This is the official London transport site;
https://tfl.gov.uk/

You will find everything you need to know on that site.

For non-UK contactless cards;
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payment...on-this-page-1

Tulips- thank you! Great site. Guess I won't know if my US Visa card will work until I try it. By any chance do you know a site that lists all ~160 2 for 1 that I would get with the 7 day travel card?

Tulips: Everything might be there, but it sure difficult to figure it out. I have been looking at the tfl website and I still can't figure out the zones!

Yestravel: I'm not contradicting advice above but following up on your walking preference comment. Most tourists stay rather far out to the west (Kensington, Earl's Court, Marlybone) and are stuck commuting daily by tube to sites. For those people a week travel card makes sense. If you are staying truly central as you state (City, South Bank, Westminster, Mayfair, Bloomsbury) and prefer walking, or long walks and a taxi ride back, it may make more sense to save distant sites for a bop around day and get a 1 day travel card then. Also consider how many of the 2 4 1 sites you're likely to visit bearing in mind some popular ones like the Tower are suspended during the summer.

Just go to the tube map on that site. It shows the zone's; in grey, so look carefully. But it's all there

https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/track?intcmp=40400

Zone 1 is roughly the area of the Circle line.

yestravel - if you use a contactless payment card you will not be able to use the 2for1 offers. If you want that, you need the paper card from a rail station. I don't know what it covers, I've never used it.
Many sites in London are free...

Boy, oh, boy...I would never have seen that shaded area. Thank you!!

When we were there 5 years ago, we just used to Oyster card to get from Heathrow to Holborn then various tube rides and buses for 3 days. We are adding on one day and planning to go to Greenwich on the river bus. I'm assuming Oyster would still be the way to go. In reading about contactless, I can't see that we qualify.

Yes, thanks, I understand the 2 for 1 is with the travel card and not the contactless card. Perhaps we are considered further out. We are staying in an apt near the Sloane Square station. Of the attractions I have found for the 2for 1 there are none that we would likely go to. But I know there are many other attractions on it that I haven't found yet. If I decide not to do the travel card and my VISA doesn't work then I buy an Oyster card?

I would say Slone Square is a bit out but it depends upon what you are planning to do, as there are things you could walk to from there.

About the cards: Not sure what you mean, I doubt that you have a contactless credit card but you can tell because it has wavy arc lines on it.

https://www.m6toll.co.uk/media/59792/bcard2_296x150.jpg

Here's an article that has some info on contactless payments http://www.pymnts.com/nfc/2016/uk-le...ents-adoption/

An oyster card is a contactless payment card similar to what is used in many US cities for transit (SmarTrip, etc.).

Sloane Sq is VERY central.

It is a fabulous area to stay.

Agree with Janisj - Sloane Square is a great area. Absolutely not 'further out'. It's upmarket residential with lots of shops, restaurants.

Yestravel; see if your Visa will open the gate at the tube station. If it is not accepted, turn around and get an Oyster instead, from one of the machines.

Tom_mn, the Tower 2for1 is offered for summer 2017:

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/tower-of-

Yestravel, this site lists all the 160 or so 2for1 options.

Re ApplePay, I found this but don't know if it answers your question-

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-pay-in-uk.cfm

Good luck!

I use Apple Pay with an American credit card all the time in the UK, and it should work anywhere that accepts contactless payments, including the tube. Important thing to remember is to use it both when entering and leaving the tube stations. It doesn't matter whether your CC is American or whatever.
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payment...ment/apple-pay

My comment about Sloane Square being a bit out was in reference to the OP's desire to walk to sites.

And the Tower 2 4 1 offer is suspended over the summer as usual, 15 July – 3 September 2017.

Tom, you're right and I apologize; I saw the "expires October 2017" and did not click further.
(Actually I think the site was just updated today with additional info, hence the re-direct.)

Excellent link about Apple Pay. This opens lots of travel possibilities, more than just London. I read it will work without cellular service. So even a cheapskate like me who doesn't spring for cellular service in Europe can use Apple Pay and contactless payment systems.

No need to apologize. I was not able to use the offer for the Tower in July 2014 and I've noticed the same language every year since because I look for it.

Thanks everyone for all your help! I remain amazed at how confusing they can make something. From what I have read on US card being accepted, is for VISA which we have, it may or may not. I think the suggestion by Tulip to try it is the best. First I hav to go thru the 10 attractions and figure out which ones we might visit.

Since Apple Pay is connected to your credit card, it would seem to have the same issue, but I havent figured that out yet.

Fortunately I have a month or so to sort through all this.

My US and UK cards are all Visa, and I have never had a problem. If your Visa card isn't accepted, it is most likely your US bank blocking the transaction.

Contactless transactions are normally limited to a max of £30, and that includes Apple Pay.

Maybe said above but tell your bank ahead of time in exactly what countries you will be using your card and tell them accept no charges from any other country (like Romania unless going there).

Heimdall-does your US Visa have those wavy lines on it? Is the limit you mention per transaction? Thanks

"Buy paper 7day zone 1&2 travel cards (at Kings Cross when you arrive from Scotland). That will give all tube/bus travel for the week PLUS give you 2for1 discounts at many of the big London attractions."

This is what we did in 2013 when we spent six nights.

Since we are there for only 3 1/2 days this time, would that be prudent or something else? Thanks.

((H))

Well - for convenience you might consider getting the 7-day travelcard but it will be overkill. Typically the break even point for a 7 day travel card id 4.5 days.

Otherwise -- assuming you want to use the 2for1's you'd need three daily travel cards. That is cheaper, cheaper but for the £6-ish you'd each be eating it would be easy to just get 7 day travel cards.

