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London Underground - 2024 fares and how to use them

Be informed and in control using london's underground / metro system.

For the visitor to London the Underground or Tube will probably be the transport of choice to get around town. The Underground is normally the fastest way to get around town, often much faster than any taxi.

There is invariably an underground station nearby where you want to go and also your hotel and finding your way around the system is very easy. 

There are currently 13 Underground lines, with the Elizabeth Line the latest, which opened in May 2022.

Journey planner   Map   DLR, overground & TfL   Oyster card, contactless & Travelcards   Night service   Fares   Concessions   Child fares   Group tickets   Purchasing tickets   Access

Key points about the London Underground

It is still encouraged to wear a facemask when using public transport in London, but it is no longer mandatory.

The authorities penalise you heavily for buying single journey tickets. In the centre you can pay more than double the price than if you used an Oyster Card for example.

A single journey on the London Underground can involve 1 or 2 changes of train. Your journey starts when you go through the ticket barrier of the station entrance you depart from and finishes when you pass through the ticket barrier at the exit of your destination. You cannot break a journey on a single fare, once you go though an exit barrier of a station that is journey completed.

The buses, Underground, DLR and London suburban trains are managed by a central government body called Transport for London (TfL) chaired by the Mayor of London. The transport passes that nearly everyone uses, Oyster and Travelcard, allow you to travel seamlessly across all modes of transport, bus, Underground, train and DLR using the same ticket/pass.

Children under 11 travel free on the London Underground and DLR (Docklands Light Railway) at all times. Child fares are available for those under 16 and it is possible to get discounted fares if you are under 18 or studying in London with an ID card.

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are over 60 you can get a pass that makes free bus and Underground travel available. If you have an English National Concessionary bus pass you cannot use it on the London Underground (but you can use it on London's red buses).

The London Underground is closed from around midnight until around 5am, getting started a little later on Sundays. However on Friday and Saturday nights, much of the Underground runs through the night. In Central London there is a very good night bus network when the Underground is closed.

You will rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes for an Underground train at any time of the day.

London Journey Planner - for all types of transport across London

Use the TfL (Transport for London) journey planner to plan your travel. The journey planner covers all public transport.

TFL Journey planner

London Underground map

The London Underground map is a classic design that when first launched was immediately taken up worldwide for similar systems. The clarity, simplicity and ease of use compromises strict geographical accuracy.

The Circle line doesn't really go around in a squashed circle and it is not apparent for instance that Bayswater Underground is only 100 yards from Queensway.

In 2016 the Night Tube was introduced. On Friday and Saturday nights only Underground trains run through the night. For lines that operate a night service see the Night Tube map linked below or on the right-menu.

In May 2022 the long awaited Elizabeth Line opened its first section. The Elizabeth Line provides a route connecting East and West London. Find out more about the new Elizabeth Line .

Underground map   Tube & rail map   Night tube map

Docklands Light Railway (DLR), overground and TfL rail trains

To the east of London in the Docklands region you will see a region covered by something called the DLR (Docklands Light Railway). You can treat this network as just another Underground line.

Not in the centre of London, but in the suburbs you will find a train network called the Overground which can also be thought of as being part of the Underground for ticketing purposes.

Commuter trains into the suburbs are very confusing for the visitor. You can still use Oysters and Travelcards on these but those lines run by the national railways only give free travel to children under 5.

In the north and east of London most of these services are now run by TfL Rail or the Overground so free travel is available to children under 11, but to the south and west of London, services are still dominated by national railways companies.

The Tube and rail map usefully shows which railway stations are in which travel zones. Travel zones are the basis for fare charges on London's railways and Underground system.

London Underground Night Service - the Night Tube

In 2016 the London Underground began to introduce a full 24/7 service on Friday and Saturday nights only. Introduction has been on a phased basis.

Night Tube services are now running on the Central, Victoria, Jubilee line, Northern line (Charing Cross branch) and Piccadilly line (but not Acton to Uxbridge branch). The Night Tube will offer a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays. Standard off-peak fares are levied for travelling on the Night Tube using Oyster and Contactless cards.

Travelcards are valid from the first day of issue (using the date printed on the card), and for journeys starting before 4.30am the following day. For example, if you buy a 1-day Travelcard at 11am on Friday, you can use it until 4.29 on the following Saturday.

Night Tube map - current lines operated

London Underground fares

The London public transport system is divided up into zones that radiate from the centre. Nearly all the hotels and the main sights are in Zone 1. Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6 and the furthest zone out is Zone 9.

The majority of visitors will only travel in the two most central zones 1 and 2. The Underground Map (link above) has the stations and their zones marked.

Some stations, such as Turnham Green, are in two zones. You use whichever zone for these stations is most beneficial in working out your fare.

Underground fares

You can see from the table below there is big financial incentive not to purchase individual tickets and use an Oyster card or Contactless payment card .

The other main way of paying is purchasing a Travelcard , which is a pass giving you unlimited travel for a set time period. The cost goes up with the coverage of zones required. The more zones you require the more expensive the Travelcard.

London Underground Fares from 3 March 2024 - March 2025

Oyster cards, contactless payment cards & travelcards.

