London Underground

[Campbellian]

Hello

What is the cheapest way to get around, using the London Underground?
I will be at University from September this year in London.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[apples1]

i think it's with an oyster card. - Google TFL Oyster for the site as it's easy to follow. I don't live in London but sadly my lovely Dad is in hospital at Guys and my sister recommended I get one. I've been using it for last two weeks to cross town once I get off the train at Paddington and seems to me that post people have them and it costs less using it than it did the day I just bought a normal ticket.

[macman]

Remember that Oyster is only currently valid on buses/trams/underground. If your journey involves the overground rail service then you can't use it, though this is due to change, I think by the end of the year.

[Livingthedream]

You can also get an 18+ Student Oyster photocard which gives you discounted travel around London

Link (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1014.aspx)

[Nigella]

"Oyster" is great as you get cheaper single fares than paying cash.

When you first get your Oyster card, you will need to pay a refundable £3 deposit if you are only adding cash to pay as you go.

If you make multiple journeys in a day you should be charged 50p less than the travel card rate for that day. (applicable to the time of day - peak/off peak)

You can use the Internet to buy, load cash on it etc.

If you want you can put a season ticket on Oyster.

[Itsgottabedone]

And do bear in mind that the lovely tube map isn't to scale. One example that springs to mind is the distance between Kings X St Pancras and Euston. No point in going down the escalators, through the walkways, onto the platform, waiting for the train, travelling one stop, off the platform, through the walkways, up the escalators and out at the destination when you could actually have just crossed the road!

[robt]

And do bear in mind that the lovely tube map isn't to scale. One example that springs to mind is the distance between Kings X St Pancras and Euston. No point in going down the escalators, through the walkways, onto the platform, waiting for the train, travelling one stop, off the platform, through the walkways, up the escalators and out at the destination when you could actually have just crossed the road!

It is more than just crossing the road in the example you gave, but the point is valid for other stations :)

[moonrakerz]

Remember that Oyster is only currently valid on buses/trams/underground. If your journey involves the overground rail service then you can't use it, though this is due to change, I think by the end of the year.

You can use it on the Overground (old Silverlink) - I do, to get to the Emirates Stadium.

[macman]

You can use it on the Overground (old Silverlink) - I do, to get to the Emirates Stadium.

It is valid on just a few parts of the Overground, not on the majority of routes.

[moonrakerz]

It is valid on just a few parts of the Overground, not on the majority of routes.

From the Oyster website:

"Oyster is valid throughout the London Overground network. You can use your Oyster card to pay as you go or load it with a Travelcard season ticket."

I think you are confusing "Overground" with "overground" - they are not the same :D

[gingernutbizkit]

hi, i'm going to london next weekend just for a couple of days. Isthe oyster card still the best option?

ging x

[macman]

From the Oyster website:

"Oyster is valid throughout the London Overground network. You can use your Oyster card to pay as you go or load it with a Travelcard season ticket."

I think you are confusing "Overground" with "overground" - they are not the same :D

How are they different then? My definition is the non-London Underground rail network.
Yes, season tickets can be pre-loaded onto an Oyster card, and used on any valid route including the overground network, but you can't use a pre-pay Oyster card on the majority of the non-LU network (at least not until later this year).

[robt]

How are they different then? My definition is the non-London Underground rail network.
Yes, season tickets can be pre-loaded onto an Oyster card, and used on any valid route including the overground network, but you can't use a pre-pay Oyster card on the majority of the non-LU network (at least not until later this year).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_overground#Current_system

[dacouch]

yes ging get an oyster

[moonrakerz]

How are they different then? My definition is the non-London Underground rail network.
Yes, season tickets can be pre-loaded onto an Oyster card, and used on any valid route including the overground network, but you can't use a pre-pay Oyster card on the majority of the non-LU network (at least not until later this year).

Your definition is incorrect - the Overground (with a capital "O") defines a specific number of surface railway lines within greater London now run by tfl.
The overground (with a small "o") can be anything.

[dacouch]

In addition the overground is one the two places the Wombles kept clean and tidy.

