Buying tickets and Oyster

You can buy tickets and Oyster cards online and from places across London.

Oyster

You can get an Oyster card:

You need to pay £7 for an Oyster card.

Oyster cards aren't accepted at stations between Reading and Iver.

Refunds

  • If you got your Oyster card before 23 February 2020, you can get your £5 refunded when you don't need your card anymore
  • If you got your Oyster card between 23 February 2020 and 4 September 2022, your £5 will be refunded automatically as pay as you go credit after one year, when you make a journey with your card. You must collect your refund within six months or you won't be eligible to receive it
  • If you got your card on or after 4 September 2022, the fee is non-refundable

Buying multiple Oyster cards

If you're buying more than ten Oyster cards, call 0343 222 1234 (call charges may apply).

You'll receive an invoice for payment and once made, all cards are delivered to one address.

Topping up pay as you go credit

Top up your Oyster card:

Bus & Tram Pass

You can buy a Bus & Tram Pass season ticket:

Single and return tickets

You can buy paper tickets for single and return journeys on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services:

  • From ticket machines at Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations
  • From ticket offices at London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations

Travelcards

A Travelcard, in the zones it's valid for, gives you unlimited travel at any time on bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services in London. You can use it on all buses, and if valid in zones 3, 4, 5 or 6, on all trams. Travelcards can start on any day.

You can buy Travelcards on Oyster:

  • Online with a contactless and Oyster account, if you have a UK bank account - 7 Day, Monthly and Annual Travelcards, or one with start and end dates you choose (any length between 1½ and 10½ months)
  • Using the free TfL Oyster and contactless app - 7 Day, Monthly and Annual Travelcards, or one with start and end dates you choose (any length between 1½ and 10½ months)
  • At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards)
  • At ticket machines at Tube, London Overground, most Elizabeth line and National Rail stations (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards)
  • At Visitor Centres (All Visitor Centres sell 7 Day and Monthly Travelcards. Heathrow, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Piccadilly Circus and Victoria Visitor Centres sell longer period Travelcards)

You can buy Day Travelcards (paper ticket):

  • From ticket machines at Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations
  • From ticket offices at London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations
  • At Visitor Centres
  • At the Tramlink Shop in Croydon

Register your card

Create a contactless and Oyster account and add your card to it. If you don't and you lose your card or it gets stolen, you can't get a refund or replacement.

Tickets for visitors

You buy a Visitor Oyster card to pay as you go or a Travelcard (paper ticket) in advance, from:

  • Visitor Shop
  • VisitBritain
  • Gatwick Airport - Information Centre, Gatwick Express ticket office, terminal desks and the Southern Railways ticket office
  • Stansted Airport - Information Centre, Stansted Express ticket office and the National Express coaches ticket office
  • On board Eurostar trains to London
  • The London Pass