Contactless: the simplest option
You can pay as you go with a contactless bank card or a phone or watch on every TfL service: Tube, buses, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, trams and most National Rail services within London. Touch the yellow reader on the way in and, on trains, on the way out.
If your card was issued outside the UK, check with your bank first. TfL warns that overseas transaction fees may apply, and some non-UK cards are not accepted.
The daily cap
Pay as you go has a daily cap. Once your fares reach the cap for the zones you have travelled in, the rest of that day's travel in those zones is free. Contactless also has a Monday-to-Sunday weekly cap. For most visitors this works out cheaper than buying a Day Travelcard.
Avoid "card clash"
Always touch the same card or device for the whole day. If you hold a wallet with two contactless cards against the reader, it may charge the wrong one, and you will not get the cap if you switch between your phone and your physical card.
Visitor Oyster cards
A Visitor Oyster card is a prepaid card you can order before you travel. It is mainly worth it for families with older children: children aged 11 to 15 can get a 50% Young Visitor discount on a Visitor Oyster card, which is not available with contactless. Each person aged 11 or over needs their own card.
Children
Children under 11 travel free on buses and trams, and free on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and some National Rail services when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (up to four children per adult).
Buses
London buses do not take cash, so pay with contactless or Oyster. With the Hopper fare, you can make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour of first touching in for the price of one.
Late nights: the Night Tube
On Friday and Saturday nights, the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines run through the night. The London Overground Windrush line also runs overnight between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate. On other nights, most lines stop around midnight, and night buses take over.
When a car makes more sense
Public transport is excellent for getting around central London. With heavy luggage, young children, an early flight or a group of four or more, a pre-booked car is often simpler and can cost a similar amount once fares are added up. Airport express trains such as the Heathrow Express are not included in the daily cap.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my foreign contactless card on the London Underground?
Usually yes. Contactless cards and phones work on all TfL services, but overseas transaction fees may apply and some non-UK cards are not accepted, so check with your bank.
Do children pay on the Tube?
Children under 11 travel free on the Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line when with a fare-paying adult, up to four children per adult. They also travel free on buses and trams.
Is there a daily maximum fare?
Yes. Pay as you go has a daily cap, so once you reach it you travel free for the rest of the day in those zones. Contactless also has a weekly cap from Monday to Sunday.
Which Tube lines run all night?
The Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines run all night on Friday and Saturday nights.
Sources
Checked on 30 October 2026. Rules and dates can change, so please confirm with the official source before you travel.