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Everything You Need to Know About the Freedom Pass Application Process with TFL

Are you a London resident aged 60 or over, or someone with a disability who relies on public transportation? If so, you may be eligible for the Freedom Pass offered by Transport for London (TFL). This valuable pass provides free travel on buses, trams, and trains throughout London and beyond. In this article, we will guide you through the application process for the Freedom Pass with TFL, ensuring that you have all the information you need to begin enjoying the benefits of this fantastic scheme.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying for a Freedom Pass with TFL, it’s essential to understand the eligibility requirements. The scheme is available to two main groups: older adults aged 60 or over and individuals with disabilities.

For older adults, eligibility is straightforward. If you are a London resident aged 60 or over, you can apply for a Freedom Pass. However, it’s worth noting that if you are not yet 60 but will turn 60 within three months of your application date, you can still apply in advance.

For individuals with disabilities, there are various criteria that must be met. You must provide proof of your disability by submitting relevant documents such as a letter from your doctor or medical professional confirming your condition. TFL accepts several types of disabilities under their eligibility criteria.

How to Apply

Once you have determined that you meet the eligibility requirements for a Freedom Pass with TFL, it’s time to start the application process. Applying for a Freedom Pass is simple and can be done online through TFL’s official website.

To begin your application online, visit the TFL website and search for “Freedom Pass application.” You will find a dedicated page where you can fill out an application form. Make sure to have all necessary documents ready before starting the process. This includes proof of age or disability, proof of address, and a recent passport-sized photograph.

The online application form will ask for personal details such as your name, address, and contact information. It will also require you to provide information about your eligibility, including any disabilities or medical conditions you have. Ensure that all information provided is accurate and up to date.

Processing Time and Notification

After submitting your application online, the processing time may vary. TFL aims to process applications within 28 days of receiving all necessary documents. However, it’s important to note that during busy periods, such as around holidays or peak travel seasons, processing times may be slightly longer.

Once your application has been processed, TFL will notify you of their decision by post. If your application is successful, congratulations. You will receive your Freedom Pass in the mail within a few weeks. If there are any issues with your application or further documentation is required, TFL will provide instructions on how to proceed.

Renewing Your Freedom Pass

The Freedom Pass provided by TFL is valid for an indefinite period for older adults aged 60 or over. However, if you have a disability-related pass (blue card), it may have an expiry date depending on the nature of your disability.

To renew your Freedom Pass when necessary, TFL will send you a renewal reminder before the expiration date. The renewal process is usually straightforward and can be done online through the TFL website. Alternatively, you can also renew by phone or post if preferred.

Remember to keep an eye on the expiration date of your pass to ensure uninterrupted access to free travel across London’s public transportation network.

In conclusion, applying for a Freedom Pass with TFL provides eligible individuals with invaluable benefits in terms of free travel throughout London and beyond. By understanding the eligibility requirements and following the simple application process outlined above, you can take advantage of this fantastic opportunity and enjoy the freedom to explore everything that the city has to offer. Don’t wait any longer; apply for your Freedom Pass today.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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London Underground - 2023 fares and how to use them

Be informed and in control using london's underground / metro system.

For the visitor to London the Underground or Tube will probably be the transport of choice to get around town. The Underground is normally the fastest way to get around town, often much faster than any taxi.

There is invariably an underground station nearby where you want to go and also your hotel and finding your way around the system is very easy. 

There are currently 13 Underground lines, with the Elizabeth Line the latest, which opened in May 2022.

Journey planner   Map   DLR, overground & TfL   Oyster card, contactless & Travelcards   Night service   Fares   Concessions   Child fares   Group tickets   Purchasing tickets   Access

Key points about the London Underground

It is still encouraged to wear a facemask when using public transport in London, but it is no longer mandatory.

The authorities penalise you heavily for buying single journey tickets. In the centre you can pay more than double the price than if you used an Oyster Card for example.

A single journey on the London Underground can involve 1 or 2 changes of train. Your journey starts when you go through the ticket barrier of the station entrance you depart from and finishes when you pass through the ticket barrier at the exit of your destination. You cannot break a journey on a single fare, once you go though an exit barrier of a station that is journey completed.

