The cheapest way to use the Tube is to use contactless (card or mobile device) or an Oyster card for "pay as you go" (PAYG) travel, which automatically calculates the lowest fare and caps daily/weekly costs. Avoiding peak times (06:30–09:30 and 16:00–19:00 Mon-Fri) further reduces costs.
Using pay as you go (paying only for the journeys you make when you travel) is the easiest and cheapest way to pay for travel in London. You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance or buy tickets. You can pay as you go using: A contactless card or device (overseas charges may apply)
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.
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).
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 LONDON UNDERGROUND // Oyster vs Contactless Card
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'.
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.
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.
Cheaper pay as you go fares are available during off-peak hours, meaning you can save money travelling outside of hours 06:30 – 09:30 and 16:00 – 19:00 on weekdays. Off-peak fares also apply all day on weekends and bank holidays.
Is the visitor Oyster card better than contactless?
While contactless payment offers convenience, the Visitor Oyster card has several advantages, especially for tourists: Ideal for families with older children: Children aged 11-15 can receive a 50% Young Visitor discount on their fares with a Visitor Oyster card – a saving not available with contactless payment.
Yes, if you're a London resident aged 60 or over, you can get free travel on the London Underground and most other public transport in London with a 60+ London Oyster photocard, which you can apply for online from Transport for London. This pass provides free travel on buses, Tube, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line, and some National Rail services within London, though you must live in a London borough to qualify.
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.
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.
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.
What is the cheapest way to pay for the Tube in London?
You can get discounts on the London Underground (Tube) primarily through National Railcards, Oyster Photocard programs (for students, apprentices, seniors, veterans, care leavers), or by travelling off-peak. Railcards like the 16-25, 26-30, Senior, or Forces card can give 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares when linked to an Oyster card, while specific Oyster photocard schemes offer significant savings for London residents in certain situations.
Pay as you go with contactless: Yes, there are daily (peak and off-peak) and weekly (Monday to Sunday) caps. Pay as you go with Oyster: Yes, there are daily (peak and off-peak) and weekly (Monday to Sunday) caps.
