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Tickets & Payment
London is largely cashless. You rarely need a paper ticket. Here is how to pay and which fare to choose.
🅰️ Step 1: Choose How to Pay
1. Contactless (Bank Card)
The easiest option. Use your own Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
- ✅ No Fee: No £7 card fee.
- ✅ Capping: Caps automatically (Mon-Sun).
2. Standard Oyster
The physical card. Buy at station machines.
- ❌ Cost: £7 fee (Non-refundable).
- ✅ Good For: Loading 7-Day Travelcards.
3. Visitor Oyster
The souvenir card. Order online before you fly.
- ❌ Cost: £5 fee + Shipping.
- ✅ Perk: Cool design & shop discounts.
🅱️ Step 2: Daily vs Weekly (Fares)
Pay As You Go (Daily Cap)
Just tap your card all day. The system automatically stops charging you once you hit the limit.
(Zones 1-2, covering all main sights)
7-Day Travelcard
A digital weekly ticket. You must load this onto a standard Oyster card.
(Saves money if you stay 6 or 7 days)
Paper Day Ticket
The old-school paper ticket from machines.
(Almost double the price of using a card!)
📍 How to Tap
- Trains/Tube: Tap IN at start, tap OUT at end.
- Buses/Trams: Tap IN only. Never tap out.
⚠️ Avoid Card Clash
Keep your cards separate. If you tap your whole wallet, the reader might charge the wrong card (or two cards at once).
Transport Explorer
From the historic Tube to the high-speed Elizabeth Line. Tap a card to learn more.
London Underground (Tube)
The fastest way to navigate central London. 11 lines serving 272 stations.
Elizabeth Line
The new high-speed line. Huge trains, air-conditioned, and very fast.
London Buses
Scenic and cheap. The famous red double-deckers cover the whole city.
DLR (Driverless)
Automated trains serving East London, Canary Wharf, and Greenwich.
Uber Boat (Thames)
Commuter catamarans. Faster than a tour boat, great for sightseeing.
💰 2026 Fare Cheat Sheet (Zones 1-2)
| Transport Mode | Single Fare (Contactless) | Daily Cap (Max you pay) |
|---|---|---|
| Tube / Elizabeth / DLR | £2.80 (Off-peak) / £3.40 (Peak) | £8.50 |
| Bus & Tram | £1.75 | £5.25 |
| Uber Boat | ~£8.00 – £10.00 | Not included in Cap |
*Peak Hours: Mon-Fri 06:30-09:30 & 16:00-19:00. Fares are estimates based on 2025/26 TfL data.
Watch the 5-Minute London Guide
Travel Zones & Fares
London is divided into concentric zones. Most tourist sights are in Zones 1 and 2.
Zone 1 is the center. Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6.
Understanding the Zones
Westminster, Soho, Tower of London, The British Museum.
Camden Town, Greenwich, Notting Hill, Shepherd’s Bush.
Heathrow Airport, Hampton Court Palace.
Fare Structure & Caps (2025/26)
Prices confirmed for March 2025 onwards.
🛡️ Price Caps (Zone 1-2)
The maximum you pay, no matter how many trips you make.
- Daily Cap: £8.90
- Weekly Cap (Mon-Sun): £44.70
- Bus Daily Cap: £5.25
🎫 Single Trip (Peak / Off-Peak)
Cost per journey if you don’t hit the cap.
- Zone 1: £2.90 / £2.80
- Zone 1-2: £3.50 / £2.90
- Heathrow (Zone 1-6): £5.80 / £3.80
⏰ Peak Hours (Mon-Fri)
Avoid these times to pay “Off-Peak” prices.
- ☀️ 06:30 – 09:30
- 🌙 16:00 – 19:00
- (Weekends & Bank Holidays are always Off-Peak)
Essential Transport Tips
Master the network with these local hacks.
Payment Hacks
- ✅ Tap IN & OUT: Tube, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth Line.
- ✅ Tap IN ONLY: Buses & Trams. (Flat fare £1.75).
- 🚫 No Cash: Drivers do not accept cash.
- 💡 Contactless: Always cheaper than paper tickets.
Save Time
- 🚇 Rush Hour: Avoid 06:30–09:30 & 16:00–19:00.
- 📱 Use Citymapper: Essential for live bus times. (Official Site)
Local Etiquette
- ⬆️ Escalators: Stand on the RIGHT, walk on the LEFT.
- 🚪 The Tube: Let passengers off before you board.
- 🎒 Backpacks: Take them off in crowded carriages.
💡 2026 Bonus Tips
🚲 Santander Cycles:
Use the app to get a code on your phone—no need to queue at the street kiosk terminal.
Get the Official App »🚕 Taxis & Transfers:
Black Cabs use bus lanes (faster). For airports, pre-book to save money.
Check Airport Transfer Prices »👶 Kids Travel Free:
Under 11s travel free on Buses & Tube when with a paying adult.
See Kids’ Rules »✈️ Airport to Central London
The fastest and cheapest routes for 2026.
Heathrow (LHR)
- 🚅 Elizabeth Line: 30 min to Soho. ~£13.90. (Best Value)
- 🚆 Express: 15 min to Paddington. ~£26 (or £10 if booked 30+ days ahead).
- 🚇 Tube: 50 min (Piccadilly Line). ~£5.80.