The buses, Underground, DLR and London suburban trains are managed by a central government body called Transport for London (TfL) chaired by the Mayor of London. The transport passes that nearly everyone uses, Oyster and Travelcard, allow you to travel seamlessly across all modes of transport, bus, Underground, train and DLR using the same ticket/pass.

Children under 11 travel free on the London Underground and DLR (Docklands Light Railway) at all times. Child fares are available for those under 16 and it is possible to get discounted fares if you are under 18 or studying in London with an ID card.

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are over 60 you can get a pass that makes free bus and Underground travel available. If you have an English National Concessionary bus pass you cannot use it on the London Underground (but you can use it on London's red buses).

The London Underground is closed from around midnight until around 5am, getting started a little later on Sundays. However on Friday and Saturday nights, much of the Underground runs through the night. In Central London there is a very good night bus network when the Underground is closed.

You will rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes for an Underground train at any time of the day.

London Journey Planner - for all types of transport across London

Use the TfL (Transport for London) journey planner to plan your travel. The journey planner covers all public transport.

TFL Journey planner

London Underground map

The London Underground map is a classic design that when first launched was immediately taken up worldwide for similar systems. The clarity, simplicity and ease of use compromises strict geographical accuracy.

The Circle line doesn't really go around in a squashed circle and it is not apparent for instance that Bayswater Underground is only 100 yards from Queensway.

In 2016 the Night Tube was introduced. On Friday and Saturday nights only Underground trains run through the night. For lines that operate a night service see the Night Tube map linked below or on the right-menu.

In May 2022 the long awaited Elizabeth Line opened its first section. The Elizabeth Line provides a route connecting East and West London. Find out more about the new Elizabeth Line .

Underground map   Tube & rail map   Night tube map

Docklands Light Railway (DLR), overground and TfL rail trains

To the east of London in the Docklands region you will see a region covered by something called the DLR (Docklands Light Railway). You can treat this network as just another Underground line.

Not in the centre of London, but in the suburbs you will find a train network called the Overground which can also be thought of as being part of the Underground for ticketing purposes.

Commuter trains into the suburbs are very confusing for the visitor. You can still use Oysters and Travelcards on these but those lines run by the national railways only give free travel to children under 5.

In the north and east of London most of these services are now run by TfL Rail or the Overground so free travel is available to children under 11, but to the south and west of London, services are still dominated by national railways companies.

The Tube and rail map usefully shows which railway stations are in which travel zones. Travel zones are the basis for fare charges on London's railways and Underground system.

London Underground Night Service - the Night Tube

In 2016 the London Underground began to introduce a full 24/7 service on Friday and Saturday nights only. Introduction has been on a phased basis.

Night Tube services are now running on the Central, Victoria, Jubilee line, Northern line (Charing Cross branch) and Piccadilly line (but not Acton to Uxbridge branch). The Night Tube will offer a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays. Standard off-peak fares are levied for travelling on the Night Tube using Oyster and Contactless cards.

Travelcards are valid from the first day of issue (using the date printed on the card), and for journeys starting before 4.30am the following day. For example, if you buy a 1-day Travelcard at 11am on Friday, you can use it until 4.29 on the following Saturday.

Night Tube map - current lines operated

London Underground fares

The London public transport system is divided up into zones that radiate from the centre. Nearly all the hotels and the main sights are in Zone 1. Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6 and the furthest zone out is Zone 9.

The majority of visitors will only travel in the two most central zones 1 and 2. The Underground Map (link above) has the stations and their zones marked.

Some stations, such as Turnham Green, are in two zones. You use whichever zone for these stations is most beneficial in working out your fare.

Underground fares

You can see from the table below there is big financial incentive not to purchase individual tickets and use an Oyster card or Contactless payment card .

The other main way of paying is purchasing a Travelcard , which is a pass giving you unlimited travel for a set time period. The cost goes up with the coverage of zones required. The more zones you require the more expensive the Travelcard.

London Underground Fares 2023

Oyster cards, contactless payment cards & travelcards.

As you can see from the above fare structure the authorities do not want you to buy single tickets, they want you to purchase one of the three payment options, Oyster cards, Contactless payment cards or Travelcards.

