Do London buses take Apple Pay?

You can use Apple Pay to pay as you go across all Transport for London services, including the Underground, buses and trams. Paying for journeys is easy using Apple Pay and works the same as using a contactless card. You just need to touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on yellow card readers.



Yes, all London buses take Apple Pay in 2026. Transport for London (TfL) has fully integrated mobile payments into their "contactless" system. You simply "tap in" using your iPhone or Apple Watch on the yellow card reader as you board the bus. In 2026, you do not need to "tap out" on a bus (unlike the Tube), as all bus journeys in London are a flat fare of £1.75. One of the best benefits of using Apple Pay in 2026 is the "Hopper Fare," which allows you to take unlimited bus or tram journeys within one hour for the price of a single journey, provided you use the same device. For a seamless experience, ensure "Express Transit Mode" is enabled in your Apple Wallet settings; this allows you to tap without needing to wake your device or use FaceID/TouchID, keeping the boarding line moving quickly.

People Also Ask

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. Unlike the Tube zone fare system, a single London bus journey costs £1.75 no matter how far you go.

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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.

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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.

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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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How to travel cheap in London
  • Get an Oyster card. ...
  • Go contactless. ...
  • Know where you're travelling to. ...
  • Avoid travelling during peak hours. ...
  • Take the bus for long distances. ...
  • Take advantage of the Hopper fare. ...
  • Rent a bike when it's sunny. ...
  • Walk wherever possible.


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Make sure your device is turned on (it doesn't need to be connected to the internet). As you approach a fare gate or board a bus, do one of the following: On an iPhone with Face ID: Double-click the side button, then glance at iPhone to authenticate with Face ID, or enter your passcode.

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You can use a contactless card or mobile device, such as a phone or watch, to pay as you go on all our services. Overseas transaction fees or charges may apply for non-UK cards.

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The Token Transit app allows CARTA customers to purchase bus passes with their smartphones, which can then be used as electronic tickets to board buses. Customers will need to download the Token Transit App to use the mobile pay option.

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Payments may be declined because: Your bank has declined a previous transaction and your card/device is blocked. Your bank hasn't approved the transaction. The card has not had a chip and PIN transaction for a period of time.

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You don't need to touch out at the end of your journey on buses and trams. You can buy a Visitor Oyster card online before you arrive in London, or an Oyster card at TfL Visitor Centres, stations and Oyster ticket shops.

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