How to buy and use the London Oyster travel card

[@grahampinnock309]

You sound very young. I have to commend you on the accurate information you provided. The steady handheld video footage of how to use the ticket machine to buy oyster cards is fantastic. The still frame to illustrate key points is well used and not just for the sake of it. My friend is coming from Belgium. I will send him this excellent tutorial.

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thank u for the lovely comment. I was inspired to make this video when friends and people I know got totally ripped off because they didn’t know how to buy an Oyster card so I just went out with my phone camera and put this vid together. But I’m not young anymore :)

[@giorgosmpilios9206]

The video is very clear and useful, thank you very much !

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thank you. Make sure to check out this related vid on how to use the London underground/tube map. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIDQiaKnZa-AhM0

[@davidyoung5114]

I am always worried about constantly having to use a credit card when I travel, so using the Oyster Card seems to be the better alternative for me. I've seen elsewhere that you can get Oyster Cards prior to arriving at the airport. Are there any advantages to getting an Oyster Card beforehand, or is it easier (cheaper?) to get a card upon arrival?

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@davidyoung5114 only benefit I can think off is u can use the network immediately when arrived otherwise u need to go find somewhere to buy it. The Oyster card now costs £7 so quite expensive. But Oyster card have details of all your travels so if there’s something wrong or if u r overcharged because u forgot to touch in/out u can seek help from station staff who can sort it out and give u refund. If u use a credit card u will need to either sort it out with your bank or call into the Oyster card help centre. A lot more admin/bureaucratic red tape to go through.

[@canturkoz5095]

Very informative, thank you... I will travel with my family (spouse, 9 yr old, 14 yr old children) and stay 5 days. So are there any discounts or free travel for children? I saw a family option on the screen in the video...

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Here's the link on TFL regarding free travel for children. tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel Looks like children under 10 can travel for free with an accompanying adult and children under 15 can travel at a discount with a Zip oyster photo card. Detailed information is provided in the link.

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Here's information with a family travelcard: An Off-Peak Family Travelcard allows a minimum of 1 Adult and 1 Child (5-15 years old inclusive) return travel to London and enjoy unlimited travel throughout London on National Rail, London Underground, DLR, London Trams, and London Bus services within Zones 1-6. All group members must travel together at all times.

[@aboutnol]

Hey, you said the contactless card may not work if it's from a foreign bank. Is it also for the Google pay or only for the credit card? Thanks

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Hi. According to TFL Google pay and Apple pay will work. However, I have come across both scenarios. One work while another doesn't. The one that doesn't work is always the one that is linked to an overseas credit card. This happened 2 years ago so maybe it may have improved by now.

[@bobvila1010]

Very w on the well done and explained! I'LL be in London for 8 days next spring. So I intent to buy the Oyster card and load-it with 7 days travel card. For the additionnal day, can I just top on the card? Merci beaucoup from Montréal!!

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@bobvila1010 7 days travel card expensive. Just buy pay as u go Oyster card as I explained in video. Put about £50 in it and top it up as and when u need to. U can walk everywhere in central London so only need to use the oyster if u r out of central London and the daily travel cost is capped at the same as if u had a travel card so u will not pay more than the cost of a travel card therefore, it’s best to buy PAYG and just top-up when u need to. Have a good time and don’t forget to subscribe. I have more videos of walks of central London coming up.

[@bobvila1010]

@@thetraveldiary-55 Thanks for your comments! I forget to mention that I'm intend to go out after dinner for 5 nights of Blue hour photography (10 additionals Tube route). In my 8 days, I inted to have 21 routes of Tube and 6 routes of bus, in different time and locations. Based of the cost of de 7 days Travel card of 42,7GBP + one day capped at 8,50GBP, looks to me, unless the cost of the travel card is higher than 42,7GBP. PAYG is not cheaper. Right? Thanks!!

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@bobvila1010 The 42.7GBP pass is limited to travel on zones 1-2 only so if all the travels are within just zones 1-2 then yes go for that.

[@bobvila1010]

@@thetraveldiary-55 Thank you for your input, it's appreciated! Do you know what will happen if I have a 7 days pass Zone 1-2 and I used to go to Canary Wharf Zone 3? I will not be able to open the door at Canary when Tap Out, and will have load money on my Oyster Card? Thanks again.

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@bobvila1010 Canary Wharf station is in zone 2 so should be alright. Another way to get round this zone restriction is to take the bus as the bus has no zone. U only need to touch in when u get on the bus. No need to touch out. Since the pass allow u to use it on the bus so just take the bus in/out of any place which is beyond zones 1-2. Once u r back within 1-2 u can use the tube again.

[@farooqamin1028]

Very informative. Thank you very much

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Glad it was helpful. 😊

[@matlepak9694]

i heard the train services on weekends have been disrupted the last 2 years due to strikes. Is it finally over?

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@matlepak9694 No. train/tube strikes r never over. They r ongoing and happens almost every year. The unions always demand more pay and more benefits for their staff hence there is always disruption almost every year, usually during weekdays so that people can’t go to work. That’s y train/ tube fares go up every year. Fares will always go up due to this. Never down. Weekend disruptions is usually due to engineering or maintenance work, not strikes.