As you can see from the above fare structure the authorities do not want you to buy single tickets, they want you to purchase one of the three payment options, Oyster cards, Contactless payment cards or Travelcards.

The Oyster card is a permanent reusable electronic ticket which is topped up from time to time by its owner. Londoners also have their season tickets loaded onto Oyster cards as well and there are passes for one weekly and monthly durations. All can be loaded onto the one electronic Oyster card.

Contactless cards are standard credit or debit cards that support the contactless payment technology, the total cost of all the journeys that you make in one day is calculated at the end of the day and a single charge is made to your Contactless payment card account.

Unlike the Oyster card the contactless facility has a 7-day cap as well as the Oyster daily cap used by Oyster.

You can use Oyster cards on all of London's public transport, not just the Underground, but buses, overground, DLR, suburban rail services and some river services.

Travelcards are another alternatives. Travelcards are valid on the same modes of transport but are unlimited travel passes for a fixed flat fee. Travelcards are available for 1 and 7 days, 1 month and 1 year durations.

You can purchase and subsequently top up Oyster cards and Travelcards from Underground stations and a wide variety of other outlets throughout London including neighbourhood stores, but not Contactless payment cards.

Oyster cards - more details

Contactless payment cards - more details

Travelcards - more details

Seniors concessions

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are of pensionable age you can get a Freedom pass giving free travel. If you are 60+ and live in London the Seniors Oyster ID Card that makes free bus travel available. You can apply online or get a form from your local Post Office.

Anybody with an English National Concessionary bus pass can use that on London's red buses too and travel free of charge.

If you have a Senior Railcard you can get your 1/3 discount on off-peak Oyster fares. You have to ask a member of staff to load the concession on to a standard Oyster card (note, not a Visitor Oyster card) at an Underground station after showing your Seniors Card.

If you have a Senior Railcard you can also buy a 1 day off-peak zone 1-6 Travelcard at the discount applied.

Child concessions

This is a very complex subject and is covered in detail in the table below. Generally, a child is defined as under 16 years old, but in the last couple of years it has been possible to get child fares after jumping through a few hoops up to the age of 17.

Children under 11 can travel free on the London Underground, DLR and buses without a ticket. If a child is between 11 and 15 years old, you require an Oyster 11-15 Photocard (which has a fee, see below). This allows 11 to 15 year olds to travel at child fares on the Underground, DLR, Overground and some trains, free on the buses.

If you are a short-term visitor (in London for up to 14 days) with kids between 11-15 you can take advantage of the Young Visitor Discount. This means you can get half price fares on an Oyster card on a temporary basis for your child without going through the hoops and expense of getting an Oyster ID card. You do need to read carefully the rules of this scheme though.

Children's Fare Concessions

Group tickets - 1-day group travelcard for groups of 10 or more.

This ticket is for groups of 10 or more travelling together.

This in scope is the same as a 1-day off-peak Travelcard for zones 1-6 and 1-9 providing unlimited travel on all services after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

The pricing is particularly attractive if you have kids in the group and those staying in one of the outer zones, however if you are staying in the centre of London zones 1 to 3 it will be cheaper to purchase individual Oyster cards.

If you are a group of 10 or more then do check out this product.

Purchasing tickets & fares levied

There are no longer manned ticket offices at Underground and DLR stations. All tickets are dispensed by ticket machines in the ticket hall and there will be a member of staff hanging around these.

The same machines will allow you to top up your Oyster cards or see what the balance is on your Oyster card and they will also allow you to cancel your Oyster card and get your deposit and any cash left on the Oyster refunded.

If you prefer talking to people selling the tickets there are Oyster ticket stops. These are many of these and typically are convenience stores or news-stands that sell public transport tickets as a sideline. These outlets will have a sign in their front window.

The fare you pay is set by which zone your departure and destination stations are in. Your journey starts when you go through the ticket barrier of the station entrance you depart from and finishes when you pass through the ticket barrier at the exit of your destination. You cannot break a journey on a single fare, once you go though an exit barrier of a station that is your journey completed.

Access to platform & luggage

To gain access to the platforms, and again to exit a station you have to pass through automatic barriers (pictured). There is always one wide ticket barrier for wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with large suitcases.

If you have a single ticket, the barrier at your destination will not return your ticket. There is a manned side gate by the barriers. If you have a Travelcard you insert the Travelcard into the same slot as for the single tickets, the barrier will check that your Travelcard is valid for both date and zones travelled.

If you have an Oyster card or Contactless payment card you swipe the card over a bright yellow pad, the barrier will check validity and will record the station you have started your journey before opening the barrier. The barrier may display the balance on your Oyster too.

At your destination station, exiting through the barrier in effect tells the system you have ended your journey and it works out the fare to be deducted from your card.

BUY VISITOR OYSTER CARD & TRAVELCARD FOR LONDON

Visiting London? Save time and money on London public transport

• Visitor Oyster Card • Travelcard for 1 day anytime / off-peak or 7 days anytime • Group day travelcards available

LONDON TUBE MAPS (PDF)

London Travelcard

The London Travelcard is a transport pass which entitles you to unlimited travel on London’s public transport. You can use a travelcard to travel on the London Underground, overground, public buses, DLR (docklands light rail), TFL rail and other trains, as long as you travel within London’s travel zones.

