No. If you only commute twice a week or work from home constantly, don’t buy it. That’s like buying a gym membership to use the bathroom. But if you’re a five-day-a-week office soldier or a weekend adventurer who lives in Zone 2 and plays in Zone 1, it’s your best friend.
Compare it to other London purchases. A weekly card costs less than a decent dinner out. It costs less than a mediocre pair of jeans. And it doesn’t expire in a season—just in seven days, ready for you to renew your lease on city life.
Think of it as spending money to not have to think about money. That’s a luxury even billionaires would envy.
A little story to send you off
Last week, I bought my Zone 1 4 Weekly Travelcard on a rainy Tuesday. I tapped in at High Street Kensington, rode to Oxford Circus, changed my mind, rode to Bank, got a sandwich, then rode home. Total cost for the day: £0 extra. The price of the card had already paid for my morning commute.
I sat on the train, listening to some bloke complain about a 20p fare increase. I just smiled, like a smug cat with a full bowl. The price stings for a moment, but it gives you wings—or at least a seat on the District line.
So yes, the price might make you blink. But buy it once, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without that little yellow freedom token. Your wallet might not thank you, but your soul will.
