This page explains how to pay on London’s buses and trams in London, which tickets and passes are available and who travels free or at a reduced fare. It applies to every route in the city.
How to pay
London’s buses and trams do not take cash. You pay with a contactless bank card or phone, or with an Oyster card: on a bus you touch in on the yellow reader as you board, and for the tram you touch in at the stop before boarding. Daily and weekly (Monday to Sunday) capping applies, so you never pay more than the cap however many trips you make.
Paper Bus Saver tickets and the One Day Bus & Tram Pass are also available. You must touch in even after reaching the cap and show your ticket when asked.
Tickets and passes
With the Hopper fare you can make unlimited bus and tram journeys for the price of one within one hour of your first touch in, as long as you use the same card; it does not work with a negative Oyster balance. The Bus & Tram Pass season ticket and the One Day Bus & Tram Pass are valid on both buses and trams.
Who travels free or at a reduced fare
Children under 11 travel free on buses and trams without a ticket; those aged 11 to 15 travel free only with an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard and must touch in. 16+ Zip Oyster holders travel free on buses and trams if they meet the scheme’s conditions, and the 18+ Student Oyster gives reduced season tickets.
London residents aged 60 and over with a 60+ London Oyster travel from 9:00 on weekdays and all day at weekends. The older Freedom Pass is valid at all times except journeys starting between 4:30 and 9:00 on weekdays, and the disabled Freedom Pass at any time; national concessionary passes from elsewhere in England are not valid on trams. Wheelchair users travel free on buses. Penalty fares apply, including for not touching in.
What we could not confirm
This page is based on the TfL Conditions of Carriage dated 24 September 2026; check the details on the TfL website before you travel.
Checked on 30 September 2026. Sources: Transport for London, Conditions of Carriage (24 September 2026); GOV.UK, England National Concessionary Travel Scheme.