60+ Oyster photocard: free London travel after 60

The 60+ Oyster photocard gives free travel to people aged 60 or over who live in a London borough. Transport for London (TfL) issues it. It is separate from the State Pension: you do not have to wait for pension age.

Who qualifies for the 60+ card?

Anyone who is 60 or older and lives in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London. You can apply from two weeks before your 60th birthday. You cannot hold the card if you already have a Veterans Oyster photocard, and it is cancelled if you move out of London.

ONLYWAY NEWSLIVETravel · 14.1160+ Oyster photocard: free London travel after 60Law · 14.11Studded tyres in Britain: the law, the fines and what winter really needsMoney · 13.11What heating costs in London this winter, and who the price cap leaves outLife · 13.11English with a British family and courses in Oxford: checking the school and the visaBooks · 13.11The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton — a book for the night: the opening, the author and a London trailLife · 13.11Which conditions a driver must report to the DVLAMoney · 13.11Student loans: new repayment thresholds for 2027–2028Law · 13.11Water bosses’ bonuses under review as the government hunts for workaroundsLife · 13.11York: what to see, what to pay for and what is freeLaw · 13.11E-bikes: new safety rules for conversion kits, 2026ONLYWAY NEWS · appInstall the ONLYWAY NEWS appFresh UK news, classifieds, key dates and exchange rates on your home screen, one tap away. Free.NewsClassifiedsCalendarRates

What does it cost?

It costs £20 to apply. On top of that there is a non-refundable £10 yearly address-check fee that confirms you still live in London. Reapplying costs £20 again. The travel itself is free.

Where and when can you travel free?

Free journeys apply on buses, the Tube, trams, the DLR, London Overground, the Elizabeth line (not between West Drayton and Reading) and most National Rail services within London. River Services and Santander Cycle Hire give discounts rather than free travel.

• TfL services: free Monday to Friday except 04:30 to 09:00; free all day at weekends and on bank holidays.
• Most National Rail services: free on weekdays except 04:30 to 09:30; free all day at weekends and on public holidays.
• Some Southern and Southeastern routes are free only from 09:00 or 09:30.

How do you apply?

Apply online on the TfL website. You need an email address, passport or UK driving licence details, a scanned passport image and a digital photo, and a debit or credit card registered at your London address. If you cannot apply online, you may be asked to take a verification letter to a Post Office with proof of age and address and pay £20 there.

What else to know

With the 60+ card, buses, the Tube and city trains are fully free, while London River Services and Santander Cycle Hire give a discount rather than free travel. The key thing is not to forget the yearly £10 fee and address check: if it is unpaid, or if you move out of London, the card is stopped. So holders need to pass the annual address check each year, or the free travel ends.

What happens next?

The 60+ card lasts until you qualify for a Freedom Pass, the free pass for older and disabled Londoners issued by London Councils once the photocard expires, provided you meet its criteria. Until then the 60+ card renews each year when you pay the £10 fee and confirm your address.