dec 28th, 2011, 08:37 AM
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If you really want to see Edinburgh, consider putting it at the beginning or end of your trip. For example, fly into Edinburgh. (This may require a change of ticket or another ticket.) Spend a couple days there, then fly or take the train to London.
Remember, if you're arriving in the UK after a long, overnight flight, you will be sleepy and jet-lagged the first day or two. So allow for that at your first destination.
Remember, if you're arriving in the UK after a long, overnight flight, you will be sleepy and jet-lagged the first day or two. So allow for that at your first destination.
Dec 28th, 2011, 09:37 AM
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>> We plan to visit the usual sights and we'll get around London by tube every day<<
We spent 2 1/2 weeks in London this past Sept, and we enjoyed our days lot more when we took the buses everywhere instead of the metros. You can see pubs, shops, interesting restaurants, old houses, architecture, etc from the upper-deck/front-seats of the bus. Often while on a bus, we would see something interesting and then immediately get off the bus & explore it. Metros were always kind of depressing for us. Obviously, if you have a long trip, it is best to take the metro. We often took the metros in the AM, and then a slow ride on the bus in the afternoon. There was a lot of construction going on in London, so bus routes were often interrupted or re-routed. Several Metro stations were closed also, however.
Earlier this year I asked the same question you are asking about "cards". We ended up purchasing the seven day travelcard for zones 1 & 2, but also topped the card with money for travel out of zones 1 & 2. It was quite relaxing/convenient to just get on a bus/metro & not worry about cost.
We had lots of plans for day-trips elsewhere while in London. We ended up taking only 2 (Kew Gardens & Hampstead). There was plenty to see in London for 2 1/2 weeks. If this was my trip, I would not make any plans in advance for visiting Edinburgh - especially in February when the days are short & weather is cold. Wait till you get there & see if a long day-trip really appeals to you or not (I bet if won't).
Stu Dudley
We spent 2 1/2 weeks in London this past Sept, and we enjoyed our days lot more when we took the buses everywhere instead of the metros. You can see pubs, shops, interesting restaurants, old houses, architecture, etc from the upper-deck/front-seats of the bus. Often while on a bus, we would see something interesting and then immediately get off the bus & explore it. Metros were always kind of depressing for us. Obviously, if you have a long trip, it is best to take the metro. We often took the metros in the AM, and then a slow ride on the bus in the afternoon. There was a lot of construction going on in London, so bus routes were often interrupted or re-routed. Several Metro stations were closed also, however.
Earlier this year I asked the same question you are asking about "cards". We ended up purchasing the seven day travelcard for zones 1 & 2, but also topped the card with money for travel out of zones 1 & 2. It was quite relaxing/convenient to just get on a bus/metro & not worry about cost.
We had lots of plans for day-trips elsewhere while in London. We ended up taking only 2 (Kew Gardens & Hampstead). There was plenty to see in London for 2 1/2 weeks. If this was my trip, I would not make any plans in advance for visiting Edinburgh - especially in February when the days are short & weather is cold. Wait till you get there & see if a long day-trip really appeals to you or not (I bet if won't).
Stu Dudley
Dec 28th, 2011, 10:11 AM
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NO NO NO. <b>Do NOT get an Oyster card with a 7-day travelcard loaded onto it.</b> Dancing Fluff's answer does NOT help you on this and neither does Stu Dudley's.
Get a Travelcard as I described and you will have unlimited rides AND 2for1 discounts. The 2for1 discounts are NOT available with an Oyster card. If you're really planning to visit "the usual sights" (whatever those may be), your best option is the 7 day Travelcard if you will be in London for 4 or more days, period.
Get a Travelcard as I described and you will have unlimited rides AND 2for1 discounts. The 2for1 discounts are NOT available with an Oyster card. If you're really planning to visit "the usual sights" (whatever those may be), your best option is the 7 day Travelcard if you will be in London for 4 or more days, period.