The Oyster card is a permanent reusable electronic ticket which is topped up from time to time by its owner. Londoners also have their season tickets loaded onto Oyster cards as well and there are passes for one weekly and monthly durations. All can be loaded onto the one electronic Oyster card.

Contactless cards are standard credit or debit cards that support the contactless payment technology, the total cost of all the journeys that you make in one day is calculated at the end of the day and a single charge is made to your Contactless payment card account.

Unlike the Oyster card the contactless facility has a 7-day cap as well as the Oyster daily cap used by Oyster.

You can use Oyster cards on all of London's public transport, not just the Underground, but buses, overground, DLR, suburban rail services and some river services.

Travelcards are another alternatives. Travelcards are valid on the same modes of transport but are unlimited travel passes for a fixed flat fee. Travelcards are available for 1 and 7 days, 1 month and 1 year durations.

You can purchase and subsequently top up Oyster cards and Travelcards from Underground stations and a wide variety of other outlets throughout London including neighbourhood stores, but not Contactless payment cards.

Oyster cards - more details

Contactless payment cards - more details

Travelcards - more details

Seniors concessions

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are of pensionable age you can get a Freedom pass giving free travel. If you are 60+ and live in London the Seniors Oyster ID Card that makes free bus travel available. You can apply online or get a form from your local Post Office.

Anybody with an English National Concessionary bus pass can use that on London's red buses too and travel free of charge.

If you have a Senior Railcard you can get your 1/3 discount on off-peak Oyster fares. You have to ask a member of staff to load the concession on to a standard Oyster card (note, not a Visitor Oyster card) at an Underground station after showing your Seniors Card.

If you have a Senior Railcard you can also buy a 1 day off-peak zone 1-6 Travelcard at the discount applied.

Child concessions

This is a very complex subject and is covered in detail in the table below. Generally, a child is defined as under 16 years old, but in the last couple of years it has been possible to get child fares after jumping through a few hoops up to the age of 17.

Children under 11 can travel free on the London Underground, DLR and buses without a ticket. If a child is between 11 and 15 years old, you require an Oyster 11-15 Photocard (which has a fee, see below). This allows 11 to 15 year olds to travel at child fares on the Underground, DLR, Overground and some trains, free on the buses.

If you are a short-term visitor (in London for up to 14 days) with kids between 11-15 you can take advantage of the Young Visitor Discount. This means you can get half price fares on an Oyster card on a temporary basis for your child without going through the hoops and expense of getting an Oyster ID card. You do need to read carefully the rules of this scheme though.

Children's Fare Concessions

Group tickets - 1-day group travelcard for groups of 10 or more.

This ticket is for groups of 10 or more travelling together.

This in scope is the same as a 1-day off-peak Travelcard for zones 1-6 and 1-9 providing unlimited travel on all services after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

The pricing is particularly attractive if you have kids in the group and those staying in one of the outer zones, however if you are staying in the centre of London zones 1 to 3 it will be cheaper to purchase individual Oyster cards.

If you are a group of 10 or more then do check out this product.

Purchasing tickets & fares levied

There are no longer manned ticket offices at Underground and DLR stations. All tickets are dispensed by ticket machines in the ticket hall and there will be a member of staff hanging around these.

The same machines will allow you to top up your Oyster cards or see what the balance is on your Oyster card and they will also allow you to cancel your Oyster card and get your deposit and any cash left on the Oyster refunded.

If you prefer talking to people selling the tickets there are Oyster ticket stops. These are many of these and typically are convenience stores or news-stands that sell public transport tickets as a sideline. These outlets will have a sign in their front window.

The fare you pay is set by which zone your departure and destination stations are in. Your journey starts when you go through the ticket barrier of the station entrance you depart from and finishes when you pass through the ticket barrier at the exit of your destination. You cannot break a journey on a single fare, once you go though an exit barrier of a station that is your journey completed.

Access to platform & luggage

To gain access to the platforms, and again to exit a station you have to pass through automatic barriers (pictured). There is always one wide ticket barrier for wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with large suitcases.

If you have a single ticket, the barrier at your destination will not return your ticket. There is a manned side gate by the barriers. If you have a Travelcard you insert the Travelcard into the same slot as for the single tickets, the barrier will check that your Travelcard is valid for both date and zones travelled.