It is designed for people who are planning on using London’s public transport a lot when visiting London or for people who commute into London on a daily basis. Still, a London Travelcard may sometimes not be the cheapest option even if does entitle you to unlimited travel.

London Travelcard: What do I need to know before I buy one?

When buying a London Travelcard there are three things that you need to know:

1. The duration of the card:

You can buy a travelcard for one day, 7 days, one month or annual.

2. The travel zones of London that will be using:

When you buy a travelcard you need to choose what travel zones you want use. If you are going to travel between zones 1 and 2, you will need a travelcard that is valid for these two zones, but if you are going to travel between zones 1 and 5 every day, you will need a travelcard that covers zones 1 to 5. This does not apply to travelling by bus, as any travelcard will allow you to travel on buses to and from any zone within London’s travel zones. So for example, if you have a travelcar for zones 1 and 2, you can still use a bus to get to zone 3 or zone 5 with that travelcard at no extra cost.

Most of London’s tourist attractions are located in zone 1, and only a few of the most popular attractions can be found outside zone 1, such as Camden Town Market which is in zone 2. Make sure you know what zone your hotel is in before you buy a travelcard.

3. Off-peak or Anytime

If you are buying a 1 day travelcard  (which we don’t normally recommend as an oyster card has a daily cap that is cheaper than a one day travelcard – see below) you will have to choose if you want it to travel anytime of the day, or just during off-peak times (Monday – Friday from 9.30 am; all day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays).

This does not affect 1 day travelcards for zones 1 to 4, so if you are visiting London you probably don’t need to worry about this at all as you are unlikely to be travelling to zone 5, 6 or beyond.

Which Travelcard to buy if you are planning a trip to London

1 day travelcard.

The price of the 1 day London travelcard for zones 1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 costs £15.20. We don’t normally recommend using the 1 day travelcard, as it is actually cheaper to use an oyster card, a visitor oyster card, or a contactless card as these payment methods have a daily cap. The daily cap applied to these zones are: £8.10 for travel within zones 1-2; £9.60 for zones 1-3 and £11.70 for zones 1-4. Once you have reached this daily cap you will be able to travel within the same travel zones for free. It is still necessary to tap in and tap out on the yellow reader with your oyster card, visitor oyster card or contactless card when using public transport.

Find out more about choosing between an oyster card, a travelcard or using contactless on London Transport here: Oyster card, Travelcard or Contactless .

7 day Travelcard

The 7 day travelcard for London travel zones 1-2 costs £40.70. When comparing oyster card/visitor oyster card/contactless fares to a 7 day travelcard, I would probably say that it is convenient to get a 7 day travelcard if you are going to be travelling around London for more than 6 days. If you are going to be in London less than 6 days then I would recommend using an oyster card (vistor oyster card or contactless if you are a UK resident).

Where to buy a London travelcard

Buying a London Travelcard at an underground station

It is possible to buy a London travelcard at any underground station in London, by either using a ticket machine at the ticket office or a manned desk in a the ticket office (if available). When you buy a 7 day, monthly or annual London travelcard at an underground station you will normally get an oyster card with the travelcard incorporated in it. So your oyster card will be pre-loaded with the travelcard you have chosen. This way you can also use this oyster card with pay as you go for any trips that are not included in the travelcard.

So, as an example, if you have a 7 day travelcard for zones 1 – 4 in your oyster card, you will be entitles to unlimited journeys within these  travel zones for 7 days, and you can use your oyster as you normally would, by touching in and touching out. But, if one day you need to go to zone 6, you will be able to use the same oyster with pay as you go balance. One example when this might happen, is if you arrive at Heathrow airport (zone 6) but you want to buy a 7 day travelcard for zones 1 – 4. It will be much cheaper to use they oyster card with pay as you go for the journey from Heathrow to central London and the journey from central London to Heathrow Airport on your last day and adding a 7 travelcard for zones 1 – 4, than using a 7 day travelcard for zones 1 – 6.

Buying a London Travelcard at a train station

It is possible to buy a London travelcard at any train station located inside London’s Travel Zones . When you buy a travelcard at a train station, you will normally get a paper travelcard and not an oyster card.

Stansted, Luton or Gatwick airports are all outside London’s Travel Zones so these stations won’t normally sell London travelcards.

Buy a London Travelcard online

One of the easiest ways to buy a London travelcard is by buying it online. The price is exactly the same as what it would cost you to buy it in London but you will pay a little extra for delivery.

Buy a London travelcard at Heathrow airport

London travelcard fares from 5th march 2023, travelcard for children.

Children under the age of 11 travel free within London travel zones. Children over 11 can also benefit from reduced fares; you can learn more about this in our article: Travelling in London with kids .