Dec 28th, 2011, 10:15 AM
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Oh yeah, Patrick's right. The London Pass is crap - most of the major museums in London are free (British, both Tates, British Library, National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, V&A, Imperial War, etc.). Smaller ones are accessible for relatively minimal cost (the Courtauld was just a few pounds). So why bother with a limited time pass that will make you go to secondary and tertiary sites just to recoup the cost?
Dec 28th, 2011, 10:19 AM
#11
If you aren't all that interested in the 2 for 1's then go for the Oyster with a Travelcard loaded on it...what we did this past October and it worked well (and no we were not interested in the 2 for 1's)
as to the Tube vs the BUSSES..that works well IF you aren't doing it during the rush hour unless you want to look at the same sight/pub out the bus window as the thing CREEPS along. Might be better to use a COMBO of Tube and busses depending on the times of day.
as to the Tube vs the BUSSES..that works well IF you aren't doing it during the rush hour unless you want to look at the same sight/pub out the bus window as the thing CREEPS along. Might be better to use a COMBO of Tube and busses depending on the times of day.
Dec 28th, 2011, 12:22 PM
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The original poster indicates a trip to Edinburgh is part of the deal within the 7 day period....the question then bec omes how long will be spent in Edinburgh and/or travelling there. Once you get down to 5 days of actual use in London, the alternative to the 7 day travelcard which is pay as you go becomes pretty much break even. Fewer than 5 days, to some degree PAYG is usually better thanks to the caps. Also, bear in mind, the way the system is set up, extension fares on a paper seven day zone 1 & 2 travelcard are very expensive and if doing a 2 4 1 say to Hampton Court you might want for that day to purchase a 1 day zone 1-5 or is it 1-6 off peak card (don't remember which zone Hampton Court is in!) so assuming a couple of days in Edinburgh...
1. At Heathrow purchase an oyster card and put 20 quid on it...(there is a 5 quid deposit required b ut it is refundable if you so desire as you leave Heathrow on the last day)...
2. On the day before any day you wish to do a 2 4 1, stop off at a national rail office and pick up a 1 day travelcard on national rail stock for that next day and use that card on that day for all your travel needs.
3. Use the oyster card payg for the trip to wherever you depart for Edinburgh and on the day you return.
It's not really a challenge...there are national rail offices all over town and you'll probably be near one each day. While it sounds complicated, it really isn't. Lots of people have done it.
1. At Heathrow purchase an oyster card and put 20 quid on it...(there is a 5 quid deposit required b ut it is refundable if you so desire as you leave Heathrow on the last day)...
2. On the day before any day you wish to do a 2 4 1, stop off at a national rail office and pick up a 1 day travelcard on national rail stock for that next day and use that card on that day for all your travel needs.
3. Use the oyster card payg for the trip to wherever you depart for Edinburgh and on the day you return.
It's not really a challenge...there are national rail offices all over town and you'll probably be near one each day. While it sounds complicated, it really isn't. Lots of people have done it.
Dec 28th, 2011, 12:50 PM
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>>and no we were not interested in the 2 for 1's<<
Neither were we - that's why we selected the Oyster Card with a 7 day Travelcard loaded on it. Even for the last 4 days we were there, we got a 7 day travelcard.
BTW, you can't get the Oyster & travelcard at a "machine" if you don't have a chip card. An attendant tried it for us & the machine would not accept our US swipe card. We had to return the next day when a cashier was present to purchase the card at a "booth". We stayed in the Notting Hill area.
I agree with Dukey1 about taking the buses during rush hour - they don't move very fast. We usually started the day taking a metro, did buses mid-day, and either metro or buses in the evening. Still - we enjoyed the buses more than the metro even if the buses didn't move very quickly.
Stu Dudley
Neither were we - that's why we selected the Oyster Card with a 7 day Travelcard loaded on it. Even for the last 4 days we were there, we got a 7 day travelcard.
BTW, you can't get the Oyster & travelcard at a "machine" if you don't have a chip card. An attendant tried it for us & the machine would not accept our US swipe card. We had to return the next day when a cashier was present to purchase the card at a "booth". We stayed in the Notting Hill area.
