| 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) |
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| 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,
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| 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. |
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