Cheap Off-Peak Tube Travel
It is always surprising that even though thousands of people use the London Underground each day, many do not understand the fare system. By just knowing and understanding the terms ‘peak’ and ‘off-peak’ you can save yourself lots of money per week.
Peak services are those at the busiest times of the day, mainly during the commuting hours. These journeys are the most expensive, as TFL want to optimise their earnings. Off-Peak services are cheaper ways to travel, as they tend to be at the least popular times of day.
Peak services run between 06:30-09:30 and 16:00-19:00 Monday to Friday, with all other times being Off-Peak. A Peak Single ticket (with Oyster Card) between Zones 1-2 costs £2.50, whereas the same ticket during off-peak hours costs only £1.90.
The time recorded is based on the time you touch in to the Oyster reader, rather than when you touch out. Next time you are travelling, it is worth looking and your watch and if you need to, wait a few minutes in the station before touching it. It could save you over £1 a day!