Oyster Cards

Savethekipper

Just wondering if anyone can offer me some advice. I am going to London the last week in October and was wondering about purchasing an Oyster card. I have had a look on the Oyster website, but am still a little confused about how much money I need to preload onto it.

Ideally I want to just put enough on it so it is at nil when I am coming home and I would prefer not to have to top it up whilst in London. Is it best to buy a "7 day Oyster card" for zones 1 and 2 which appears to be around £25 or is there a cheaper way??

Any help appreciated.

flyingscotno1

Savethekipper wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone can offer me some advice. I am going to London the last week in October and was wondering about purchasing an Oyster card. I have had a look on the Oyster website, but am still a little confused about how much money I need to preload onto it.

Ideally I want to just put enough on it so it is at nil when I am coming home and I would prefer not to have to top it up whilst in London. Is it best to buy a "7 day Oyster card" for zones 1 and 2 which appears to be around £25 or is there a cheaper way??

Any help appreciated.

Depends how much you are travelling about- the Oyster will default to the cheapest rate anyway. I buy £10 and top up with the same when there.

checkincherry

You should definnitely get an Oyster as cash fares are approx. double those on Oyster.

Just to expand on the last post, you can either get an Oyster and "load" it with a period travelcard like the Weekly Zone 1 and 2 you mention in which case you can travel and unlimited amount of time in those Zones for a fixed price. OR load up with cash and then this treat as Pay as you Go. In the latter situation, each trip is deducted as you tap in/out at the barriers, but the max you will pay is the price of a one-day travel card for the day covering the zones you have used.

Pros and Cons of weekly Oyster vs PAYG Oyster usage
- fixed cost - but only for the zones your card covers - if you travel outside of those, you'll have to pay the xs.
- If you intend to travel in the morning/evening rush ( before 9.30 am? and 4-7pm) be aware that PAYG fares are higher than duiering off-peak. So is the cost of the "maximum" one day travel card if you travel early in the mornings.
- One week Oyster will get you a 1/3rd discount if you want to take a trip on the river on Thames Clippers ( a fab way to see London between Waterloo + the O2). A PAYG Oyster will not get you a discount at all.

If you decide to go PAYG, it is really easy to top-up when you are in London: there are machines at the tube stations and you can also do this at any ticket office..leaves you flexible?

Hope these thoughts help

dzug1

If you are spending a week in London and travelling about a fair bit then the 7 day card is the one to go for - it's cheaper than 7x1day caps on PAYG. You'll still need to pay and reclaim a £3 deposit though.

Buy the same thing on a paper ticket at a rail station and there's no deposit. Additionally if there are 2 of you you would qualify for a range of 2 for 1 admissions at various sights

Savethekipper

Thanks for the replies guys. I have now ordered my Oyster card complete with a 7 day travelcard for zones one and two. Pity the website only allows you to order one at once, I mean if a couple are coming it is obvious you will need 2???

Now does anyone know how I can order some dry weather for my break as well???

checkincherry

Take wellies, raincoat, a range of brollies leave sunglasses at home ...not failsafe but stragnely seems to work...

If it does rain, plenty to do indoors in London anyhow - and with your Oyster you can always stay underground!