Find out more

For more information, visit London’s official transport website: Transport For London

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London Underground train fares – Tube Ticket Prices 2024

• Adult fares
• Senior fares
• Child fares
• Return fares
• How to work out a fare
• What’s the cheapest way to travel?
• Buying tickets on the train
• Peak, off-peak and Anytime
• Daily & Weekly price caps
• Two Together Railcard
• Family & Friends Railcard
• Diabled Persons Railcard
• Using single tickets and travelcards
• Using contactless and Oyster cards
• Which is best: cash, contactless, Oyster or travelcard?

Paying with cash

Paying with Oyster

Paying with contactless

Paying with a travelcard

Can you buy a ticket on the train?

No. You have to buy a paper ticket, travelcard or Oyster card before you board the train. It’s not possible to buy one onboard.

How much is a return fare on the London Underground?

There are no return fares on the London Underground.

It is possible to select a return journey at a self-service ticket machine, but you’ll just be paying the same price as two single journeys and end up receiving two single tickets.

What is the daily and weekly price cap?

Daily price cap – Oyster tube fares and contactless tube fares have a daily price cap . This is the maximum daily charge that will be taken from your card each day – regardless of how many journeys you make. The computer keeps track of all the individual journeys you make throughout the day, totals them up, and as soon as the accumulated amount reaches the daily cap it will stop charging you.

The daily cap is always cheaper than buying a 1-day travelcard .

Note: You must remember to use the same card for every journey, otherwise the computer won’t recognise that they all came from you. Likewise, if you’re using contactless through your mobile phone or watch, then you must use the same device each time.

Weekly price cap – Oyster cards and contactless cards also have a weekly price cap . This works in exactly the same way as the daily cap, but will limit your seven day spend to the same price as a 7 day travelcard .

Important note: the weekly cap only works between Monday and Sunday, so if you’re travelling between any other stretch of seven days (like Friday to Thursday, for example) then the computer will charge you for seven individual days instead.

What time is Peak, Off-Peak and Anytime?

For Oyster and contactless – Oyster fares and contactless fares are described as being Peak and Off-peak .

Peak time is between 6.30-9.30 AM and 4-7 PM (Monday to Friday). Anything else is off-peak , including public holidays. Note: Between the 8th March and 31st May 2024 TFL are running a trial called ‘Off-Peak Friday Fares’, where Fridays will be classed as off-peak all day.

For travelcards – Travelcards are slightly different because they’re described as being Anytime and Off-peak .

Anytime means that you can travel at any time of day, and up to 4.30 AM the following morning. Off-peak is any time after 9.30 AM (Monday to Friday), and up to 4.30 AM the following morning. Weekends and public holidays are always off-peak.

Note: Underground fares are worked out according to what time your journey begins . It doesn’t matter what time your tube journey finishes. So an Oyster journey between 6 AM and 7 AM on a Monday is off-peak . Between 9 AM and 10 AM it’s peak . For a travelcard both journeys are anytime .

What is the cheapest way to travel on the tube?

The cheapest way to travel on the tube is with contactless and Oyster – but contactless is usually the better option for UK visitors because you also have to pay a £7 deposit the first time you buy an Oyster card.

We don’t recommend contactless cards for foreign visitors because your bank might add on a transaction fee every time you use it overseas, which will bump up the price of your train ticket.

Try and avoid paying by cash on the London Underground as well, because that always has the highest charges.

Do children get cheap train fares?

Yes. Children under the age of 11 can travel for free on the tube if they’re accompanied by an adult, or they have a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard. Children aged between 11-17 do have to pay, but they can benefit from cheaper fares if they’re carrying the right photocard, or they have the ‘Young Visitor Discount’ applied to their London Oyster card .

See our child tube fares page for more details.

Do seniors get cheap train fares?

Senior citizens who live in a London borough are eligible for free or discounted travel on the London Underground. (Senior citizens who live outside London can use their OAP pass for free travel on London buses , but not the trains.)

Freedom Pass – If you’re old enough to receive a woman’s state pension (regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman), and your principal home is in London, then you can get hold of a Freedom Pass .

This entitles you to travel for free outside of the morning peak period (4.30 AM to 9 AM, Monday to Friday) on London buses, the London Underground, London Overground, TFL Rail and some National Rail trains within London.

Freedom Passes are supplied by your local council and you can apply online at londoncouncils.gov.uk .

60+ London Oyster photocard – If you’re aged 60 or more and you live in a London borough then you can apply for a 60+ Oyster Card . This allows you to travel for free outside of the morning peak period (4.30 AM to 9 AM, Monday to Friday) on the buses, London Underground, London Overground, TFL Rail and some National Rail services within London.

You can apply for a card online at tfl.gov.uk/​fares/​free-and-discounted-travel .

Senior Railcard – If you’re aged 60 or more and you’re travelling on the London Underground and a few National Rail trains then you might benefit from buying a Senior Railcard .

This entitles you to a ⅓-off train fares throughout Britain. You can also have the discount card loaded straight onto your Oyster card and get a ⅓-off pay-as-you-go fares and a ⅓-off the daily price cap (off-peak travel times only).

Make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully though, because it’s usually not valid during peak hours (the peak times will vary depending on which part of the country you’re travelling in) – but given how expensive train tickets are these days it might pay for itself after just three or four journeys.

