london underground

simongregson

I can confirm that you don't need to fill in any forms to get an oyster card if it is pay as you go. it is however possible to register the card which will enable TFl to return the funds to you if it gets lots/stolen etc. However, you can just ask for one without any form filling, takes about 2 minutes.

suffolkb

You can, for example, get an oyster card (£3) and put £10 on it and pay the £15 by credit card. But, you have to do a seperate transaction for each oyster, which takes time. The Oyster card is brilliant, but if you won`t be going to London again, then the one-day travelcards would be quicker and no deposit to get back.

janey_uk

Depending on where in London you are going, it is worth looking on googlemaps to see if tube travel is necessary. A lot of tourists use the tube between places like Leicester Square/Covent Garden/Oxford Street/Regent Street, when these are all within less than a square mile. Even Oxford Circus to Westminster is only a 20 minute walk.

The buses give you the best chance by far to see London! Avoid the open top buses though - these aren't included on travelcards and trawl routes already well covered by the local services. They also cost a ridiculous amount of money!

Night buses are also often quicker than the tube, and in zone one are more regular than you might think.

Oh, and as a commuter I am sworn to remind you - stand on the right!! ;-)

klondyke

Buses are included on travelcard (and Oyster) or you can get, a bit cheaper, bus only travelcards. A small map of central London is very helpful - if only to show that underground map is clever, but can distort one's ideas of distances. ie places may be within a very short walk of each other, but you might think you have to use underground and change on to another line etc, unless you can keep some idea of what happens overground!!

Oh the joys of yesteryear commuting - and oh the joys of now having a Freedom Pass!! Rarely go to central London now, but there's lots to see and do. Have fun!

o_t_e

Hi Jackie - it probably isn't an issue if you're only going to London for the day - I imagine you're going to see the central tourist attractions - but be aware that the pay as you go Oyster cards don't work everywhere; my brother lives in Wimbledon and pay as you go isn't accepted there.

An adult day pass is £5.70.

An adult with a valid ticket can take up to 4 kids aged up to 10 years on the tube for free. For kids aged 11+ your adult ticket entitles you to buy a child rate day pass for £1 for up to four kids.

Sorry, don't know much about the buses.

phil7445

Click here http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/TfL-Fares-Jan-2007(1).pdf and at the bottom of page 8 it tells you about Oyster price capping. It automatically stops you paying more than 50p less than the daily travelcard fare, i.e. £4.60 in zone 1-2.

If you are going to make lots of trips then it is simplier to get a 1 day travelcard, but if you want to be "financially savvy" then get a prepay Oyster card in case you don't do £4.60 worth of trips! ;-)

suffolkb

Just reread my earlier post. £3 deposit plus £10 credit is £13, not £15. Sorry if you were wondering where the other 2 quid went.
Enjoy your visit.