THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER

A phrase we often hear is “The world is your oyster”.  Could this be the meaning behind the naming convention for the London Oyster card? 

London Oyster card

Go wherever you want, do whatever you want?  Some suggest it is.  Others toss about different ideas which include:  1) Oysters and pearls are associated with value; 2) Oysters are associated with the Thames River; and 3) Similar to the octopus card in Hong Kong.  Other names that were considered for the card were “Pulse” and “Gem” but “Oyster” came out on top.

So what exactly is an Oyster card?  Think of it as your electronic ‘ticket’ to be used on the public transportation system in London.  This includes the London Underground, LondonBuses, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, Tramlink, some of the river boat services and most of the National Rail services within the London fare zones. 

Since you are no longer able to travel on the London transportation systems with cash the Oyster card will be your alternative.  Using RFID technology this tiny, blue, credit card size, smart-card can be purchased from a number of different outlets in the London area including: 

• London Overground ticket windows
• London Underground ticket machines, which accept banknotes, coins, and credit and debit cards.
• Approximataely 4,000 Oyster Ticket Stops
  
• Selected National Rail stations, some of which are also served by London Underground
• Travel Information Centres
• online, using the Transport of London website
• by telephone sales from Transport For London

I picked up our Visitor Oyster cards at the Hendon Central Station.  The machine offered a suggestion of putting £15 on the card for our 3 days in London.  This amount plus the required £5 deposit was charged to my credit card and our Oyster cards were promptly printed.  We used the card for a number of trips and found the £15 suggestion to be perfect for us.  You can add money to your card at any time however, and when you are ready to leave London simply turn it in for your refund to be processed. 

On our final morning in London we were scheduled to travel via the Eurostar high-speed train to Paris.  Eurostar departs from the St. Pancras station in London.   Once we arrived at St. Pancras station, I simply followed the Underground signs where, just as you enter on the right hand side, you will find a Visitor Centre.  They quickly and efficiently processed my 2 Oyster cards, determined the refund amounts and issuing the credit back to my credit card, sending me off with a refund receipt in hand.  

Helpful information for your Oyster card:

• You must touch the Oyster Card on the large, yellow reader at the beginning and end of travel on the   Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Gatwick Express, Overground and National Rail service.
• If you are traveling on the buses and trams you will need to touch the Card on the yellow reader when boarding the buses or trams. 
• Children under the age of 5 are free.
• Up to four children ages 5 - 10 can travel free on the Underground, Docklands Light Railway and National Rail services when accompanied by an adult who has a valid Visitor Oyster Card.
• Purchases prices are in £(GBP) and include the price of the card plus the £5 refundable activation fee.
• Visitor Oyster Cards are not valid on the Heathrow Express or the Stanstead Express.