Can you get an Oyster card immediately?

Yes, you can get a standard Oyster card immediately upon arrival in London at any Tube station, TfL Visitor Centres, or Oyster Ticket Stops. They cost £7 (non-refundable) plus top-up credit. Alternatively, Visitor Oyster cards must be ordered online in advance and delivered to your home.

Can I get an Oyster card immediately?

Non-UK residents can buy Visitor Oyster cards before arriving in London, and they are ready to use immediately, so you save time. Standard Oyster cards cost £7 (non-refundable) and can be purchased on arrival and loaded with credit.

Can I get an Oyster card if I live outside London?

You can also get an Oyster card before you arrive in London if you live in the UK. If you do not live in the UK, you can still get an Oyster card but only when you arrive in London. You can also pay for your travel with a contactless payment card.

Is it worth getting an Oyster card for one day?

Oyster does save people a lot of money, but it saves them on buying single tickets *each journey*. If you're travelling about all day, a 1 day paper travelcard still represents the best value for money alongside Oyster which ``caps'' at the same price as a travelcard.

Can you get an Oyster card as a tourist?

Yes, tourists absolutely can get an Oyster card, specifically a Visitor Oyster card, designed for visitors to London, which can be bought before arriving or upon arrival at places like Transport for London Visitor Shop and Heathrow. It's a prepaid smartcard for easy travel on London's transport, offering daily fare caps and discounts, though many tourists also find using their contactless bank card just as convenient and effective. 

How to pay for public transport in London (2025 UPDATE)

How long does it take for a visitor Oyster card to arrive?

All orders of Travelcards and Visitor Oyster cards are dispatched within 24 hours of being placed, Monday to Friday. Our fulfillment warehouse is closed at the weekends. Any order placed after 09:00 (GMT) on a Friday will be dispatched the following Monday (excluding public holidays).

How much is a 1 day Oyster card?

A one-day Oyster card price isn't a fixed ticket; instead, you benefit from a daily price cap, which limits your spending based on zones, such as £8.90 for Zones 1-2 or £16.30 for Zones 1-6, after which travel is free until 4:30 AM the next day. This cap applies to Tube, DLR, Overground, and Elizabeth line, with different caps for more zones, and there's also a cheaper bus-only cap. You pay as you go, and the system automatically stops charging once the cap is reached.
 

Can I use my bank card instead of Oyster?

Pay as you go with contactless

If your bank card shows the contactless payment symbol, you can use it to pay as you go. Always use the same device or contactless card to touch in and out to pay the right fare. For example, don't touch in with your iPhone and touch out with your Apple Watch or contactless card.

Can I use London Tube without an Oyster card?

Always touch in and out with the same card or device to pay the right fare. If you don't have an Oyster card or contactless, you can still buy single and return paper tickets. However, pay as you go is usually cheaper. Find the price for a single journey using our single fare finder.

What documents do I need for an Oyster card?

Once you've enrolled with your school, college or university, you'll need:

• Active email address.
• Student enrolment ID from your school, college or university.
• London borough address.
• Digital photo which must be a . jpg, . bmp or . gif file and less than 6MB.
• A debit or credit card to pay the £21 administration fee.

What are the disadvantages of the Oyster card?

Cons

• Initial Cost—The card has an upfront cost of £5, which might not be worth it if you're not travelling much.
• Limited Utility – If your month-long stay has you mostly walking to nearby destinations or your travel is limited to specific zones, an Oyster card might not offer much value.

Do I need to tap when I get off a bus in London?

No, you only tap in (touch on) when boarding a London bus or tram; you do not need to tap off (touch out) when you get off, as it has a flat fare, and tapping off could actually cost you more money. For buses, you just tap your Oyster card or contactless card/device once on the yellow reader by the driver when you board.
 

Can a visitor buy an Oyster card?

A Visitor Oyster card costs £10 (plus postage) and is pre-loaded with pay as you go credit for you to spend on travel. You can choose how much credit to add to your card: £10, £15, £20, £25, £30, £35, £40 or £50.

Can I use my phone instead of an Oyster card?

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.

How much money should I put on my Oyster card for 3 days in London?

How much credit will I need? For a single journey on either the Gatwick Express or Heathrow Express, the recommended amount is £25. A day of unlimited travel in central London within zones 1-2 is currently capped at £8.90. A £30 card will cover 3 days of travel in zones 1-2.

Can I use Apple Pay instead of Oyster?

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.

Can tourists buy Oyster cards?

Yes, tourists absolutely can get an Oyster card, specifically a Visitor Oyster card, designed for visitors to London, which can be bought before arriving or upon arrival at places like Transport for London Visitor Shop and Heathrow. It's a prepaid smartcard for easy travel on London's transport, offering daily fare caps and discounts, though many tourists also find using their contactless bank card just as convenient and effective. 

What is the cheapest way to pay for the tube in London?

You can get discounts on the London Underground (Tube) by using a National Railcard (like 16-25, 26-30, Senior) linked to your Oyster card for 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares, or by qualifying for specific photocard schemes like the 18+ Student Oyster photocard, Apprentice Oyster photocard, 60+ London Oyster photocard, or Veterans Oyster photocard for various savings. Other ways include traveling off-peak, using the automatic daily capping, or checking eligibility for Jobcentre Plus discounts. 

Can you buy a 1 day Travelcard?

One Day Travelcards and Travelcard Seasons are valid for unlimited travel on the following services within the zones purchased: National Rail services, but not Heathrow Express or High Speed services between London St Pancras International and Stratford International. TfL Rail (Elizabeth Line) and London Overground.

Can I get a new Oyster card at the station?

At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At ticket machines at Tube, London Overground, most Elizabeth line and National Rail stations (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At Visitor Centres (All Visitor Centres sell 7 Day and Monthly Travelcards.

Can I get a visitor Oyster card at Heathrow Airport?

Buying your Oyster Card at Heathrow Airport

You'll need your bank card or some cash to pay the £7 for your card and add some credit to your account. You'll also find various visitor centres within the terminals where you can pick up Visitor Oyster cards.

Can I put my Oyster photocard on my phone?

You must have a contactless and Oyster online account to use the app. The app will only work with contactless cards and/or Oyster cards; not Oyster photocards or other smartcards. You can only use the app if your Oyster card shows a 'D' symbol in the bottom left of the reverse side, as shown in the below image.