If you’re travelling inside London Zones 1-6 then the cheapest way to travel is using a Travelcard, an Oyster Card or with Contactless Pay As You Go (PAYG).
Travelcards
If you've got a day's activities planned in London - whether work or pleasure - a travelcard can give you the best value for money and make the day cheaper.
When can I buy a travelcard?
Travelcards can be sold with any of our normal walk-up tickets – anytime, off-peak or super off-peak - so you can buy it in advance on our website or when you arrive at the station at the ticket office or machines.
What can I use my travelcard on?
For the day your ticket is valid, you can use your travelcard for unlimited travel on:
- National Rail services (apart from trains operated by Heathrow Express, or TfL Rail/Elizabeth line trains between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow) in zones 1-6
- Buses
- Docklands Light Railway
- Trams between Wimbledon and Croydon
Plus, unlike travelling with an Oyster Card or Pay As You Go contactless, you can use your ticket to take advantage of 2FOR1 offers across London!
If all your journeys are inside London Zones 1-6 then the cheapest way to travel is using an Oyster Card or with Contactless Pay As You Go (PAYG). Just like our Touch Smartcards, it’s as simple as tapping in or out to open the gates at stations.
Oyster card
An Oyster card can be used on National Rail trains, London Overground, the Underground, buses, Docklands Light Railway and Tramlink services. Just like our Touch Smartcards, it’s as simple as tapping in or out to open the gates at stations. It’s simple to use:
- Buy an Oyster card for £5 deposit (which is refundable)
- Top it up with prepaid credit
- Touch the card on the yellow touch pads at the barriers at the start and end of each journey – the fare is deducted from your prepaid credit, up to the daily or weekly cap
- If you’re running low on credit, you can top up more at ticket stops across London or link the Oyster card to your bank account to top up automatically.
It’s quick and convenient, and you’ll pay much less than buying single tickets. Find out more about buying and using Oyster cards.
Travelling with children
Under-11s can travel for free on Overground, Underground and DLR if they’re travelling with an adult with a valid ticket or have their own Oyster photocard with them. Young people aged 16 and 17 can apply for a 16+ Oyster photocard for reduced child rate travel.
Contactless card
If you’ve got a contactless credit/debit card, you can use it to ride on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London. It’s secure and easy to use – just touch your card to the yellow pads on the barriers at the start and end of each journey. Take care to use the same card at the start and end of you journey so that you’re charged the correct amount.
Travelling with contactless is cheaper than paying cash, and about the same as an adult-rate Oyster pay-as-you-go fare. So it’s a great alternative to Oyster and paper tickets, and you don’t need to top up in advance.
Remember that if you travel with a contactless card, you must have the card available for inspection if asked by a member of staff.
