BootsnAll Travel Community

I will be in London May 18-27 and I need help in knowing what would be best for me as far as Travel or Oyster cards. So I will:

- be staying 10 days
- not need to go out of Zone #1, except to travel from Gatwick airport when arriving and leaving
- use the tube at least 3 times a day (maybe more but it's hard to tell)

I'm not sure of the difference between Travel and Oyster cards, so what do I really need, since there doesn't seem to be 10-days cards available?

Is it better to purchase them online before the trip or when I get there?

Thanks

ben.

I don't actually travel in Zone 1 so forgive me if my information is incorrect...

But I'm fairly sure you can just get a Zone 1 and 2 travelcard...your best bet (I think) is to get 2 one week travelcards....

and it's just as easy to get one when you get here...you don't need to wait to receive it, they will give it to you as soon as you ask for one...

There's a visitor London Travelcard you can get in advance of going to London. The last time I went, the travelcard was quite cheap. They have 1, 3 day, and 7 day variations. Unlimited travel on the zones you choose for a week - imagine!

This is from Transport for London. Going through that site, if you click you want tickets, it will ultimately take you to another site to purchase the actual travelcard.

And it's been a couple of years since I went, but to the best of my memory the travelcard you get in advance is a deal you can't get when there.

The Gatwick express into London is not included. That's an additional cost. There are slower trains in, maybe even buses?? But nothing covered by the London Travelcard.

Have fun!

Hi,

Sounds like the travelcard is your best bet, unless of course you want to use the buses too---then go with an Oyster card. You can always add an extra zone or get a day ticket (Btw...and I am not saying this is right...I rarely had my Oyster card checked past zone 2... )

Why no plans to leave zone 1? I love London but definately don't think the "real" London starts until Zone 3.

Cheers and have a great trip!

Samantha***

Travelcards can be used for travel on:

The Tube
Buses (displaying the London Buses logo)
Trams if your Travelcard is valid in zones 3 or 4 or 5 or 6
Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
National Rail services within our Travelcard zones Travelcards cannot be used on Heathrow Express
Scheduled Riverboat services (at a third off the normal fare – just show your Travelcard at the time of travel)

Thanks everyone for the helpful info.

I think I'll go with a 7-days Travelcard plus a 3-days Travelcard.

I notice there a 2 choices for the 3-days Travelcard: “peak” and “off-peak”. If I understand correctly, the only difference seems to be that I can only use the “off-peak” card after 9:30 am. Is that right?

ben.

hmm, I don't remember there being an option like that, but it's been two years since I've been.

If you get the peak, you can travel anytime. If you get the off-peak, on weekdays, you have to travel after 9:30am. Weekends, anytime. You're paying more to be able to travel the lines when they're jam-packed.

I've been on the tube more than once with my bags, and peak is a mad house, an experience unto itself.

It does sound like the travel cards are the best option for you, and yes, you have the limitation for the off peak one down correctly.

I would say though that if your plans aren't fixed in stone (and you may be leaving Zone 1) or, if you ever plan to come back to London, the Oyster Card is worth getting since it offers very cheap travel and can be re-loaded online easily.

I hope you enjoy your stay!

I'm back and I used Travelcards. London was fantastic

It's always nice to see how people view my City....and in fact I had a little trip around Central London yesterday and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed being there!!

You can see my pics here.

Cheers

Ben.

Nice shot - quite jealous of some of the St. Paul's shots you got.

I haven't been in two years, but I recognized a lot of what I saw, and what I didn't made me want to return.