Oyster or Travel Card
Jul 1st, 2009 | 10:20 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Oyster or Travel Card
going to London for a brief 5 day visit, want to use the Tube and trains. Confused about the Oyster Card/Travel Card. Specifically, we will take the tube from Heathrow into central London. Can I buy the Oyster there...not enough time to order and have them post it to me.
Jul 1st, 2009 | 10:24 AM
#2
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,248
Likes: 0
The Oyster card and travelcard are not mutually exclusive.
There is ZERO need to buy an Oyster before you arrive in London, so no worries there.
What I would probably do is to load a 7-day travelcard (zones 1 & 2) on an Oyster, plus a few pounds extra credit to get to and from Heathrow. However, the absolute easiest thing to do is to just ask the ticket agent when you arrive. They've always been quite helpful to me.
Just one point of clarification: what do you mean by "trains"? The Oyster and London travelcards cover the Tube and bus service in London. Trains to other cities (York, Oxford, wherever) require separate tickets.
There is ZERO need to buy an Oyster before you arrive in London, so no worries there.
What I would probably do is to load a 7-day travelcard (zones 1 & 2) on an Oyster, plus a few pounds extra credit to get to and from Heathrow. However, the absolute easiest thing to do is to just ask the ticket agent when you arrive. They've always been quite helpful to me.
Just one point of clarification: what do you mean by "trains"? The Oyster and London travelcards cover the Tube and bus service in London. Trains to other cities (York, Oxford, wherever) require separate tickets.
Jul 1st, 2009 | 10:27 AM
#3
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,014
Likes: 50
Yes you can buy your Oyster at LHR - no need for pre-ordering.
A travel card is just one type of fare that can be loaded on an Oyster.
Perhaps you are asking about a paper travel card issued at a mainline train station. That is a different animal and is only necessary if you plan on using the 2 for 1 discounts at some sites. If so, you'll have to go to a rail station. They don't sell them in tube stations.
A good option for some visitors is to buy Oysters and then on a day you want to use a 2 for 1 offer, go to a train station and one of you buy a 1-day paper travel card.
A travel card is just one type of fare that can be loaded on an Oyster.
Perhaps you are asking about a paper travel card issued at a mainline train station. That is a different animal and is only necessary if you plan on using the 2 for 1 discounts at some sites. If so, you'll have to go to a rail station. They don't sell them in tube stations.
A good option for some visitors is to buy Oysters and then on a day you want to use a 2 for 1 offer, go to a train station and one of you buy a 1-day paper travel card.
Jul 1st, 2009 | 11:12 AM
#6
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 0
It's Pay As You Go versus Travelcard.
If there's more than one of you travelling then getting paper Travelcards bought at a TRAIN (not Tube) station will save you lots of money through www.daysoutguide.com
If not then getting a 7 day Zone 1-2 Travelcard at a Tube station and add some additional cash to cover PAYG travel outside zones 1-2 (eg to Heathrow or to Hampton Court)
If there's more than one of you travelling then getting paper Travelcards bought at a TRAIN (not Tube) station will save you lots of money through www.daysoutguide.com
If not then getting a 7 day Zone 1-2 Travelcard at a Tube station and add some additional cash to cover PAYG travel outside zones 1-2 (eg to Heathrow or to Hampton Court)
