Tapping with a contactless card, phone, or Oyster (pay-as-you-go) is almost always cheaper for daily travel in London due to automatic price capping, which limits daily spend to less than a paper Day Travelcard. A 7-day Travelcard is only more cost-effective if you make 3+ journeys daily for 6–7 days.
If you make multiple rail journeys, or a mixture of rail, bus and tram journeys in one day,daily capping with pay as you go is better value than buying a Day Travelcard in London. If you travel frequently (e.g. commuting for work as well as leisure trips), then a Travelcard season ticket may be better for you.
Generally, using an Oyster card is better value than buying a Day Travelcard. Oyster cards have daily and weekly spending caps which are the same as the cost of a Travelcard.
As a general rule a Travelcard is more expensive than an Oyster card or Contactless payment card. The exception is if you make 3 or more journeys for 6 days or more within a 7 day period. In this case a 7 day Travelcard works out cheaper than an Oyster or Contactless payment card.
To apply for a free travel pass (concessionary bus/travel card), you typically apply through your local council or a national transport body (like Transport for Wales/Scotland) by proving your age (e.g., 60+) or disability, residency, and identity with documents (passport, council tax bill, photo) online or in person, but specific requirements vary by region (UK, Ireland, etc.). Check your local authority's website or a national portal like GOV.UK for eligibility and application links.
How to pay for public transport in London (2025 UPDATE)
What is the 1 hour bus rule in London?
London's "1 hour rule" refers to the Hopper Fare, which allows unlimited bus and tram journeys for a single £1.75 fare within one hour of your first tap-in, using the same contactless or Oyster card. It means you can switch between buses and trams as much as you like, even linking with the Tube or DLR (though the main benefit is bus/tram hopping), without paying again, provided your subsequent taps are within 60 minutes of the initial touch.
If you don't touch in and out, we can't tell where you've travelled from or to. This means your journey will be incomplete and you will be charged the maximum fare.
What is the difference between Oyster and Travelcard?
An Oyster card is a physical smartcard used for pay-as-you-go travel with daily/weekly caps, while a Travelcard is a ticket (now often loaded onto an Oyster card) for unlimited travel in set zones for a specific duration (day, week, month, year). The key difference is Oyster offers flexibility (pay-as-you-go with capping) and discounts, whereas Travelcards provide fixed-period unlimited travel, with Oyster often being the cheaper or more convenient way to get a Travelcard, especially for longer stays.
To get 30% off an Oyster card, you need an 18+ Student Oyster photocard, which requires you to be 18+, live in a London borough during term, and be a full-time student on a qualifying course, giving you 30% off adult Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes; alternatively, add a Railcard to any Oyster for 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares.
Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless on the Tube?
The price you're charged for travel with Oyster or a contactless card is the same - and in both cases the overall amount you can pay in a day or a week is capped. However, using Oyster or a contactless card is cheaper than buying paper tickets for your travel.
Can I use my London Travelcard to get the Tube (underground) from Heathrow to London or from London to Heathrow? Yes, so long as your Travelcard is valid on the day of travel and covers Zones 1-6.
If you qualify for Free Travel, your Public Services Card (PSC) will have FT (for Free Travel) in the top left-hand corner. The letter following it shows who can travel for free with you: FT-P - you can travel for free. FT+S - your spouse, partner or cohabitant can travel with you for free.
You're only charged on days you use your device in a TravelPass country: $6/day in Mexico and Canada. Good to know: Calling, texting and data use in Mexico and Canada are included at no extra cost with our Unlimited mobile plans. Check your plan features in My Verizon.
To get a travel card, decide if you need a public transport card (like London's Oyster/Travelcard) or a travel money card (prepaid/multi-currency), then apply online, via an app, or in person at a provider (bank, Post Office, retailer) with ID, often loading funds or activating it for international use. Public transport cards usually require local registration, while money cards offer global spending and currency management.
All you need to do is touch in and out using contactless (card or device) or an Oyster card to pay the right fare. Pay as you go is cheaper than buying a paper single or return ticket (train companies may offer special deals on some journeys).
Because contactless payments require neither PIN nor signature authorisation, lost or stolen contactless cards can be used to make fraudulent transactions.
“There are clear and distinctive categories – 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% to put aside as savings.” If £1,500 comes into your account each month, this means £750 would go towards your 'needs' – rent, council tax, energy bill, food and transport to and from work.
When is the cheapest time to visit London? Usually, the period between January and March is the cheapest time to visit London, due to the cool temperatures, occasional rainfall, and lack of public holidays and events.