[jeetster]

Also remember Oyster is cheaper than buying a paper ticket(which cost twice as much to discourgae usage).

Also Auto Top-up is the best, no queuing up to top up card at machines or ticket office...saves time & agro!!

[nikzGfx]

Not sure if it still works but getting a Young persons railcard and then adding that to your Oyster allows for cheaper travel, cheaper travelcards etc. I did this while I was at uni and got about 30% off on travelcards on Oyster.

[bendix]

hi, i'm going to london next weekend just for a couple of days. Isthe oyster card still the best option?

ging x

For a weekend trip, it's probably not worth it. I assume you're coming to look around and will be going from place to place on the Tube and the bus. If so, you're probably better getting a 2-3 day travelcard. Zone 1-2 (which covers everywhere you would want to go) is under 6 quid for all day off-peak which is anytime after 9.30am.

[gingernutbizkit]

yeah.... that is what i was thinking - thanks

[surreysaver]

Your definition is incorrect - the Overground (with a capital "O") defines a specific number of surface railway lines within greater London now run by tfl.
The overground (with a small "o") can be anything.

And to confuse you even more, both the Overground and overground (but not the Underground) are part of the National Rail network, and the Overground and Underground (but not the overground) are part of the TfL network (as already stated). And Oyster can be used on buses. Then you've got the trams and DLR as well. Plus Riverboats. Taxis and coaches are also regulated by TfL, but you can't use Oyster on them. Now try explaining that to a non-Londoner, let alone a non-english speaking tourist!

[AirlieBird]

And Oyster can be used on buses. Then you've got the trams and DLR as well. Plus Riverboats. Taxis and coaches are also regulated by TfL, but you can't use Oyster on them. Oyster can't be used on the river, but they're working on it! You can however, get a discount on the river if you have a travelcard.

[jdan9]

The most important thing to remember is that Oyster is almost always cheaper. This is because TfL and the Mayor's office want as many people as possible to use it. Even if you are only there for a day or two, you could still get an Oyster card. You have to pay £3 deposit for the card, but you can return the card before you go home and get the £3 back.

Oyster is valid on buses, trams, DLR, tube (underground), London Overground (orange on the tube map), and other National Rail services where the Train Operating Company running the route has agreed with TfL to accept it. This map (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tickets/oyster-payg-on-national-rail.pdf) (warning, it's a PDF) shows you which National Rail services accept Oyster. Oyster is not cheaper if you want to make lots of journeys on National Rail services within Greater London on which Oyster is not valid. Oyster is not valid on boats, ferries, taxis, Ring-and-Ride, coaches, or buses which are not under TfL's control (basically longer-distances services to neighbouring counties only).

[AdrianHi]

There are a few regular railway routes where you can use Oyster and it is set to expand.
There is an Oyster terminal at Alton Station way out in the middle of Hampshire, covered up and not in use yet.

[Campbellian]

For Zones 1 and 2, is it best to get an annual pass on the oyster card or to top it up daily?

[AirlieBird]

There are a few regular railway routes where you can use Oyster and it is set to expand.
There is an Oyster terminal at Alton Station way out in the middle of Hampshire, covered up and not in use yet.
It is not an Oyster terminal, it is an ITSO terminal.

[jdan9]

For Zones 1 and 2, is it best to get an annual pass on the oyster card or to top it up daily?

If you are travelling daily, it will almost certainly be cheaper to get a season ticket - that's the point of them. If you know you'll only work, say, 4 days a week, work out how many days per year that is, and multiply it by the Oyster daily cap rate. If that is more than the cost of the season ticket, then go for the season ticket!

[AdrianHi]

It is not an Oyster terminal, it is an ITSO terminal.
Oh yes, I see. They do look similar.

