How to save money on transport in London

It can be very expensive to travel in London, so here are some ways you can save a little money on your daily transport. If you’re lucky, you’ll live close enough to walk or cycle, but personally I commute in every day which can cost up to £10 a day. Despite that, I’ve been able to implement some simple changes to bring those costs down and make travelling a little bit more student-friendly!

Here are some quick tips to get you saving:

1. Get a student Oyster card
Sign up for a student Oyster card on the Transport for London website. This will need to be approved by the university, so get going with your application as soon as possible once you’ve enrolled. The card itself won’t save you money, but you’ll need it for step 2. However, if you’re at university or placement five days a week, it might be worth considering a monthly or annual travelcard which is discounted with a student Oyster card.

2. Railcard

All students can sign up for a 16-25 railcard, no matter their age! As a mature student, I didn’t realise that, but it’s a gamechanger – you get discount of 1/3 off when travelling off-peak, so it’s well worth doing. To do this, apply for your Railcard, then take the card and your Oyster card to a tube station and speak to a member of staff. They’ll apply the Railcard discount to your Oyster and you’ll be able to start saving immediately. You’ll also get 1/3 off rail travel if you’re travelling outside of London – great for day trips!

3. Look at alternative methods of travel

The bus is cheaper than the tube, so if you can replace any of your tube journeys with buses, go for it. Also, London residents can now enjoy the Hopper fare, which means that you can make unlimited bus journeys within an hour of touching in for £1.75.

Also, Lime bikes or TfL’s Santander Cycles are a great way to get around for shorter journeys – cycling in London can seem scary at first, but it’s a really great option. Just make sure you wear a helmet!

Hopefully those are helpful tips which will reduce the impact of London travel on your student budget. Please do share your own in the comments if you have any other suggestions or top tips.

Reply 1

ElenaCityUni

Official Rep

Great post here! I was a little late to get my railcard and regret waiting as I missed out on some savings. I'd definitely recommend getting the student railcard sooner so you can start saving ESPECIALLY with the recent rise in TfL prices over last weekend (check it out here: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/new-fares?intcmp=81985)