London - Public Transport Question

[Cornell]

I'm leaving for London in about 10 days. I plan on riding the subway and the bus quite a bit while I'm there.

From what I am reading , it looks like I don't need an Oyster card to do this. I can just tap my credit card as I go (my card has no foreign transaction fees).

Am I missing something here? Seems too simple.

 

[Ken555]

It is that simple. You may also use your phone to tap (Apple Pay, etc). Just be sure to tap in and out with the same card/phone. London and New York use this method and it’s super easy and convenient. I wish all cities used it.

I was in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago and had to wait 15 minutes behind people who didn’t know how to use the machines to buy a ticket and all I could think of was how much easier it is in London and New York.


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[SmithOp]

We found the buses much more enjoyable for sightseeing, the tube was crowded during morning and evening commute hours.

 

[Cornell]

It is that simple. You may also use your phone to tap (Apple Pay, etc). Just be sure to tap in and out with the same card/phone. London and New York use this method and it’s super easy and convenient. I wish all cities used it.

I was in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago and had to wait 15 minutes behind people who didn’t know how to use the machines to buy a ticket and all I could think of was how much easier it is in London and New York.


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Cool. That's what I thought. Here in Chicago we have to have an actual transit type card so this just seemed "too easy".

I'm excited.

 

[Cornell]

We found the buses much more enjoyable for sightseeing, the tube was crowded during morning and evening commute hours.

Yeah - additionally when you are on a bus, I find it easier to navigate / orient myself.

Fortunately I will be with my 21 YO who is a whiz at urban navigation

 

[bizaro86]

I loved that system in New York recently. One thing that threw me a bit was that initially I could only tap once per card. Ie- I had to get a different card out of my wallet for each kid. Not a problem if you're traveling with an older group (where everyone has their own) but my 9/11 year old kids don't yet have their own credit cards

 

[clifffaith]

Yeah - additionally when you are on a bus, I find it easier to navigate / orient myself.

Fortunately I will be with my 21 YO who is a whiz at urban navigation

We’ve twice had bus experiences in London where we could not tell where we were because of the crowd on the bus, so we found for trips to a specific destination/area the Tube was better.

 

[jp10558]

I'm probably just old fashioned, but we preferred to buy the Oyster card so we could have one card pay for 3 people to go. I also IDK mentally prefer not needing my credit card to hand and out of my wallet while transiting. Losing an Oyster card (the way I used it) only cost me at most 10 minutes at a machine again and maybe $15 load on the card.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Hi Cornell,

This link has useful information.

Oyster card and contactless card: What is the difference?

This article will guide you through the confusion, to show what is the best payment card for you when travelling around the UK.

getsby.com

Have a good trip!

Richard

 

[clifffaith]

I'm probably just old fashioned, but we preferred to buy the Oyster card so we could have one card pay for 3 people to go. I also IDK mentally prefer not needing my credit card to hand and out of my wallet while transiting. Losing an Oyster card (the way I used it) only cost me at most 10 minutes at a machine again and maybe $15 load on the card.

I commented to Cliff that having my cc in my hand, in a crowded and new situation, seemed like an accident waiting to happen. And would seem tempting to bad guys!

 

[isisdave]

If you Google "London bus routes for tourists" you'll find several articles suggesting routes you can take for the basic fare. Here's one:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/london-bus-routes-for-sightseeing-1582177 There's probably a thread on TUG about this too.

We do this a lot -- pick a likely bus, ride it to the end of the line, turn around and come back. Always stuff to discover, and usually NO tourists. Dublin's was cool.

 

[beejaybee]

Re: the London bus routes article
It was written in 2019 and a London resident poster, Globaliser, on Cruise Critic provided this update which sadly makes it out of date. "There have been major changes to bus routes since then, affecting many of the routes mentioned in this article.
In particular:
11 No longer goes to Liverpool Street Station, but goes from Westminster to Waterloo and terminates - so it does not run past Covent Garden or through the City.
73 Terminates at Oxford Circus, no longer going anywhere near Buckingham Palace, Wellington Arch, Hyde Park or Marble Arch.
26 No longer crosses Waterloo Bridge or terminate at Waterloo, but goes around Parliament Square and along Victoria Street to Victoria Station.
RV1 No longer exists."

 

[Cornell]

If you Google "London bus routes for tourists" you'll find several articles suggesting routes you can take for the basic fare. Here's one:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/london-bus-routes-for-sightseeing-1582177 There's probably a thread on TUG about this too.

We do this a lot -- pick a likely bus, ride it to the end of the line, turn around and come back. Always stuff to discover, and usually NO tourists. Dublin's was cool.

We plan on taking a ride of the "River Bus" as a cheap way to chill and to get some nice vistas of the city.

 

[Cornell]

I'm probably just old fashioned, but we preferred to buy the Oyster card so we could have one card pay for 3 people to go. I also IDK mentally prefer not needing my credit card to hand and out of my wallet while transiting. Losing an Oyster card (the way I used it) only cost me at most 10 minutes at a machine again and maybe $15 load on the card.

My credit card is on my phone so swiping my phone is way easier for me than dealing w/an Oyster card.

 

[jp10558]

My credit card is on my phone so swiping my phone is way easier for me than dealing w/an Oyster card.

I'm still trying to resist tying payments to my phone like that, but maybe I have to get with the times. This getting old / used to how things work sucks.

 

[clifffaith]

I'm still trying to resist tying payments to my phone like that, but maybe I have to get with the times. This getting old / used to how things work sucks.

I actually learned how to deposit checks on my phone yesterday! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Deposited my check from the robo call class action suit and the check from selling our Worldmark account while sitting in my TV chair.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I actually learned how to deposit checks on my phone yesterday! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Deposited my check from the robo call class action suit and the check from selling our Worldmark account while sitting in my TV chair.

Isn’t that fun? My dad is amazed that we can deposit checks without going to the bank!

 

[Luanne]

I actually learned how to deposit checks on my phone yesterday! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Deposited my check from the robo call class action suit and the check from selling our Worldmark account while sitting in my TV chair.

I love, love, love this feature.

 

[Brett]

Isn’t that fun? My dad is amazed that we can deposit checks without going to the bank!

More people became aware of online banking during the pandemic. Banks are closing branches so almost everyone will eventually bank online

 

[jp10558]

More people became aware of online banking during the pandemic. Banks are closing branches so almost everyone will eventually bank online

Because, honestly, almost no one likes going to the bank, and having to do so 9AM-4PM on weekdays. Also, almost all local banks cost more than online banks, and about the only service they offer is taking or dispensing larger amounts of cash AFAICT. I imagine eventually ATMs will handle multiple banks deposits and allow larger withdrawals or Wal-Mart / Western Union or new businesses etc will work out going to and from cash.