The TFL offers discounts that all Londoners should be conscious of and take advantage of if applicable

Almost all Londoners are impacted in one way or another by the immense cost of transport. While we believe that the status quo of the TFL is unjust and inherently fosters inequality (see Problems & Policies), it is also important to remember that the TFL has existing discounts, and elleligible Londoners should take advantage of them. A study by London TravelWatch revealed that many people struggling with the cost of transport are not aware of them and thus subject to an unnecessary financial burden.

Some criteria for eligibility include being a student, claiming certain benefits, and looking for work. A detailed description of each discount can be found on the TFL’s website. We aim to do our part in spreading awareness about these discounts, and so these discounts are summarised below - however if you are unclear or want a more detailed explanation make sure to check the website itself to minimise your transport costs.

• Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount: Discounted travel if are unemployed and looking for work in London. You must be claiming benefits and have been unemployed for at least 13 weeks


• Veterans Oyster photocard: Free and discounted travel for eligible veterans.


• 18-25 Care Leaver Oyster photocard: Discounted travel if you have left foster care and are between the ages of 18 and 25.


• 18+ Student Oyster photocard: Discounted travel if you are studying for more than 15 hours each week you are likely eligible this photocard, unfortunately this does exclude people taking evening classes, however if you are studying in any capacity it is still a good idea to check your eligibility on the TFL website.


• Apprentice Oyster photocard: Discounted travel if you are taking an apprenticeship for a minimum of 12 months.


• Annual Gold Card Discount: Allows discounted travel during off peak times, and is available if you have a travelcard.


• Bus & Tram Discount photocard: Available if you are claiming Universal Credit or other benefits then you may also be eligible for discounted bus and tram travel.


• Zip cards: These photocards offer discounted travel and, for children younger than 10, free travel.


• 60+ Oyster: These photocards offer free travel from 9:00 onwards on weekdays and whole-day on weekends.

Unfortunately many of the discounts provided by TFL do not apply to London Underground, where prices are the most extreme, only bus and tram services. In VERY select circumstances it may also be a good idea to look into the possibility of an annual travelcard. Depending on what zones you plan to commute through they cost between £1700 and £3100 per year. If you have secure employment for the foreseeable future but are still struggling with the cost of transport, then it might be worth calculating your yearly expenditure to see whether an annual discount could possibly provide some kind of net savings. However, unlike other major European cities like Paris, travelcards in London are completely uneconomical (a month's travelcard for all zones in Paris is £73). Hence it is unlikely most Londoners would benefit from purchasing one.

For those who also travel using National Rail, you can purchase Railcards, which offer discounts in National Rail services.