Oyster Card help!

[jtw999]

Hello, UK Disboard Members!
I really need to understand my options on the Oyster card - any advice? We leave in just a few days!!

I have heard wonderful things about London's transportation systems and I'm sure we'll figure it out quickly, but at this point I'm still a little nervous... I have looked on the Internet countless times, but still feel confused.

We are a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children; 13, 11, and 8). We are staying at a hotel between the Plimco and Victoria stations. We will be in London for 3 full days, plus a part day on either end.

We will need transportation to and from the airport. We intend on doing a lot of walking, but will need transportation to get us to a few central spots. As well, we want to catch the train to Salisbury so we can catch a bus to Stonehenge.

Questions: do we each need a card? Will it cover us for all modes of transportation? Can we buy one at Heathrow when we arrive with our chip credit card? Do we buy "pay as you go" and, if so, how much is suggested to put on?

Thank you to any one who can help me!! We are so looking forward to experiencing London before our Med cruise!!!

 

[wayneg]

Just moved across to UK community, should be more chance of a reply there

 

[B2B-2008]

Just a few bits of information that popped into my head as I read your thread.

I think under 11's are free on London transport, tubes buses in the zones, with a paying adult. Please ask at the ticket office to confirm this as I just have a one year old but I'm sure this is what my brother said in regards to my niece.

I'm sure you have to pay £2.00 for each oyster card and I'm sure every paying person needs one as you use them to get through the gates.

Instead of getting oyster cards I'm sure you can just purchase one day travel cards for the zones you require that day. Therefore you wouldn't have to pay for the oyster cards.

At the moment I use pay as you go on my oyster card as I now just do two days a week. I did used to have annual tickets on my oyster card, weekly, monthly etc. I go from Zone 5 into Zone 1 which costs me 5.50 each way, £11 a day. If I go through different ticket barriers my card is capped at £15 something a day. A daily travel card should let you use any train or bus, not the sight seeing ones, in the Zones you purchase.

Also I used Pay as you go on the bus and that was £1.30 each trip where as if I paid cash it would be £2.30 so you do save money using pay as you go but I'm still thinking a daily travel card would be the best option.

Sorry I can't answer more at the moment, I would need to look on some websites, as I have a 14 month old that needs to start his bedtime routine.

I hope you have a great time here.

 

[Dimplenose]

As an infrequent visitor to London I always buy one day travel cards as I too can't get my head around buying or using Oyster cards.

To get to Salisbury you will need to get the mainline train from London Waterloo (or you could go from Victoria and change at Clapham Junction). An oyster or travel card won't cover this. You will have to pay for half price fare for children aged 5 to 15 inclusive. An adult fare is about £32 return. It might be easier and cheaper to look into a coach trip - but that depends on what they charge for children.

Have you looked at these two sites?

Main Line Trains

Underground/tube trains

 

[Danauk]

For your situation I would recommend getting the travel cards (there are machines in the station you can buy these from or you can go to the booth to talk to a personw hen buying one if you are not sure). We have Oyster cards (yes you do need one per person, you swipe it to get through the turn style in the station) but they only cover the London system, they would not cover getting out to Stonehenge. Oyster cards are only really useful for frequent London travellers.

 

[jtw999]

Thank you for your advice! I will definitely get the travel cards instead. That seems to make much more sense

I love the wisdom found on the Disboards!