Travelcard or Oyster Card?
Which ticket do I need?
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 Travelcards are paper tickets available for either one or seven days across a range of London Zones. Travel as much as you like on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services within London.
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 Visitor Oyster Cards Are plastic smartcards you can use instead of paper tickets. Put on pay as you go credit which you use when you travel. It is the cheapest way to pay for single journeys on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London.
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Where can I use it?
| Travelcard |
Visitor Oyster Card |
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Tube, DLR and London Overground - yes 
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Tube, DLR and London Overground - yes
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Bus - yes
(Any service within Greater London regardless of the
zone(s) the Travelcard covers) |
Bus - yes |
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Trams - yes
(If your Travelcard includes Zone 3, 4, 5 or 6.)
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Trams - yes |
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National Rail services in London - yes
(Excluding Heathrow Connect services between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow, Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, Stansted Express and Southeastern High speed services between St Pancras International and Stratford International)
If you would like to purchase an Airport Transfer ticket, click here
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National Rail services in London - yes
(Excluding Heathrow Connect services between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow, Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, Stansted Express and Southeastern High speed services between St Pancras International and Stratford International)
If you would like to purchase an Airport Transfer ticket, click here
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Scheduled Riverboat services at 1/3 off - yes
(Show your Travelcard at the time of travel) |
Riverboat - yes
Get 10 per cent off single tickets on Thames Clippers services.
Use your pay as you go credit to buy a paper ticket. |
When can I use it?
| Travelcard |
Visitor Oyster Card |
You have two options for Day Travelcard:
- Anytime - Can be used all day on the day of validity and for any journey that starts before 04:30 the following day.
- Off-Peak - Can be used from 09:30 Mondays to Fridays, all day Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, on the day of validity and for any journey that starts before 04:30 on the following day.
- 7-Day Travelcards are available in Anytime option only.
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At any time - you are automatically charged a Peak or Off-peak fare:
- Peak pay as you go fares apply from 06:30 to 09:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday
- Off-Peak pay as you go fares apply at all other times
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Who can use it?
| Travelcard |
Visitor Oyster Card |
| Adults (16+) - yes |
Adults - yes |
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Children- yes
Up to 4 children aged 5-10 years can travel for free anywhere at any time without a ticket if they are accompanying a full-paying adult. Ask a member of staff to let your child through the ticket barriers. Child Travelcards are required for those between the ages of 11 and 15 years old.
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Child Oyster Cards are not available. Up to 4 children aged 5-10 years can however travel for free anywhere at any time without a ticket if they are accompanying a full-paying adult. Ask a member of staff to let your child through the ticket barriers.
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How much does it cost?
| Travelcard |
Visitor Oyster Card |
Sample journey prices:
- Zones 1 - 2 adult Day off-peak Travelcard: £7.30
- Zones 1 - 6 child Day off-peak Travelcard: £3.40
- Zones 1 - 6 adult 7 Day Travelcard: £55.60
- Zones 1 - 6 child 7 Day Travelcard: £27.80
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Sample single Tube journey prices:
- Zones 1 to 2 - Oyster £2.80 peak, £2.10 off-peak, Cash fare £4.50
- Zones 1 to 6 - Oyster £5.00 peak, £3.00 off-peak, Cash fare £5.50
Multiple journeys within the same zone(s) are capped at the equivalent Day Travelcard rate.
You can top up your Oyster card at Tube stations and over 3,700 Oyster Ticket Stops throughout London. |
Who should buy it?
| Travelcard |
Visitor Oyster Card |
Usually the best choice for:
- Under-16s
- Unlimited travel (within the zones your Travelcard covers) working out much cheaper than buying single tickets
- Easy: one ticket for one day or one week!
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Usually the best choice if:
- You're making many journeys in a small area
- You're only making a few journeys or not travelling every day in London
- You're travelling to Zones 7, 8 or 9
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Still unsure which product would be best for you? Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions