The transport system in London may be one of the most effective in the world, but it’s still a little confusing for a first-timer visiting the city. If you don’t know the ins and outs of the best ways to pay for public transport in London, then you’ll probably end up spending a lot more than you need to. There are three main ways you can pay for transport in the city: Oyster card, debit or credit card and Apple or Google Pay; in this article, we will break each one down for you.
It’s also worth noting that everyone needs to have their own payment method, otherwise, you might get charged more than you should.
Contactless Payment
The contactless payment method is for people with a credit or debit card with a contactless form of payment. If you’re unsure if your card has it, check for the “contactless” icon on the front of the card (shown above) or ask your bank or card provider.
If you do have it, this is certainly the easiest and most convenient way to pay for public transport in London. All you need to do is tap your debit or credit card on the yellow card reader at the ticket barrier or the front of the bus next to the driver, and your fee will automatically be calculated based on the journey you have made. When travelling by tube, you must always tap it right at the start of your journey and again at the end to ensure that you pay the right fare and aren’t overcharged. For buses, you only need to tap in at the start of the journey.
Apple Pay or Google Pay
Next in our guide about how to pay for public transport in London is Apple or Google Pay. This payment method is more or less the same as the contactless payment method, except it is done on your phone. For those who have their credit or debit card set up in their Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet, you can simply tap your phone on the yellow card reader in the same way that you would a physical card.
Oyster Cards
When it comes to working out how to pay for public transport in London, these handy little cards make getting about the city straightforward. You can pick them up at the airport, at certain train stations and at convenience stores dotted around the city. They cost seven pounds to purchase, and you can top up your card as many times as you need to.
You load credit onto your card, and then, in the same way that you have to tap in and out of train journeys with the contactless method of payment, you also have to do so with the Oyster card method of paying (but again, only once when you embark on a bus).
If you need to check how much credit you have left on your card, the self-service ticket machines can tell you this, and you can top up there with more credit if and when you need to.
You know, it’s not just the Tube and our double decker buses here in London. We have a few other great public transport options. Learn about them all and get a comparison on pricing, timings and more in the video below.
We hope this helps you when it comes to figuring out how to pay for public transport in London. Travelling on the tube with kids? Read this guide on how to pay for kids on London’s public transport.
Read next:
- Is the London Pass worth it? Tips and Advice for London Tourists
- What to Do if You’re Visiting London During a Transport Strike
- Top Money Saving Hacks for your London Trip
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