Oyster Card (London)

General information

The Oyster Card is only available to adults and will be pre-loaded with an initial GBP10, GBP15 or GBP20 balance. The cards can then be topped up with additional money at Tube stations, Oyster Ticket Stops and London Travel Information Centres and some National Rail stations.

Advantages of Oyster card for visitors

• pre-loaded with £10, £15 or £20 of pay as you go value: ready to use, so no need to queue up at airport/station
• best value fares compared to cash or paper day tickets (example: cash single fare Heathrow (Piccadilly Line) to Central London GBP4, Oyster single fare GBP1.50 Monday to Friday 0700-1900 and GBP2 at all other times including public holidays)
• only pay for the travel that you make
• Covers travel on entire underground network Zones 1 - 9
• no date restrictions on pay as you go balance
• reusable, you simply add value to your card the next time you visit London
• transferable, you can pass your card on to friends/family who visit London.

How to use Oyster card for visitors

To ensure you pay the correct fare, always touch in by placing your Oyster card for visitors flat on the yellow readers at the start and end of your journey.
Please note that for bus and tram journeys you only need to touch in when you enter the bus or at the tram stop.

Extra information

While taking a bus in London might seem like a challenge it really isn't, and the bus can be both scenic and less claustrophobic than the Underground. Taking time to get familiar with London's extensive and plentiful buses can pay off!

Travelling by bus is an independent and cost effective way to travel whilst in London. Whilst there try some of the below routes to get you where you want to go

• Routes 15, RV1, 42, 78, and 343 will get you to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The Tower of London is Henry the XIII old house and is where you will see and hear how he and other royals once lived and ruled.
• Routes 4, 11, 15, 17, 23 and 26 will get you to St Paul's Cathedral. A majestic cathedral that is the resting place of Lord Admiral Nelson and many other historical figures.
• Routes 3, 7, 8, 10, 25, 55, 73, 98 and 176 will get you to Oxford Street where you can shop, shop, shop! But beware of the masses of people frequenting the street every day.
• Routes 7, 10, 14, 24, 29, 73 and 134 will get you to the British Museum. Immerse yourself within ancient cultures of the World. The most popular being that of the Egyptians. 1 day will simply not be enough
• Routes 2, 10, 30, 36, 73, 74, 82 and 137 will get you to Hyde Park and Marble Arch. This end of Hyde Park comes alive for the weird and wonderful at Speakers Corner on a Sunday morning.
• Routes 14, C1, 74 and 414 will get you to Harrods where you can indulge yourself in this massive department store.
• Routes 8, C1, 16, 38, 44, 52, 73, 82, and 185 will get you to Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews. You can't actually catch a bus past Buckingham Palace but these services will get you within a short walk to the Queens house. On the walk step into the Bag of Nails Pub where Paul McCartney first laid eyes on Linda
• Routes 3, 11, 24, 87, 88, 148 and 211 will get you to The Houses of Parliament (Big Ben) and Westminster Abbey. What photo album is complete without a picture of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey?
• Routes 14, 19, 22, 38, 88, 159 and 453 will get you to Piccadilly Circus and Convent Garden. Full of bars, trendy shops and street entertainers this area truly comes alive on weekends and of an evening.