Tickets and Fares in London
Tickets & Fares
London, United Kingdom
There are several options for you to pay your fare when travelling on any TfL method. This includes Underground, Overground, River, Buses, etc.
Oyster Card
Oyster Card is the easiest way of paying your fare on London public transit. The card costs £5 and you can add credit to it online, in the Oyster App, at Underground & Overground stations and many other places in London. Oyster Cards can be purchased at kiosks or ticket booths using cash or a credit card. If you are purchasing your Oyster Card at a kiosk, no change is given, the change amount is just added to the balance of your card. If you need a Bus & Tram pass or Travelcard (day pass) you can also load those onto your Oyster card itself. Oyster Cards also have daily caps for people who travel a lot in one day. Daily caps are priced based on what zones you travel in, refer to the TfL website for specifics on daily caps.
Cash
You can purchase one way and return paper tickets from ticket machines and ticket offices at Underground, DLR and Overground Stations. You cannot pay cash on the London Buses.
Credit Card (Tap)
Instead of tapping your Oyster Card when using public transit in London, you can tap your contactless credit card (or debit card). If you have an American Express, Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card that supports contactless payments, chances are you can use this card to pay your fare. Note: some credit card issuers from other countries aren’t accepted at TfL tap stations. Check with your credit card issuer if you are unsure.
Mobile Payments
If you have your credit card added to your phone or smartwatch, you may also be able to use it to pay your fare. Supported mobile payment platforms are: Apple Pay, Barclaycard Contactless Mobile, bPay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Make sure whatever device you tap on with is the same device you use to tap off.
Detailed Photos
Click the photos below for more detailed descriptions of tickets and fares on London Public Transit.
System Overview
Public Transportation Options in London