Last June while there with family ( 5 adults, 2 under 11 and one 11 year old ) I went through all the math and ended up with PAYG Oyster. I considered the 2 for 1 aspect and think it cost me a bit more not buying the 7 day travel card and using the 2 for 1 option, but it wasn't all that much. It was worth paying slightly more for the ease of Oyster and not having to get myself to a train station after a 5 hour flight delay and late arrival in London.

A lot does depend on how many 2for1 sites you are hitting. If few, then just PAYG Oyster would be easiest for sure.

What does Oyster card actually include? I am visiting London too. Four nights. Alone. Should I but some ticket in advance or pay right at the spot?

From the TfL website:
<i>Oyster is a plastic smartcard which can hold pay as you go credit, Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes. You can use an Oyster card to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, River Bus services and most National Rail services in London.</i>

No need to pay for travel in advance. Get an Oyster when you arrive. For four nights/three days, I'd put £20 for pay-as-you-go to begin with, and see if you need to top up by the time you get to the third day. You can do this all over the place.

Here’s my two-cents’ worth on this topic, especially if there's anyone reading this thread who's going to travel with a larger group:

In the past we (family)
• have used Oysters, loading them up, keeping them, enjoying the ease and value;
• and have used paper 7-day Travel Cards so that we could use 2 for 1 vouchers for a few places.

In June, heading up a group of 16 in London for 9 nights (with 3 day-trips using Rail Passes), after much contemplation, research, and comparing, I’ve decided to do something I’d never do for just my family—I’ve ordered Cards from TfL. I did this because of time and convenience considerations when considering shepherding a group.

• BECAUSE I HAVE A GROUP TO MANAGE: I ordered Oyster Visitor Cards for 14 of us. (Two of my group arriving separately will use “my” regular Oyster Cards upon arrival; they have plenty of time to go to the ticket office at Heathrow, check the balance, top them up, and ride the Tube in, meeting us later. I’ll get those cards back from them later.) Even with postage, this was about the same or less than what regular Oyster Cards with same amount loaded on them would have cost to purchase on arrival. Yes, the deposit for the Visitor Cards isn’t refundable, so in theory the cards cost more, but that’s only if we would have turned Oysters in for refunds. We won’t. We won’t have time. And this will save us much time upon arrival, not having to mess with purchasing Oysters for Tube in, arriving mid-afternoon after long flight and ready to just go into the city. Also, you can’t load a 7-Day Pass onto a Visitor Oyster Card; it can be topped up, however.

BUT I WOULD NEVER DO THIS WHEN TRAVELING AS A FAMILY; I’D STICK TO REGULAR OYSTERS.

• BECAUSE I HAVE A GROUP TO MANAGE: I ordered the 7-Day Travel Cards for 16 of us.
7 Day Travel Cards are going to be the best deal for our stay, in conjunction with a bit of money on the Oyster Card. So, we’d need to buy those, either ahead of time via TfL or once in London from a train station. However, the Cards ordered from TfL, although paper, are NOT good for 2 for 1 offers. But after much numbers-crunching/comparing/emailing/info-gathering, I determined that getting tickets to sites with their group/order-ahead prices instead of using 2 for 1 would end up costing each person less than $15 more in total for the 4 sites in consideration. Also, the 2 for 1 site made me a little nervous about considering using their vouchers for our group. It says specifically it’s not meant for groups. I was concerned we’d show up trying to use 8 vouchers and not be allowed to; or not be allowed to pay for all at once with one credit card so would have to have cash, and I’m not planning on carrying around 100’s. So, while the 2for1 plan is excellent for a family, I decided not to do that for us. Plus, having the Cards already in hand would mean I wouldn’t have to mess with buying 16 cards soon upon arrival, which would include having to have had those passport-sized photos, etc. So in the name of convenience/time-saving/less stress about the possibility of vouchers not being accepted, I opted for the Cards-by-mail ahead of time plan. The postage was very little.

BUT I WOULD NEVER DO THIS WHEN TRAVELING AS A FAMILY; I’D STICK TO EITHER BUYING THE PAPER TICKET IN LONDON OR LOADING UP A 7-DAY-CARD ON A REGULAR OYSTER.

>>What does Oyster card actually include? I am visiting London too. Four nights. Alone. Should I but some ticket in advance or pay right at the spot?<<

It is a transport ticket. It covers pretty much all your travel needs IN London. Buses, tube, DLR and trains in the center of town (not trains to other cities). It is not a 'pass' that gets you in to sites.

No need to buy in advance. An Oyster w/ £20+ PAYG (pay as you go) loaded on it will cover things. You can start w/ £20 and if you run out (the ticket gates will tell you when you balance is getting low) you can top it up with a little extra ££

Thanks so much!

Thanks to the ones who helped me as well!

Circling back around on this. We are concluding our 7 days in London. In the end I opted to get each of us the Travelcard for zones 1& 2 good for 7 days. We got the paper ticket and availed ourselves of the offers for the 2 for 1 vouchers. We brought pictures from home and purchased the Travelcards at the Kings cross Station. They were £33 each. We used the tube or buses 4 times on most days. We used 5 of the 2 for 1 offers mostly for special exhibits in museums that were free for the regular exhibits. Since this was our first trip to London in many years we decided to use the 2 for 1 on the popular sites.

Most people seemed to use the contactless cards from what I could see. I was curious about using Apple Pay since my credit cards in the USA are not contactless. I did not notice people using their phones to tap in or out.

Thank you to all who provided info on this.