Oyster Card

The Oyster Card is a magnetic card you can use to travel on London transport. The Oyster card is accepted everywhere on the Tube (the London metro) on most of the train stations within zone 1 to 6 and all the buses. In order to have an Oyster Card, all you need to do is go to one of the ticket offices on the Underground, give your details (you need to declare an address in London and you need to be a resident in London, although they do not ask proof of this), and pay at least 3 Pounds, which is the deposit on the card. You will then prepay your card. Fares with an Oyster are much cheaper, in fact, I would say, fares without an Oyster are ...  Read the complete review

Ok so I'm not a Londoner... but last year I was visiting London a lot as I lived nearby and had friends there, and as the queues for day travel tickets were always so expensive and my friends advised me that Oyster was cheaper, I decided to go for it. I applied for my card online, which was a very easy and simple process. The card cost £3 (it is described as a 'refundable deposit', but it is not made clear under what circumstances the money would be refundable) and I topped it up with £20 at the same time. It is also possible to purchase it from a machine at London Underground stations, paying the £3 fee, and you can register it online later (buying it online ...  Read the complete review

An Oyster card is a must have item for anyone travelling in London, offering freedom and flexibility on the Tube, Tram, BUses, DLR and most of the London Overground. Applying for an Oyster card is fairly simple via a form in the Post Office or online. If you're under 18 and still in full time education you can get a "Zip" Oyster offering free travel on buses, and if you are a student at university over 18 you are entitled to a photocard oyster than gives you 30% off London Transport fares which is great for saving money. All other Oyster cards don't have photo IDs which is great if you want to lend it to someone. The Oyster card allows a quick touch ...  Read the complete review

The Oyster card has over the last few years become an absolute must for anyone considering to use London transport services. When the Oyster card first came out, prices for paying cash versus paying using Oyster card were virtually identical (a few pence difference), but fast forward to 2009, and prices when using an Oyster card have become up to 3 times cheaper. Think that's a good thing? Well, maybe not, but read on. Back in 2004, you could get on the bus for about 80 pence. Every year since, the cash fare has increased and has now reached no less than 2 pounds. On the tube, it went from just 1.20 pound cash fare to over 3 pounds now. On the other ...  Read the complete review

OK, so before the Oyster came out, if you needed to get a bus, you gave the driver or conductor £1. Now, if you have run out of money on your oyster, you have to give the driver £2! Yes, having one does save you money, but am I the only person that finds them a nusiance? Why is it cheaper for the bus and tube with an Oyster? Its not, it hasnt made things cheaper per se, it has just made things twice as expensive if you dont have one. Also, sceanario - you are at the bus stop and think you have £1 on your card, you dont! So instead of paying the driver £1 you need to find a shop that sells top up - half the time the machine is out of order - then have to make ...  Read the complete review