Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe
A Zones 1-2 Travelcard loaded on a standard Oyster card can make frequent travel around central London simple, but the original price and several coverage rules are easy to misunderstand. The pass covers unlimited rail travel inside Zones 1 and 2, plus TfL bus travel across Greater London. You still need Pay As You Go credit for rail journeys beyond Zone 2, and a Zones 1-2 pass does not cover London trams.
Quick Answer
A 7-Day Zones 1-2 Travelcard on a standard Oyster card gives unlimited rail travel within Zones 1 and 2 and unlimited TfL bus travel across Greater London. The adult price is £44.70 in 2026. Add Pay As You Go credit for rail trips beyond Zone 2. Trams are not included.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 adult price for a 7-Day Zones 1-2 Travelcard is £44.70, not £22.20.
- Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and participating National Rail travel are covered when the full rail journey stays within Zones 1 and 2.
- Any Travelcard is valid on TfL buses throughout Greater London, even when the bus travels beyond Zone 2.
- Add Pay As You Go credit for rail trips to Kew Gardens, Richmond, Wimbledon, Heathrow, and other stations outside the covered zones.
- A Travelcard can be loaded onto a standard Oyster card, but not onto a Visitor Oyster card.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 5 to 10 minutes to buy or load the pass and check your route |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | A standard Oyster card, a payment method, and the TfL map or journey planner |
| Cost | £44.70 for the adult 7-Day Zones 1-2 Travelcard in 2026, plus £7 if you need a new standard Oyster card and extra PAYG credit for uncovered trips |
What a Zone 1-2 Oyster Travelcard Covers
A 7-Day Zones 1-2 Travelcard gives you unlimited journeys for seven consecutive days on covered rail services when your whole journey stays within Zones 1 and 2. This includes the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and most National Rail services in London. Central destinations such as Westminster, Oxford Circus, Camden Town, London Bridge, and Canary Wharf are within the covered area.
The bus rule is wider. According to TfL’s Travelcard guidance, any valid Travelcard can be used on TfL buses throughout Greater London, regardless of the zones printed on it. However, a Zones 1-2 Travelcard does not cover trams because tram use requires a Travelcard that includes Zone 3, 4, 5, or 6.
| Service | Zones 1-2 Travelcard coverage |
|---|---|
| Tube, DLR, London Overground, and Elizabeth line | Unlimited when the full journey stays within Zones 1 and 2 |
| Most National Rail services in London | Included within Zones 1 and 2, subject to operator and route exclusions |
| TfL buses | Included throughout Greater London, not only in Zones 1 and 2 |
| London trams | Not included with a Zones 1-2 Travelcard |
| River Bus and most sightseeing river tours | Not free, but a valid Travelcard gives a one-third discount on eligible services |
| Heathrow Express and other excluded airport express services | Not covered by the Travelcard; pay a separate fare |
Note: The one-third river discount does not make the boat journey free. Check the current TfL river fare rules and touch in as directed by the operator.
How to Use a Zone 1-2 Oyster Travelcard
Using the Travelcard is simple once it has been loaded onto a standard Oyster card. Follow these steps so the system records your journeys correctly.
- Load the Travelcard: Buy a 7-Day Zones 1-2 Travelcard for a standard Oyster card at a supported station, Oyster Ticket Stop, or through an eligible Oyster account.
- Add PAYG credit if needed: Keep enough Pay As You Go balance for rail journeys that go beyond Zone 2 or use a service not covered by the Travelcard.
- Touch in and out on rail: Use the yellow reader at the start and end of Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and National Rail journeys, including at stations without ticket gates.
- Touch in only on buses: Tap once when you board a bus. Do not tap again when you get off.
- Use pink readers when instructed: At some interchanges, a pink reader confirms the route you took and may prevent an unnecessary Zone 1 charge.
- Check the reader: A green light and confirmation tone show that the touch was accepted. If you see a red light, try again or ask a staff member for help.
Warning: Missing a touch in or touch out can create an incomplete journey and lead to a maximum fare. Always use the same Oyster card for the full journey, and keep bank cards or phones away from the reader to avoid card clash.
Pro Tip: Register your standard Oyster card in a TfL account so you can review journey history, manage top-ups, and request help with unexpected charges.
When You Need an Extra Fare Outside Zone 2
You need an extra rail fare when any part of your Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, or participating National Rail journey goes beyond Zones 1 and 2. If your Travelcard and PAYG credit are on the same standard Oyster card, the system normally uses the Travelcard for the covered part and deducts the extension fare from your PAYG balance.
You do not need to leave the train or tap at a zone boundary. Touch in at the start, touch out at the end, and use any pink route validator required during the journey. Oyster then calculates the fare from your actual route and the zones covered by your Travelcard.
A Zones 1-2 Travelcard limits rail coverage, but it does not limit TfL bus travel to those zones. A bus journey elsewhere in Greater London remains covered.
Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6, so a Zones 1-2 Travelcard does not cover the full Piccadilly line or Elizabeth line journey. Add enough PAYG credit before you travel. Heathrow Express is not included in the Travelcard and requires its own fare.
