Family Holiday

[Richie]

Hi all, my family and I are popping down to visit your big village for a few days at the end of July start of August.
Were staying at the Union Jack Club and I was wondering how the Congestion charge thingy works for a car travelling in and out of the village.

Also - is it better to get an oyster card each or can you get a family one for a week for the village transport system.

Thank you in advance for your input and hopefully see you on a friday night in Soho soon

[Littlepeahead]

You need an Oyster card each adult, how old are the kids as they probably go free.

Congestion I think you can pay online each day.

If I'm at work and it isn't during the Test match then pop up to Lord's and I'll show you around.

[pookie]

i believe you can drive in and out after 6:30 pm without charge

[jambo]

Looks like your hotel is at Waterloo, and thus inside the congestion charging zone.

Pookie's right, there's no charge from 6pm - 7am in the week. Weekends, bank holidays etc are all free, but you have to be a sadist to travel by car in London unless you have to

Details here:

Oyster cards are 1 per person over 5, travel is free for under 5's and from 5-18 there are a series of discount cards if you apply in advance, depends on how often you'll be travelling whether it's worth it. You can also buy travel cards per person per day which may work out easier if it's only a few days, these don't have RFID chips and just use the magnetic strip readers. In either case travel during the weekend or after 9:30am in the week is significantly cheaper as it's "off-peak".

Jambo

[Littlepeahead]

But be aware there is an afternoon peak on the tubes too.

Basically with Oyster you'll never end up paying more than you would for a day travel card. I think there is a deposit you have to pay when you get one but you get that back at the end if you remember to ask for it.

Just don't try and pay cash for any travel as it's an absolute rip off.

Also if you fancy doing a boat trip down the Thames with the kids then you get a discount for being an Oyster card holder on the Clipper. It's good fun, costs loads less than the touristy trips and you get a great view of all the sights. We always jump on at the London Eye then tube it back into Central London.

http://www.thamesclippers.com/

[pookie]

and the buses dont take cash now from what I remember

[Littlepeahead]

They do from some stops. Mostly just outside the centre.

[Richie]

Thank you, Thank you Guys for all the information

and Claire, would love to take you up on your offer of a look around Lords
that would be fantastic.

[Littlepeahead]

Just have a look at the website for fixtures. I'm around most weekdays but pm me the dates when you know them. Even our it's a weekend I'm sometimes still about.

[JediGoat]

Regarding oyster cards, you can buy them (and top them up) from any shop showing the blue oyster card logo (and obviously from stations). There are lots and lots and lots of shops that sell oyster cards and top-ups!

The card itself costs £5 (i.e. that is the cost of the card and not credit balance for traveling with, you have to add that on top), but you can get your £5 refunded if you hand your card back into a 'main' underground station (shops won't redeem the cards, they only sell them). Seeing as you'll be spitting distance from Waterloo station, you can redeem the deposit there at the end of your trip.

And before you ask, no I don't work for London Underground! I went through this myself and now keep a couple of spare oyster cards for when friends/family from the outside world visit.

More info here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-informa...siting-london/

HTH
Jo