London Visitors: Get Your Oyster Card

The Oyster Card system on London public transport facilities takes the hassle out of your planning your trips within the area of Greater London. The card is used to clock in and out of any transport facility. It will deduct the fare from your available prepaid credit at a discount as compared to the single fare. And it will keep track of your journeys always discounting you to the lowest possible total fare.

The first thing to get therefore when you arrive in London is an Oyster Card. It can be bought from almost any newsagent, many stores, and at any ticket counter. The same places offer you the possibility to upload cash, and there are machines in all types of stations that allow you to upload by cash or card by any amount you choose. Oyster sales points are clearly marked by displaying its logo.

The card will get you on any bus for a pound no matter through how many fare zones you travel. It takes you on the tube at a 30 percent discount. It allows you to use Overground and DLR (Dockland Light Railway). It takes you on rail services of any supplier and even on river services. And it even recognises your travel pattern to discount your fares if you are forced to use alternative travel means due to disruptions in the service you wanted to use.

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It takes the decision out of your hands when planning your day’s outings as it will cap your daily fares at the appropriate day ticket price. You get out of the hassle of doing everything you planned or doing it as you planned; if the weather changes or you change your plans, you won’t have bought an expensive ticket you just have to use up or at least feel you ought to use.

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As you are able to upload any odd amount, you can plan your last upload to empty the card on your last ride when leaving London. Keep your card, though, as it will be valid when you came again, or when somebody of your family comes to London. The card is not personalised, and therefore may be used by anybody you care to give it to.

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Using the card is really easy as you just have to touch the card or the your purse containing your card to the reader. Card readers can be found on buses when entering, they are available at every gate into the Underground, and they are easily accessed in railway, Overground, and DLR stations. Bus fares are a uniform one pound irrespective of the distance travelled; all other fares are deducted when clocking out of the service used. It tracks your travel schedule and applies the lowest possible fare.

You’ll get all the up to date information available by checking out the homepage of London Transport in several languages.