Which transport pass to use when visiting London for work?

Which travel pass to use when visiting London for work?

"Which transport pass should I use to get around London?" This is one of the most common questions our Hosts at Doctor in the House get from guests coming to London on a business or professional visit.

Both the Travelcard and Visitor Oyster card have their advantages, depending on your length of stay, transport zones, and how often you'll need to travel. To help you choose the right pass, we've put together a quick check-list for both options:

Travelcard

Travelcards allow you to make as many journeys as you like on all TFL services: bus, tube, tram, London Overground, TFL Rail, and National Rail services in London.

Available for one day, seven days, or a one month period
Available from Tube station ticket machines, London Overground and TFL Rail station ticket offices, most National Rail stations ,and TFL Visitor Centres
Available for specific zone ranges
Travelcards are optimal when making multiple journeys using different modes of transport every day
When using the Travelcard, all you need to do is insert it into the slots on the turnstiles in the entrance area of the stations or on the bus and follow the same procedure on exit

Visitor Oyster Card

A Visitor Oyster Card is a smart card that provides a quick and easy way to pay for journeys on bus, Tube, tram, London Overground, TFL Rail and most National Rail services in London. You can buy a Visitor Oyster Card online before you leave home and have it delivered to you with a chosen amount of pre-paid credit, or just buy one when you arrive in London.

The credit on your card will never expire: it stays there until you use it. If you run out of credit, it is simple to top up and use again. Once you’ve finished using your Visitor Oyster Card you can withdraw the money from TFL ticket machines.

You can top-up your Visitor Oyster Card in all Tube, DLR, London Overground, TFL Rail, and National Rail stations.

Your Visitor Oyster Card offers a daily price cap so you can travel as much as you like in a single day and the amount you pay is capped.

When using the card simply touch your card on a yellow reader to start a journey. On exiting, follow the same procedure to leave the station. Unless you are on a bus, where it's even simpler: touch your card at the start of the journey. Do not touch out when you get off a bus.

With an Oyster, you can move freely between zones.

The Visitor Oyster Card is optimal for:

Single journeys
Multiple journeys in a small area
Making a few journeys only during your stay
If you’re not travelling every day.

Not sure yet which option is best for your case? You can always get advice from your Host. One of the advantages of choosing a homestay for your professional visit to London is that you can always consult a real Londoner for advice on matters which might be confusing for a first-time visitor to London.

Doctor in the House Accommodation bookers will be delighted to help you arrange your stay at a London home for your next professional visit. Find out more.