The Oyster Card is a smart travel card that has helped millions navigate London’s public transport since its launch by Transport for London (TfL) in 2003. It streamlines access to buses, the Underground, trams, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, the Elizabeth line (within Oyster zones), most National Rail services in London, River Bus services, and the IFS Cloud Cable Car. The card’s microchip stores credit and products, allowing users to tap in—and where required, tap out—without cash or paper tickets.
Key Takeaways
- The Oyster card is a contactless smart card for London transport, offering convenience and typically lower fares than paper tickets. [10]
- Touch in at the start of every journey and, on rail services, touch out at the end to be charged correctly; buses and trams are touch-in only. [4]
- Top up via ticket machines, Oyster Ticket Stops, online, or in the TfL Go app; Auto top-up is available. [7], [8]
- Daily and weekly capping apply to pay-as-you-go when using Oyster or contactless. [1], [16]
- Hopper fare: unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour of first touch-in for a single fare. [5]
- Oyster is valid within London fare zones (generally 1–9). Some stations beyond Zone 9 are contactless-only (Oyster not accepted). [1], [11]
- Eligible National Railcards can be added to Oyster for 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares and caps. [9]
How to Use Oyster Card
Getting started is simple: buy an Oyster card at Tube/rail station ticket machines, Visitor Centres or Oyster Ticket Stops, or create an account online. Add pay-as-you-go credit or a Travelcard, then:
- Touch in on the yellow card reader at gates or validators when you start your journey.
- Touch out when you finish journeys on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services in London. (On buses and trams you only touch in.) [4]
- Use the same card or device throughout a journey for correct charging and capping. [4]
If you don’t touch out where required, the system may charge a maximum fare. You can view journeys and request corrections via your Contactless & Oyster account or the TfL Go app. [1], [8]
Top Up Options for Oyster Card
Top-up options are designed for flexibility:
- Ticket machines at Tube, DLR, London Overground and many Elizabeth line stations. [7]
- Oyster Ticket Stops (selected newsagents/retailers across London; many accept cash). [7]
- Online in your Contactless & Oyster account—collect on your next journey by touching a yellow reader. [7]
- TfL Go app—check balance and journey history, apply for certain refunds, and top up on the go. [8]
- Auto top-up—add credit automatically once your balance drops below a set level (applied the next time you touch in). [8]
Note: You can use Oyster pay-as-you-go on River Bus (Uber Boat by Thames Clippers) and the IFS Cloud Cable Car, but those journeys don’t count towards daily/weekly caps and you can’t top up at all piers/cable car terminals. Check fares before you travel. [6]
Oyster Card Fares and Discounts
Oyster pay-as-you-go fares are typically cheaper than paper tickets. Caps limit what you pay in a day or a fixed Monday–Sunday week. Peak pay-as-you-go fares generally apply Monday–Friday 06:30–09:30 and 16:00–19:00 (excluding public holidays), with off-peak at other times. [1], [2]
London uses a zone-based system. Oyster is valid across the London fare zones (usually 1–9) on Tube, DLR, London Overground, the Elizabeth line within Oyster zones, and most National Rail services in London. Some stations beyond Zone 9 are contactless-only (Oyster not accepted) such as Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Shenfield and other outer stations—check coverage if you plan to travel further out. [1], [11]
Children & concessions: Children under 11 travel free on buses and trams with a fare-paying adult, and there are Zip Oyster photocards for 5–10, 11–15 and 16+ with free/discounted travel. Visitors and adults may add eligible National Railcards (e.g., 16–25, 26–30, Senior) to an Oyster card for 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares and caps. [9]
Oyster Card Benefits and Features
Beyond convenience and speed at gates, Oyster supports:
- Daily & weekly capping on pay-as-you-go when using Oyster or contactless. [1], [16]
- Hopper fare on buses/trams: unlimited journeys within one hour for a single fare. [5]
- Compatibility across Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line (within Oyster zones), most National Rail in London, River Bus (separate fares/caps), and the IFS Cloud Cable Car (separate fares/caps). [1], [6]
- Railcard linking for eligible 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares and caps. [9]
Oyster Card Tips and Tricks
- Travel off-peak (outside 06:30–09:30 and 16:00–19:00 on weekdays) to save; caps still apply. [2]
- Use the same card/device to touch in and out so caps calculate correctly. [4]
- Mind coverage beyond Zone 9: some outer stations are contactless-only (no Oyster). [1], [11]
- Link a Railcard to a standard adult Oyster for 1/3 off off-peak fares and caps. [9]
- Check TfL Go for live updates, journey history and top-ups/refunds in one place. [8]
Oyster Card FAQs
What is an Oyster card?
An Oyster card is a smart card used for pay-as-you-go travel and Travelcards on London transport: Underground, buses, trams, DLR, London Overground, the Elizabeth line within Oyster zones, most National Rail services in London, River Bus (separate fares/caps) and the IFS Cloud Cable Car. [3], [6]
How do I use an Oyster card?
Touch in at the start of your journey. On Tube/DLR/Overground/Elizabeth line/National Rail in London, also touch out at the end. On buses and trams, touch in only. Always use the same card/device throughout a journey to ensure the correct fare and capping. [4]
How do I top up my Oyster card?
Top up at station ticket machines, Oyster Ticket Stops, online via your Contactless & Oyster account, or in TfL Go. Auto top-up can be enabled for pay-as-you-go. [7], [8]
What are the benefits of using an Oyster card?
Generally cheaper than paper tickets, with daily and weekly pay-as-you-go caps (Oyster or contactless), plus the Hopper fare on buses/trams. You can also add eligible Railcards to get 1/3 off off-peak fares and caps. [1], [5], [9]
Can I use an Oyster card for travel outside of London?
Oyster works across London fare zones (1–9). Some stations beyond Zone 9 are contactless-only—Oyster isn’t accepted at these (for example Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Shenfield and other outer stations). For those areas, use contactless or buy a ticket before travel. [1], [11]
References
- TfL — Fare capping (daily & weekly; contactless-only station list within): tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/capping
- TfL — Tube & rail fares (peak/off-peak times): tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares
- TfL — Pay as you go overview: tfl.gov.uk/fares/…/pay-as-you-go
- TfL — Touching in and out (how charging works): tfl.gov.uk/…/touching-in-and-out
- TfL — Bus & tram fares (Hopper fare): tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/bus-and-tram-fares
- TfL — River Bus (about/fare rules) & River fares: tfl.gov.uk/…/about-river-bus ; tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/river-fares
- TfL — Where to buy & use Oyster (ticket machines, Ticket Stops, online): tfl.gov.uk/…/where-to-buy-and-use
- TfL — TfL Go app: top-ups, refunds & journey history: Press release (Jan 2025) ; App how-to
- TfL — Free & discounted travel; National Railcard discounts on Oyster: tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel ; tfl.gov.uk/…/national-railcard-discount
- TfL — What’s the best ticket for me? (Oyster/contactless vs paper): tfl.gov.uk/…/whats-the-best-ticket-for-me
- TfL — Find fares (coverage notes incl. beyond Zone 9 / contactless-only): tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares
- TfL (FOI Staff Guide, Mar 2025) — Weekly capping on Oyster: foi.tfl.gov.uk/…/Ways to Pay (Mar 2025)
