Travelcard or fare cap in London 2026: which is better value

London gives you two ways to avoid overpaying for frequent travel: pay contactless and rely on the automatic cap, or buy a Travelcard in advance. Their prices match, but small differences decide which is better for you.

How does the cap differ from a Travelcard?

The fare cap works by itself: you just touch one card, and after a daily or weekly limit further journeys are free. There is nothing to buy in advance and no money is tied up. The 7-day weekly cap equals the price of a 7 Day Travelcard — for example £44.70 for zones 1–2. So over a week of active travel there is almost no difference in cost.

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When is a Travelcard better?

A Travelcard makes sense if your travel week does not match the calendar week (Monday to Sunday): the weekly cap is counted strictly within that window, while a Travelcard runs for seven days from any start date. A Travelcard can also be linked to a Railcard for a discount on off-peak travel, and a paper or digital Travelcard helps if you split journeys across different cards and devices.

What about buses and trams?

These have their own fares. A single journey is £1.75 and the daily bus/tram cap is £5.25. If you only use surface transport, separate passes can pay off: a 1-day Bus & Tram Pass is £6.00 and a 7-day pass is £24.70. These prices are frozen until 5 July 2026.

How to choose

For most passengers it is simpler and no dearer to rely on the cap with contactless: no guessing your route in advance and no paying for a pass you do not fully use. Travelcards suit those who want a Railcard discount, a non-standard week, or a fixed price set in advance. Either way, use one card for all journeys, or the cap will not build up.

What if you only travel sometimes?

If you travel just a few days a week, you may never reach a weekly cap or a weekly Travelcard — so plain pay-as-you-go with the daily cap is usually cheapest. For occasional trips, keep the daily cap for your zones in mind. If your route mixes central and outer zones, the cap adjusts to the furthest zone you touched that day. A Travelcard can be better value when an employer offers an interest-free season ticket loan and the cost is spread over the year. Before buying, always compare the weekly cap with a 7-day Travelcard for your exact zones.

Check current prices in TfL's prices section.