Posts Tagged ‘London trip planning’

The Oyster smart card system has significantly changed the way London’s “tube” operates.

An Oyster card lets you make use of the majority of the London transport system (even though some places choose to stay outside the scheme).

It lets you bag discounts on the standard fare as well as allowing you to avoid the inconvenience of queueing for tickets.

The system automatically saves you money by calculating the lowest fare at the end of each day based on your exact travel that day.

If you travel more than you expected to initially, it only charges you the lowest fare instead of pricey singles and returns.

So does the Oyster scheme have any downside?

It can feel a bit complex to start with, as you need to buy an Oyster card which costs a small deposit. You should however make this back in money saved very fast.

You also need to “touch in and touch out” your Oyster card throughout your journey. But you should get used to this quickly by copying the many Londoners who use the system.

Unless your trip to London is an extremely short visit, you are well-advised to get yourself an Oyster card. As far as we are aware, Oyster cards do not expire: you should be free to use them on future visits to London.

If you don’t expect to return soon, you should be able to get your deposit returned (though you should check at the London Underground ticket office before buying).

There is a “Visitor Oyster” card which you can buy from some outlets but it’s not 100% clear at the moment what its benefits are to tourists.

If you really don’t want an Oyster card, you should at least make sure that you buy the cheapest London travelcard for unlimited access to the tube and buses for the entire day. But you may need to wait until after 9.30am on weekdays to access the cheapest fares.

You could also grab a weekly travelcard for an even bigger discount in case you’re in London for longer, but this does mean that you need some sort of photo.

Do recall that Oyster cards and travelcards may be used on the tube and buses, though they are not valid at all rail stations. It’s important to confirm before travelling.

For more information about Oyster and public transport in London, do visit the official Transport for London website.

Finally, please make sure you wait until after 9.30am on weekdays to avoid London’s extremely high peak-time prices.

The writer provides expert advice on the best of London including real-time London hotel tips on Twitter.