Can you use debit card on London buses?

There are three main ways you can pay for transport in the city: Oyster card, debit or credit card and Apple or Google Pay; in this article, we will break each one down for you. It's also worth noting that everyone needs to have their own payment method, otherwise, you might get charged more than you should.



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London buses are card only, so you cannot buy a ticket with cash. Use a Visitor Oyster card*, an Oyster card, a Travelcard or a contactless payment card to pay your fare.

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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.

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The most convenient place to buy Oyster cards for visitors are Underground stations, including Heathrow Airport. You can pay cash or credit card. However there are no longer manned ticket offices at Underground and DLR stations, you have to buy from a ticket machine.

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If you're visiting London for 3 days or less, the best option is to get the Oyster Card, as it's the most cost-effective system. For stays of over 4 days, we recommend getting the 7-day Travelcard, since it's cheaper than getting 7 x 24-hour travelcards.

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Do I need to bring cash to the UK? It's a good idea to have small amounts of cash to hand. You may need coins or notes when parking, or require some for tipping. When paying for small items it can also be simpler to hand over a few coins than a card or a banknote.

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Pay as you go You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance. You can pay as you go using contactless (card or device), an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card. It also offers great value as pay as you go is cheaper than buying single tickets and you get daily and weekly capping.

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Touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on yellow card readers using contactless (card or device). Only touch in on buses and trams. Find out more about touching in and out. You can pay for someone else's travel with your contactless card or device if they're travelling with you.

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If your bank card shows the contactless payment symbol, you can use it to pay as you go straight away. You'll pay an adult rate fare. Many contactless cards issued outside the UK can be used to pay as you go for travel (overseas transaction fees may apply):

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There is no price difference between the Oyster card and contactless card. Every time you travel on London's public transport, your contactless payment card is charged the same fare as your Oyster, including cap prices (the maximum amount you'll pay daily and weekly to travel throughout London).

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The best way to get around London is the rapid-transit London Underground, or what locals call the Tube. You can even take the Tube from Heathrow Airport (LHR) – one of the world's busiest airports – into the city center.

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The best way to get around London is the rapid-transit London Underground, or what locals call the Tube. You can even take the Tube from Heathrow Airport (LHR) – one of the world's busiest airports – into the city center.

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How much does an Oyster card cost? The Oyster card costs £7. You then add money to the card to pay for your travel. The £7 fee is not a deposit.

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