What's the difference between Visitor Oyster card and contactless?
Navigating the city’s public transport system can be overwhelming, especially with so many different ticket options and travel cards available. Add contactless payments into the mix, and it’s easy to see why visitors might be unsure about the most cost-effective and convenient way to get around.
At the VisitBritain Shop, one of the most common questions we receive is: “What’s the difference between using a Visitor Oyster card and contactless?” To help you make the best choice for your trip, we’ve put together this handy guide comparing the two options.
Understanding these payment methods can save you both time and money, so read on to find out which travel option is best suited for your trip.
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How does travelling in London with a Visitor Oyster card work?
- The Visitor Oyster card is a prepaid smart travel card that can be used on the Tube, bus, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line and most National Rail services inside London
- It caps your daily spend automatically, depending on what Zones you travel in and how often you travel
- Owning one means you get discounts on certain experiences, bars and restaurants with the Visitor Oyster card offers booklet
- You can ‘buy before you fly’ –your Visitor Oyster card is shipped to your selected address in advance and ready to use when you arrive in London
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How does travelling in London using contactless work?
- You can travel using a contactless ready bank card on the Tube, bus, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line and most National Rail services inside London
- It caps your daily spend automatically, depending on what Zones you travel in and how often you travel
- Overseas charges may apply when using contactless, and some foreign bank cards are not accepted (Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted)
- When travelling as a group or family, each group/family member aged 11 and over must have their own contactless bank card to travel with
Why should I use a Visitor Oyster card when contactless is accepted?
It’s ideal for families as children aged 11-15 can get discounted fares with the Visitor Oyster card that they can’t get using contactless
You can set a clear budget for your travel in London, and only go over it if you choose to top up your Visitor Oyster card further
You can avoid paying charges that might be incurred when using your bank card abroad
Some bank cards issued outside the UK aren’t accepted on TfL services
You don’t need to keep getting your bank card out and risk losing it when you travel on TfL services
You don’t need to worry about phone battery life and phone security if you avoid using contactless on your phone
You can take advantage of many special offers and discounts around London with your Visitor Oyster card
You can keep your Visitor Oyster card after you leave to reuse on your next trip, give to a friend, or keep as a souvenir of your trip to London
Why is the Visitor Oyster card good for families?
While children aged under 11 travel free on most London transport services, children aged between 11 and 15 get discounted rates on travel on TfL services. There is no way to get this discount using a contactless card, so if you’re travelling with older children, you’ll make the most savings by using Visitor Oyster cards.
How do I use the Visitor Oyster card when travelling with older children?
Every person aged 11+ in your family will need their own individual Visitor Oyster card
Children aged 11-15 get a 50% Young Visitor discount on all TfL journeys
This Young Visitor discount can be applied to the card once you’re in London, and is valid for 14 days from the date it’s applied
Simply take the Visitor Oyster card to ask a member of TfL staff to add a Young Visitor discount to the card, at most Tube stations or at TfL Visitor Centres
Once this discount is applied, they can use their card as normal to make all of their TfL journeys in London
You can also use our London Day Travelcard if you’re travelling as a family, as you can buy adult or child tickets. This ticket lets you ride the Tube, bus, train and DLR as much as you like within 1, 2 or 3 days, within Zones 1-6 or Zone 1-4. It’s date-stamped for when you are going to use it, and just like the Visitor Oyster card, it’s shipped to you and ready to use as soon as you arrive in London.
