Railcard and Oyster card for traveling in London/England
I will be visiting London soon and when I look up the details for travelling on public transport there I would like some advice about those 'discount' available.
To travel within London, it appear to me that using the Oyster card is the best solution. But I am not a student in UK, so I think it will be impossible for me to get the student Oyster card. I notice that I can purchase a 16-25 railcard that could give me discount and could be useful if I want to go further around England, but it is rather expensive (£30).
I think I will go to London/UK a few more times this year, is it worth to get railcard for the trip? Does the discount alone in the metropolitan area worth the expensive railcard?
Also, are the blue Oyster card and Visitor Oyster card just the same except the appearance?
Best Answer
Also, are the blue Oyster card and Visitor Oyster card just the same except the appearance?
They're very similar - the fares are the same on both - but there are a few differences:
There are a bunch of discounts that you can only get if you have a Visitor Oyster. https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/experience-london/special-offers
Visitor Oyster costs £3 (plus whatever credit you put on it) but can't be refunded. Oyster costs £5 but that can be refunded by returning the card. You can get a refund for any unused credit from either type of card.
You can't register or protect a Visitor Oyster card, you can do both to a regular Oyster. If protected, you can regain credit from a lost card, and you can load money on through the TfL website. If registered as well, then you can load long-term passes (longer than one month) - not a feature that most visitors care about!
Visitor Oysters can be marked as being for child without a photo; normal Oysters can't, and you have to get a Zip Oyster (which has a photo embedded into it) for children resident in London.
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Do I need a Railcard or Oyster card?
A railcard and an Oyster card are not alternatives: they have totally different purposes. If the requirement is travel only in London for four days then an oyster is the answer, but trying to sort this in advance is more hassle than help. Do it on arrival. A rail card is not applicable.Can Railcard be used in London?
With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently \xa319.60).Does Railcard work with Oyster card?
HM Forces RailcardAdd your discount to an Oyster card. You can also buy discounted Off-Peak Day Travelcards for yourself and up to four children aged between 5 and 15, travelling with you. You can travel: At any time on weekends and public holidays.Is the Oyster card an expensive way to travel in London?
The Oyster Card is a magnetic rechargeable plastic card valid for all of London's public transport. It not only simplifies the payment system, but it is also cheaper than paying for a single journey ticket every time you ride the Underground, bus, DLR or Overground.Oyster Card vs Travelcard Price Comparison, Transport for London
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