For the first time, overseas visitors to London can obtain the electronic smartcards that provide Londoners with the cheapest way of getting around.
The Oyster card can be charged with money to pay for Underground, bus, DLR (Docklands Light Railway) and tram journeys without queuing for tickets.
Visitors can buy multiples of £10 and £20 up to a maximum of £90 (a £3 deposit for the card applies), and while they are in London they can ‘top up’ their card at various outlets including Underground stations, or by phone. The card, if used for multiple journeys on the same day, will always calculate
the cheapest fare for that day. Initially the cards will go on sale in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Portugal and the USA, followed by the rest of VisitBritain’s online shops by March 2007. The websites offer a range of great value products for attractions and travel in the UK.
From today, November 19, anyone traveling on London's public transport system must use the smart technology of their Oyster card at the start and end of every journey. By doing this, the Oyster card will calculate the
cheapest available fare that day for the journey made. If you forget to use your card at the start of the journey (by touching the card on the card reader), then when you use your card to exit, you will be charged the maximum fare.
Oyster cards are available to purchase before you leave home on VisitBritain’s on-line shop:
www.visitbritaindirect.com.
For more information about
Oyster cards and London transport generally, visit the Transport for London website:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/
Read about Walking Dickensian London by clicking here.
See how to get your free London events guide when booking your London hotel by clicking here.