Beyond London

Oyster PAYG will be valid at c2c stations Purfleet, Ockendon, Chafford Hundred and Grays, at some point when a final agreement is reached between TfL and c2c. It is not clear whether the entire c2c line will support Oyster PAYG.
When ITSO (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Transport_Smartcard_Organisation) smartcards are introduced to the National Rail network, it will be possible to load one "stored journey right", or e-ticket (for National Rail travel outside Greater London) on to the card at ticket offices or self-service machines. There is not enough space on the card for more information to be stored. Travellers starting their journeys outside London will be able to use Oystercards in certain cases, if they are regarded as "trusted customers". The gates or validators will calculate the applicable fare on arrival in London.
It is likely that credit held on ITSO smartcards will be usable for PAYG journeys, but there may be limitations on fare capping, and combining season tickets and PAYG usage. [40] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_card#cite_note-39)


I guess I'll be getting an ITSO card so long as it can store a season ticket at some point

[SandC]

Trip Advisor London forums have absolutely loads of info for visiting London and in particular transport issues.

[Altarf]

For Zones 1 and 2, is it best to get an annual pass on the oyster card or to top it up daily?
If you are travelling daily, it will almost certainly be cheaper to get a season ticket - that's the point of them.
No it isn't, it is frequently cheaper to PAYG rather than have a season ticket, if all you use the tube for is to go to and from work.

Annual season ticket price for zone 1 and 2 is £1032. Daily rate for zone 1 is £1.60 and for 1 and 2 is £2.20.

So for someone working 5 days a week 46 weeks a year and using the tube twice a day, will cost £736 for zone 1 and £1012 for zone 1 and 2.

[terryw]

For a weekend trip, it's probably not worth it. I assume you're coming to look around and will be going from place to place on the Tube and the bus. If so, you're probably better getting a 2-3 day travelcard. Zone 1-2 (which covers everywhere you would want to go) is under 6 quid for all day off-peak which is anytime after 9.30am.

No mate it is still worthwhile getting an Oystercard as it can be used the next time that you go to London. It automatically calculates the cheapest fare (zones off-peak etc) so you can't do it any cheaper.

terryw

[dzug1]

No mate it is still worthwhile getting an Oystercard as it can be used the next time that you go to London. It automatically calculates the cheapest fare (zones off-peak etc) so you can't do it any cheaper.

terryw

Depends on your values of 'worthwhile'. Is a 50p a day saving using the Oyster worth the bother of getting it, paying the deposit, and keeping cash on it? Some would say not.

[terryw]

Depends on your values of 'worthwhile'. Is a 50p a day saving using the Oyster worth the bother of getting it, paying the deposit, and keeping cash on it? Some would say not.

I am a great Oystercard fan so my views may be prejudiced! But yes it is still worthwhile. It covers for any change of plans like leaving zones 1 and 2. Or taking a single trip if your stay in London is accidentally extended. It is hardly a bother getting the card, and fortunes do not have to be left on the thing.

terryw

[AdrianHi]

Got my Oyster card in the post today after applying online. Took about 3 business days to come, all registered on the tfl web site already.
Doing auto top up so £20 + £3 to start off with and an auto top up of £20 when the balance falls below £5. You can also report your card lost/stolen through the web site and your outstanding balance on the card is protected.
I think it's going to save me about £1.50 to £2 a day compared to a travel card which over a full working year would add up to around £400-£450 :cool:

Going to have to look into putting a season ticket on it to see if that will save me more...

If you live in London or travel there often it's a no brainer, get one.

[gner_ex]

I am a great Oystercard fan so my views may be prejudiced! But yes it is still worthwhile. It covers for any change of plans like leaving zones 1 and 2. Or taking a single trip if your stay in London is accidentally extended. It is hardly a bother getting the card, and fortunes do not have to be left on the thing.

terryw

Depends if you believe in Ken Livingstone's surveillance society really.

[gner_ex]

And to confuse you even more, both the Overground and overground (but not the Underground) are part of the National Rail network, and the Overground and Underground (but not the overground) are part of the TfL network (as already stated). And Oyster can be used on buses. Then you've got the trams and DLR as well. Plus Riverboats. Taxis and coaches are also regulated by TfL, but you can't use Oyster on them. Now try explaining that to a non-Londoner, let alone a non-english speaking tourist!

