If you’re new to London or just visiting, you may be wondering how to pay for bus travel on the buses in the city. Fortunately, it’s a simple process, and there are a few different options available.
Contactless Card
The first and most convenient way to pay for your bus fare is to use a contactless debit or credit card. Simply tap your card on the yellow reader located at the front of the bus when you board, and the fare will be deducted from your account. The same goes for mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. The current bus fare (as of March 2023) is £1.55 per journey, and you can take as many buses as you like within one hour of first touching in.
Using An Oyster Card To Pay For Bus Travel
Another option is to use an Oyster card, which is a rechargeable smart card that can be used on buses, the London Underground, and other forms of public transportation. You can purchase an Oyster card from a ticket machine or online, and then top it up with credit as needed. When boarding a bus, simply touch your Oyster card on the yellow reader and the fare will be deducted automatically.
Visitors Oyster Card
A Visitor Oyster card is a special type of Oyster card that is designed for tourists and visitors to London. It is a smart card that can be used to pay for travel on buses, trams, the London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway, and other forms of public transportation in London.
The Visitor Oyster card is available to purchase online, in advance of your trip, or from many retailers in London, such as visitor centres, airports, and train stations. It can be loaded with credit that can be used to pay for transportation fares as you travel throughout the city.
One of the key benefits of the Visitor Oyster card is that it offers discounted fares for many of London’s attractions, including the London Eye, the Tower of London, and many others. In addition, the card is reusable and can be topped up with additional credit as needed, making it a convenient and cost-effective way to travel around London.
Another advantage of the Visitor Oyster card is that it comes with added protections, such as the ability to report the card lost or stolen and to have any remaining credit transferred to a new card.
Using Travelcards To Pay For Bus Travel
Travelcards are a type of ticket that allows unlimited travel on London’s public transportation system for a set period of time, typically one day, seven days, or one month. They are designed for people who need to use public transportation frequently or for an extended period of time, such as commuters or tourists.
There are two main types of Travelcards available in London: paper tickets and electronic tickets. Paper tickets can be purchased from ticket machines or at train stations, while electronic tickets can be loaded onto an Oyster card or a contactless payment card.
A Travelcard typically allows unlimited travel on buses, trams, the London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway, and the London Overground within the designated zones, which can vary depending on the type of Travelcard purchased. For example, a Zone 1-2 Travelcard allows travel within Zones 1 and 2, while a Zone 1-6 Travelcard allows travel within all six zones of the London public transportation system.
Overall it is straightforward and easy to pay for bus travel in London. With multiple payment options available, you can choose the one that works best for you and enjoy the many benefits of exploring the city by bus.
