TRAVELCARD - LONDON TRANSPORT FARE OPTION

LONDON TRAVELCARD
You can purchase tickets that allow you to use a mix of transport services throughout all 9 London fare zones.  A travelcard allows for journeys using a combination of tube, bus, national rail (inside the fare zones), DLR, tramlinks, some river services (1/3 discount on normal price) and local train services across the London travel zones 1-9.
You need to make sure you purchase the right ticket covering the zones you require since the less zones you need the less you pay. You can also pay according to the length of time you will need the card. For example you can purchase 1 day, 3 day, 7 day, monthly, quarterly or yearly travelcards (7 days or longer are called season tickets). The longer you purchase the card for, the greater the savings compared to simply paying each time you use a service. Travelcards for 7 days or more offer considerable savings on cards that have an expiry of less time. For each day covered by your Travelcard you can use the bus, tube, DLR and fare zone based national rail stations an unlimited number of times. Don't forget this only applies to journeys within the fare zones, if you are are travelling out of London and the fare zones your card will not be valid. (this does not apply to buses which will accept Travelcards no matter which zones they cover) Zone 1 covers the most central areas of London, and this is where the majority of tourist attractions are, so most people will need to make sure they are covered for zone 1 at the very least. At the other end of the zones is zone 6, where you will find Heathrow airport on the western edge of the circle. Zones 7, 8 and 9 is a relatively small area in the north west corner of Greater London.
Please note however that the Heathrow Express is not covered by the travelcard but the tube service on the Piccadilly tube line that runs through all terminals IS covered. Indeed none of the airport Express routes are covered by the Travelcard which means the Gatwick Express and Stansted Express are also not covered. (Local transfers for Heathrow Hotels are normally via the Heathrow Hoppa service).
Other concessions available include for weekend only travel, family travel and for off-peak hours travel only. To purchase a travelcard you will need a passport style photo, however a photo card is not needed when you buy your travelcard on an oyster card which in reality is most places other than at national rail stations outside of London.
To use the card (when its not part of an Oyster card) you simply insert it (its credit card sized paper ticket) into the barrier machines at the entrance to most tube stations or on a  bus simply show it to the driver. On bendy buses simply enter any of the 3 entrances.

Extras:

All children under the age of 11 travel free on the tube, DLR and overground rail service.

Children between the ages of 5-10 need an Oyster Photocard (called a ZIP) if they are not accompanied by an adult.

Your Travelcard entitles you to buy child-rate Off-Peak Day Travelcards (valid in all zones) at a reduced price of £1 for up to 4 children (ages 5-15), when they accompany you.

*note: Oyster card fares are capped 50 pence below the 1 day Travelcard rate. So consider if the difference is worth it to you. With an Oyster card you pay a £3 deposit and can only get it back by giving the card back which may be inconvenient as you also have to fill in a form with your name and address. This of course will also apply to any money left on the card.

DO I NEED A PHOTOCARD?
You do not need a photocard to buy or use any adult-rate Travelcard.
You do need a photocard to buy or use:
* Monthly or longer period Travelcards that include validity to a National Rail station beyond zones 1-6 (not needed from Moor Park to Watford/Chesham/Amersham inclusive)
* 7 Day, monthly or longer period National Rail only season tickets
* Point to point season tickets on London Overground

Travelcards are valid for travel on:

The Tube, DLR, London Overground and buses

Trams, where your Travelcard includes Zone 3, 4, 5 or 6

National Rail (excluding Heathrow Connect between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow, and on Heathrow Express)

Scheduled Riverboat services at 1/3 off the normal fare. Just show your Travelcard (or Oyster card with a Travelcard on it) at the time of travel

Explanation of journey times Each Travelcard covers
A TRAVELCARD DAY STARTS 04.30 TILL 04.30 AND ENDS AT 04.30 THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
Anytime Day Travelcards: As the name implies it covers travel at anytime of the day on any day of the week that your card is valid for till 04.30 the following day.
Off-Peak Travelcard: after 09.30 weekdays, all day Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Valid  till 04.30 the following day.
*note: make sure you don't buy a 1 day anytime travelcard when its a bank holiday. These fall on either a Monday or a Friday.

*Tip: remember that when your card says it expires on a certain day, it will still be valid till 04.30 the following day.

Your Travelcard must be valid for all the zones you travel through.

 



Bus and Trams only

*2009 fares correct at time of publication

WHERE TO BUY?
Newsagents
Retail outlets displaying the travelcard sign
Tube station ticket offices
Self service ticket machines at Tube stations
Oyster Ticket Stops
Ticket Stops
National Rail station ticket offices
London Travel Information Centres
Tube stations