Examples of Trips Beyond Zone 2
The following examples show how a Zones 1-2 Travelcard works on common journeys. Station zones and exact extension fares can change, so check the official TfL Single Fare Finder before travelling.
| Trip | What happens | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Central London to Kew Gardens | The rail journey goes beyond Zone 2 | PAYG credit for the uncovered part |
| Central London to Richmond | Richmond is outside Zones 1 and 2 | PAYG credit for the extension fare |
| Central London to Wimbledon | The rail trip reaches Zone 3 | PAYG credit or a Travelcard covering Zone 3 |
| Central London to Heathrow | The Tube or Elizabeth line journey reaches Zone 6 | Enough PAYG credit for the uncovered zones |
| Earl’s Court to central London | Earl’s Court is on the Zones 1 and 2 boundary, so this trip is covered | No extra fare when the journey remains within Zones 1 and 2 |
| TfL bus from central London to an outer London area | Bus travel is not restricted by the Travelcard’s printed zones | Your valid Travelcard and one touch when boarding |
Zone 1-2 Oyster Travelcard Cost in 2026
From 1 March 2026, the adult price of a 7-Day Zones 1-2 Travelcard is £44.70. The Zones 1-2 PAYG daily cap is £8.90. On Tube and rail services where TfL’s zonal fares apply, an adult PAYG journey spanning Zones 1 and 2 is £3.60 at peak times or £3.10 off-peak. These figures come from the official March 2026 TfL fare decision.
| Option | 2026 adult price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Day Zones 1-2 Travelcard | £44.70 | Frequent travel over any seven consecutive days, especially when the trip crosses a Monday |
| PAYG daily cap for Zones 1-2 | £8.90 per day | Light or flexible travel where you may not reach the cap every day |
| PAYG weekly cap for Zones 1-2 | £44.70, calculated Monday to Sunday | Frequent travel contained within one Monday-to-Sunday week |
Five days at the full £8.90 daily cap total £44.50, which is 20p less than the 7-Day Travelcard. However, PAYG weekly capping can stop eligible Monday-to-Sunday travel at £44.70. The Travelcard becomes more useful when you need unlimited travel across a rolling seven-day period, such as Wednesday through Tuesday, because PAYG weekly capping resets on Monday.
How to Save Money With an Oyster Travelcard
- Count your actual travel days: PAYG may cost less if you travel on only a few days or make short trips that do not reach the daily cap.
- Check the calendar: A 7-Day Travelcard can start on any chosen day, while PAYG weekly capping runs from Monday to Sunday.
- Compare a Bus & Tram Pass: If you only plan to use buses and trams, the separate pass may cost less than a Zones 1-2 Travelcard.
- Use one payment method: Do not switch between Oyster, a bank card, a phone, and a watch. TfL cannot combine those journeys for capping.
- Top up only what you need: Add a sensible PAYG balance for known outside-zone trips, then check your journey history after travel.
- Check foreign card fees: Contactless can be convenient, but an overseas bank may add transaction or exchange fees.
Note: A Travelcard can be loaded onto a standard Oyster card. TfL states that a Visitor Oyster card cannot hold a Travelcard. Visitors who already have a Visitor Oyster card must use PAYG or get a standard Oyster card for a 7-Day Travelcard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to travel from Zone 1 to Zone 2?
For an adult PAYG Tube or rail journey spanning Zones 1 and 2 under TfL’s zonal fares, the 2026 price is £3.60 peak or £3.10 off-peak. A valid Zones 1-2 Travelcard covers the trip without an extra fare. Use TfL’s Single Fare Finder because some National Rail routes and special services use different fares.
Is Oyster PAYG or a 7-Day Travelcard cheaper?
PAYG is often cheaper for occasional travel. The Zones 1-2 daily cap is £8.90, so five capped days total £44.50. The 7-Day Travelcard costs £44.70. PAYG weekly capping is also £44.70 but runs Monday to Sunday, while a 7-Day Travelcard can cover any seven consecutive days.
Do you get unlimited travel within the selected zones?
Yes. You get unlimited travel on covered Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and participating National Rail journeys within Zones 1 and 2 for the Travelcard’s valid period. TfL bus travel is covered throughout Greater London.
Can I link my Oyster card and Travelcard?
You do not link two separate cards. You load the Travelcard onto a standard Oyster card. The same Oyster card can also hold PAYG credit for journeys beyond the Travelcard zones.
Can I load a 7-Day Travelcard onto a Visitor Oyster card?
No. TfL says Visitor Oyster cards cannot hold Travelcards. Use the Visitor Oyster card as PAYG, or buy a standard Oyster card if you want to load a 7-Day Travelcard.
Are buses outside Zone 2 covered?
Yes. TfL buses do not use the rail zone restriction in the same way. Any valid Travelcard covers TfL bus journeys throughout Greater London, even when the bus route travels beyond Zone 2.
Does a Zones 1-2 Travelcard cover Heathrow Airport?
No. Heathrow is in Zone 6. Add PAYG credit for a Piccadilly line or Elizabeth line extension beyond Zone 2. Heathrow Express is not included in the Travelcard and needs a separate fare.
Do I tap out when leaving a London bus?
No. Touch your Oyster card once when you board a bus. Touching out is required for rail journeys such as the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and National Rail, but not when you get off a bus.
Conclusion
A Zones 1-2 Oyster Travelcard is useful when you make frequent trips across central London for seven consecutive days. It covers unlimited eligible rail travel within Zones 1 and 2 and TfL buses across Greater London. Add PAYG credit before any rail trip beyond Zone 2, touch correctly, and compare the £44.70 Travelcard with PAYG daily and weekly caps before buying.
Sources
- London City Hall: March 2026 TfL fare changes: 2026 Travelcard prices, PAYG caps, and Tube and rail single fares.
- Transport for London: Best ways for visitors to pay: Oyster cost, PAYG capping, Travelcard loading, and touching rules.
- TfL Visitor Shop: Ticket comparison and Travelcard validity: covered services, bus validity, tram rules, and excluded services.
- TfL Visitor Shop: Visitor Oyster Card: confirms that Visitor Oyster cards cannot hold Travelcards.
- Transport for London: Single Fare Finder: route-specific PAYG fare checks.
- Transport for London: River fares: Travelcard discounts and river payment rules.