What is a Two Together Railcard?

A Two Together Railcard offers discounted train tickets if you’re travelling with your partner to other parts of the UK. But it has to be the same person each time because it will have your names and photos printed on the front (or inside the app, if you’re using contactless). If you want to make a journey on your own during that period then you’ll have to pay normal price.

Another downside when compared to other Railcards is that you can’t use it to get a discount on Oyster pay-as-you-go fares, or Oyster daily caps – but you can use it to get a discount on day travelcards when bought together with a ticket for a National Rail train coming into London.

Check out their website at railcard.co.uk .

What is a Family & Friends Railcard?

A Family & Friends Railcard offers cheap train tickets if your group size is up to 4 adults and up to 4 kids, but if the majority of your holiday is inside London then beware… because the only useful discount you’ll get is ⅓-off 1 day travelcards when bought together with a National Rail train ticket coming into London (subject to a minimum fare). And it doesn’t apply at peak-time either.

Check out their website at railcard.co.uk if you’re interested.

What is a Disabled Persons Railcard?

A Disabled Persons Railcard offers cheap train tickets if you have a disability that meets their eligibility criteria .

After you’ve linked the pass to your Oyster card you’ll get a ⅓-off pay-as-you-go fares and daily price caps. You can also get a travelling companion some money off the cost of a day travelcard if it’s bought in conjunction with a National Rail ticket coming into London.

Find out more at railcard.co.uk .

How do you work out a London Underground fare?

In order to work out your London Underground fare you will need to know every fare zone that your journey passes through (not just the ones you start and finish at). You can use our train journey planner to do this.

For example, if you look at the tube ticket prices on our Heathrow to King’s Cross page then you’ll see that the journey passes through zones 1 to 6.

Just to make things a little bit more confusing, some of London’s underground stations are in two different zones at once. Earl’s Court station , for example, is in zones 1 and 2. The charge for these stations is based on your direction of travel. If your journey begins at Earl’s Court and heads towards zone 1 then Earl’s Court will count as zone 1. If you’re heading towards zone 2 then it will count as zone 2. And if your journey finishes at Earl’s Court then it will count as zone 1 if you came from zone 1. And it will count as zone 2 if you came from zone 2.

Do you have to pay twice if you change trains?

If you change trains during your journey then you only have to pay one fare – assuming you don’t exit any of the stations in-between.

For example, if you’re travelling between Waterloo and South Kensington then you’ll have to change trains at Westminster, but you’ll be able to walk between the platforms without passing through any ticket barriers. If you did pass through a barrier then that would be the end of your journey.

How do you use paper tickets on the London Underground?

Using paper tickets on the London Underground is easy. Just insert your single ticket or paper travelcard face-up into the slot at the front of the ticket barrier (underneath that big yellow Oyster reader). The same ticket will then pop out of the slot on the top. The gate won’t open until you remove your ticket from this slot (something that catches a lot of people out).

If your travelcard has been loaded onto a London Oyster card then it’s a little bit easier, because all you have to do is wave it in front of the yellow reader and the gate will open automatically.

How do you use Oyster and contactless cards on the tube?

Using contactless cards and Oyster cards on the London Underground is easy. All you have to do is wave them in front of the big yellow reader by the gate. If the machine registers it correctly then the ticket barrier will open automatically for you to walk through.

If it doesn’t work then try taking your card out of your purse or wallet and touching it flush against the reader. If it still doesn’t work then look at the little LCD screen by the reader to see what it says (you’re probably out of credit).

If you’re travelling from a suburban station outside central London then you might find that it doesn’t have any gates, and the readers will either be at the foot of the platform stairs or on the platform itself.

When you leave the train at the end of your journey you will need to tap your card down again, so the computer can work out which fare zones you travelled through. You need to do this even if there’s no barrier, or when the barrier has been deliberately left open by the TFL staff (which they sometimes do to speed the flow of passengers during rush hour). If you forget to touch your card down then the system will whack you for a maximum fare (ouch!).

Which is best: cash, contactless, Oyster card or travelcard?

Cash fares on the London Underground are considerably more expensive so they should be avoided unless it’s just a one-off journey.

Day travelcards are surprisingly expensive when compared to the contactless and Oyster daily cap , but lots of tourists like the simplicity of being able to buy a travelcard straight from a self-service machine. (You also have to pay a £7 deposit the first time you buy an Oyster card, which will wipe out any savings you make if you’re only staying in the city for one day.)

Contactless and Oyster have the joint cheapest fares on the tube, but contactless is more convenient for UK visitors because of that £7 deposit. We don’t recommend contactless for foreign visitors because your bank might add on a transaction fee every time you buy a train ticket overseas.

Note: If you’re staying in London for a week and you’re planning on making three or more tube journeys on six days, or two or more on seven days, then a weekly travelcard might work out cheaper – but only if you’re not staying from Monday to Sunday. (That’s because the weekly cap on Oyster and contactless only applies from Monday to Sunday, whereas a travelcard can start on any day you like.)

