I've read all of the posts and am still confused. Arriving July 2 in the AM and departing July 7 in the AM. 2 adults going to Wimbledon 2X and traveling around London the other days. Patrick, Julia, Robespierre or anyone else with knowledge what are your suggestions for oyster/travel cards?

I'll take a stab at it. The simplest thing to do would be to get an Oyster card. Load a seven-day zone 1-2 travelcard (23.20 GBP) on it. (This would be cheaper than a series of one-day travelcards or two three-day cards.) In addition, load a enough more pounds on it to cover your trips to Wimbledon.

However, if you plan to use the bus a lot, then you could use Oyster simply as a pay-as-you-go card. The Oyster computer will calculate what you'll pay each day which will always be no more than 50 pence less than a one-day travelcard--or a one-day bus pass if you don't take any tube rides that day.

The fact that you're staying less than 7 days doesn't reduce the value of a 7-day card. The only alternative that would be cheaper is the pay-as-you-go rate, and then only IF you think you'd be making less use of London Transport than 15 tube rides or 23 bus rides in your time here. With the travelcard (but not PAYG) you also get a discount on boat trips and some 2for1 offers.

If I'm right in remembering that you'll be staying at One Aldwych, I think it's likely that you'll find buses more convenient for a lot of journeys, since there are a lot of routes right on the doorstep, whereas you'd have a walk to the nearest tube station (Temple). For bus maps:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaro...quad-11500.pdf

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/cen_bus.pdf


One other point: Tim suggests adding cash on the Oyster to travel outside zone 2 to Wimbledon. This works if you go by tube (simplest route from Temple). However, the suburban trains from Waterloo to Wimbledon aren't covered by Oyster PAYG (they don't have the same equipment): the journey would be quicker than by tube, but you'd have to pay a cash fare: there are machines at Waterloo.

Patrick, that was really my question. Did the Oyster card or PAYG work with the suburban train. That sounds like the easiest way to get to Wimbledon. And we're walkers. So walking over the bridge is no big deal. So if we use the suburban train there is no way to swipe a card. You always have to pay for a ticket each time you go?

You'd have to pay money somewhere, somehow to go out beyond zones 1 and 2, but, yes for the suburban trains you'd have to get one of their tickets. A standard day return is £4.60 (to go by tube from Temple on Oyster PAYG is likely to be £5 if you travel on a weekday in working hours: and it will take longer).

If you have a travelcard for zones 1 and 2, you might get some reduction if you ask at the ticket office for an add-on for the suburban train to Wimbledon, but whether it's worth the queuing time I don't know.

What I'm trying to avoid is the queuing time. Patrick it sounds like you're knowledgeable on London. I made a post last night looking for good interesting places for lunch and dinner. I put it under Foodies in London. If you have a chance I'd love some suggestions.