Here’s the irony: if you only touch Zone 1 and 2, the Travel Card is overkill. A Zone 1-2 card is £8.50 off-peak. So why pay £12.50 for 1-4 if you never leave Zone 2? Because you think you’ll be adventurous, then you spend the whole day in Soho moaning about the weather.
Also, peak times are a scam if you’re a leisurely traveller. If your first journey starts after 9:30 AM, buy the off-peak card. The machine won’t shame you for it. I promise.
But what if I want to go to Zone 5 or 6?
Tough luck, buddy. A Zone 1-4 card doesn’t cover Zones 5 or 6. You’ll need to pay the difference at the ticket barrier or get a whole new card. I once saw a guy try to tap out at Heathrow (Zone 6) with a 1-4 card. The gate made a sound like a dying robot. He just stood there, defeated by public transit.
Oyster Cards London DHTour London
Pro tip: if you’re landing at Heathrow, get a 1-6 card—it’s £18.30 peak. Or just use contactless and let the system calculate your cap automatically. Yes, contactless caps your daily spending. The Travel Card is for when you want to feel like you’re in control.
