Low Emissions Zone

We prefer the visitor Oyster cards, which we’ve had for a few years. I seem to remember we had to apply for them before leaving home and you had to load them with £10 or £20. There after they can be topped up in a machine at most stations. We can then just keep them in an easy access pocket and saves getting the credit cards out in a busy station. They can stay secure in my money belt.

I remember looking into this as well, but I decided it was much easier to use my debit card and not have to bother with another card and topping up. I keep my debit card in my front trouser pocket when out in London (usually in jeans which keeps it pretty safe). My wallet with other cards and any cash is usually in my rucksack. I've never owned a money belt.

I think my cards are pretty secure, but you can never be sure of course. You're right that my method is higher risk as you stand to lose more if the debit card is lost or stolen; this is especially so with the increase in contactless limit to £100. As with lots of things, there is a trade off between risk and convenience and part of the decision, in this case, will depend on how risk averse you are.  

Ordinarily I keep my debit card in my wallet. I freely admit that, about three years ago, I did lose my debit card - I have no idea how and it was only my debit card not my other cards - and someone who either stole it or found it used it three times in shops nearby to my home, spending under £45 each time, as was the limit then, before I discovered the loss. My bank refunded the money, but perhaps that won't always be so.     

The ability to do contactless payments is being widened to a further 230 stations over the next few years - by the end of 2024 is the plan - but this extension will not apply to Oyster cards. It will include places like Reading and Southend, for example. It is costing £68m which seems to suggest that people like the ease of paying this way. Of course most bus companies now accept them as well; albeit not all of them on a tap-on and tap-off basis as yet.

There was talk, a year or two back, of ending Oyster cards altogether, and making payments contactless only. But that idea seems to have been dropped. There's no doubt that for Londoners Oyster is popular.      

Misled, not mislead! 

TW's link is the best way to find out what charge you have to pay when and what times its the Transport for London site so you won't go wrong I use every time we go to the Crystal Palace site the rules change frequently so always leave it until a couple of days before you pay and check again.

Some more great info...much appreciated everybody!!