Contactless on London undergound

[Squaddielife]

We're off to london for a day next week (2 adults + under 9 yr old) and will be using london underground - probs only zone 1.
We don't have Oyster cards and i've left it too late to get them now as I think you have to wait for them through the post.
Is the most cost effective way for us to use the tube going to be a 1 day travel card or just use bank cards as contactless pay as we go?
There seems to be so many options so i'm a bit baffled.
If contactless is the way to go will DH also have to set his card up or can I just use mine to pay for both of our journeys?

[Kewcumber]

Use contactless - I beleive that it caps it at the travelcard rate for the day anyway but I think you have to use two separate cards for two people

[hardheadedwoman]

Hi - contactless is the way to go. Nothing to set up just touch in and touch out. You'll be charged the lowest fare automatically (there is a capped daily charge limit but I can't remember what it is)

Works on buses too

[PassTheCremeEggs]

You can just use contactless. As long as you use the same card to touch in and out on all your journeys it will cap the charge at a daily rate so doesn't cost more than using Oyster. You'll need to use separate cards for each person though.

[Kewcumber]

tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/how-fares-are-charged

If you particulalry want to see your journeys made and how they are charged then you can sign up to oyster with a normal contactless card I think

[PassTheCremeEggs]

(And you don't need to set anything up to use contactless - just tap in and out using the card)

[JessieMcJessie]

Yes, Contactless is fine as said above. But if for any reason you want Oysters you just get them at any station, no need to order in advance.

[MessezFaire]

If you each have contactless bank cards then that's the easiest, most cost efficient way. If your husband doesn't then you can buy an Oyster card at most of the big stations. There always used to be a 'deposit' for the card though - about £3 so it actually works out more expensive for a short trip. Haven't bought an oyster since they started using contactless bank cards though

[Kewcumber]

you don;t have to "set them up" though unless you want to track your travel otherwise it just shows the charge on your contactless bill

[JessieMcJessie]

messez Oyster is not more expensive because they return the deposit when you return the card.

[Balletgirlmum]

If you've never used contactless before then some banks won't authorise the first transactiOn until you've entered your PIN number. As this isn't possible on the tube I bought a bottle of water in boots using contactless just before I got on the train.

[JessieMcJessie]

To be clear, do you mean that your DH doesn't own a contactless bank card? If so then you will need to use separate cards for each person but he could use a card in your name if you have more than one. There is no ID checking.

personally I have a credit card with contactless that I keep for travel only.

[Squaddielife]

OK, fab. Will def use contactless thanks.

We both have contactless cards and both have been used that way in the shops before.

DS doesn't need a ticket so assume he'll just pop through the barrier with one of us?

I'm such a country bumpkin

[Balletgirlmum]

Yes. They have family hates you go through with children.

Don't forget to tap out as well as in