I agree with Dukey1 about taking the buses during rush hour - they don't move very fast. We usually started the day taking a metro, did buses mid-day, and either metro or buses in the evening. Still - we enjoyed the buses more than the metro even if the buses didn't move very quickly.
Stu Dudley
Dec 28th, 2011, 01:15 PM
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Stu...unless it's changed recently, as late as last August I was able to use the machines with my antiquated US credit card to top up my oyster card...not questioning you but at least it was my experience the machines in the London underground do accept US credit cards.
Dec 28th, 2011, 02:11 PM
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xyz
We were there this past Sept in the PM, and a gate attendent tried it who seemed to be very familiar with the machine. It didn't work with my Capitol One card at the Holland Park station. Came back to the Holland Park (or could have been the Notting Hill Gate) station the next day & it worked fine with the clerk in the "booth" (who was only there in the AM).
Strange !!!
Stu Dudley
We were there this past Sept in the PM, and a gate attendent tried it who seemed to be very familiar with the machine. It didn't work with my Capitol One card at the Holland Park station. Came back to the Holland Park (or could have been the Notting Hill Gate) station the next day & it worked fine with the clerk in the "booth" (who was only there in the AM).
Strange !!!
Stu Dudley
Dec 28th, 2011, 04:52 PM
#16
Original Poster
Thanks, fodorites; you came through in spades! Patrick, you're right, I meant London Pass, not Travelpass. I think I was making it more difficult than I needed to. I'll reread your posts and we'll decide what's best for us.
Your comments about Edinburgh were also interesting. We're hoping to spend just one night there; train up one morning and back the next afternoon/evening. Yes, quick, but we want to get the flavor of it in hopes of coming back for a longer visit if we like it. DancingFluff, your comments about purchasing the traintickets in advance were interesting; we were thinking we'd make last-minute reservations, but we may have to rethink that...I'll report when we return to let you know if we make it there.
Your comments about Edinburgh were also interesting. We're hoping to spend just one night there; train up one morning and back the next afternoon/evening. Yes, quick, but we want to get the flavor of it in hopes of coming back for a longer visit if we like it. DancingFluff, your comments about purchasing the traintickets in advance were interesting; we were thinking we'd make last-minute reservations, but we may have to rethink that...I'll report when we return to let you know if we make it there.
Dec 28th, 2011, 06:57 PM
#17
For Edinburgh to make more sense, you should consider taking the sleeper from Euston. You leave London late at night and arrive at Waverly station at 8AM so you have the full day free - plus the next 1/2 a day.
Dec 28th, 2011, 09:02 PM
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>>Your comments about Edinburgh were also interesting. We're hoping to spend just one night there; train up one morning and back the next afternoon/evening. Yes, quick, but we want to get the flavor of it in hopes of coming back for a longer visit if we like it.<<
OK - here is a suggestion from us based on over 34 years of vacationing in Europe, and spending at least 2 months there every year since we retired early in '99 so we could travel more.
Do not go to Edingurgh - especially in February. Just stay in London. Edinburgh is fabulous. Just plan on "coming back for a longer visit" and also tour the beautiful Scottish countryside when you do. Don't take any time away from London & spend it on a train.
Stu Dudley
OK - here is a suggestion from us based on over 34 years of vacationing in Europe, and spending at least 2 months there every year since we retired early in '99 so we could travel more.
Do not go to Edingurgh - especially in February. Just stay in London. Edinburgh is fabulous. Just plan on "coming back for a longer visit" and also tour the beautiful Scottish countryside when you do. Don't take any time away from London & spend it on a train.
Stu Dudley
Dec 28th, 2011, 11:24 PM
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>> we were thinking we'd make last-minute reservations, but we may have to rethink that<<
No, no, no. Sorry to be so abrupt, but train tickets are sold like airline tickets. Leave it to the last minute and the fares on a busy route like that will be astronomical.
No, no, no. Sorry to be so abrupt, but train tickets are sold like airline tickets. Leave it to the last minute and the fares on a busy route like that will be astronomical.
