Daily Off-Peak Travel Card for London Zones 1 and 2

[felly]

I have a hotel booking for two in London in August which includes two daily off-peak travel cards for Zones 1 and 2 for each day we are there. I have looked on the Internet for information about these cards but can't find any as they seem to concentrate on Oyster Cards which I have had experience of. Is the travel card used in the same way as an Oyster Card ie do you swipe it on the underground and buses? Are there any other differences? The only information I can find talks about adding it to your Oyster Card and I don't understand what this means. We already have Oyster Cards but won't get the travel cards until we check into the hotel. I would be grateful for any help with this.

[jno]

I think you just push it in the slot on the tube gate and take it back when it pops up, and the gate opens. On the bus, show it to the driver. Apologies if I'm out of date on this.

[felly]

Thanks jno - I was hoping it would be that easy - don't want to be queuing up. Also wondered if you know whether there is a certain amount of money on it and whether this shows up as you go through the barrier?

[jno]

no, they're good for any number of trips in all off-peak hours, which I think is after 9.30am but might be any time at weekends, anywhere in zones 1 and 2. If you're going at a weekend, make sure you check the tube timetables as most lines seem to be running limited or no services at weekends these days.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk...ime/tube/default.html

I'd really like it if someone else confirmed this, though - I went over to Oyster and haven't acutally used a travelcard for years.

[stoofur]

The day travel cards give you unlimited travel for that day. There is no value on the cards. They will only work for those two days. And yes jno is right you go upto the gate and there is a slot on the front on the right hand side. Put the card in and it will pop out of the top. The gate will open and you walk through. If you do have an issue there is usually a member of staff at the gates who should be able to help.

Have fun.

[felly]

Thanks again jno - we're going Tuesday to Friday so hopefully underground will be running OK. I think you are right about the information you've given me - the implicaton on one of the sites I looked at on the Internet was that you could make as many journeys as you wanted after 9.30 but it wasn't very clear.

[felly]

Thanks stoofur - think that covers everything now.

[dzug2]

An extra bit of info - the cards are valid on buses in all zones, not just 1 and 2. So if you need to go a bit further out, just take the bus

[jno]

well, I wouldn't go beyond zone 2, they still wear woad out there.

[felly]

Thanks dzug2 that's handy to know but in view of jno's comment might be a bit nervous of venturing that far :)

[jno]

you'll be all right as long as you hire an armed guard...

Seriously, most of what you'd want to see in London, if you haven't been before, is in zones 1 and 2. But Wembley stadium, for instance, isn't, so you'd need to take a bus there. Ditto Hampton Court. Greenwich is ok, though, just on the edge of zone 2 (and well worth a visit, though the Cutty Sark is still being repaired).

[felly]

I have been to London before several times but this time I am taking my grand-daughter of 18 for the second time and am trying to think of things she might be interested in. I took her in February and because I hadn't planned anything wasted a lot of time discussing what we were going to do next. She won't say what she wants to do as she is worried it might be something I won't like and I hesitate to suggest something in case she falls in with it even though it's not something she would choose. In February we went to the Tate Modern because she is studying Art and that was good. We went to see We Will Rock You which we both loved and also Grease which she had seen before and wanted to see again. Other than that we seemed to be wandering around aimlessly. Any ideas for this trip?

[jno]

yes, in a limited time it does make sense to plan. London's great for art - National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, the Royal Academy and the Courtauld are all good - the Courtauld isn't as well known as it should be so she might find that interesting.

Lots of shows, of course, though these days they mostly seem to be musicals

http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/

You can book ahead or get unsold half-price tickets on the day at the TKTS booth in Leicester Sq, though that can be a lucky dip.

There are plenty of other things - Vinopolis wine museum; the London Dungeon, a ride on the London Eye. Buckingham Palace maybe?
http://www.royalcolle...?action=article&ID=30

[felly]

Thanks jno - I read this and then forgot to reply. Will definitely visit the booth where you can get cheap tickets - did this last time and got tickets for Grease paying about half the price I paid for We Will Rock You which I bought in advance. I actually didn't go to the official booth but still got a bargain I think. Was wondering about Buckingham Palace - I would definitely be interested but am not sure about my grand-daughter. I think she'd like the London Dungeon. Have you been to either? Thanks for the info on Art Galleries.