oyster card

[Hgrove]

can someone please tell me where to buy an oyster card and how to use it? Do I need one for me and one for my daughter (7 y.o.)?

[Bohne]

Been to London recently and there you could buy and recharge oyster cards everywhere they sold travel cards.

[jno]

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2006/oyster/general.asp

[morg_monster]

I assume you want to pay as you go, where you 'charge' it up using a credit or debit card or cash, at tube stations or online (slightly more complicated). Then touch it to the barriers as you enter and leave stations, it works out your fare and deducts it from the amount on the card. It also has daily price capping, the best thing about oyster, once you've done a certain number of journeys it charges you for a travelcard instead of seperate journeys if its cheaper.

With an oyster child photocard (�5), under-14s pay lower fares than standard single fares - for example oyster fares are mostly 50p compared to �1.50 for a single, so it might be good for your daughter to have one if you use the tube. (under 14s can now travel for free on buses and trams). You can get an application form at all Post Offices in greater London and some outside, after you've sent it off it takes 2 weeks to come back (see list here) https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2006/post-office.shtml

If you don't live in london you can apply online and they'll send you a form, takes 4 weeks though to be processed and you have to pick the card up in London.

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/ares-tickets/2006/non-resident-child-photocard-form.asp

For an adult oyster, you can pick one up (�3 deposit) when you get to London, from any staffed tube station (or a few other places), load it up with money and start using it straight away. Alternatively you can order one online and it'll be sent to your home.

https://sales.oystercard.com/oyster/lul/entry.do?action=display

Hope this is helpful. The TFL/oyster site can be a bit of a maze.