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London Travelcard
( Including London Visitors Travelcard )




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The London Travelcard and London Visitor Travelcard are the travel passes for visitors to London. The Travelcard is easy to purchase and as well as saving money also saves a lot of time obtaining tickets individually.

The Travelcard pass covers :


London Underground

Underground
Map


Central London
Bus Map
(PDF)


Tourist Bus Map With Main Sights & Bus Routes

London Travelcard Covers Underground
Zones(see Underground Map for zones)
  • London has been divided into six zones radiating out from the centre
  • The more zones you want to cover on your Travelcard, the more you pay
  • The main sights and hotel districts fall within the central zones 1-2
  • Heathrow airport falls within Zone 6
London
Public Transport
Buses
Underground
Railways
River
Travel Passes
(Travelcards)
Oyster Cards
Transport Maps
How To Purchase
Purchase cards from underground stations and tourist information centres. There are also countless other ticketing outlets with a prominent sign in their window, commonly newsagents.

Alternatively you can purchase Travelcard tickets here on-line, and either collect the Travelcards in London or have them sent to your home, wherever you live.
If you are buying a 7 day Travelcard you will need to get an Oystercard. If however you purchase from a railway ticket office (not underground), you still get a paper 7 day Travelcard.

If you are travelling into London by rail on a day return ticket you can usually purchase a combined rail ticket and zone 1/2 Travelcard.
How To Use
For most buses just show the driver your Travelcard as you board. For the long "bendy" buses with 3 entrances just board at any entrance.

For the Underground and DLR to gain access to the platforms, and to exit a station you have to pass through automatic barriers, (pictured left).
You are allowed through by inserting your Travelcard ticket into a slot in the barrier, or if you have an Oyster Card swiping it over the yellow pad.
All Underground trains run at about 1-4 minute intervals between around 05:00 and 24:00.
London Travelcard & London Visitor Travelcard
The London Travelcard is for most short term visitors to London the right solution to their public transport needs.
The product you purchase in London is just called the London Travelcard. The London Visitors Travelcard is for overseas visitors purchasing before arriving in London but there is little if no difference in the scope of the product itself. If you are staying around more than just a day or so, the Oyster Card is probably a better buy.

The Travelcard allows unlimited travel on the Underground (Metro), buses and trains in the London urban area. You also get a discount on many of London's scheduled river services.

You can purchase Travelcards for 1,3 or 7 days (there are also monthly and annual tickets). London public transport is divided up into six circular zones radiating out from the centre. You pay more, the more zones you need. Most visitors will only need Zones 1/2 where all the attractions are. (Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6)
London Travelcard Prices Purchased in London (from 2 Jan 2008 )
Zones
Day
(Peak)*
Day
(Off Peak)
3 Day
(Peak)
3 Day
(Off Peak)
7 Day
1-2
£6.80
(£3.40)
£5.30
£17.40
(£8.70)
-
£24.20
(£12.10)
1-4
£9.40
(£4.70)
£5.90
-
-
£34.60
(£17.30)
1-6
£13.80
(£6.90)
£7.00
(£2.00)
£40.00
(£20.00)
£20.00
(£6.00)
£44.60
(£22.30)
Off peak hours are after 9 30.a.m. Monday to Friday, all day Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Children (Under 16)
(£?.??) =
Child fare.
Up to 4 accompanied children (under16) can purchase an off peak day Travelcard covering zones 1-6 for £2 and single journeys for £1

Free Travel For Children On Buses & Underground

Under-5s
Children under five can travel free at any time on the Tube, DLR, buses and trams as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

Under-11s
Under-11s can travel free at any time on buses and trams. They can also travel free at any time on the Tube and DLR when they are travelling with an adult who has a valid ticket. Up to 4 children under 11 years old accompanied by a paying adult travel free on the London Underground.

Under-11s travelling with an adult will not be issued with tickets and will be allowed to pass through the ticket gates at stations

11-14s
Children aged 11-14 can travel free at any time across the entire London bus network,
London Travelcard & Visitors Travelcards Purchased In Advance
You can purchase Overseas Travelcards in advance in many countries. Travelcards can also be purchased on the Gatwick Express.

Alternatively you can purchase Travelcard tickets here on-line, and either collect the Travelcards in London or have them sent to your home, wherever you live.

There is also a card called the London Pass which includes admission to many attractions in London in addition to the Travelcard

Oyster Card - A Cheaper Alternative To Travelcards

An alternative to Travelcards are the electronic Oyster Cards - these come with a price promise. You will never pay more than the equivalent Day Travelcard price for all your journeys in Zones 1-6 or the difference will be refunded. Alternatively, if you are using only the bus you’ll pay no more than than the price of a One Day Bus Pass.

The Oyster Card has become the ticketing solution of choice for residents and regular visitors to London.

For visitors in London for relatively short periods the main practical reason that makes the Oyster Cards less attractive is what happens when you leave London and need to recover a deposit you make on your card and recover any money still left on card.
On handing in your Oyster Card, you will need to fill in a form with your home address. You will normally receive any money including your deposit at this time, but at some ticket offices, especially if very busy the sum owing may be sent as a UK sterling cheque to your home address.

For many visitors the simplicity of Travelcards outweighs the minor savings to be had using the Oyster Card.
Note the Oyster Card where you pay as you go as severe limitations on use on the rail overground network. This doesn't apply to Travelcards held on an Oyster Card. For more details see our Oystercard page.