London (Pollyanna)
Sep 22nd 2013, 3:22 am
#16
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,818
Re: London (Pollyanna)
When I was last there (end 2010) the Oyster card was only good for buses. It was daily travel cards that worked for them all provided you were "in zone" - including Docklands Light Railway. The travel card is great for blazing the tourist trail. I think it was around 12 quid for zones 1-6, will probably cost more than that now though.
The zones 1-6 daily travel card can be got from Heathrow but it's Underground only (from the airport). The good thing about this is you'll still have it for the rest of the day for out-and-about travelling. The Heathrow express is around 30 squid, if I remember correctly.
The travelcard also entitles you to a good discount on the Thames Riverbus from near Embankment to Greenwich.
The zones 1-6 daily travel card can be got from Heathrow but it's Underground only (from the airport). The good thing about this is you'll still have it for the rest of the day for out-and-about travelling. The Heathrow express is around 30 squid, if I remember correctly.
The travelcard also entitles you to a good discount on the Thames Riverbus from near Embankment to Greenwich.
Sep 22nd 2013, 3:28 am
#17
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: London (Pollyanna)
I wonder how it's pricing structure works - in comparison to the old travelcards. It would be good if it auto-calcs the best price deal for you based on your usage.
Sep 22nd 2013, 3:33 am
#18
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
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Re: London (Pollyanna)
Don't know, i think its just a percentage cheaper than pay per trip. Probably on the TFL website somewhere. I just like the easiness, no queuing at ticket machines!
Sep 22nd 2013, 6:41 am
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: London (Pollyanna)
No, you can't use Oyster on the Open Top buses - they're definitely private enterprise although if you go on one of the Red buses and keep your receipt you can get quite a significant discount on the Red Bus tours in other cities.
We've used the Tower Hill Travelodge - that was pretty good but a bit more of a hassle if you're arriving straight from Heathrow.
Sep 22nd 2013, 8:37 am
#20
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Re: London (Pollyanna)
Absolutely! I've had mine for years and always used it on the Tube. A recharge of £10 seems to last me quite a while. I tried the Overground for the first time the other day and Oyster worked on that too.
No, you can't use Oyster on the Open Top buses - they're definitely private enterprise although if you go on one of the Red buses and keep your receipt you can get quite a significant discount on the Red Bus tours in other cities.
We've used the Tower Hill Travelodge - that was pretty good but a bit more of a hassle if you're arriving straight from Heathrow.
No, you can't use Oyster on the Open Top buses - they're definitely private enterprise although if you go on one of the Red buses and keep your receipt you can get quite a significant discount on the Red Bus tours in other cities.
We've used the Tower Hill Travelodge - that was pretty good but a bit more of a hassle if you're arriving straight from Heathrow.
My niece has just dug out her card from 2 years back, ready to meet me in London in November, she thnks its fab going everywhere by tube with just a bit of plastic, oh the enthusiasm of the young! Of course sucker Aunty tops up THAT card too!
Sep 22nd 2013, 10:45 pm
#23
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Sep 22nd 2013, 11:00 pm
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: London (Pollyanna)
Absolutely! I've had mine for years and always used it on the Tube. A recharge of £10 seems to last me quite a while. I tried the Overground for the first time the other day and Oyster worked on that too.
No, you can't use Oyster on the Open Top buses - they're definitely private enterprise although if you go on one of the Red buses and keep your receipt you can get quite a significant discount on the Red Bus tours in other cities.
We've used the Tower Hill Travelodge - that was pretty good but a bit more of a hassle if you're arriving straight from Heathrow.
No, you can't use Oyster on the Open Top buses - they're definitely private enterprise although if you go on one of the Red buses and keep your receipt you can get quite a significant discount on the Red Bus tours in other cities.
We've used the Tower Hill Travelodge - that was pretty good but a bit more of a hassle if you're arriving straight from Heathrow.
I did the open top bus tour last year when we had a few days in London, even though I lived in London for many years I thought it would be a nice refresher. Anyway it was GBP27 each and was absolutely rubbish, stuck in traffic for ages and the commentary was truly appalling, I don't think they knew anything before 1980 and I know an awful lot more about where Princess Diana got her haircut and liked to buy shoes from.
Sep 23rd 2013, 1:54 am
#25
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: London (Pollyanna)
Yes agreed I used my oyster card on the tubes for years, definitely since well before 2010 as I left UK then. I am going for a quick trip next month so must dig the old card out, it probably has some credit left on it if only I can find it.
I did the open top bus tour last year when we had a few days in London, even though I lived in London for many years I thought it would be a nice refresher. Anyway it was GBP27 each and was absolutely rubbish, stuck in traffic for ages and the commentary was truly appalling, I don't think they knew anything before 1980 and I know an awful lot more about where Princess Diana got her haircut and liked to buy shoes from.
I did the open top bus tour last year when we had a few days in London, even though I lived in London for many years I thought it would be a nice refresher. Anyway it was GBP27 each and was absolutely rubbish, stuck in traffic for ages and the commentary was truly appalling, I don't think they knew anything before 1980 and I know an awful lot more about where Princess Diana got her haircut and liked to buy shoes from.
Sep 23rd 2013, 1:58 am
#26
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Chippendale, Sydney
Posts: 8,735
Re: London (Pollyanna)
I've just ordered an Oyster card for my trip back in December. Been meaning to sort one out for ages.
S
Sep 23rd 2013, 4:30 am
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: London
Posts: 276
Re: London (Pollyanna)
See:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14869.aspx
Sep 23rd 2013, 4:33 am
#29
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: London (Pollyanna)
You can use them on the overground in London, just not the wider rail network.
See:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14869.aspx
See:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14869.aspx
Sep 23rd 2013, 5:28 am
#30
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: London (Pollyanna)
I'm fairly sure we couldn't use it any any train journeys back in 2010. About time they sorted that out because Oyster was incomplete without the inclusion of trains. I see the zones have expanded. It used to go up to 6, now it goes to 9.