The Oyster Card is an almost essential tool for anyone visiting London, as it is the contactless card used for London’s public transport services.
It’s a travel pass valid on the Underground, DLR, London Overground, National Rail services, trams, and buses. To use it, you’ll need to activate it and load it with credit, which is then deducted every time you tap the card at the ticket barriers. You can also choose to add a travel pass to your Oyster Card, such as a weekly, monthly, or annual pass, specifying the zones you want covered – a great way to save compared to standard ticket fares in London.
London is divided into fare zones (from 1 to 9), and ticket prices change depending on the zones you travel through.
If you prefer using the card in “pay as you go” mode, fares are always calculated at the best available rate, and the system will never deduct more than the cost of a Day Travelcard, no matter how many trips you make.
Oyster Card Prices
As for prices, the Oyster Card can be purchased with £10, £20 or £30 of credit, plus a £3 activation fee. It’s recommended to buy your Oyster Card London online from Visitbritanshop.com, so you can receive it at home before your trip.
Of course, you can also buy an Oyster Card London when you arrive, at any station, by paying a £5 deposit.
If you need to top up your Oyster Card, you can do so at any Underground station, at authorized retailers, or on board some public transport.
Keep in mind that a Oyster Card is reusable as often as you like and, most importantly, the credit on it never expires. So it can come in handy for your next trip to London as well.