The verdict: Contactless is always the best option for UK visitors. A 1-day travelcard is the best option for foreign tourists staying for just one day. Oyster is the best option for foreign tourists staying for more than one day, and a weekly travelcard might be the cheapest option if you’re staying for 6-7 days, depending on how many journeys you make.

Your comments and questions

Daniel Hi everyone. I'm going to spend the whole of January in London for a course. I'll stay in West Hampstead and the course is in the Swiss Cottage area (walking distance). Since my course will be less than 3 hours daily from Monday to Friday, I'll have a lot of free time to visit the city. I'm planning on getting a one-month Oyster card, but I'm in doubt as to which zones should I get covered for tourism purposes. What do you suggest? Is coverage for zones 1 and 2 enough? Thanks! Daniel

Staff It will probably be enough, but of course it depends where you want to go. Most people do spend their entire holiday inside zones 1-2. You might be better off just using your contactless bank card because then you can go wherever you like and you won't be restricted to zones. But depending on how many trips you actually make a monthly travelcard might work out a bit cheaper - unfortunately the only way of knowing for sure is to total up all the journeys you'll be making

JPH Hi everyone, I have a question for you. I take the tube from the station Blackhorse (zone 3) and I change at Highbury&Islington (zone 2). From there I take the train to Whitechapel (zone2). My question is: why I have to pay for a ticket 2.40? When I have a one week travelcard zone 2&3 I still pay? Why? Can anyone tell me?

Staff Even though none of those stations are in zone 1, if you look at a tube map you'll see that the journey does actually pass through zone 1. Your travelcard already covers zones 2&3, so the computer just charges you the extra bit for zone 1 (I'm assuming that you've got your travelcard loaded on to an Oyster card)

JPH Thank you for your explanation.

Wendy Hi. I have a bus pass on my Oyster - can I use this on the tube? Thanks Wendy

Staff Hi. It depends what you've bought. It is possible to buy travelcards that only cover the bus (and tram). If you've got one of those then you won't be able to use that on the tube. But you can also buy ones that cover the buses, tubes and trams together. So that would be okay.

Drew If I get on the train before peak time [4pm] but off the train in peak time, how will I be charged?

Staff Hi Drew, it goes by what time your journey starts. So if you board the train in off-peak, you will be charged off-peak. It doesn't matter what time your journey finishes.

Nads Can I buy the ticket for zone 1-2 in advance, online?

Staff Hi Nads. Not a single ticket, no. You can only buy those at the station on the day. You can buy a zone 1-2 travelcard online in advance, and have them post it to you, but they don't do 1-day travelcards for those zones, only weekly, monthly or annual ones.

MRyan Just a word of caution for everyone using Oyster/contactless payment cards. Make sure your Oyster card and contactless card are not in the same pouch or wallet when you tap in or out. You may find (as I did to my cost) that you are tapped in on one card and tapped in again on the other rather than tapped out on the original one. You will then be charged twice rather than just the fare for the journey you made. The good news is that can get a refund by e-mailling TFL with times and dates of the journeys made. I only realised when I got my bank statement that I had slipped up repeatedly during the previous month. Now the cards are kept completely separate!

Judy 2 seniors visiting London and staying in Chelsea. Family is also visiting London and lodging near the British Museum. I think I understand the Oyster card may be our most economical way of traveling around the city. I am assuming that we can access both tube and bus using the cards? Haven't figured out the zones, yet, but City center and Kensington Gardens are both on our list of places we will be going to. Any suggestions?

Staff Hi Judy. You can use an Oyster card on both the bus and tube... or you can just pay with your contactless card instead (your bank card), which is a bit easier. They have exactly the same fares as Oyster, and you don't have to pay the £7 deposit to set it up. Some people don't like the idea of using their bank card though (like me), so maybe you'll prefer paying with Oyster. All of the places you've mentioned are inside zone 1.

S MacDonald What discounts applied if you are over sixty?

Staff Hi. If you're a tourist from abroad then there aren't any. If you live in a London borough then you can travel for free on the trains if you get hold of a 60+ Oyster card. But they only work until you're old enough to apply for a Freedom Pass. More details here: city-guide.london/​transport/​senior-train-fares.php

Gudjonsson If I hold my wallet to the card reader intending to pay with my Oyster card, could the computer debit my bank account for a contactless payment, if my debit card happened to be in the same wallet? In other words: do you need to be careful not to inadvertently present two or more cards to the reader at the same time?

Staff Hi Gudjonsson. It could do, yes. If it detects two cards then it will probably reject both cards and not let you through until you separate them, but it could register one card. If you then turn your wallet up the other way when leaving the train it might register the other, which will mess up the fare and daily cap. So it's best to keep them separate.

Jane Are the prices quoted single or return fares?

Staff Hi Jane. There's no such thing as return fares on the underground. You can buy return tickets at the machine, but you'll just be paying the same as two singles

Baxter Why is paying by cash more expensive than using a contactless card, it's double the price!

Staff Hi Baxter. Good question. I suppose they're trying to encourage people to use them, because then they won't need so many ticket windows and ticket machines - keeps their costs down

Russell If you get on a train at 15.55 off-peak and change trains and get off your destination an hour later at 16.55 is it still classed as off-peak? With an Oyster card. Regards.

