Saving Money On London Underground

What is the most cost-effective way to travel on the London Underground?

The most cost effective way to travel on the London Underground, by a long way, is to use the Oyster card.

What is an Oyster card?

An oyster card is a pre-paid, discount electronic ticket card which you buy at an underground station or news agent displaying the oyster sign. With it, you don't need to buy an ordinary paper ticket. It acts as a pre-paid kind of charge card and combined ticket. You touch the indicated area on the barrier as you go in through to begin your journey; to get your train, or whatever, and touch out as you leave the station, which is very important, and the cheapest fare is automatically deducted. If you forget to touch out for any reason, then they charge you a bit more. You need to top up your oyster card's funds as you use it. It's not a credit card, and you can be fined by post for using it without enough funds on it. Oyster card holders also get special offers, like 2-for-1 entry to theatres, musicals, museums, festivals and restaurant meals, which make it, really, quite a bargain.

How does an Oyster card work?

An oyster card acts as a kind of charge card so that you don't need to pay for ticket. You just touch in and touch out with your oyster card at the ticket barrier, and it automatically deducts the cheapest fare for your journey.

Where can I travel on a travelcard?

In London, you can travel on a travelcard from the central area, Zones 1 and 2, to the outer edges, Zone 6 (which covers everywhere from Epping to Heathrow.) A travelcard gives you an all-in-one ticket for a day. Alternatively, you can get a period travelcard, which works out even cheaper than a day travelcard and covers travel for a week or a month. You can save money by buying a travelcard that starts after 9:30AM on a weekend and if you don't travel in central London. To save more money, buy a travelcard that only covers the zones where you travel. You also need to tell the ticket office or the booking machine where you are travelling. The London Underground is divided into six zones, which are shown on maps by the ticket offices and platforms. You can buy a travelcard covering all zones or merely the central zones, which is cheaper. Don't try to save money by cheating on travel expenses - you will be caught. Don't try to buy child travelcards when you are not a child. Children can't go through the automatic barriers with the travelcard, and everybody is checked up on.

Can I use other forms of transport with a travelcard?

You can use other forms of transport with a travelcard. The London underground known as the tube, buses display the London buses logo, Tramline, the Docklands Light Railway which is tremendous fun, national rail, but not any airport flights, On scheduled riverboat service, you can get a third of the normal fail just showing your travelcard at the time of travel. Now don't confuse the travelcard with the London card which offers free entry to lots of tourist attractions plus a one day travel fee and that can save you up to 55 pounds if you're going sightseeing around the capitol.

Can I travel for less as an OAP?

There are always cheap deals for pensioners, and you can now travel free off-peak on busses. Long-distance travel can be more expensive. If you're single you have to pay a premium, and insurance becomes more expensive as you get older. It's best to check what's available depending where you're going. Research always pays off and saves you money.