Oyster Card Question

I really haven't a clue, as I've never used the online booking page...can you not just get them from a ticket window on the day?  Sorry...

can you not just get them from a ticket window on the day?  Sorry...

We did that a couple of weeks ago at Paddington as soon as we arrived in London. It was really easy and there were virtually no queues.

Tykeman, is there a reason you need to get them in advance?

We did that a couple of weeks ago at Paddington as soon as we arrived in London. It was really easy and there were virtually no queues.

Tykeman, is there a reason you need to get them in advance?

Just seemed like a good idea, and I wasn't sure if you could get them from all tube stations at weekends.....are they available from vending machines?

Having posted on the football message board about it I was told I could get easily on the day

They are available at all Tube stations.  If the windows aren't open, the machines are. You can use your bank card or credit card.

They are available at all Tube stations.  If the windows aren't open, the machines are. You can use your bank card or credit card.

Thanks Kristi......good to know

After much nagging by Marlene, I ordered one. I wonder what it will charge me for a rail journey into London plus the tube? Normally a Travelcard would cost about £18.

It won't charge you more than a travelcard would.  Is that for all 6 zones?  Because if you buy a travelcard once you're in London, instead of in an outlying village, they charge you only the zones you want.  The outlying villages that sell them with a railcard always sell you a Zones 1-6 card which is the most expensive one.

After much nagging by Marlene, I ordered one. I wonder what it will charge me for a rail journey into London plus the tube? Normally a Travelcard would cost about £18.

If you are just coming for the day you should continue to buy the one day travelcard. In your case, from Herts you are paying £18 right? You do not need an Oyster card if you are just traveling for the day as the paper travelcard is sufficient.

Depending where you are in London, an Oyster may be handy. I only use mine for the local buses in my borough and when I go to London for the day I buy a travelcard.

For those of us outside of central London, I highly recommend getting a Network Railcard.
http://www.railcard.co.uk/
check the map to see the area covered.
http://www.railcard.co.uk/clientfiles/File/08-02-26_NCSD4c__A4_.pdf

Just found out that my station does not have an Oyster reader, so I have to buy a paper ticket for the rail and then I can use my Oyster card on the tube. It will still be cheaper, a rail only ticket is around £10 off peak, vs £15 or 18 including the Tube

if you get a Network Railcard your ticket will be 1/3 off... of course depending on the time of day you need to travel! Have a look at it and ask next time you buy a ticket.

Just found out that my station does not have an Oyster reader, so I have to buy a paper ticket for the rail and then I can use my Oyster card on the tube. It will still be cheaper, a rail only ticket is around £10 off peak, vs £15 or 18 including the Tube

When I lived out in Surrey, I often bought a combo rail ticket + travelcard.  It was cheaper than buying them seperately (i.e. a return ticket in + 1-day travelcard for going around inner London), and let me travel both back & forth from my town and all around London on one simple paper ticket.  You can only buy these on the day (after 9:30am), but are usually quite a good price.

When I lived out in Surrey, I often bought a combo rail ticket + travelcard.  It was cheaper than buying them seperately (i.e. a return ticket in + 1-day travelcard for going around inner London), and let me travel both back & forth from my town and all around London on one simple paper ticket.  You can only buy these on the day (after 9:30am), but are usually quite a good price.

Yep thats exactly what I have been doing up until now.

I will look into the railcard thing, but I thought you could only get one if you were a student.

Nope, it had nothing to do with being a student!  When I did it, I got a Young Person's Railcard discount to make it even cheaper, but anyone can buy combo rail tickets + day travelcard at the standard price offered!

I will look into the railcard thing, but I thought you could only get one if you were a student.

No, there are a variety of cards now. Totally worth it.