London has a well integrated transport network of buses, trams, underground trains and overground trains which are accessed via the tap-in - Tap-out Oyster card system. If you do not have an Oyster card you can use a bank credit or debit card, the same rules apply to the contactless payment system for bank cards.
The Oyster card is a smartcard-based system for paying for public transport in London, allowing you to travel on buses, the Tube, DLR, Overground, trams, Elizabeth line, and most National Rail services. You can use it as a "pay as you go" card by adding credit or as a season ticket for a set period. The system uses fare capping to ensure you pay the lowest possible fare for your daily travel.
Tap your card on the yellow card reader when you start your journey and tap out at the end to be charged the correct fare. On buses and trams, you only need to touch in.
The system automatically calculates the cheapest fare for your journey and sets a daily cap, meaning you won't pay more than a certain amount in a day, no matter how many journeys you make within the zones you travel.
You can add credit to the card at stations, online, at local newsagents, or through the TfL Go app.
An Oyster card can also hold a Travelcard season ticket or a Bus & Tram Pass, which you cannot lend to someone else.
You can also use a contactless bank card or phone to pay in the same way, which often offers the same benefits as an Oyster card.
Available for a £5 deposit from ticket machines at London Underground, Overground, and DLR stations.
A pre-loaded pay-as-you-go card available only to buy before you arrive in London from sources like the TfL Visitor Shop or VisitBritain Shop.
Registering a standard Oyster card allows you to cancel it and get a replacement card and any remaining credit if it's lost or stolen.
A single Oyster card cannot be used by more than one person for the same journey. Some services, like the Elizabeth line between Reading and Iver, do not accept Oyster cards. Children under 11 travel for free, and children aged 11-15 can get a young visitor discount on an Oyster card.