Is it worth getting an Oyster card for 2 days in London?

For a 2-day trip to London, an Oyster card is generally not worth it if you have a contactless bank card or mobile payment (Apple/Google Pay). Contactless offers the same daily price caps and fares as Oyster, avoids the £7 non-refundable card fee, and eliminates the need to queue to buy or refund a card.

Is it worth getting an Oyster card for two days?

For 2 days it isn't worth buying an Oyster card. The caps and fares are the same if you use your own card.

Can you buy a 2 day Travelcard in London?

Explore London with ease using the London Travelcard

Choose your duration: Pick from 1, 2, or 3-day passes when you order. Select your zones: Travel unlimited within either Zone 1-4 or Zone 1-6, depending on where you want to go. Bonus: Save a third on Uber Boats by Thames Clippers services.

What is the best Travelcard for tourists in London?

A Visitor Oyster card is a smartcard that's pre-loaded with pay as you go credit. Visitor Oyster cards are only available to buy before you arrive in London. If you're a group of 10 or more travelling together, using pay as you go per person with a contactless card or an Oyster card offers good value.

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.

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

How to get 30% off Oyster?

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.

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. 

Which is better, an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card?

If you plan to stay in London for a couple of days and make two to four journeys a day, or want to travel to the outskirts of the city, then a Visitor Oyster card may be the cheapest option. It is delivered to your home by post before you arrive in London, saving you time when you arrive.

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 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.

What I wish I knew before going to London?

• Avoid street food. This is a controversial one, but hear us out: We don't mean avoiding London's famous street markets. ...
• Choose independent restaurants. While we're on the topic of food, this is a biggie: Don't get swept up in the moment and let the hunger get the best of you. ...
• Ask for directions.

What's the most you can spend on an Oyster card in a day?

An Oyster daily cap is the maximum amount you'll pay for travel on London's public transport (Tube, bus, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line, National Rail within zones) in a 24-hour period (4:30 AM to 4:29 AM), with higher caps for more zones and lower caps for buses only, saving you money compared to buying individual tickets. For example, the cap for Zones 1-2 is £8.90, while Zones 1-5 is £15.30, with buses having a separate, lower cap.
 

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.
 

Is an Oyster card worth it for 3 days?

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 ( £ 6.50 ( US$ 8.72)). For stays of over 4 days, we recommend getting the 7-day Travelcard, since it's cheaper than getting 4 24-hour travelcards.

What is the cheapest way to go around London?

A Visitor Oyster Card costs £5. You can then pre-load the card with pay-as-you-go credit, in quantities of £10, £15, £25, £40 or £50. The Visitor Oyster card is the cheapest way of getting around London as the maximum daily charges mean you travel free after you reach the 'daily cap'.

Is it better to tap or insert a card?

Compared to existing credit and debit card technology, Tap to Pay is generally much safer to use. The RFID field is part of what makes contactless cards so secure.

What is the cheapest way to pay for public transport in London?

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.

What is the best pass to visit London?

7-choice Pass

• Westminster Abbey.
• 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.
• Tower of London.
• Moco Museum London – Ticket with Exclusive Gift Bag.
• Notting Hill and Kensington Garden Walk with Royal Cream Tea.
• Walking Food Tour with Indian Tasting Meal.
• Arsenal Stadium Tour.

Can I share my Oyster card with someone?

No, one Visitor Oyster card is required for each person travelling.