Transport basics

Oyster and contactless

You can pay on Tube, most TfL rail, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line (within London), and buses with a contactless bank card or mobile wallet, or an Oyster card. Daily and weekly fare capping applies when you use the same card or device for every touch in/out.

Oyster is still useful if you use Travelcards, certain concessions, or prefer a separate card from your bank card.

Zones and fares

Fares depend on which zones you travel through and peak vs off-peak times on rail. Central London is mostly zones 1–2; many commutes cross zones 1–6. Always touch in and out on yellow readers on rail; on buses, touch in once.

Modes at a glance

• Tube: frequent, map by line; avoid empty carriages late at night; check weekend closures.
• Buses: flat fare per journey; hopper fare allows multiple buses within one hour on same card.
• Night buses and 24-hour routes cover much of the city when the Tube is closed.
• Santander Cycles (bike hire) and walking are practical for short hops in central areas.

Use TfL Journey Planner (tfl.gov.uk) or the TfL app for live departures, disruptions, and step-free routes.