As experts in London travel, this complete guide to Oyster cards provides clear advice for first-time visitors and long-term residents alike. It covers everything travellers need to know about Oyster cards and Visitor Oyster cards, including how to buy, set up and manage a card.
While contactless bank cards and mobile payments have become increasingly popular, Oyster cards remain fully supported by Transport for London (TfL) and continue to be a reliable way to get around London.
This guide explains the best ways to use Oyster cards across London’s buses, Tube, rail services and other transport options, and provides essential guidance for international visitors, Londoners, children, students and groups. Drawing on expert knowledge of London’s public transport network, it helps travellers move efficiently, avoid unnecessary costs and make the most of their time in the city.
The complete guide to Oyster cards
What is an Oyster card?
Oyster cards are electronic smartcards that are used to pay for public transport in London. They're the cheapest way to travel around London and can be used on the Tube, Elizabeth line, buses, trams, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Cable Car, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river bus services, London Overground and most National Rail services in London.
Oyster cards can be topped up at stations, online or in more than 4,000 Oyster Ticket Stops – shops and newsagents authorised to sell and reload Oyster cards. To use an Oyster card, simply tap the card on the yellow card reader at the gates when you enter and exit a Tube station or as you board a London bus or tram. You don't need to touch out at the end of your journey on buses and trams.
What is a Visitor Oyster card?
Visitor Oyster cards are electronic smartcards that are pre-loaded with pay-as-you-go credit but only available to buy online before you arrive in London. They can be ideal if you’d like to use them as soon as you arrive in London, rather than queue up at a station to buy and top up an Oyster card.
When ordering online, international payments are accepted, meaning you can use your own currency, which will be converted into British pounds by your card provider.
Oyster vs other ways to pay for travel in London
As well as an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card, you can use a contactless payment card or mobile device to pay as you go for public transport in London. Simply touch your contactless card or device on the yellow card reader when you start and end your journey on the Tube, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services. You don't need to touch out at the end of your journey on buses and trams.
It is important to touch in and out correctly, or you could be charged a higher fare. Remember to only touch one card on the reader. If your contactless payment card has been issued outside the UK, check with your bank to see whether international transaction fees apply.
Buying and setting up your card
How to buy an Oyster card
You can buy (and top up) an Oyster card online if you live in the UK, or a Visitor Oyster card (with pre-loaded credit) if you’re visiting London as a tourist.
Alternatively, you can purchase an Oyster card in London in a variety of places, including airports, major train stations, TfL Visitor Centres, Oyster Ticket Stops, Tube stations and more.
A card costs £10.50 (non-refundable) and needs to be topped up to use on public transport. You don’t need to provide any personal information or a picture, as Oyster cards are not personalised. This means you can lend the card to friends or family when you are not using it – however, please note two people cannot use the same Oyster card on the same journey.
Standard Oyster card vs Visitor Oyster card
Both the standard Oyster card and the Visitor Oyster card work in the same way – you load credit onto the card and tap in and out on London's transport network. Both cards offer the same fares, the same daily spending caps and can be topped up throughout London. The key differences are in how and where you can get them.
| Standard Oyster card | Visitor Oyster card | |
| Who it's for | Anyone travelling in London, including residents and visitors. Ideal for those arriving without a card or making a last-minute decision. | Visitors who plan ahead and want to arrive in London ready to travel, with an exclusive offers booklet included. |
| Where to buy | Any London Underground ticket machine, TfL Visitor Centre or Oyster Ticket Stop (local shops across London). | Online; must be ordered in advance and delivered to your home before your trip. |
| Card price | £10.50 (non-refundable) | £10.50 (non-refundable) |
| Can you buy at airports? | Yes. Oyster cards are available at ticket machines in all Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and London City Airport Tube and rail stations. | No. Visitor Oyster cards must be ordered online before travel. They're not available to buy at any airport on arrival. |
| Special discounts |
No visitor discounts. Standard fares and daily caps apply. Young Visitor Discount can be added for children aged 11-15. | Comes with an exclusive offers booklet providing discounts on London attractions, restaurants, bars and experiences. |
| Fares and daily caps | Same as the Visitor Oyster card. There are significant savings over paper tickets, with an automatic daily spending cap. | Same as the standard Oyster card. There are significant savings over paper tickets, with an automatic daily spending cap. |
When should I purchase my Oyster card?