If you have an Oyster card or Contactless payment card you swipe the card over a bright yellow pad, the barrier will check validity and will record the station you have started your journey before opening the barrier. The barrier may display the balance on your Oyster too.

At your destination station, exiting through the barrier in effect tells the system you have ended your journey and it works out the fare to be deducted from your card.

BUY VISITOR OYSTER CARD & TRAVELCARD FOR LONDON

Visiting London? Save time and money on London public transport

• Visitor Oyster Card • Travelcard for 1 day anytime / off-peak or 7 days anytime • Group day travelcards available

LONDON TUBE MAPS (PDF)

Travelling around London

Planning your journey.

You can find journey planners on the National Rail Enquiries and TfL websites. TfL’s journey planner allows you to compare different modes of transport and now includes fares information for each mode.

Oyster and contactless payment cards

And Oyster card costs £7 to buy which will be added on as credit to your card once you receive it – so it is basically cost neutral.

If you are visiting London from other parts of the country or from abroad and don’t have a contactless payment card, it will probably work out much cheaper to use an Oyster card.

Another advantage of using an Oyster card or contactless bank card to travel around London is that it allows you to also take advantage of capping. Capping is effectively a limit of how much you pay to travel either in a single day or over one week. Once you’ve reached the daily or weekly limit, any additional journeys that you make after that will be free. You can find out more about capping on our page .

Below you can find some examples of the savings you can make when an Oyster card or a contactless payment card over a paper ticket:

Tube (Zone 1)

Oyster/Contactless card single peak fare – £2.80.

Oyster/Contactless card single off-peak fare – £2.70

Cash single fare – £6.70

Daily cap – £8.10

Weekly cap – £40.70

Rail Peak Fare (Zone 1 – 5)

Oyster/Contactless card single fare – £6.00

Cash single fare – £7.70

Daily cap – £13.90

Weekly cap – £69.60

Rail Off-Peak Fare (Zone 1 – 5)

Oyster/Contactless card single fare – £4.00

Oyster/Contactless card single fare – £1.75

Cash single fare – N/A

Daily cap – £5.25

Weekly cap – £24.70

*The Hopper Fare allows unlimited travel on Buses and Trams within 1 hour for £1.75

Prices: 5 March 2023

Contactless payment cards

You can use a contactless payment card to pay for travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London.

You will be charged an adult-rate Pay As You Go fare each time you make a journey. You benefit from all the features of Oyster Pay As You Go (although you can’t add railcard discounts to a contactless card) as well as being able to take advantage of monthly, daily and Monday to Sunday capping . This gives you with another option if you have run out of credit on your Oyster card or have lost or forgotten your Oyster card. Contactless is a useful way for tourists and visitors to London from other parts of the UK to get the same benefits as people using Oyster Pay As You Go.

Further information on contactless payments can be found on TfL’s website.

Walking and cycling

TfL  and  Walk London  offer free guided walks led by experienced guides. These can be booked on the  Walk London website . The TfL website also has information about walking in London, including their  Walking Tube maps .

You can hire a Santander Cycle from as little as £1.65. Just go to any docking station with your bank card and touch the screen to get started. If you hire a bicycle regularly you can save money by registering for Santander Cycle membership .

The TfL website also contains  information for cyclists  including  free route maps  and  cycle guides .

You can also read about some excellent safety tips for locking your bike on the Best Bike Lock blog written by cycling enthusiast Henry Clark.

Alternatively, you can buy a Travelcard which allows unlimited travel within specified zones. These tickets range in price according to zone. The cheapest is a day off-peak (after 9.30am Monday to Friday, all weekend), which costs £15.20 for zones 1-6 and £21.50 peak.

If you use Oyster Pay As You Go, the price charged is capped so you should never pay more than the Travelcard price and will often pay less. Be aware that Travelcards are not available for every combination of zones. You can compare caps and Travelcard prices on TfL’s website .

If you have a Zone 1-3 Travelcard and are making a peak journey outside this area, it is often advisable to break your journey in Zone 1 to avoid being charged the maximum peak Oyster fare for the extension part of your journey. For example if you travelled to Farringdon from Harrow on the Hill (Zone 5) between 4-7pm you would be charged the off peak Oyster fare but if you went from Harrow on the Hill to Herne Hill via Farringdon you would be charged the peak Oyster fare.

