Oyster Card vs Contactless. Which Is Cheaper for London Transport

# How to Use Oyster Cards and Contactless in London

Visitors to London often face the same question at Underground barriers. Should you buy an Oyster card, or just tap your contactless bank card? The answer depends on how long you are staying and how much you will travel.

The Basics

Both Oyster and contactless cap your daily spending at the Travelcard rate. This means you will never pay more than the cost of a day pass, no matter how many journeys you make. For central London (zones 1-2), the daily cap is currently £8.50 for adults.

Contactless uses the same fare structure as Oyster. Same prices, same caps, same discounts for off-peak travel.

When Contactless Wins

For most visitors, contactless is the better choice. You do not need to buy anything. You do not need to queue at a ticket machine. You do not need to remember to claim your £7 deposit back at the end of your trip.

Simply tap your bank card or phone at the yellow reader. The system calculates the cheapest fare automatically. Charges appear on your bank statement the next day.

When Oyster Still Makes Sense

Oyster cards retain some advantages for specific travellers.

**Long stays.** If you are in London for more than a week, loading a weekly Travelcard onto an Oyster can work out cheaper than daily caps.

**Railcard holders.** You can link a 16-25 Railcard, Senior Railcard, or Disabled Persons Railcard to an Oyster for one-third off off-peak fares. This discount does not apply to contactless.

**Children.** Under-11s travel free on Oyster when travelling with an adult. Contactless does not offer this facility.

The Hidden Trap

One quirk catches visitors out. If you use different contactless cards for different journeys in one day, each card tracks separately. You could hit two daily caps instead of one.

Stick to one payment method throughout your trip. Either the same physical card, or the same device (phone, watch) for the entire day.

Airport Arrivals

Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports all accept Oyster and contactless. However, National Rail services from Gatwick cost significantly more than the Tube. Consider the Gatwick Express only if speed matters more than money.

Stansted and Luton are outside the Oyster zone. You will need separate tickets for the express trains from these airports.

The Verdict

For short visits, use contactless. It is simpler, faster, and you avoid the hassle of refunds. For longer stays or if you hold a Railcard, the traditional Oyster still earns its place in your wallet.

Sources

- [Transport for London fares](https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/)

- [National Rail Railcard discounts](https://www.railcard.co.uk/)