Transport and Oyster Cards

London is big - about 1600 square kilometers, in fact; but don’t let that worry you too much. You can get around easily and explore the city by public transport which is both safe and efficient.

Most Richmond students don’t have cars. Insurance, road tax and the high price of petrol here make them expensive to run. Add to this the lack of on-campus parking for students and the general difficulty or impossibility of finding parking spaces in London; and you’ll understand why the main ways of getting round are the Underground (generally referred to as ‘the Tube’) and buses. You'll want to get yourself either a Student Oyster Card, or regular 'blue' Oyster card, as soon as possible!

Here's the difference: A Student Oyster Card is available to all degree seeking students and study abroad students and interns. However, its only useful for students who travel a lot (every day almost), and purchase weekly, monthly, or annual travel cards. It is only on these travel cards that you will get the discount with the Student Oyster Card. You will not receive discounts on pay as you go.

You will need to apply for the Student Oyster Card, and you can do so online. Just go to
Transport for London's website, then go to 'Oyster', then 'Get and Oyster card', 'Photocards', then '18+ Student'. Student Affairs will verify your enrolment status. Paper applications are no longer available through Student Affairs, and any paper applications submitted to the TFL will be rejected.

If you don't purchase these types of travel cards because you do not travel enough to make it worth the money, then you can just apply for the regular 'blue' Oyster cards, available from almost all tube station counters. You will still receive discounts when using the pay as you go type of travel.

Please see Transport for London's website for more information including prices, tube and bus maps and everything else you need to know about travelling in London.

The Tube

Most of the city is divided into six circular zones, with zone 1 being the most central (Richmond is in zone 4). Before you set out anywhere, get hold of a free map available from most tube stations and work out how many zones you’ll be crossing with Transport for London's Journey Planner.

Single fares on the tube vary from £1.50 up to £4.00, and also vary depending on if you use Oyster or paper tickets. Don’t travel further than the zone for which your ticket is valid otherwise you will be fined. Tubes run from about 5.30am Monday to Saturday and from about 7am on Sundays. The last train is around 11.30 to 1am depending on the line.

A return paper ticket from Richmond to Central London (travel card for zones 1-4)will cost £9.00 if you want to go before 9am. Its only £5.90 if you travel after 0930 or at weekends. If you use Oyster, please consult Transport for London's website for current fares.

Buses

London’s buses are a great way to see the city, but the terrible traffic can make certain routes very slow and unreliable during rush hour traffic. Outside of rush hour, they work brilliantly and can be the best way to travel, depending on your route. The price is also great, recently changed to just £0.90 with Oyster!

Night buses (whose numbers are prefixed with an ‘N’) are London’s only all night public transport and run from 11.30pm to 6.00am.
Transport for London's Website has useful information including maps of Night bus routes which you can download.

Taxis

Black cabs : London’s famous black cabs are expensive, around £2 a mile but about 50 per cent more after midnight. They can take up to 5 passengers so fares work out more reasonable if there’s a group of you. You can stop a cab on the street and you’ll find them waiting outside stations and places like hotels throughout central London.

Minicabs : Minicabs are private taxis and you can’t stop them on the street like a black cab. It's illegal for them to hang around and offer to pick you up. Always book a mini cab by phone and ask the price first- the university has lists of reputable local companies. Minicabs are required by law to clearly display their licenceal - so always look for the cab licence number before getting into a mini cab.NEVER GET INTO AN UNLICENCED MINI CAB

Train

As an alternative to using the Tube you can use National Rail trains from Richmond to central London--it's often quicker than the Tube. Please keep in mind that you can only use Oyster cards on National Rail trains if you have a weekly, monthly or annual pass loaded onto your card. Pay as you go is not allowed on the majority of National Rail's routes.

If you’re heading off travelling around England or even further afield, trains are great but sometimes expensive, if tickets are bought at the last minute. A Young Persons Railcard will cost £24 a year and gets you discounts of about 30% on most train fares providing you’re under 26. Have a look at www.young-persons-railcard.co.uk. It is a very worthwhile investment if you plan on travelling around the UK on the trains.

For tickets and fares, please visit National Rail

Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/s/43.aspx