And parts of the Overground share tracks with overground trains, parts of the Overground share tracks with Underground trains, and parts of the overground share tracks with Underground trains. For ticketing purposes, there are sections of the Underground on which 'overground' (i.e. national rail) fares are valid - i.e. Finsbury Park-Kings Cross.

At places, the Overground is underneath the Underground (Whitechapel, just south of West Brompton, possibly others), and at places the overground is underneath the Underground (the grid iron at Farringdon, and the points where the Met/chiltern line cross the WCML/bakerloo line - possibly others too), there are also places where the Overground is underneath the overground and the Underground (Stratford - though not for much longer).

Might I suggest that we refer to overground as National Rail - or even as British Rail - it might be simpler. I tend to refer to the Overground franchise as LOROL or Silverlink.

[gner_ex]

Hello

What is the cheapest way to get around, using the London Underground?
I will be at University from September this year in London.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.
Where is your uni, and where are your halls? As it may be relevant, where is your family home?

[reehsetin]

im pretty sure the student discount doesn't discount 1 day travel cards just weekly/monthly i think, the reason im saying is because for me personally, even though it was a fulltime course i was only physically at uni 2/3 days a week so getting a travel card even discounted didn't always work out cheaper especially because i was traveling off peak, so keep that in mind!

[sarah_elton]

And do bear in mind that the lovely tube map isn't to scale. One example that springs to mind is the distance between Kings X St Pancras and Euston. No point in going down the escalators, through the walkways, onto the platform, waiting for the train, travelling one stop, off the platform, through the walkways, up the escalators and out at the destination when you could actually have just crossed the road!

Indeed:

http://homepages.tesco.net/houseofsteel/geoff-files/sillymaps/large_geographical_map.gif

The West End is much easier on foot. The area from Holborn to Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus to Covent Garden just isn't worh the hassle unless it's raining hard!

[ray123]

Try and walk if you can, ie. around zone 1. I live near waterloo and walk to green park every day - Takes 25-30 mins.
Otherwise, take a bus if possible. as a weekly bus pass costs around £13, a lot cheaper than the tube.

[terryw]

Depends if you believe in Ken Livingstone's surveillance society really.

C'mon mate. Anyone can buy an Oystercard at any local newsagents. No names or addresses....it is the choice of the individual to register or not.

terryw

[gner_ex]

im pretty sure the student discount doesn't discount 1 day travel cards just weekly/monthly i think, the reason im saying is because for me personally, even though it was a fulltime course i was only physically at uni 2/3 days a week so getting a travel card even discounted didn't always work out cheaper especially because i was traveling off peak, so keep that in mind!

You are partly right.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1014.aspx - for the TfL student 30% off a weekly ticket offer.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/singlefares/6769.aspx - for details of how you can attach your 16-25 young persons railcard to your Oystercard, and have journeys capped at a lower daily level.

[gner_ex]

C'mon mate. Anyone can buy an Oystercard at any local newsagents. No names or addresses....it is the choice of the individual to register or not.

terryw
Yup - but as soon as you top it up using a credit card the connection is made.

Or if you are suspected for something, they can access all your entries and exits, and view the associated CCTV for them.

The main reason there has been such a push to Oyster is because of the Met Police - I can't back this statement up with evidence, but have been told this by a few different people.

[terryw]

Yup - but as soon as you top it up using a credit card the connection is made.

Or if you are suspected for something, they can access all your entries and exits, and view the associated CCTV for them.

The main reason there has been such a push to Oyster is because of the Met Police - I can't back this statement up with evidence, but have been told this by a few different people.

If this is a worry then just pay in cash!
terryw

[dacouch]

Yup - but as soon as you top it up using a credit card the connection is made.

Or if you are suspected for something, they can access all your entries and exits, and view the associated CCTV for them.

The main reason there has been such a push to Oyster is because of the Met Police - I can't back this statement up with evidence, but have been told this by a few different people.

This article from March 2008 will probably answer your question....Big Brother is watching you
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/17/spooks_want_oyster/

[gner_ex]

If this is a worry then just pay in cash!
terryw
Is fine - until one day you need to top up and don't have any cash. I'm just a cynic.