London transport, train tickets and official station links — a practical starting point for visitors and residents.
Start with your situation
There is no ticket that is cheapest for everyone. Your route, dates, flexibility and discount eligibility matter.
These extra choices apply to London visitor travel; rail and commuting have separate rules.
01 · Contactless: a simple first option
For an adult making a short London visit, start by checking whether your bank card or mobile wallet is accepted. You do not need to buy a separate Tube ticket for pay-as-you-go travel. Check overseas transaction charges with your bank.
Use the same card or the same device throughout the journey and across the day. A phone, watch and physical card are separate payment methods even when linked to one bank account. Each paying traveller needs their own payment method.
Touch in and out on the Tube and rail services where pay as you go is accepted. On London buses and trams, touch in only. Keep other cards away from the reader.
If contactless is unsuitable, you can buy a standard Oyster in London at many Tube stations and Oyster Ticket Stops, then add travel credit. Check the current card fee before buying.
Visitor Oyster is a separate visitor product ordered before travel. Compare its card fee, delivery and unused-credit rules. A standard Oyster can hold a Travelcard; a Visitor Oyster cannot. Neither is automatically the cheapest choice.
Up to four children under 11 can travel free with a qualifying adult on the Tube, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line. National Rail coverage differs: check your route. Children under 11 travel free on London buses and trams.
For visitors aged 11–15, ask TfL staff to add the Young Visitor discount to an Oyster or Visitor Oyster. It gives half adult pay-as-you-go fares for up to 14 days; bring the child with you. Residents should check Zip Oyster eligibility separately.
Adult pay-as-you-go fares have daily caps and a fixed Monday–Sunday weekly cap on contactless or Oyster. A week of heavy travel that crosses Sunday may favour a 7 Day Travelcard: compare the exact zones and days, including any Oyster purchase fee.
Airport express trains, river services and trips beyond covered areas can have separate fares or exclusions. Do not assume an airport trip is included in a central-London cap.
Fixed plans? Compare Advance tickets, often cheaper but tied to the booked train and date. Need flexibility? Compare Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak and read the restriction code. Do not assume every train after 09:30 is valid.
Check Railcard eligibility and restrictions, then compare the total including its purchase cost. Many Railcards reduce eligible fares by a third; companions, minimum fares and time restrictions differ. Carry the valid Railcard when travelling.
Compare two singles, a return and valid split tickets, including booking fees. Ordinary split-ticket journeys normally require the train to call at each split station; some season-ticket combinations have exceptions. Splitting is not always cheaper.
Compare your actual weekly travel pattern with pay as you go, Season or Flexi Season tickets. Check your operator’s calculator and route coverage. A season ticket is not automatically better for occasional office days.
Eligible National Railcards can be added to a registered Oyster for specific off-peak discounts. Check the TfL rules for your Railcard; do not assume the discount applies to bank-card contactless travel.
Compare the total for your exact itinerary, including card fees, airport fares, booking fees and refund flexibility. This guide does not calculate live fares or sell tickets.
Official guidance checked: 9 October 2026. Check current prices and disruptions before travelling.
