Visitor Oyster Card

Skip the queues and travel on London's public transport network with ease with this prepaid travel smartcard

Physical Product

Description

Versatile smartcard

Use on London public transport: Tube, bus, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line and most National Rail services.

Flexible and reusable

Choose the credit you need for your trip. Save the card for use on your next visit to London.

Use for airport transfer

Can be used on the Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express.

Save money

Save up to 50% on your travels when compared to single cash tickets.

Exclusive discounts

Discounts on the IFS Cloud cable car, Thames Clippers River Bus, River Tours on Thames River and Circular Cruise services operating from all London Piers.

Benefits

  • Cut travel costs: Save up to 50% compared to single cash tickets, with daily caps.
  • Seamless travel: Tube, bus, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and most National Rail services, plus transfers from Heathrow, Gatwick, and London City airports.
  • 24hr weekend service: Ride the all-night Tube service on Fridays and Saturdays on Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
  • Extra discounts: Get 10% savings on Thames Clippers River Bus, Thames River Tours, and Circular Cruise services from all London Piers.
  • Fast, hassle-free delivery: Order before 09:00 am GMT on a weekday for same-day dispatch. Skip the queues on arrival and order in advance!

How do I use my Visitor Oyster Card?

Simply place your Visitor Oyster card on the yellow card readers located at the station gates or near the platforms:

  • Tap at the start and end of your journey on the Tube, London Overground and National Rail services.
  • Tap when you board on buses and trams, at the start of your journey only.
What can I do if…

  • I am travelling from Gatwick or Heathrow Airport to Central London?

    • Ensure you purchase a card with at least £25 of credit added.
    • Check on the departure screens for Gatwick Express or Heathrow Express trains to London Victoria.
    • Tap your Visitor Oyster card on the yellow card readers at the turnstiles, and head to the relevant platform.
    • Board the train and travel to London Victoria, where you’ll need to tap your card again before leaving the platform.

  • We are a family travelling with children aged under 11?

    • Children under 11 travel free on buses and trams.
    • Children under 11 travel free on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and some National Rail services when accompanied by a fare-paying adult, with a maximum of four children per adult.

  • We are a family travelling with children aged 11-15?

    • Children aged 11-15 can enjoy half-price journeys with their Visitor Oyster Card.
    • Once you’ve arrived in London, ask a member of staff at a Visitor Centre to add a Young Visitor discount to your card. This can also be done at most staffed Tube stations. The child must be present when adding this discount.

  • One member of my party has reduced mobility?

    • You can find information about London Transport accessibility in our Transport Accessibility guide.
    • For the smoothest experience when travelling on TfL tube and rail services, contact both stations at the start and end of your journey to request assistance in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a selection of the most common FAQs. For further information, please click on the box on the right-hand side.

  • How much does it cost to travel with an Oyster card?

    • Visitor Oyster cards deduct credit every time you make a journey.
    • After you make several journeys in one day, you will reach the daily cap, and the rest of the journeys you make on that day will be free.
    • Different journeys cost different amounts depending on travel zone and time of travel. Daily caps also vary according to these factors.
    • Peak times are more expensive than off-peak times. Peak times are Monday to Friday, 06:30 am - 09:30 am and 04:00 pm - 07:00 pm.  All other times are off-peak. 

  • Can families or groups all use the same Oyster card?

    • No, each person must have their own Oyster Card, except under 11s who travel free with a paying adult on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and some National Rail services - up to 4 children per adult.
    • However, children under 11yo do not travel free on most National Rail services unless they have a 5-10 Oyster photocard.
    Free travel areas without oyster adult accompanying map.pdf
    31.18 KB, PDF

  • Which airports can I travel to using a Visitor Oyster card?

    You can use your Visitor Oyster card to travel to and from Heathrow Airport, London City Airport (using DLR) and Gatwick Airport.

  • What are the different Oyster card prices?

    • Visitor Oyster cards from us cost from £17 to £57.
    • This price includes a £7 card fee, and the rest is credit that is pre-loaded onto your card. So if you buy a card for £57, for example, your card will have £50 credit on it.

  • How much credit will I need?

    • For a single journey on the Heathrow Express or Gatwick Express, the recommended amount is a £25 Visitor Oyster card. 
    • A £10 Visitor Oyster card covers a full day of unlimited travel in central London within zones 1-2, as the travel price is currently capped at £8.90.
    • If you will be travelling frequently every day for 7 days or more, a £50 card is likely your best option.

  • What if I run out of credit on my Visitor Oyster card?

    If you run out of credit, you can top up your card at any station or at thousands of shops throughout London. You can also make one bus journey without any credit. The cost of the journey will be deducted when you next top up your Visitor Oyster card.

  • Can I get a refund on unused credit on a card I have used?

    There are three ways for you to obtain a refund on a Visitor Oyster card:

    • Underground station ticket machine
    • Refunds at Visitor Centres, including Heathrow Visitor Centre and Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 Tube Station (Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm)
    • Refunds by post

    Please note, you will not be able to use the card again once the credit has been refunded. For more details, consult our Help page.

  • Is the £7 activation fee refundable?

    • As per Transport for London’s terms and conditions, the £7 activation fee is a non-refundable fee required to purchase a Visitor Oyster card. 

  • Which London transport services can I access with my Visitor Oyster?

    • London Underground (the Tube)
    • London Overground
    • Most National Rail services in London
    • London buses
    • South London trams
    • Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
    • Elizabeth Line
    • IFS Cloud Cable Car
    • Gatwick Express
    • Heathrow Express
    • Thames Clippers River Bus services

All Visitor Oyster cards include a non-refundable £7 card fee

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