Travelling outside the area covered by your Travelcard

If you want to travel outside the area covered by your Travelcard make sure you either purchase an extension ticket from the ticket office or ticket machine if there is no ticket office available. This will be cheaper than buying an individual ticket between the last station covered by your Travelcard and your destination. If your destination is still within the Oyster area, make sure you put sufficient Pay As You Go credit on your Oyster card before you travel. Also make sure that you touch in at the start of your journey, and touch out at the end even though these parts of your journey might be covered by your Travelcard, to avoid a maximum fare, a penalty fare or prosecution.

Ticket buying tips

Please remember, when putting credit on your Oyster you must touch your card twice – once to show what type of card you have before you select how much money you want to add to it, and once again when you have paid. If you don’t touch the card for a second time you could end up losing the cash you paid or having money taken from your credit/debit card but not have this added to you card.

Pink Readers

If you’re travelling across London but not through Zone 1 and you see a pink card reader when changing trains, touch your card on it to pay the right fare. There are pink card readers at some Tube and London Overground stations. Using a pink reader rather than the standard yellow Oyster/Contactless card reader will ensure that you pay a cheaper fare as the system will know you didn’t travel through Zone 1.

Driving in London

Congestion charge.

Remember the Congestion Charge and the ULEZ charge are not the same charge. Many drivers have to pay both charges to drive into London.

Ultra Low Emission Zone

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) now operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year . The zone now covers all areas inside the North and South Circular Roads. The North Circular (A406) and South Circular (A205) roads are not in the zone. Most vehicles, including cars and vans, need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or their drivers must pay a daily charge to drive within the zone.

• £12.50 for most vehicle types, including cars, motorcycles and vans (up to and including 3.5 tonnes)
• £100 for heavier vehicles, including lorries (over 3.5 tonnes) and buses/coaches (over 5 tonnes)

Check your vehicle and its charge .

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Getting around London: Pay as you go and Travelcard prices

Wondering what's the best way to get around london don't worry, we've got the lowdown..

• London Travelcard Prices

London is big. We get it. So working out how to get from A to B can be slightly intimidating.

To help you with your travel planning and budgeting, we've laid out the best ticket options (and how much they cost*) for your time in London. Pay daily or buy a weekly London Travel card - it's up to you.

Daily Travel Card Prices

If you only need to use public transport for a day or two of your trip, TFL's (Transport for London) day pass with a price cap is all you need to know about. It's priced as a London day travel - one day travel pass. Tap in using your bank card as much as you wish throughout the day and you'll never be charged more than the below daily London tube prices and they can be used for bus travel as well. 

Weekly Travel Card Prices

If you have a week in the city and you know you're going to be bouncing between the London Underground and those iconic red buses, purchasing a weekly London ticket could save you a few pennies. 

*The above prices are controlled by TFL and are subject to change.

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What is the TfL 0.10 charge?

October 4, 2023 | Travel Pedia

What is TfL on my bank statement?

What is the tfl charge 0.10 p, what is the maximum charge for tfl, why have i been charged 10 pence by tfl, how to pay for london underground // oyster vs contactless card.

Why am I seeing a $0.10 charge when paying for public transport?

What happens if you don't pay a tfl charge, why do i keep getting tfl charges, why am i getting overcharged on tfl, what happens if tfl can charge your card, how long does it take for tfl to charge you, what is the 10p on the tfl, how do you figure out what a charge on my card is, how do i check my tfl transactions, how do i check my tfl travel history, what is tfl contactless payment, can you dispute a tfl charge, can you appeal a tfl charge, does tfl charge more if you don't tap out, can tfl affect your credit score, how do i claim my tfl refund, do tfl always prosecute, how do i pay unpaid tfl fees.

• Independent Revenue Collection and Support payment line: 0870 067 1303.
• London Underground payment line: 0870 067 1303.
• DLR payment line: 0870 067 9870.
• Elizabeth line payment line: 0870 067 9890.
• TfL Buses penalty fare notices payment line: 0870 067 9895.
• TfL Buses unpaid fare notices payment line: 0844 544 7173.

How do I contact TfL about charges?

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