An Oyster card is a smart card that can be used to pay for public transport in London and certain areas around it in England, United Kingdom. It is a blue credit-card-sized stored-value contactless smart card promoted by Transport for London (TfL) . The card can be used on travel modes across London including London Buses, London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, Tramlink, some river boat services, and most National Rail services within the London fare zones.
The Oyster card can be loaded with credit, and then you can use it for nearly all your public transport needs around London without having to buy individual tickets. You can pay as you go to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, most National Rail services in London, and some river boat services. If you only have pay as you go credit on your Oyster card, you can lend it to someone else. However, two people cant use the same contactless or Oyster card for a journey. If you have a Travelcard, Bus & Tram Pass or discount added to your Oyster card, you cant lend it to someone else.
Oyster cards can be registered, providing protection in case of loss or theft. Full registration can be done at a London Underground station, an Oyster Ticket Stop (shop) or a Travel Information Centre: an Oyster registration form. If you dont register your card and you lose it, your pay as you go credit, Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass wont be refunded.
Visitor Oyster cards are also available for tourists. They are pre-loaded with pay as you go credit for you to spend on travel. A Visitor Oyster card costs £5 (plus postage) and can be used to pay for journeys on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, River Bus and most National Rail services in London. You cant top up pay as you go credit on your Visitor Oyster card at the pier, so make sure you have enough credit before you travel.
In summary, an Oyster card is a smart card that can be used to pay for public transport in London and certain areas around it in England, United Kingdom. It can be loaded with credit and used on various modes of transport, including buses, trains, and boats. Oyster cards can be registered for protection in case of loss or theft, and Visitor Oyster cards are available for tourists.
