Travelling in London?

Question

My boyfriend and I are staying in London for four days, and as I've never stayed in London, I'm confused over tube travel - I'm reluctant to use it due to overcrowding, however, there's no other choice is there! I've heard of the oyster card, but I want to know exactly how to use it from people who have used it also. The journey's we'll take are 20 min+ so how much money do you need to add on? Also, can two people use it together?

Answer 1

Hello.

No need for long answer.

Make sure you've got always £6 on the card at the start of your day as what you spend is cap. You will never pay more than the price of a day travel card.

So, when you arrive put, £10 on it...and pay as you go.

If you bank with Barclays, they now offer Oyster Barclaycard.

http://www.londonlettingagency.com/trans...

Answer 2

Don't travel during rush hour.  Most attractions don't open until 10am anyway.  Stay to the right on stairs and escalators so people in a hurry can move by you.  Mind the gap.

Also remember that multiple trains run on some lines, so watch for the ending destination on the arriving train.

Other than that, the tube offers a great way to get around.

Answer 3

stop worrying, the tube is very easy to use ... it's only really crowded at rush hours when people are going to work or coming home and the chances are that will not be when you're travelling ... yes there are alternatives to the tubes, there's the buses, but you will find them a lot more difficult because of the one-way streets etc that make their routes difficult to understand until you know London fairly well ... I presume you've seen the tube map at

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/s...

take a map with you when you're travelling and follow the colour-coded lines

Answer 4

The tube system is actually really easy to use.  The lines are really comprehensive - they go everywhere you want to go, essentially.  And the people at the ticket counters are pretty helpful.  If you want to know which stop is closest to something they usually know.  It's not that bad.  Unless you're travelling at peak hours the tubes aren't really that badly crowded.  I never had issues.

Two people can't use an oyster card.  He'll need one of his own.  They have clock-in-clock-out time limits.  Once you tap in your card can't be tapped in for another 5 minutes.  They're easy enough to buy - all the subway stops have dispensers.

I think the max amount the tubes will take off your oyster (no matter how often or far you travel) for each day is, like, 4 pounds.  I'd put on about 15 pounds on the card and refill when (or if) needed.

Answer 5

The Oyster Card is the cheapest way of getting around London.  You can use it on the UndergrounD [Tube], the buses and some trains [overhead railway] - check trains before travel as some companies do not accept Oyster Card when it's just for Pay-as-you-Go.

All you do with your Oyster Card is load it up with a predetermined sum of money - say £20.  As you approach the Tube gate entrance, place the card in it's plastic wallet against the round YELLOW card reader.  This will open the gate.  Touch in and touch out at the other end at your destination.

Oyster Card On-Line

https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.d...

Oyster Card - what is it etc?

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronli...

TUBE MAP - Interactive TfL

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1116...

TUBE MAP - Interactive - THE BEST TUBE MAP

http://www.metazone.co.uk/interactive/un...

TRAVEL TOOL-KIT for LONDON - including fares

http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/oy...

Trafalgar Square webcam - refereshes every 5 seconds

http://www.camvista.com/england/london/t...

London 360-pans

http://www.urban75.org/photos/london/pan...

Weather Forecast UK

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/u...

Answer 6

OK - calm down to begin with - you're getting yourself worried over nothing.

Tube travel is so simple even a dog could use it.  You need to buy an Oyster card which is a credit card sized card which you keep in a little wallet which flaps open and shut.  It costs about £3 but lasts forever.  You then "charge it up" like you would a pay as you go phone with credit.  You can do this at any counter or with your credit/debit card at any of the oyster pay machines in any tube station.  Simply look for the circular yellow sign with the arrow on it - touch your oyster against it.  That's it. To charge it, touch it against the reader then follow signs on the screen.  To use it on the tube walk up to the tube barrier - touch the card on the reader - the gates will open - walk through.

Obviously everyone needs one each as it only lets one person through at a time but you can put as much or as little credit onto them as you like at a time.  As for overcrowding.  Obviously if you are travelling in rush hour towards the city it will be busy but if you are a tourist you'll be fine.  The tube  trains are very frequent and you will find the only problem is that they can be hot this time of year - bring a bottle of water with you.  When you reach your destination, tap your oyster on the reader next to the gate again and it will finish your journey - always remember to touch in and touch out to avoid paying the maximum fare on your oyster.  You can use it on any bus simply by tapping the card on the reader as you board the bus.  All journeys are 90p regardless of distance.  You can use it on trams also but not on riverboats or mainline trains.