TRAVELCARD - LONDON TRANSPORT FARE OPTION

TRAVELCARD
You can purchase tickets that allow you to use a mix of transport services throughout all 6 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 1-6.
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. Fro 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.
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 Travel card which means the Gatwick Express and Stansted Express are also not covered.
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.
To use the card (when its not part of an Oyster card) you simply insert it into the barrier machines at the entrance to most tube stations or on a  bus simply show it to the driver. On the new bendy buses simply enter any of the 3 entrances.

Peak hours: Mondays to Fridays
Off-Peak: after 09.30 weekdays, all day Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
*note: make sure you don't buy a 1 day peak travel card when its a bank holiday. These fall on Mondays and Fridays.

Extras:

If your an adult with a Travelcard then children under the age of 11 (up to a maximum of 4) travel free during off-peak hours i.e. after 09.30 on weekdays and at anytime at weekends and public holidays. During peak hours they children under 11 pay just £1 each again up to a maximum of 4 children.

You can use Travelcards on buses no matter which zones they cover.

If you have a season ticket (that's a card for 7 or more days) you purchase an all Zones Off-Peak Day Travelcard for up to 4 children under the age of 16 for £1 each as long as they travel with 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.

7 Days+ (season tickets)

*2007 fares correct at time of publication

>>>READ OFFICIAL DETAILED TRAVELCARD INFORMATION AND PRICES

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
>>>BUY YOUR LONDON TRAVEL CARD ONLINE HERE
(if you buy online you have the option of having the card delivered to your home address or you can arrange to pick the card up when you arrive in London)