Oyster Card
Fares from 2 March 2025
The Mayor Sadiq Khan has frozen bus and tram fares in London until 2026. Tube and rail fares to rise by 4.6% in line with national rail fare increases from March 2025.
Frozen bus and tram fares
- The adult pay as you go fare will be frozen at £1.75
- With our Hopper fare, you can still make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour of first touching in for £1.75
- The daily cap will be frozen at £5.25
- Longer period caps will also be frozen:
| Bus and tram | 7 Day and Weekly Cap | Monthly | Annual |
| Adult | £24.70 | £94.90 | £988 |
Which fares are changing?
- Daily and weekly caps
- Daily, weekly and longer period Travelcards
- Cash fares where National Rail fares apply
- Fares on River Bus services
- IFS Cloud Cable Car prices
The detailed changes below refer to adult fares. Child fares are generally set at half the adult fares.
Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line fares
- The adult peak pay as you go fare for a journey in Zone 1 will increase from £2.80 to £2.90
- The adult off-peak pay as you go fare for a journey in Zone 1 will increase from £2.70 to £2.80
- The adult off-peak pay as you go fare in a single zone (not Zone 1) will increase from £1.80 to £2.00
- Cash fares, also known as paper single tickets, for Zones 1-6 will increase from £6.70 to £7.00 where TfL fares apply. Where National Rail fares apply, they’ll increase overall by 4.6%
Pay as you go caps
For Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services
Adult rate daily and weekly caps will increase by an average of 4.6%.
| Zone(s) | One Day Anytime | One Day Off-peak | Monday to Sunday |
| Zone 1 only | £8.90 | £8.90 | £44.70 |
| Zone 1 and 2 | £8.90 | £8.90 | £44.70 |
| Zone 1, 2 and 3 | £10.50 | £10.50 | £52.50 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3 and 4 | £12.80 | £12.80 | £64.20 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 | £15.30 | £15.30 | £76.40 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 | £16.30 | £16.30 | £81.60 |
Travelcards
Adult Travelcard prices will increase by an average of 4.6%.
| Zone(s) | One Day Anytime | One Day Off-peak | 7 Day | Monthly | Annual |
| Zone 1 only | £16.60 | £16.60 | £44.70 | £171.70 | £1,788 |
| Zone 1 and 2 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £44.70 | £171.70 | £1,788 |
| Zone 1, 2 and 3 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £52.50 | £201.60 | £2,100 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3 and 4 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £64.20 | £246.60 | £2,568 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 | £23.60 | £16.60 | £76.40 | £293.40 | £3,056 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 | £23.60 | £16.60 | £81.60 | £313.40 | £3,264 |
River Bus services
Pay as you go fares increased on all Uber boats by Thames Clippers.
| River Zones | Adult | Adult with Travelcard | Child | Child with Travelcard | Freedom Pass |
| Central | £9.50 | £8.75 | £4.75 | £4.40 | £4.75 |
| East | £5.90 | £4.75 | £2.95 | £2.40 | £2.95 |
| West | £5.90 | £4.75 | £2.95 | £2.40 | £2.95 |
| Central and East | £10.80 | £10.30 | £5.40 | £5.15 | £5.40 |
| Central and West | £10.80 | £10.30 | £5.40 | £5.15 | £5.40 |
| West to East | £18.25 | £14.30 | £9.10 | £7.15 | £9.10 |
IFS Cloud Cable Car prices
The one-way adult fare on the cable car will increase from £6.00 to £7.00. The child fare will remain at half the adult fare, as does the Freedom Pass fare.
| Ticket type | Adult | Child | Freedom Pass |
| One way – pay as you go | £7.00 | – | – |
| One way – ticket office | £7.00 | £3.50 | £3.50 |
| One way – online | £7.00 | – | – |
| Round trip – ticket office | £13.00 | £6.50 |
The Oyster card is a smart travel card used for public transportation in London, including the Underground (Tube), buses, trams, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, and certain National Rail services. Here are its key benefits and cost aspects:
Benefits of an Oyster Card
Lower Fares: Oyster cards offer cheaper fares compared to purchasing single-use paper tickets. Users benefit from discounted rates for each journey, especially when traveling frequently.
Daily & Weekly Caps: The Oyster card automatically caps your daily and weekly fares, ensuring you don’t pay more than the equivalent cost of a daily or weekly travelcard for your zones traveled.
Easy to Top-Up: You can add credit to your Oyster card at various stations, shops, or online, making it convenient to keep funds ready for travel.
Flexible Use Across Transport Modes: The card can be used across most modes of public transport in London, allowing seamless transfer between buses, trains, and other services without needing separate tickets.
Visitor Convenience: For tourists, there’s a special Visitor Oyster card that offers the same travel benefits with the added advantage of special discounts at London attractions and restaurants.
Cost of an Oyster Card
Initial Cost: A standard Oyster card requires a £5 refundable deposit. Visitor Oyster cards cost £5, but this is non-refundable.
Fares: Fares depend on the zones traveled and the time of day, with peak and off-peak rates. Generally, Oyster fares are cheaper than paper tickets, and you can check specific rates on the Transport for London (TfL) website.
Daily and Weekly Caps: For travel within Central London (Zone 1), the daily cap is around £8.10 for adults, while weekly capping works out automatically, so you only pay up to the equivalent of a weekly travelcard if used regularly.
Pay-As-You-Go You load funds onto the card and pay per journey. If you run out, you can top up at any station or online, making it adaptable to your travel needs.
The Oyster card remains one of the most convenient and economical ways to navigate London’s extensive public transport system, offering cost savings and ease for both residents and visitors.