The Oyster Card has made getting around London a breeze. The Oyster requires a £5 deposit ( aproximately $8 US dollars) – which the user can theoretically get back at the end of her stay. It is the cheapest way to get around on London’s buses,the Underground (subways/tube) and DLR (Docklands Light Railway).
Do not purchase the one day family pass – £60 – for a family of four. Fares are calculated based on zones. Travel from zones 1-3 is £4.70 and from zones 1-6 is £5.70. With the Oyster who can save up to £2.80 on each journey.
I would advise only putting on £10 at a time, in case of loss or theft. Also unused amounts under £10 can be refunded at the ticket office, larger amounts will cause a delay due to processing. Some convenience stores also allow you to use your Oyster card for small purchase – which came in handy for when the kids wanted snacks.
Be sure to tap your Oyster card on the smartcard reader when you enter and exit the station.
For longer stays with children (and advanced planning) consider the Oyster photocards, which allow for kids under 18 various reduced rates.
We have a stack of tube maps in 8 point font… ugh. I would highly recommend going online for enlarged maps and to use the London trip planner .
Do you have any London travel tips? Drop me in a line in the comments section below. Cheers!
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