Navigating London with an Oyster Card

by Colleen Brady, ICA Conference Coordinator

In addition to registering for ICA’s Annual Conference, preconferences, and excursions, registrants this year will be able to advance-purchase Oyster Cards through ICA. Oyster cards are smartcards that can be used in lieu of paper tickets on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, and London Overground in London. The Oyster card heavily discounts the cost of travel on public transportation, making it the most economical way to see London. They can be reused and never expire.

For $20 USD per card, ICA conference attendees will receive a card preloaded with £10, enough to cover the first 3-4 transit rides. The Oyster card itself ordinarily costs £5 before travel funds are loaded, but ICA has secured a group discount of £3 per card. Please note that Oyster cards ordered through ICA will be included in attendees' registration packets. Given this, the cards will not be available until Monday, 17 June at 8:00 AM.

How Oyster Card Works
To use the Oyster Card, simply touch it to the yellow card reader on the bus, Tube, tram, etc., at the start and end of your journey. Additional funds can be added to the card at all Tube stations, Oyster Ticket Stops and Travel Information Centres.

Oyster Card Rates

Zone		Cash		Oyster:  Peak		Oyster:  Off-peak		Oyster:  Peak Price Cap		Oyster:  Off-Peak Price Cap		Travelcard:  Day Anytime		Travelcard:  Day Off-Peak		Travelcard:  7 Day
Zone 1 Only		£4.50		£2.10		£2.10		£8.40		£7.00		£8.80		£7.30		£30.40
Zones 1-2		£4.50		£2.80		£2.10		£8.40		£7.00		£8.80		£7.30		£30.40
Zones 1-6 (Heathrow Airport)		£5.50		£5.00		£3.00		15.80		£8.50		£16.40		£8.90		£55.60

The above chart only shows a small portion of the travel options that exist in London, focusing on Zone 1 (central London, where the conference hotel is located) and Zone 2 (immediately surrounding central London). Heathrow International Airport is located in Zone 6. For more information on travel to other parts of London, visit the Transport for London webpage.