I'll be commuting to uni in London soon (everyday, 5 days a week) and was confused as to which tickets/ railcards would work out cheapest. I've heard that the 16-25 railcard is good but that it only works now if you have an oyster card, but apparently any stations west of West Drayton (which mine is) don't accept them. I'll also be leaving at peak time every day or most days and I've heard they only work off peak. I've also heard about contactless. Would contactless work out cheaper than using a rail card, or is it possible to use the rail card when paying contactless? Or would it be better to buy tickets at the ticket machine every day, and if so is it cheaper getting two single tickets or one single + return ticket?
So in short, should I get a 16-25 rail card, and if so how would I use one? If not then what would be the best way for me to pay?