Staff Hi Russell. That's right, yes. The only time that matters is when you board the train. If you board the train during off-peak hours then it will be charged as off-peak, even if you get off again during peak hours

Caroline Wah How much money should I top up on my Oyster card?

Staff Hi Caroline. It depends how many days you're staying, and where you want to travel to. The maximum amount you'll spend each day is the 'daily cap' for the zones you travel through (shown in the table above). Most tourists tend to spend their entire holiday inside zones 1 and 2. So just add enough to cover the daily cap each day

Rahmah Hi, we are Malaysians (3 paxs). Can we buy weekly ticket on senior citizen fares. We will be visiting London for 10 days. Thank you

Staff Hi Rahmah. Unfortunately not, no. Cheap fares for senior citizens are only available for UK citizens or people who actually live in London. An Oyster card will probably work out cheaper for you, rather than a weekly travelcard, but it all depends on how many journeys you're making in total. Bear in mind that a weekly travelcard has to be used over seven consecutive days. you can't spread the seven days over a stay of ten

Robin Is there a disabled price for zone 1 travel?

Staff Hi Robin, not if you just turn up on the day, but you can get discounted travel if you apply for a disabled persons railcard or freedom pass before you travel - londoncouncils.gov.uk/​services/​freedom-pass/disabled-persons-freedom-pass . It's different on the buses because people in wheelchairs can travel for free without needing any kind of pass

Tony Hi. Are the contactless prices including the return journey so there and back? Or just one way?

Staff Hi Tony. It's just one way. There are no return prices on the underground - you just pay the same as two singles

Shanzey We are British citizen. Want to travel to london from 10th to 17th of August (Thursday to Wednesday). We want to go to see lonfin Eye, green street, South Hall, Emirates cable cars ,museum, famous parks etc. Two of my kids are 15 and 13th of age. We are traveling by train from oxford to southwoodford area. I am not sure which option would be cheapest for us. I have rail card as well. Many thanks

Staff Hi Shanzey. Your 13 year old should get an Oyster card with the 'Young Visitor Discount' applied to it - as explained here city-guide.london/​transport/​child-train-fares.php . The others might be better off with a travelcard, which can work out cheaper if you make at least 2 journeys on each of the seven days, but maybe it will be simpler just to get Oyster cards for everyone. Not sure what you mean by Green Street and South Hall, but zones 1-2 will cover the other places

Terri What is the cost from bow church dlr to Lewisham dlr

Staff Hi Terri. It depends on how you're paying. All the prices are here - city-guide.london/​transport/​train-journey.php?from=bow-church&to=lewisham

Michael Living in Mile End and will be travelling from Mile end underground to Farringdon 5x a week there. And will be getting a bus from Holborn circus to regents canal 5x a week back. This will be weekly for next 2 years. I am eligible for 16-25 railcard and would like to know whether it will be cheaper to do contactless or oyster, Thanks

Staff Hi Michael. Oyster and contactess are exactly the same price (apart from the £7 deposit you have to pay the first time you buy the oyster card). It's not possible to load the railcard onto a contactless card, though. So you should probably get an oyster card. But check the railcard rules apply to your train times - 16-25railcard.co.uk/​help/​faqs/

Will Bolt Hi, why was I charged £6.40 for travel in zone 1 when it should have been £2.70. I touched in at Waterloo and out at Liverpool Street

Staff Hi Will. TFL don't charge you straight away for each individual journey. Their system usually totals up all the journeys you've made during the day and then charges you in one lump sum at the end. Our guess would be that £6.40 is for a couple of different journeys. If its a contactless card you can get a 7-day journey history, even if you havent registered, and see whats going on - contactless.tfl.gov.uk/

Colin Do service veterans get discount prices when attending the Cenotaph Remembrance Parade

Staff Hi Colin. You might be able to apply for a Veterans Oyster card for free or discounted travel on the buses, London underground and some National Rail trains. More info here -- tfl.gov.uk/​fares/​free-and-discounted-travel/veterans-oyster-photocard

Syl What's the difference between a UK visitor and a foreign visitor when you say you do not recommend contactless for foreign visitors. I am a senior from New Zealand and have a Wise multi currency card. I will be traveling by train to Scotland and plan to stay in London for 6-7 days.What is the best card to get and can I get it from New Zealand before I start mu travel.

Staff Hi Syl. The reason we say that, is because if you have a bank card issued overseas then your bank might add on a transaction fee every time you buy a bus or train ticket, because it's in a different currency. And that will make them a lot more expensive compared with using an Oyster card, for example. So you might want to check with your bank first. Otherwise we would suggest getting a Visitor Oyster card, which can be posted overseas before you go - city-guide.london/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php

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Visitor Guide to London Transport Tickets and Passes

Public transport in London is not cheap. If you are on a budget, it’s worth spending time to make sure you buy the cheapest ticket or pass for your visit.

You should never pay the full cash fare for tickets on any form of transport in London. The full cash fare means buying a single paper ticket from an underground station ticket machine, either with cash or coins or with a debit/credit card.

