If you have a debit or credit card with that little Wi-Fi symbol, you’re golden. Just tap it on the yellow reader at the gate. Same price as an Oyster card, but no deposit and no extra card to carry.
Here’s the catch—and trust me, I’ve messed this up—use the same card for your whole trip. If you tap in with one card and out with another, you’ll get charged the maximum fare (that’s the price of forgetting, and the tube knows).
Your Guide To The London Underground
Digital wallets on your phone work too. Just make sure your battery doesn’t die at the exit gate. Yes, it happened to me, and no, the station staff didn’t find it funny.
But What If I Only Need One Ride?
Fine, rebel. Go ahead and buy a single paper ticket from the machine. You’ll pay a bit more, but if you’re only taking one journey and never looking back, it works.
Just know that a single ride in Zone 1 costs about £6.70 with a paper ticket, versus £2.80 with an Oyster card. That’s the difference between buying a coffee and buying a sad vending machine snack. Your wallet will thank you if you go contactless.
