What is the cheapest way to travel around London?

The cheapest way to travel around London is by using buses, which cost £1.75 per journey and offer a "Hopper" fare allowing free transfers within one hour. Using a contactless card or Oyster card for all public transport is the most economical method, as daily caps limit total expenditure (e.g., £5.25 for unlimited bus travel). Walking and using Santander Cycles (£1.65 for 30 mins) are also very cheap options.

Is it cheaper to use an Oyster card or Apple pay?

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 just tap my contactless card on the tube?

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).

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 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. 

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 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 get a free travel pass?

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 reduce travel cost in London?

Stick to off-peak travel

Journeys outside of Zone 1 in London are cheaper during off-peak travel times. Save money by avoiding travel during the morning and evening rush hours. Peak prices are in effect from 6.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm Monday to Friday.

Is zone 1 the most expensive?

Yes, for London's public transport (Tube, buses, DLR), Zone 1, the central area, is generally the most expensive for single journeys and daily travel caps because it contains most major attractions, but you can sometimes find cheaper fares by cleverly crossing into it during off-peak times or by using specific Railcards, though staying out of Zone 1 usually costs less overall if you're not going far. 

What is the free Travelcard in London?

Freedom Pass. Providing Londoners over the age of 66 and those with eligible disabilities free public transport across the capital and on local buses across England.

Where can I buy a London Day Pass?

You can buy Day Travelcards (paper tickets): From ticket machines at Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations. From ticket offices at London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations. At Visitor Centres.

Can two people use the same contactless card on the tube?

2.4 Only one person at a time can use the same contactless card or device for travel. You may pay another person's contactless pay as you go fare only if they are travelling with you and you have paid your fare by another means.

Is it cheaper to use an Oyster card or a debit card?

Fares and capping are exactly the same whether you use an Oyster card or a contactless payment method. That means you'll never pay more than the daily or weekly maximum when travelling across different zones – whichever method you use.

What happens if you only tap once on the tube?

If you don't touch in and out on each journey you make, we won't know where you have travelled, so we can't charge the right fare. If this happens your journey will be incomplete, and you could be charged a maximum fare. On a London bus or tram you only need to touch in.