You can purchase your Oyster card anytime. If you’re visiting from outside London and want it delivered to your home, ready to use when you arrive in London, a Visitor Oyster card is the best option as you won’t need to wait in any queues and you can order it online in advance. If you’ve planned a last-minute trip to London, picking up an Oyster card once you're there is quick and easy.
Managing your balance
How to upload credit to your Oyster Card
You can manage the balance of your Oyster card on the TfL website or the TfL Go app, as well as at any Tube station ticket machine, TfL Visitor Centre or Oyster Ticket Stop. Registering your Oyster card online makes it easy to schedule automatic top-ups, check your journey history and protect your balance if the card is lost or stolen.
Visitor Oyster cards cannot be registered online, so you can only check your balance and upload credit on ticket machines at stations.
How much credit should I upload and what happens if it runs out?
The amount of credit you need depends on how long you are visiting and how much you plan to travel. Most visitors staying in central London (Zones 1-2) will find that the daily spending cap of £8.90 provides a useful guideline – that is the maximum you will be charged for all Tube and rail travel in a single day, no matter how many journeys you make. A single Underground journey within Zone 1 costs £3.10 at peak times or £3 off-peak. A bus journey costs £1.75 at any time of day.
If you’re travelling in London for two days, TfL recommends starting with £15 credit, and for four days, £30 credit. If your credit runs low, most Oyster card readers will still allow you to complete one bus journey even if your balance is at zero, with the fare deducted when you next top up. Note that the maximum your Oyster card can hold is £90.
Using your Oyster Card in London
How do I use my Oyster card?
Using your Oyster card in London couldn’t be easier. Simply top up with credit and touch it on the yellow card readers you’ll find throughout the network.
On the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and most National Rail services within London, you must tap in when you enter a station and tap out when you leave. This ensures you are charged the correct fare for the exact zones you have travelled through. On buses and trams, you only need to tap in when you board – there is no need to tap out when you alight.
Failing to tap in or out correctly can result in a maximum fare being charged to your card, so it is always worth double-checking that the reader beeps and flashes green.
Travelling zones and services covered
London's public transport network is divided up into nine travel zones. Zone 1 covers central London and zones 6 to 9 are on the outskirts of the city. Most visitors will spend the majority of their time within Zones 1 and 2. You can download a Tube map that shows stations in each zone with these free London travel maps.
Your Oyster card is accepted across a wide range of services, including on the London Underground (Tube), buses, trams, the DLR, London Overground, the Elizabeth line and most National Rail services operating within Zones 1 to 9. It can also be used on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river bus services, where it gives you a saving of up to 10% compared to paying at the pier, and on the London Cable Car between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.
Please note that river bus journeys are not included in the daily spending cap that applies to Tube and rail travel, so they are charged separately. The Oyster card is not valid on the Heathrow Express or Southeastern high-speed services.
Peak and off-peak travel
Oyster cards can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including on the Night Tube. However, the cost of your journey will vary depending on the type of transport you use, the zones you travel through, the day you travel and the time you travel.
Peak fares apply Monday to Friday from 6.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm. At all other times, including on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, cheaper off-peak fares apply. For example, a single off-peak journey on the Tube in Zone 1 to Zone 2 costs £3.10 but increases to £3.60 during peak hours. The one key exception is travel to Heathrow Airport, which is always charged at peak rates regardless of the time of day.
On buses and trams, the fare of £1.75 is the same at all times. If you make three or more Tube journeys in a single day, the automatic daily spending cap will kick in, meaning you will not pay more than the set daily maximum of £8.90.
Visit the TfL website for more information on fares.
Children, students and senior travel
Oyster cards for children and students
Children travelling with a fare-paying adult do not always need their own Oyster card. Children under five travel free on all TfL services. Children aged five to 10 also travel free on the Tube, DLR and Overground when accompanied by a fare-paying adult or with a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard.
For children aged 11 to 15, each child needs their own payment method. UK residents in this age group can apply for an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard, which provides free travel on buses and trams, and child-rate fares on the Tube and rail services. Visiting families who will only be in London for up to 14 days can ask a member of TfL staff at any Tube station or TfL Visitor Centre to add the Young Visitor discount to a standard Oyster card – this gives 50% off adult fares for the duration.
