TfL travel

[tiptoptaff]

Hello,

As alluded to in my Wembley post, myself and Mrs TTT will be staying in London for a few days in June and will be making journeys on the Tube. It will mostly be in Zone 1, if not all, and will be a few trips over a few days.

I had thought to use Contactless PAYG for us both, but would there be any benefits to instead buying a travelcard?

Thanks

TTT

 

[CheapAndNerdy]

A Travelcard is useful if you intend to make long, circuitous journeys where you don't encounter a gateline for an extended period of time. With PAYG there is an upper limit to the time allowed for an individual journey (dependent on which zones are involved), with penalties if it is exceeded. For normal journeys, this isn't an issue.

With a Travelcard you don't have to remember to tap in/out at stations where the barriers are open or non-existent.

 

[transmanche]

With PAYG there is an upper limit to the time allowed for an individual journey (dependent on which zones are involved), with penalties if it is exceeded.

Although this maximum time is quite generous: e.g. for a Zone 1-only journey 90 mins is allowed Mon-Fri daytimes, 110 mins on a Sunday or Bank holiday and 100 mins at other times.

 

[higthomas]

For normal travel, there isn't really any benefit with a travelcard.
With contactless there is a zone 1-2 cap, whereas with a travelcard one has to buy a zone 1-6 one. Also if you don't reach a cap you pay less.
So I'd use contactless, unless you have a railcard, in which case you might want to consider an oyster card.

 

[Joe Paxton]

One thing a Travelcard does get you, though only when bought from a National Rail station (and so printed on standard orange-bordered ticket stock), is access to the extensive '2FOR1' admission offers at attractions in London. These offers are not available to Travelcards issued by LU, DLR, Tramlink, 'Visitor Travelcards' (from TfL's Visitor Shop), or Oyster card holders. London Overground and TfL Rail issued tickets are fine.

Of course you don't need a Travelcard to access these offers, rail tickets to London or the station nearest the attraction will do - full details here. My reading of it is that a multiple day stay in London - when travelling to and back from London by train on Advance tickets - also qualifies. (There's another interesting entry on the list of qualifying tickets as well.)

 

[[.n]]

(There's another interesting entry on the list of qualifying tickets as well.)

Is it the various TOC smart cards?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Thanks - a we'll be mostly within central London, we shall stick to Contactless PAYG. No benefit for me getting an Oyster, I'm too new to get a Priv one!!