how best to travel in London - confused

[tich31]

Hi,
My teenage daughter (14) and myself are visiting London for 5 days and I'm a bit confused about what to do about travel. It says that a visitor oyster card is the cheapest but when I've actually looked tickets up online it isn't.....eg to Hampton Court and Thameslink

But is it just easier? Or do I buy tickets to Hampton Court and Thameslink seperate but then also have an Oystercard for other journeys?

Any advice helpful.
Thanks

Do you have a contact less debit or credit card? If so, you can use it at the gate instead of an oyster card and just pay as you go (plus you benefit from daily / weekly fare capping). Hampton Court is zone 6 so you can use oyster / contact less but for Thameslink it probably depends where you are going.

you will need an oyster or contactless card to get on any bus

As a pidgeon

Coo

Pigeon would be even better

Oyster cards are obsolete now because you can just tap your contactless debit card at all stations (and on buses). It's so much easier and no more expensive than using an oyster.

tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless

I was in London a few weeks ago, was told about the contactless bank card to scan at tube stations- so easy and not too expensive. Tube was a lot more reliable and quicker than buses too if you are able to use them.

Thanks for your advice - I'll just use my contactless card.

Oh and for your DD she can get a reduced fare. As she won’t have a zip oyster, unless you want to apply for one, then go to a ticket office and get them to apply a young visitor discount to a regular oyster.

I don't agree that tube is better than bus .use tfl website or very knowledgeable staff. Tube is easy in the sense that the map is straightforward and you can't go wrong . It is also good for long journeys eg Finchley to Redbridge or similar but in central London and the city buses give you great views and are surprisingly quick so keep an open mind particularly if it is hot and your journey is only 2 or 3 miles.

Oyster cards are obsolete now because you can just tap your contactless debit card at all stations (and on buses). It's so much easier and no more expensive than using an oyster.

oyster cards are not obsolete at all!

all under 18s need them, and anyone without a contactless card, or anyone using a monthly pass, or often a weekly pass,

You would need one contactless card per person in the family. We don't have one at all, many people don't or only have one in a family of 3 or 4. Also if you are a commuter, you can't put your travel pass on a contactless card, you put it on an oyster

You can't use your contactless card for your daughter, she will need an Oyster card. It is one card per person. Don't forget to use the card when you leave the station to signify the end of your journey.