General Chat

Next Thursday we are going to London for a long weekend (Anniversary present from the family). We have bought Oyster cards and put some money on them on line. Can anyone who uses them tell me please if it is easy to add money to them, how is it done and are there any snags with them we should be aware of?

We don't get to London very much, in fact have only been once in about 12 years although used to go frequently when we lived in Bedfordshire so we do feel like country cousins. We are going by train and trying to get as much as possible into the weekend. Going to see Love Never Dies on saturday.

Thanks for any advice.

Hello Ann - I've just asked hubby, who has one, and he says it will be no problem. There are special machines at tube stations to top them up and you just put in your debit/credit card or (he thinks) cash. You can also top them up at the ticket desk. No snags at all.

Hope you have a lovely time.

Ann I don't know about the card but enjoy your time in London,
London can be either nightmare or fantastic. I would suggest you do the browse bit and leave most money and all cards behind , that's not incase of muggers but the pull of stalls. If you really want you can go back later.

Do enjoy your time there tho' a fascinating city for all ages

~~~~~to Wend

Thanks Wend for that.
Yes Uzzi I am sure that we will be able to spend money!!

We want to go to the National Gallery on the friday. In all the time we have been going there although we have been to all the museums, seen all the tourist places we have never been to the galleries. then BC Has given me a couple of places that are possibles too. As always so much to see, so little time. And our hotel is right near Covent Garden so we have to re-visit there.

Hi Ann
Don't think we've spoken before but I lived in London for many years. The Oyster card is a great way to get around and can be used on the buses too. At the station there will be a yellow oyster card reader at the barriers where you go through to the trains or exit. When you touch your card on this the display at the end of the barrier as you go through will tell you how much you have left on your card. You can also see your balance at the machines where you top up. Just follow the on screen directions. If I remember correctly, if you are making several journeys in one day, the oyster card will stop deducting money once you have spent the same as a one day travel card - hope that makes sense. You can also top up in some newsagent shops.
Enjoy your weekend!

Thank you. All this technology very confusing but if it saves money I am all for it!

Thank you very much MTG quite a lot of information there, gratefully received.

Ann

Island, do you mean our bus passes are able to be used on London buses? I didn't think they were.

Yes, you can use a bus pass from anywhere in England on the London buses, I do it regularly, but you can't use them on the tube.. As someone else said, you can buy a one day travel card, but if you are going to be using the tube a lot, the oyster card is better because in one day, once you get to the amount of money a one day pass costs, you can continue using the oyster card in effect for free, it doesn't take any more money off for the rest of that day. Also if you don't use it much one day, the money is not wasted because it lasts indefinitely. If I have any credit left on the card, I just keep it until the next time I go.

Thank you Linda, that is helpful, not that I have ever been able to work out which buses were going to or coming from where I want to go Lol!!!!

Mick probably in some obscure way comes from the saying "The world is your oyster"!!!!

I think the 23 bus which stops at Paddington, goes to Aldwych, which is near Temple. Check it out as I may be wrong. BC XX

Thank you both, that is very helpful. Shall have a look now.

Ann
Another useful site for planning journeys
http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2/JourneyPlanning/JourneyPlannerInput.aspx
Have a lovely time
Take care
Von

Thank you MTG & Von.