Oyster Card and Rail travel question
 

We will be coming into London from Gatwick. We are in London from 3/10-3/14 flying out of LHR to Venice for two days and back into London from 3/16-3/19.
My question is since our time is split in London should I buy the 7 day travelcard and then a 3 day travelcard or pay as you go? We take the tube constantly while in London, never buses and we're taking a Southern train in from Gatwick, so do I understand that the Oyster card would cover the train fare? If so, do I buy the Oyster card at the train station at Gatwick?
Sorry for yet another Oyster card question but like most others it seems confusing to me.

I'd say a 7-day for the first trip and PAYG for the second.

There is no public transport at Gatwick (okay, city buses maybe), so you will probably take the Southern train to Victoria or one of the other carriers to the east side. In any event, you'll need to acquire your Oyster/Travelcard at the destination station, where the Tube runs.

Thanks Robespierre that clears things up for me.

I just had a thought about the London 2 for 1 offers that I printed out. With a travelcard loaded on Oyster is it possible for the venue to see that I have purchased a railcard in order to receive the discount?

www.2for1entry.co.uk/faq.aspx

You are able to use Oyster cards that are issued in conjunction with:

1. Freedom passes
2. Travelcards - weekly, monthly or yearly. However your Oyster card MUST be accompanied by your Record Card that proves the purchase of a Travelcard which is valid for the date of your visit.

Please note that Oyster Pre-Pay, and Single/Return tickets bought for travel by London Underground/tube only are NOT valid for use with this offer.

Whenever I have used the 2for1 offers I have flashed my Oyster card with no supporting evidence of what is on it. I think it is up to the discretion of the attendant issuing your ticket whether to make a big deal about it. When I have used it, they have no way of "seeing" what is loaded onto your Oyster.

If they don't have an electronic reader, you would have a printed confirmation that you have a travelcard - and they'd be entitled to ask to see it. Though getting the people in, come what may, may be more important than double-checking whether someone on PAYG has snuck in. You just can't be absolutely sure there'd be no combeack.

By Record Card, do they mean the receipt you get when you purchase your travelcard on the Oyster? If so I guess I better start saving those.

Sorry , another question...I know I have money left on my Oyster, is there some way to find out how much?

I will be in London for 5 days. I think from this info an Oyster card will do for my travels. Not that I will return any time soon, what do I have to do to get the refund for the deposit and any monies left over? Does the Victoria station do this? What is the best way to get to Gatwick airport from Central London?

Apply at a Tube station.
Yes.
Southern Trains from Victoria is the best deal. £9 for the same ride the Heathrow Express charges £14 for (but with a 5-minute stop).

I read that the Oyster card with a travelcard on it can give a discount for the river ride on the Thames. I do not follow if this would be worth adding on just to get a discount? I would be 5 days, and at times may not even hit the cap as we plan on doing some walking.

We walk a LOT and we still find buying a 7 day travel card works out to our advantage, even if we are only using it for 4 days..it's great to hop a bus or tube to get somewhere quickly, especially if you've been to London before

You're definitely wasting money on a 7-day Travelcard for a 4-day trip.

A Oyster being used PAYG tops out at £4.60 a day. So if you max it out, the absolute most you'd spend is £18.40 (and even less if you really walk a LOT and only use it for the odd Tube ride).

I don't think I'm wasting money even at 4 days. I use it for the DaysOut offers and for that you have to have a 7 day travelcard loaded on your oyster. Next month , we'll use it at Aspley House ,5£, 2 for 1, Courtauld ,5£, 2for 1; Hampton Court,13£,2for1;Handel House ,5£,2for1; Hermtage Rooms 5£,2for1;IWM,6£,2for1..not to mention buy one get one free meals at several restaurants.

Could not take advantage of those offers if I used PAYG

Then if you're buying it for the twofers, ferchrissake say so!

This board is to share information, not keep secrets.

Thanks again! I kinda thought you'd get some sort of receipt showing the purchase of a travelcard but one never knows. I always prepurchase the travelcard so this is my first time buying in London and using Oyster.
I feel like a newbie.

I have never been asked for a Record Card. Just waved my Oyster and got my discount. The river excursion clerks have to a) know to ask, b) know how to see what you have, and c) care.

I think most of them fail at c).

Alan Row gave the secret away above...why don't you crawl back in bed and get out the other side this morning, Robes!

Sorry - he said "your Oyster card MUST be accompanied by your Record Card that proves the purchase of a Travelcard" - and that's not true (if you wave your PAYG Oyster they will waive the requirement).

Why the snarky "crawl back in bed"? Are you trying to be provocative?

Snaky?? Pot calling kettle!

From the Days Out site

"Can I use an oyster card?

You are able to use Oyster cards that are issued in conjunction with:

Freedom passes
Travelcards - weekly, monthly or yearly. However your Oyster card MUST be accompanied by your Record Card that proves the purchase of a Travelcard which is valid for the date of your visit.
Please note that Oyster Pre-Pay, and Single/Return tickets bought for travel by London Underground/tube only are NOT valid for use with this offer.
"

hi, princess.

Whatever you do, do not try to get on a bus without some sort of pre-payment card or ticket. I made this mistake about a month ago and discovered that LONDON BUSES DO NOT TAKE MONEY. [sorry to shout].

What use is a bus that you can't jump on and pay for a ticket???
Ken - you've completely lost the plot.
Also, the prices are appalling, comparing very badly with other major european cities.

I lived and worked in london for over 15 years and the ticket system now [as evidenced by your questions] is a horrible mess. It certainly discourages me from travelling to London again.

good luck with your trip.

jody -
You're quoting chapter and verse to me. I'm telling you how it works in the real world.

annhig -
Buses that don't accept money can't be robbed.

Good to know about the buses just in case but we don't take the bus. Thanks again.

Can I stand up for Londons buses?
I think the oyster system works really well. Its clearly advertised at the stop that you need to buy a ticket before you board and there are machines where you can buy your ticket.
If you pay a cash fare, then buses are very expensive (£2 a trip) but if you use oyster the most you'll ever pay in a day is £3 no matter how many trips you take.
Compared to the bus networks in other British cities, London's is cheap, clean and regular (some of the drivers could do with customer service training though!)
I much prefer to use buses over the tube any day. You miss out on seeing so much, travelling underground.

Buses DO take cash.

The one exception is in central London - where ticket selling machines (and clear statements of the no cash in hte centre policy) are adjacent to practically every stop.

Okay, now I am ready to leave London, (looking ahead) and want to get a refund of $ on my Oyster card. What is involved? Do I have to submit an application? How long does it take to get the refund? I need to get to Gatwick airport early on a Sunday morning. I will be leaving out of the Victoria Stattion sometime around 7-8 a.m. on whatever gets me there.

mncow...

Are you ever coming back to London? The card and the money on it never expires.

I can't say never, but plan on making trips to other parts of the world. Money is a tight commodity for the budget, and would like to get back what I can now for future ventrues elsewhere.

You can get a refund of the unused balance (plus the £3 deposit if you paid it) at a Tube ticket window.

Does this take time, or is it an instant refund? What I am asking is there paper work and do you need time to complete it and then get it mailed or is it fairly quick to get the $ back? Like time to do it before catching the plane?