Are buses free with an Oyster?

London buses are all cashless, so you need an Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card to ride. Bus fare is £1.75, and a day of bus-only travel will cost a maximum of £5.25. You can transfer to other buses or trams for free an unlimited number of times within one hour of touching in for your first journey.



People Also Ask

If you have a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard and live in London, you get free travel on buses and trams. If you live outside London, you get 50% off adult fares.

MORE DETAILS

Daily capping Once you have made three bus or tram journeys in a day using your Oyster/contactless card you will pay no more and can travel for free the rest of the day.

MORE DETAILS

Always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end to pay the right fare. (On a bus or tram you only need to touch in.)

MORE DETAILS

Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass.

MORE DETAILS

Daily capping Once you have made three bus or tram journeys in a day using your Oyster/contactless card you will pay no more and can travel for free the rest of the day.

MORE DETAILS

Using Oyster Pay As You Go is usually cheaper than paying cash. However, you must touch in at the start of each journey and touch out at the end to ensure you pay the correct fare – on bus and tram you need only touch in. If you wish to know how much you will be charged for your journey, you can find single fares here.

MORE DETAILS

London buses are all cashless, so you need an Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card to ride. Bus fare is £1.75, and a day of bus-only travel will cost a maximum of £5.25. You can transfer to other buses or trams for free an unlimited number of times within one hour of touching in for your first journey.

MORE DETAILS

Every time you make a journey on London's public transport your Oyster card is charged a fare. Once you reach the daily cap (see above) in a day no more fares are deducted from your Oyster card.

MORE DETAILS

In summary, this change would see bus and tram single fares to increase by 10p to £1.75, and the daily bus and tram cap raised to £5.25. The Bus & Tram Pass season price is increased to £24.70 for a 7 Day ticket. The free Hopper transfer within one hour will remain unchanged.

MORE DETAILS

60+ London Oyster photocard This photocard gives those aged 60 or over living in a London borough: free travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail (excluding between West Drayton and Reading) and most National Rail services in London.

MORE DETAILS

Missed Tap Off Cost If you don't have a default set on your card and you forget to tap off at the end of your trip, you'll be charged the fare to the last stop on the train line or bus route and with your fare type and any applicable loyalty discounts applied.

MORE DETAILS

60+ London Oyster photocard This allows you to travel for free on most public transport in London. You can apply from two weeks before your 60th birthday.

MORE DETAILS

If you don't have a contactless credit/debit card and don't want to purchase an Oyster card, you can purchase a One Day Bus Pass. The is a paper ticket that gives you unlimited travel until 4:29 AM the following day.

MORE DETAILS

Cons: A £7 cost applies when you get a standard or visitor card. You'll need to top it up in advance of travel. You can't use an Oyster card at any station between Reading and Iver.

MORE DETAILS

  • A £7 cost applies when you get a standard or visitor card.
  • You'll need to top it up in advance of travel.
  • You can't use an Oyster card at any station between Reading and Iver.
  • Some funds are likely to remain unused.
  • Taxis don't accept Oyster Cards.


MORE DETAILS