Calling Laardoners - Oyster card help please!

[perplexed]

Morning all...

We're off dahn sarf for a few days shortly, and will be spending a Saturday in London.

I'm no virgin when it comes to the tube, despite being a tight, heathen Yorkshire monkey, but I've never used a pre-paid Oyster card before. I've always got day tickets in the past.

Having looked on the TfL website, it appears that to purchase a 'Visitor's' Oyster card is the most cost effective way of getting around, using it as a 'pay as you go' card. It gives me more money to spend on having my whippet permed.

However, the TfL website is the most contradictory, complicated thing in the world - I've found bits of Dark Age Greek easier - so I'm still not sure how much I'm going to spend. On the one hand it talks about making sure you 'tap/swipe' out at the end of your journey so as to not be charged the maximum, but on the other hand there is a 'cap' of £11.00 - which you'd soon pass in no time anyway?

Any help for the mildly befuddled would be appreciated.

Ta

 

[ianrauk]

The cap is the daily maximum amount you will be charged no matter how many journeys you make.

Have you a credit or debit card with with contacless payment

Just use that, it's used the same as Oyster except you won't have to pay a £5.00 up front deposit.

 

[Sharky]

You don't need an Oyster card. You just need a normal debit card with a swipe facility and just swipe going in and coming out each time on the underground and busses. There is a cap of about £7.50 Per day. I think it is the same rates as an Oyster card, but you don't get left with an unused balance in the card.

 

[Aperitif]

Each time you 'tap in' then 'tap out' at your destination, the fare has a value....say £2.50. Make five of such journeys, and your total spend is nominally £12.50
But.
Because the TfL fare structure offers 'Day Travelcards - unlimited journeys etc, then the maximum fare will never be more than this value. Time restrictions apply I think.
Also, you can use an ordinary debit/credit card and avoid queueing up...but then it all gets jumbled up in your general expenses, and refunds might get complicated!
Use it on buses too, don't forget. Have fun!

 

[Aperitif]

Bugger me - a doublemynewt

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Ooh's tha wi, a tha wi thissen? I only ask because if there's more than one I believe you can only use one Oyster card on a journey. (I've actually got an Oyster card but never use it so I'm a little uncertain, but I don't believe you can scan the card twice, say, when getting on a bus.)

 

[mr_cellophane]

Buses are flat fare, so you scan once when you get on and that is it. If there is more than one person, then each one needs a card of their own be it Oyster or contactless.
Don't get a Visitor Card as that costs £3, get an ordinary Oyster and pay a refundable £5. Which ever one you use you can get unused fare money refunded.

 

[Aperitif]

Now there's 'card clash'! Was just going to add that each traveller requires a ticket to ride...
Bring back the Red Rover and Green Rover, Roy of the Rovers and shoibert dabs!

 

[swee'pea99]

Apparently the thing to be careful about is making sure you don't 'contactless' two or more cards at the same time. Just pick one and use it every time & you'll be fine.

 

[Markymark]

As above, contactless card. Or use your Applepay on your iPhone (you aren't allowed in London without one)

However, often stations are not that afar apart (tube maps are deceptive for distances) and walking is quicker....or even a Boris Bike

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Whatever happened to cash?

 

[Markymark]

Whatever happened to cash?

You can pay by cash at a ticket machine. It takes longer so it less convenient and more expensive (tfl charge more for the same reason).

 

[Globalti]

I was born in London but at that time you bought a ticket for cash from a nice person in a booth, so when we go to London nowadays and find ourselves standing in front of the ticket machines at Euston Underground my mind goes into a complete blue funk, same as when I used to do maths exams.

Isn't there some kind of Undergound ticket we can buy online before travelling, so as to reduce the stress?

 

[PeteXXX]

I purchased a Visitor Oyster Card last summer and found it easy to use once I got the hang of swiping out at the end of a journey.
When I was back home, I phoned the TfL helpline to see how much I had left on it but they couldn't tell me. Data protection was quoted as the reason!
The chap did tell me that I had enough left on it for a bus ride or two though..

 

[ianrauk]

However, often stations are not that afar apart (tube maps are deceptive for distances) and walking is quicker....or even a Boris Bike

Good point.
They made a mape of the tube network showing the walking distances. Full version HERE