[@matlepak9694]

@@thetraveldiary-55 ok that's somewhat scary

[@isabelmarr8482]

Now all the credit card can use, even the one issues in another countries. I just came from London, and all my transportation i had used my Visa card from abroad.

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@isabelmarr8482 Yes. Overseas Credit card is becoming widespread and the more it’s being used the more it becomes acceptable. However, my friend from Cyprus came in May and he couldn’t use his Cyprus issued card. It works in shops, restaurants etc but not for TFL. Also, unless it is a contactless debit card many card charges a fee so might not be cheaper in the long run. Oyster card keeps a record of all your travel details so if there r problems or if u r being overcharged because u forgot to touch in/out etc station staff can check the card and issue u a refund. If u use a credit card station staff can’t check so u will need to either sort it out with your bank or call up the Oyster help centre. Much more cumbersome and red tape to go through.

[@zeenazifar7127]

Very informative, thanks

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thanks Sri ☺️

[@orphicprince]

How much would the monthly card be?

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Costs depend on which travel zone you need. Watch this on the travel zones kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWbVqJujj5ucjK8si=OJPfVjMtgR9oLFY4

[@liamgbooth]

You don't need to pay for a delivery of an Oyster card to the UK via the standard delivery service. You can pay more for express delivery. A standard delivery should be within 2 weeks. This is correct as of November 2024.

[@azti3367]

Hello! will Oyster card save me more money or it's not needed if I have apple pay?

[@thetraveldiary-55]

The cost of the journey is the same regardless of Apple pay or Oyster card. But as mentioned in the video, it will cost £7 to get an Oystercard so if Apple pay doesn't charge you anything then you would save £7.

[@azti3367]

@@thetraveldiary-55 thank you!

[@ronaldrayner5049]

Some fellow said he uses his Oyster card ,because losing his debit card would be more annoying. Last year I used the Oyster ,but ran out of funds on the card ,a transit fellow told me to use my debit card ,perfect. I didn't expect I'd be back for a 3rd visit ,but if I do get back ,as planned ,I will definitely use the Oyster up to the last trip. Last year in Munich I dropped the debit card by accident ,but was lucky to notice ,so the less it comes out of my pocket the better ,it is a hell'uva long swim back to Canukia (Canada)

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@ronaldrayner5049 Good idea. I also only use the Oyster card to travel because if there’s a problem such as if u missed touch in/out (sometimes the system malfunction or due to some other error) or if there’s problem with your journey station staff can check the card and issue u with refund. Can’t do that if u use your bank card.

[@thisis_mudchute]

'ticket machine that you will find at every station' i could probably list a decent amount of tube stations without those, as old as barking and as new as battersea power station. of course, ticket machines exist at those stations, and i think all stations (idk about select stations like roding valley) but they are different to use you don't need to touch out on bus (as mentioned) or tram (not mentioned). i wouldn't say tourists really use the tram but it's worth mentioning. touch in and out on all london underground, docklands light railway, and mainliner trains including the elizabeth line and london overground this isn't a bad video, unlike most on this topic, but i just thought id mention that

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of the stations a visitor comes into when arrive in London but u r right not all stations will have everything. Will keep this in mind if I do updates.

[@glendagallardo3398]

Very useful indeed. Thank you so much.

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@norituk9824]

Excellent video. Many thanks.

[@vishwasmokashi3380]

Good information👍

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thank u very much. Make sure to check out this related vid too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIDQiaKnZa-AhM0

[@nightking1622]

Is there any app on phone we can pay with?

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@nightking1622 Nothing I know except Apple Pay or Google Pay but both these are linked to your bank card.

[@errolmagill1611]

Excellent tutorial. 🙂

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thank you.

[@ndinzur]

thanks, that was helpful

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Thanks. Don’t forget to watch this follow up video too kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIDQiaKnZa-AhM0si=u1KN-_GNUwnQIruN

[@BigPaul3122]

If using Apple Pay or Google Pay or a credit or debit card, make sure you use a sterling one. Foreign exchange charges by the banks are ridiculous.

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@BigPaul3122 Yes. A German friend got charged €23 for a bus ride when it should be £1.75. He contacted the bank and got refunded. I advise him to just get an Oyster card anyway since he can’t be contacting the bank everyday about it.

[@carforumwanker]

MANY people are using all zones and only get a MAX charge of £1 per day.Its fully Legal and the Bank card they use only gets charged a £1 !! They are not committing fraud etc etc . TFL should easily know who they are as their multi million pound software should throw up warnings etc .Seen it with my own eyes .There is a HUGE growing black market in the sale of these bank cards .

[@mariagoddess]

Ur right., its happened to me all the time 😅 im confused because what i know is £3 or depends how far. But me everywhere i go they only charged me £1 😅

[@selmawillam7550]

Thank you. Very useful info

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Glad it was helpful!

[@otmansassioui6591]

❤

[@trendingwwwandw]

👍 new sub (❁´◡`❁) Like 297 very useful and informative video !

[@thetraveldiary-55]

@@trendingwwwandw Than you.

[@christiansfortruth5953]

Thank you for that. I will now tell them to stuff off and use my credit card 😊😊😊😊 seven poundsindeed. Rio off is right. Thank the bkoidy mayor for that can we?

[@thetraveldiary-55]

Unfortunately London is becoming very expensive :(

[@abiaiye27]

Very informative. Thanks