It’s always cheaper to Pay as you go with a contactless debit/credit card or Oyster card or to buy a Travelcard or bus pass.

London Transport ticket/payment options

There are four main options to choose from and they all save you money compared to paying the full fare:

Pay as you go Oyster card

This is a card that you ‘top up’ with money and use to pay for cheaper single tickets and discounted rates for unlimited travel for the whole day (the ‘daily cap’). The Oyster card costs £7 .

Contactless debit or credit card

Instead of an Oyster card, you can use a contactless debit or credit card . Fares are the same as the Pay as you go Oyster. You do not need to register your card to use it.

One day or weekly bus pass

Bus passes are available for 1 day or 7 days for unlimited travel for the whole of London.

One day, weekly or monthly Travelcards

Travelcards are travel passes for unlimited travel within certain zones .

Travelcards, Pay as you go Oyster cards and contactless debit/credit cards are valid on all types of transport in London:

• Underground (the tube)
• Local suburban trains
• London Overground
• The Elizabeth line
• Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

Please note: The ticket prices listed below are for visitors staying in zone 1 (central London) and zone 2. The information is still relevant if you stay outside zone 1-2, but the prices will be higher (apart from bus fares). Full prices for all zones are on the ticket type pages.

Best transport ticket or pass for 1,2,3, 4 or 5 day visits to London

For short trips to London paying with a contactless debit/credit card/device is the cheapest ways to pay for transport. The fares are the same with an Oyster card, but the card now costs £7 (and is not refundable).

If you use the underground for 3 or more journeys during the day, there’s a ‘daily cap’ — the maximum amount deducted from your card.

For travel in zone 1-2:

• Single tickets on the underground cost  £2.80 with an Oyster card/contactless card. If you buy a ticket from a ticket machine, the full cash fare is £6.70.
• If you use your card to pay for transport in central London for the whole day, the ‘daily cap’ – the maximum amount deducted is  £8.50.

The next best option, if you don’t have an Oyster or a contactless card, is a One Day Travelcard. It’s  £15.90 for zones 1-4, but you still save money if you use it for 3 or more trips on the underground.

Is there anything cheaper?

Yes, don’t use the underground or trains and only use the buses. The ‘daily bus cap’ with a Pay as you go Oyster card or contactless card is the cheapest way to travel around London for the day.

For all zones:

• A bus fare is  £1.75 for unlimited bus journeys within one hour if you use an Oyster/contactless card. (Cash is not accepted on London buses)
• If you use an Oyster/contactless card to pay for bus travel for the whole day, the maximum amount deducted from your card is  £5.25 .

If you don’t have an Oyster or a contactless card, a paper One Day Bus pass costs  £5.90.

• Read more about the Pay as you go Oyster card
• Read more about contactless cards
• Read more about bus tickets and passes
• Read more about One Day Travelcards

Best transport ticket or pass for 6 or 7 day visits to London

A 7 day weekly Travelcard is cheaper than paying for 6 ‘daily caps’ with a Pay as you go Oyster/contactless card.

• Zone 1-2 weekly Travelcard costs  £42.70.

If you think there will be a few days when you won’t be using public transport, use a Pay as you go Oyster card or contactless card instead.

Read more about Weekly Travelcards

Again, if want to save money, make sure you only travel by bus; a Weekly Bus Pass (starts any day) or the Oyster/contactless weekly bus cap (Monday-Sunday) is  £24.70.

Related pages

• London transport zones
• Oyster cards
• Travelcards
• Contactless cards
• Bus tickets & passes
• Child tickets & passes

Last updated: 22 February 2024

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What is a London Travelcard?

A London Travelcard gives you unlimited travel within zones 1-4 or 1-6 on the Underground, Overground, TfL Rail, Docklands Light Railway, buses, trams, and most National Rail services in London.

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Which London Travelcard is right for me?

 one day london travelcard.

Anytime Day Travelcards can be used on the date shown on the ticket and for journeys starting before 04:30 the following day. Off-peak Day Travelcards can be used from 09:30 (Monday to Friday), at any time on weekends or bank holidays for the date on the ticket, and for journeys starting before 04:30 the next day.

London Weekly Travelcard

The London Weekly Travelcard offers seven days of travel for the price of five.

Monthly London Travelcard

Monthly Travelcards are typically more cost-effective than purchasing four consecutive 7-day Travelcards. They offer a saving of 11% compared to the continued use of 7-day Travelcards.

Group One Day London Travelcard

Travelling as a group of 10 or more? Get a Group One Day London Travelcard valid for the day from 09:30 (Monday to Friday), anytime on weekends or public holidays right up until 04:30 the next day.

London Travelcard season tickets

Your Travelcard season ticket can start any day of the week and you can travel right up until 04:30 on the day after your Travelcard expires.

Choose a seven-day, monthly, three-month, 6-month, custom or annual Travelcard season ticket.

How do I get a London Travelcard?

Travelcards can be sold with an Anytime , Off-Peak , Super Off-Peak , Advance  or season  (except Flexi Season ) train ticket to London on our website, app or at your local station.

You can add London Travelcards to your SWR touch smartcard , making it easier for you to tap in and out across the capital.

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