For 16 and 17-year-olds, discounted rates are available with a 16+ Oyster photocard. Students aged 18 and over who are residents in London during term time can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard, which offers discounted travel. There are no student discounts available to visitors studying outside London.
| Age/group | Oyster card type | Travel discounts |
| Under 5 | No card needed. | Free travel with a fare-paying adult on all London transport at all times. |
| 5-10 | No card needed when travelling with an adult; 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard required if travelling unaccompanied. | Free travel with a fare-paying adult on the Tube, DLR and Overground (up to four children per adult). Must use a Zip Oyster photocard if unaccompanied. |
| 11-15 | 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard (UK/London residents; apply online). Visiting families can ask TfL staff to add the free Young Visitor discount to a standard Oyster card. | Free travel on buses and trams. Half-price (child-rate) fares on the Tube, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line. Each child needs their own card. |
| 16-17 | 16-17 Zip Oyster photocard (London residents only; apply online). | Free travel on buses and trams. Discounted fares on Tube and rail. London residents only – visiting teenagers pay standard adult fares. |
| Students (18+) | 18+ Student Oyster photocard (full-time students studying in London; apply online). | Up to 30% discount on Travelcard and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. Available to London-based students only – no discount for visiting students. |
60+ and senior travel
London residents aged 60 and over who are not yet of state pension age can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, which provides free travel on most TfL services within Greater London. The card is available for a £35 application fee, with an annual address eligibility check costing £18 per year to keep the card valid. Free travel on the Tube and rail services is restricted to after 9am on weekday mornings; at weekends and on public holidays, the card can be used at any time.
Once a cardholder reaches state pension age, the 60+ Oyster card is automatically replaced by an Older Person’s Freedom Pass, which carries similar benefits. Please note that the 60+ Oyster photocard and the Freedom Pass are both available to London residents only and cannot be applied for by visitors to the city.
Travelling in groups
Each person travelling needs their own Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card. This applies to all members of your party aged 11 and over. Children under 11 travelling with an adult do not need their own card if accompanied by a fare-paying adult, with up to four children per adult permitted.
If you are coming to London in a group of 10 or more people who plan to travel around the capital together, you can buy a Group Day Travelcard.
Refunds
Can I get a refund if I don't use all of my credit?
Yes. Any unused, pay-as-you-go credit on a standard Oyster card can be refunded when you no longer need the card. If your remaining credit is £10 or less, you can claim a refund in person. Alternatively, apply for a refund on the TfL website.
How do I claim for my Visitor Oyster card credit?
There are several ways to claim a refund of unused credit from your Visitor Oyster card:
Online
You can request a refund through the TfL website. This is the most convenient option if you have already left London. You will need to provide your card details and a bank account or payment card to receive the refund.
At a ticket machine
Refunds of up to £10 can be processed instantly at ticket machines at Tube stations. TfL Visitor Centres can also pay out a refund in cash or to your debit/credit card.
By telephone
Call 0343 222 1234 with your Visitor Oyster card number, address and bank details to hand. If you apply for a refund over the phone, you may be asked to post your Visitor Oyster card to TfL.
By post
Send your Visitor Oyster card and contact details (name, address, email address and phone number) to TfL customer services (9th Floor, 5 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN) to request a refund, which will be sent to you by cheque. Your Visitor Oyster card will not be returned to you.
Quick tips for visitors
- Always tap in and out at Tube, DLR, Overground and rail stations – on buses and trams, only tap in when you board.
- Take advantage of the daily spending cap – once you hit the daily maximum, all further journeys on the Tube and rail that day are free.
- Buses are the same flat fare of £1.75 no matter how far you travel, and the Hopper fare allows unlimited bus journeys within one hour of tapping onto your first bus.
- Your Oyster credit never expires, so if you plan to return to London, hold onto your card rather than claiming a refund.
- You can check your remaining balance at any Tube station ticket machine.
- If travelling with children aged 11 to 15, ask TfL staff to add the free Young Visitor discount to their Oyster card for half-price travel for up to 14 days.
- Avoid card clash – if you carry your Oyster card in a wallet with contactless bank cards, hold just the Oyster card against the reader to prevent accidental charges to the wrong card.
