No you don't need both. The Oyster covers tube, bus, DLR, tram (everything).

The other one ONLY covers buses and trams.

(By the time this trip is over, you are going to know more about public transport than you ever thought possible )

£30.40 Oyster 7 day travel card for zone 1 and 2???

janisj I know what you mean!! I hope you know how much I appreciate it!!! I tend get a little crazy but I think you know that!!!

My niece is coming us and her mother (my twin sister) wanted to know prices of stuff like this and really dont want her to be surprised!!

another thing - I read on another thread about a ??? about photo for 7 day travel card - is this just for season tickets or do we need pics???

>>another thing - I read on another thread about a ??? about photo for 7 day travel card <<

That's only if you're buying the paper version from a national rail company, or if someone's claiming a young person's discount from TfL. If you're putting an adult 7-day travelcard on to the TfL Oystercard you don't need a photocard as well.

another thing - I read on another thread about a ??? about photo for 7 day travel card

That's if you buy them from a National Rail ticket office (ie all the main TRAIN stations in central London and SOME of the other smaller TRAIN stations)

The main reason to do that is because of the offers on daysoutguide.com for which the Travelcard bought at a National Rail office is eligible.

The odds are that with 5 in your group there would be significant savings, probably enough to cover the full cost of the Travelcards

Re alanRow's post - You will have R-T train tickets from Gatwick, right? If so, you will be covered for the 2for1 offers the whole time you are in London. Just get the Oysters as you planned.

yes if you have a return ticket to Gatwick a one-way in will get you discounts only on that day - so be sure as janisj says to buy a return ticket from Gatwick to any London station and besides the Gatwick Express there are competing railway companies serving many other London stations cheaper than to Gatwick and perhaps close to your hotel - like trains to practically any London station, sometimes with a change of train required.

Cheapskates may buy a return ticket from Gatwick to East Croydon and from there since that is part of the Transport for London system use there week long Travel Card from there. Probably not worth the few quid you could save however.

planning to buy the five adult train tickets through national rail Gatwick to Victoria - and return trip. THIS will cover the 2for1 - no need for photos then??

no photos - check . . .

great!!! Now I need help figuring out Gatwick to Victoria - I dont really want gatwick express (read cheapest) but when I do the search with five people it uses gatwick express...

see my post on your other thread

Are you using www.nationalrail.co.uk? I see fares from £37 for 5 adults on Southern. Perhaps you have checked 'fastest trains only' or something like that which would only bring up the Express as it can be a few minutes or more faster than the Southern service...

When you get the list of trains -- all the '30 min' ones are the Express. The 33 min, 35 min, etc ones are the cheaper, 'slower' Southern services.

Gatwick Express is however a kind of (used to be totally) dedicated airport train that went non-stop to Victoria - not sure it is non-stop now but it has much more room for luggage than typical Southern trains may - when I have boarded Southern trains at Gatwick at times they were already chock full with commuters from the south and it would be hard to find space for several folks and their luggage - consider paying extra IMO for the Gatwick Express and the more relaxed trip it presents, especially for folks with luggage. Cheapest is not always the best IMO.

janisj I am not finding that at all!! I am entering Gatwick Airport leaving 8 am London Victoria arriving 7 am checking return - dates are March 14 and March 19 - fast trains is NOT checked - its still coming up Gatwick Express. Goodness!!!

When I get off at Gatwick are there different windows for Southern and Express OR can I tell them I need 5 tickets and ask for cheapest tickets - I know lines can be long and they might what me to know what the hell I am doing......

I have diagnosed myself with OCD - first step right??

sorry I thought it was janisj who posted about all five for £37 - jamikins can you tell me HOW you got that??

palenQ I do appreciate that and I will consider it!!

There is no advantage to the Express . . . There used to be the advantage of buying your tix on board saving some hassle. But you can no longer buy on board so the regular trains are just as good.

oh2doula: I have no idea what you are seeing - but when I plug in a weekday morning Gatwick to Victoria I get a list of trains and they range from 30 mins to 34 mins. If I click details on a 30min one it shows it is the Express. If I click details on a 33 min one - it is a Southern.

and to clarify -I'm using nationalrail.co.uk

geeze - what price are you getting?? I will look again... I so appreciate this

I am seeing that too janisj but its still £104

if you wait until 9:30 you can get the group discount . . .

If you must travel at 0800 - then yes, you'll pay just over £20pp.