Gatwick (LGW)
- 🚆 Thameslink: 40 min to St Pancras/London Bridge. ~£12.30. (Cheapest)
- 🚆 Gatwick Express: 30 min to Victoria. ~£19.90.
Stansted (STN)
- 🚆 Stansted Express: 50 min to Liverpool St. ~£20.70.
- 🚌 National Express: 75 min to Victoria. From £11.
Luton (LTN)
- 🚆 Luton Express (DART): 35 min to St Pancras. ~£14.90.
- 🚌 Bus: 90 min. From £6.
London City (LCY)
- 🚈 DLR: 22 min to Bank. ~£3.70 (Peak) / £3.00 (Off-peak).
- 🚕 Taxi: 30 min to Central London. ~£30–£40.
🚖 Taxi vs. Uber: What you need to know
✅ Faster: Allowed to use Bus Lanes to skip traffic.
❌ Cost: Expensive & metered (£60–£100+). No fixed price.
✅ Price: Cheaper off-peak & fixed price in app.
❌ Pickup: Cannot pick up curbside. You must walk to a specific car park (Level 4/5).
For the same price as a cab, get a driver who waits for you in Arrivals with a sign. No hidden fees or meter anxiety.
Book Transfer with Welcome Pickups »🧳 Luggage Storage: Save Money
Warning: The official station storage (Excess Baggage Co) is expensive (~£15/item).
It is 50% cheaper to use trusted apps that store bags in local shops (~£5/day).
🎟️ Book in Advance
Heathrow/Gatwick Express tickets are up to 50% cheaper if booked online 30+ days ahead.
Sightseeing Passes & Tickets
Should you buy a “London Pass” or individual tickets? Compare the options below.
Top Individual Tickets
Quick Verdict: Is a Pass Worth It?
You plan to visit 3 major attractions (e.g. Tower, Eye, Westminster) in one day. The individual tickets would cost ~£100, so a £85 pass saves money.
You mainly want to visit free museums (British Museum, Tate Modern, Natural History) and just walk around parks. In that case, buy single tickets for the one or two paid things you do.
Alternative Transport
See the city from a different perspective on two wheels or the river.
Top 6 Scenic Routes
Discover London’s beautiful sights from the front row of public transport.
Bus Route 24: The Sightseer
The cheapest tour in London. Passes Westminster Abbey, Downing St, Trafalgar Square, and Camden.
Tramlink: Green Escape
Experience the green suburbs and woodlands of South London. A totally different vibe from the city.
Thames Clipper: River Views
Speed under Tower Bridge and past The Shard. Far cheaper than a tourist cruise.
Jubilee Line: Architecture
Famous for its futuristic, cathedral-like stations (Canary Wharf, Westminster). A design lover’s dream.
DLR: The Rollercoaster
Driverless trains that weave through skyscrapers. It feels like a sci-fi movie set.
Day Trip: Royal Windsor
Take the Elizabeth Line (or train from Waterloo) to see Windsor Castle, the King’s residence.
Common Questions
Answers to the most frequent queries from travelers in 2026.
💳 Contactless vs. Oyster?
They cost exactly the same.
Use your own bank card (or Apple/Google Pay) to avoid the £7 Oyster fee.
Get Oyster only if: You have kids aged 11-15 (for the discount) or want a souvenir.
🌙 Does the Tube run 24/7?
Only on weekends.
The “Night Tube” runs all night on Fridays and Saturdays on major lines (Victoria, Jubilee, Central, etc).
On weeknights, trains stop around 00:30 AM.
👶 Do kids pay?
Under 11s: Travel FREE on Tube & Buses with a paying adult.
Aged 11-15: Pay half price. You must buy an Oyster card and ask staff to apply the “Young Visitor Discount”.
📱 Which App is Best?
Citymapper is king in London.
It gives better data on bus delays, best carriage to sit in, and “rain safe” routes. Google Maps is fine for walking, but Citymapper wins for public transport.
👮 Is the Tube Safe?
Yes, very safe.
Stations are staffed and have CCTV. However, pickpockets operate in central stations (like Oxford Circus) and crowded trains. Keep bags zipped and phones hidden.
🛂 Do I need a Visa/ETA?
New for 2026: Almost all visitors (including US, EU, AU citizens) now need an ETA (~£10) to enter the UK.
Apply online before you travel to avoid being denied boarding.
Accessible London
London is one of the world’s most accessible cities. Here is how to navigate it safely.
Tube & Rail
- Step-Free Access: Over 200 stations (including all Elizabeth Line) have lifts/ramps.
- Turn-up-and-go: Staff can deploy ramps without pre-booking on TfL network.
- Audio/Visual: Tactile paving and clear audio announcements on platforms.
Buses & Taxis
- Wheelchair Ramps: 100% of London buses are wheelchair accessible (power ramp at middle door).
- Black Cabs: All licensed Black Cabs have wheelchair ramps by law.
Need Help?
Tap below for immediate assistance.
💡 Essential Resources
- Step-free Routing: Download TfL Go App »
- Find Facilities: Public Toilet Map »
- Full Guide: TfL Access Guide »
- National Rail: Accessible Travel Info »
🟢 Last Verified: January 2026 – Transport details may change. Check official sources for the latest updates.
Transparency: This guide contains sponsored links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.