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What is the cheapest way to use underground in London?

1. Get an Oyster card. As you move around London you will spot locals tapping something against a yellow card reader at the underground turnstiles, on buses, trams, and even on the Thames Clipper Uber boat. This is an Oyster card, and it is an incredible 50% cheaper than buying single tickets or a paper travelcard.



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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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Great value. Pay as you go fares are cheaper than buying a paper single ticket or Day Travelcard. Your Visitor Oyster card offers daily capping. This means you can travel as much as you like in a single day and the amount you pay for your travel is limited (or capped).

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If the time between touching in at the start and touching out at the end of your journey is more than the maximum journey time limit, you'll be charged two maximum pay as you go fares. A single maximum fare is: up to £9.40 in Zones 1-9. up to £26.00 beyond Zone 9, including on the Heathrow Express.

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No, it won't work with the same card. 2.6 Only one person at a time can use a contactless payment card for travel. You may pay another person's pay as you go fare with a contactless payment card only if they are travelling with you and you have paid your fare by another means.

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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.

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13 Tips for Travelling Cheap in London (2023)
  1. Get an Oyster card. ...
  2. Go contactless. ...
  3. Know where you're travelling to. ...
  4. Avoid travelling during peak hours. ...
  5. Take the bus for long distances. ...
  6. Take advantage of the Hopper fare. ...
  7. Rent a bike when it's sunny. ...
  8. Walk wherever possible.


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If you're 60 or over and live in a London borough, you can get free travel on our transport services with an Oyster photocard.

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If you're travelling somewhere within the Transport for London zones, the cost will be the same whether you take the train or the tube.

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With an Oyster card, you can get your Railcard discount loaded onto your Oyster card to save 1/3 on single off-peak pay as you go fares on London Underground and Docklands Light Railway services in London.

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Peak fares - Monday to Friday (not on public holidays) between 06:30 and 09:30, and between 16:00 and 19:00. Off-peak fares - at all other times and if you travel from a station outside Zone 1 to a station in Zone 1 between 16:00 and 19:00, Monday to Friday.

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Within London, all London Underground, National Rail, London Overground, TfL Rail and Docklands Light Railway stations are assigned to six fare zones. Fare zone 1 covers the central area and fare zones 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 form concentric rings around it.

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The London Underground is very busy during 'rush hour' with commuters moving around the city. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7.30AM and 9AM in the morning and between 5PM and 7PM in the evening.

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