London Oyster Pass

[twopats]

Prior to our cruise, we are spending four days in London. Can you buy the Oyster Pass at the airport or should we pay the mailing fee of approximately $5.00 each? If not the airport, can you buy them at the tube stations?

Thanks for your help.

Trish

[dragonmaster]

If I remember correctly, you can buy them at the tube station at Heathrow.

 

Michael a.k.a. dragonmaster

 

Prior to our cruise, we are spending four days in London. Can you buy the Oyster Pass at the airport or should we pay the mailing fee of approximately $5.00 each? If not the airport, can you buy them at the tube stations?

Thanks for your help.

Trish

[rumpelstiltskin]

Can you buy the Oyster Pass at the airport or should we pay the mailing fee of approximately $5.00 each?

 

You may purchase the Oyster Card at LHR or the train stations.

You also get your 5 pound deposit back at the end of your stay, if you wish. Overall, better than having them mailed to you.

 

Here is a helpful website with plenty of info:

 

http://www.londontoolkit.com

...

[waldorf]

Not sure if you have contactless debit/credit cards in the US but you can use these instead. Much easier in my view as regular visitor to London.

[cruise kitty]

I bought mine at LHR, did not turn it in for the 5£ refund, but I'll use it again next trip. Very convenient little device. :)

[Tansy Mews]

There are two Oyster cards - one for visitors (you can have it mailed to you) and the regular Oyster Card.

There are lots of websites talking about the differences but it is still not clear. I think the visitor card is relatively new.

See https://www.milesfaster.co.uk/information/oyster-cards.htm

 

I believe you can buy the visitor card at the tourist offices at the main airports, but I haven't done it yet.

 

You can buy a regular Oyster Card at the train stations at the airport. (And use them for the train journey if you wish.)

 

I am planning to get the regular one since it seems more flexible -but again, I am not sure!

 

The visitor card is preloaded with a set amount. With the regular, you can choose the amount you wish. You can top up both. I assume that the visitor card acts like a regular card after that first purchase. Any comments on this?

 

The card fee is slightly higher for the regular card.

 

Both of them have a daily maximum that you are charged (capping).

 

There seems to be some differences for refunds - but it isn't clear to me whether I should care or not!

 

Here is the transit authority's page on Oyster cards:

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/

 

And a link from there to Visitor Oyster Cards -

https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card

 

You can use a credit or debit card instead but there may be credit card fees involved if you are from Canada or the US. See this page for the basics:

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/what-are-contactless-payment-cards?intcmp=8610

If it acts like an ATM withdrawal, then there would be a charge, I would think.