London Travelcard: 2 For 1 Savings (The Real Experience)
May 25th, 2009, 06:31 AM
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London Travelcard: 2 For 1 Savings (The Real Experience)
I'd read all the information in advance.
If I wanted the 2 for 1 deals, I would have to buy a travelcard, not an oyster from a London railway station.
Before coming to London I had printed out vouchers for the 2 for 1 attractions I wanted to visit.
Arrived May 14 at Euston Station. First question, where do I buy the travelcards? I first headed for the ticket windows. Before I could get to the window, a Rail Employee asked what I wanted at the ticket window. I said I wanted to buy a 7 day travelcard, not an oyster. I wanted to use the 2 for 1 saving vouchers. The rail employee said that I was in the wrong place. She pointed to a kiosk in the center of the station labeled London Transport. She said that's where I buy the travelcards.
I waited on a line at the kiosk. When my turn, I asked for the 7 day travel card that I could use with the 2 for 1 savings vouchers. I wanted the first day of the card to be May 15, the next day. The lady at the kiosk asked for the pounds required. Then she handed me what looked like an oyster card. No, I said. Isn't this an oyster? I want a travel card for the 2 for 1 vouchers. The lady informed that this is what we have here. That's what I had asked for.
What to do? I left. With my oyster, but without the required travelcard.
I have no idea how to buy the travelcard everyone talked about.
But there is good news to this story. When I arrived at the 2 for 1 attractions, I handed them the voucher. In every case, but one, the voucher was accepted without question. No one asked to see my travelcard for documentation. This was true even at the very expensive Tower of London. The one exception was a London Walks tour guide. She requested that I show her my actual travelcard. Since I did not have one, I showed her my rail ticket to Euston Station instead. She bought it. So, I got my discounts, even without the travelcard anyway.
If I wanted the 2 for 1 deals, I would have to buy a travelcard, not an oyster from a London railway station.
Before coming to London I had printed out vouchers for the 2 for 1 attractions I wanted to visit.
Arrived May 14 at Euston Station. First question, where do I buy the travelcards? I first headed for the ticket windows. Before I could get to the window, a Rail Employee asked what I wanted at the ticket window. I said I wanted to buy a 7 day travelcard, not an oyster. I wanted to use the 2 for 1 saving vouchers. The rail employee said that I was in the wrong place. She pointed to a kiosk in the center of the station labeled London Transport. She said that's where I buy the travelcards.
I waited on a line at the kiosk. When my turn, I asked for the 7 day travel card that I could use with the 2 for 1 savings vouchers. I wanted the first day of the card to be May 15, the next day. The lady at the kiosk asked for the pounds required. Then she handed me what looked like an oyster card. No, I said. Isn't this an oyster? I want a travel card for the 2 for 1 vouchers. The lady informed that this is what we have here. That's what I had asked for.
What to do? I left. With my oyster, but without the required travelcard.
I have no idea how to buy the travelcard everyone talked about.
But there is good news to this story. When I arrived at the 2 for 1 attractions, I handed them the voucher. In every case, but one, the voucher was accepted without question. No one asked to see my travelcard for documentation. This was true even at the very expensive Tower of London. The one exception was a London Walks tour guide. She requested that I show her my actual travelcard. Since I did not have one, I showed her my rail ticket to Euston Station instead. She bought it. So, I got my discounts, even without the travelcard anyway.
May 25th, 2009, 06:39 AM
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It sounds like you were at an underground ticket booth. You need to go to the rail station ticket booth to buy the paper travel card. The rail station doesnt sell oysters, and the underground ticket booths dont sell paper travel cards. Its confusing...Euston would have both, so you were likely just at the wrong one.
When buying the paper travel cards be sure to go to where the trains leave to get your tickets, not the underground stations.
When buying the paper travel cards be sure to go to where the trains leave to get your tickets, not the underground stations.
May 25th, 2009, 06:39 AM
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Glad everything turned out well for you - I think there was a miscommunication at the Euston TfL window, because they certainly sell paper Travelcards. I've bought them at Tube stations.
(But I don't know if they bear the National Rail logo or not.)
(But I don't know if they bear the National Rail logo or not.)
May 25th, 2009, 06:43 AM
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NB: Euston isn't listed under National Rail Stations here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/wheret..._Rail_stations
Why they dont make this less complicated I will never know!
May 25th, 2009, 08:10 AM
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I'll add my own firsthand experience (in April 2009) to this thread.
I purchased paper 7 day Travelcards at Victoria Station from the National Rail window. They were orange, and bore the National Rail logo (the two half arrows pointing in opposite directions). I only used one 2 for 1 voucher, at the zoo, and the ticket seller there most definitely wanted to see the paper travelcard (both of them, in fact) before giving the discount.
As for the OP's experience trying to buy a travelcard, it sounds like the National Rail employee who intercepted him/her was mistaken, and had he/she managed to get to an actual ticket window would have been able to buy the desired ticket. The rail window at Victoria was also able to sell me a "kid for quid" ticket.
I purchased paper 7 day Travelcards at Victoria Station from the National Rail window. They were orange, and bore the National Rail logo (the two half arrows pointing in opposite directions). I only used one 2 for 1 voucher, at the zoo, and the ticket seller there most definitely wanted to see the paper travelcard (both of them, in fact) before giving the discount.
As for the OP's experience trying to buy a travelcard, it sounds like the National Rail employee who intercepted him/her was mistaken, and had he/she managed to get to an actual ticket window would have been able to buy the desired ticket. The rail window at Victoria was also able to sell me a "kid for quid" ticket.
May 25th, 2009, 02:48 PM
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This link has a good photo of what a Travelcard issued by National Rail service looks like (with the Rail Logo, and orange in color as described by Therese):
http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefin...ard_oyster.htm
http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefin...ard_oyster.htm
Jun 13th, 2009, 02:44 PM
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Our experience: We landed in London at St. Pancras. Followed the signs to the National Rail Ticket Office. They had the 2 for 1 booklets on display. Bought two travelcards without problem.
Used them for discount at the Tower of London. I had a printout from the internet and the employee asked to see my travelcard. She examined it and gave me the discount, no problem.
Also used it for Thames River Cruise. This was impromptu and I did not have a printout, but there was a sign advertising a 33% discount so I thought I might as well ask. They gave me the discount without a printout and without asking to see the card.
Now the bad news. Since the card is paper it is not as durable. On about the second day of using it for the tube it quit working. An employee said it had been bent and the magnetic strip had been damaged. She said I would have to go back to St. Pancras to get it replaced. Bummer! I just scooted through the turnstiles on DH's card for the rest of the trip (and waved it at any employee that might be looking), or when we used the bus I just showed it to the driver.
So, all in all it worked out well, just take care not to bend or damage the darn thing.
Used them for discount at the Tower of London. I had a printout from the internet and the employee asked to see my travelcard. She examined it and gave me the discount, no problem.
Also used it for Thames River Cruise. This was impromptu and I did not have a printout, but there was a sign advertising a 33% discount so I thought I might as well ask. They gave me the discount without a printout and without asking to see the card.
Now the bad news. Since the card is paper it is not as durable. On about the second day of using it for the tube it quit working. An employee said it had been bent and the magnetic strip had been damaged. She said I would have to go back to St. Pancras to get it replaced. Bummer! I just scooted through the turnstiles on DH's card for the rest of the trip (and waved it at any employee that might be looking), or when we used the bus I just showed it to the driver.
So, all in all it worked out well, just take care not to bend or damage the darn thing.
