London people - oyster card help please

[PomBearWithoutHerOFRS]

DD is going to university at Brunel next week. For long and complicated (stressful) reasons, she will only have cash for the first couple of weeks.
Anyway, we worked out she needs an oyster card to get about. If she buys one at Victoria when she arrives, can she top it up on the spot with cash? Or do we need to buy it online topped up and have it sent here before she goes?
I know it's probably a bit of a daft thing to ask, but we've never used tfl before, and don't know how it works. She doesn't need a student card or anything else, just oyster with bus/tram pass.
Any advice/travel tips will be much appreciated.

She can buy it and top it up at the same time. £5 (now non-refundable) deposit for the Oyster card and whatever she wants. Approved newsagents are better for getting them and topping up as it's easier to get a receipt and less likely to have to queue.

She can buy and top up at the same time

Although if she's new to London she can get it at Victoria when she first arrives to save wandering about. Bus journeys are £1.50 and cover any changes made within an hour.

TFL Journey Planner

She can just use contactless for the same cost and no topping up faff. Use on buses, trains, tubes etc just the same as oyster. If she has a banking app she can also monitor costs as she pays. Be aware of weekly caps which limit charges if you stay within certain zones, a new discovery for me but worth knowing about!

TFL Student card

I think she only has cash @nearlytweeny so that won't work initially. But yes an easier option in the longer term.

She can buy an Oyster card from a ticket office (underground) in Victoria with cash, and I think some machines take cash, or a newsagent as PP suggests.

I know this isn't helpful but just be aware some places are card only at the moment because of covid.

Thanks all. Once she's sorted she will have a card to use contactless, it's just at first she'll only have cash. We were worried about topping up and covid re cash.
So many things have proved to be problematic that should have been simple, it'll be a miracle if none of us has a nervous breakdown!
Onwards and upwards 😁 hopefully this will be one thing that is actually straightforward!

It's a bit of a trek from Victoria to Brunel, especially with luggage. It's not a journey I'm familiar with so I'd ask the university what route they suggest.

Yes sorry, totally missed the point about cash only! Need to get to bed earlier to rest brain...

Just be warned that if she is topping up in a shop for some reson the machine often doesn't work early morning. I cannot top up in my local shop when I go in at 6am and if I need it topped up before I get a bus have to trudge down to the station. One of the tube stations near me will only allow card payment which is often a bugger for me. I have never used my card to do contactless on the bus as often there is no money left and I scrabble around with change!

I am not sure about what zone it is in- it comes under 'Greater London' and I think is in Uxbridge (or outer area). I had a zone 1-4 and had to top up extra I think - years ago now.

However I have a 60+ oyster card so only need to pay before 9am.

With regard to travelling, She could get from Victoria tube on the district line to a Piccadilly line station such as Hammersmith (which takes about 20 minutes). Avoid Earls Court as that can be very busy and you may have to cross over platforms, ditto South Kensington.

From Hammersmith to Uxbridge by Piccadilly line takes around 41-46 minutes. Then take a bus. I am not sure of bus number but there is bound to be at least one going to Brunel. I think most of the U buses do??

I hope your daughter enjoys her time at Uni! I know someone who went there and enjoyed it.

By the way, Uxbridge has some good shops - or did before Covid!

Two shopping centres. All the usual suspects including WH Smith, Poundland, Debenhams, Marks and plenty of food places.

Hi op. She might actually be better getting the 'Oxford Tube' from Victoria to Hillingdon - it's a regular coach service. Not expensive. Not sure re payment though. She can then get a short bus ride to Brunel.

You also might want to get her one of those prepaid debit cards. Will be easier all round I think! No need for cash or oyster then.

Just had a look and Victoria to Hillingdon is about four quid and you can use an app for tickets.

Also another idea - you could set up her phone for mobile payments? You could use your debit card on it and she can delete it when she gets her own.

I hardly ever use a card now and only really use my phone. Works in shops and on public transport etc.

She really needs to get a bank card sorted because lots of places are cashless only at the moment due to COVID. She needs to be able to buy groceries etc.
Look into a Monzo or Revolut card, or can she not take someone else’s card in the family for simple payments?

Tell her to download CityMapper which is a free app and is brilliant to get around on transport.

@Pancakeorcrepe

She really needs to get a bank card sorted because lots of places are cashless only at the moment due to COVID. She needs to be able to buy groceries etc. Look into a Monzo or Revolut card, or can she not take someone else’s card in the family for simple payments?

All supermarkets take cash, including small 'Metro' type ones and the Co-op. She might struggle in some bars and takeaways, but it's not like she's going to starve.

And presumably she's in a house share or halls so will be able to ask a fellow student to pay and she gives them the cash/transfers or paypals them the money.

Both of those routes are good. I think I'd go for the coach myself - I'm assuming she'll have a fair bit of luggage which makes the tube difficult as you have to avoid stations with escalators. Some stations have stairs between platforms as well. The coach station is basically a block away from the back of the railway station at Victoria. As far as I can remember it's signposted. If not ask staff. She should get her Oyster at Victoria anyway as that might be trickier at Hillingdon if she only has cash. You'll be able to get the coach ticket online.

@Deathraystare So can you pay a bus fare with cash then? We thought that it had to be oyster or similar, and they didn't take cash!
She just needs to get out to campus from Victoria, then go shopping locally to her Halls.
(Not a word to DD, but I am quietly worried sick about "my baby all alone in the big city!" She is pretty blase about it all )

I think if you have a rail card too you can get cheaper bus and tube fares if you link them. My daughter did this but I'm not sure how it works.

No. You cannot pay cash on a London bus.

You need a cashless payment, of your choice.

London's confusing at first, like any city if you're not used to it. I live close to Paddington and in The Time Before Covid frequently worried about blasé youth looking for hotels/night buses/halls of residence late at night. A degree of vigilance is wise. It doesn't need to spoil your fun.
I hope your daughter has a good time here.

Thanks @CaffeineInfusion and everyone.
It's been absolutely ridiculous the carry on we're having, mainly due to lockdown. She will get there though, if I have to carry her on my back!

You can buy oystercards online through the tfl website. Mine came quickly but that was pre covid!