Last updated: June 2026
If you're 60 or over and live in London, you're entitled to free travel on buses, the Tube, trams, the DLR, the Overground, the Elizabeth line and most local trains.
This guide tries to explains what you need to know: the 60+ London Oyster photocard (often called the "over 60 Oyster card") and the Older Person's Freedom Pass -- which one is for you, how to get it, when you can use it, and the small print that catches people out.
Which card do I need? It depends on your age
| Your age | Your card | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| 60 to 65 | 60+ London Oyster photocard | Transport for London (TfL) |
| 66 or over (State Pension age) | Older Person's Freedom Pass | London Councils |
Both cards give you exactly the same free travel within London. The big difference is that the Freedom Pass also gives you free travel on local buses anywhere in England - helpful for trips to the seaside or visiting family outside London. The 60+ Oyster card only works in London.
Both cards are for London residents only. Your main home must be in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London. Visitors to London cannot apply.
The 60+ Oyster Card (ages 60-65)
What you get
Free travel on:
- All London buses
- London Underground (the Tube)
- London Overground and the Elizabeth line
- DLR (Docklands Light Railway)
- London Trams
- Most National Rail train services within London
You also get discounted fares (not free travel) on Thames river buses and the IFS Cloud Cable Car.
What it costs
- £35 application fee (one-off, paid when you apply)
- £18 per year for the annual address check that keeps your card active
- £18 if you ever need a replacement card
Is it worth it? For context, an annual Travelcard for just Zones 1–2 costs well over £1,200 - so the fee pays for itself after just a handful of journeys.
How to apply for your 60+ Oyster card
You apply online on the TfL website at tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/60-plus-oyster-photocard. You can apply from 13 days before your 60th birthday.
Before you start, have these three things ready:
- A digital colour photo of yourself (a clear phone photo against a plain background works fine)
- Your machine-readable passport or UK driving licence: this is used to confirm your identity and age
- Proof of your London address: for example a recent council tax bill, utility bill or bank statement
The steps:
- Create a TfL photocard web account
- Fill in the online application and upload your photo
- Enter your passport or driving licence details
- Pay the £35 application fee by card
- Your card arrives in the post - usually within a couple of weeks
If you can't manage the identity check online, you can print a verification letter during the application and take your documents to a Post Office to be checked in person.
A tip on data sharing: during the application you'll be asked whether TfL can share your details with London Councils. Say yes as this is what allows your card to be swapped automatically for a Freedom Pass when you reach 66, without you having to apply all over again.
Don't forget the annual check
Once a year, TfL emails you to confirm you still live in London. You complete a short online check and pay the £18 fee. If you miss it, your card stops working and you may have to apply again from scratch - so do keep your email address up to date in your TfL account.
What time can I use my 60+ Oyster card?
This is the question that catches most people out. Your card is free to use:
- Weekdays: from 9:00am onwards on the Tube, buses, trams, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line - it does not work between 4:30am and 9:00am
- National Rail trains in London: weekdays from 9:30am onwards on most routes
- Weekends and bank holidays: any time, all day
So if you need to travel before 9am on a weekday - say, for an early hospital appointment or to catch a flight - you'll need to pay the normal fare using contactless or a pay-as-you-go Oyster card for that journey.
Where can I use it? Understanding the over 60 Oyster card map
Your free travel covers the whole of Greater London — roughly fare Zones 1 to 9. That stretches further than many people realise. Stations outside the M25 that are still covered include:
- Shenfield and Brentwood (Elizabeth line, Essex)
- Watford Junction (Overground, Hertfordshire)
- Epsom (Surrey)
TfL publishes an official 60+ Oyster map showing every station where the card is valid — download it here (PDF). If your journey goes beyond the map, you'll need a separate ticket for the part outside the free area.
Can I use my 60+ Oyster card to Gatwick Airport?
No, not all the way. Gatwick is outside the free travel area, and the card is never valid on the Gatwick Express. What most people do instead:
- Use your 60+ card free as far as the boundary (East Croydon is the usual changeover point on this route, or Coulsdon South on stopping trains)
- Buy a separate ticket from there to Gatwick Airport at the station, online or through a train app
- Travel on a Southern or Thameslink train (not Gatwick Express)
You don't need to get off the train at the boundary station - as long as your separate ticket starts where your free travel ends, the combination is valid for the whole journey.
Heathrow, on the other hand, falls inside the free area - you can take the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line there free of charge (after 9am on weekdays).
The Freedom Pass (age 66 and over)
Once you reach State Pension age - currently 66 - the 60+ Oyster card stops and the Older Person's Freedom Pass takes over.
What's different about the Freedom Pass?
- Everything free in London stays the same - same services, same weekday morning restrictions
- Plus free local bus travel anywhere in England, usually from 9:30am on weekdays and any time at weekends - Brighton, Bath, Manchester, anywhere with a local bus
- It's free. No application fee and no annual charge. The Freedom Pass is run by London Councils, not TfL, and wasn't affected by TfL's 2025 fee increases
Moving from 60+ Oyster to Freedom Pass
If you agreed to data sharing when you applied for your 60+ card, the switch is nearly automatic:
- Shortly before you reach State Pension age, London Councils writes to you asking you to confirm your name and address
- You complete a short online registration to confirm your details
- Your Freedom Pass arrives in the post - no new application, no new photo, nothing to pay
If you opted out of data sharing (or never had a 60+ card), you simply apply directly at londoncouncils.gov.uk/freedompass with a photo, proof of age and proof of address.
There's also a Disabled Person's Freedom Pass for Londoners of any age with a qualifying disability. We will cover this topic in a separate post.
How to renew your 60+ Oyster card online
"Renewing" really means completing the annual address check:
- Watch for the email from TfL. I would suggest you create a reminder on your phone too.
- Sign in to your TfL photocard web account
- Confirm your London address and upload proof if asked
- Pay the £18 fee
Your physical card stays the same - it's just reactivated for another year. If your card has actually expired or stopped working, sign in to the same account to check its status, or call TfL customer services on 0343 222 1234.
Quick answers to common questions
Do over 60s get free travel in London? Yes - if you live in a London borough. Those aged 60–65 use the 60+ Oyster photocard; from 66 you get a Freedom Pass.
Can I use it before 9am? No, not on weekdays. Weekends and bank holidays are free all day.
Does it work outside London? The 60+ Oyster card doesn't. The Freedom Pass gives you free local buses across England (but not trains outside London).
What if I lose my card? Report it through your TfL photocard account. A replacement 60+ card costs £18. Lost Freedom Passes are replaced via London Councils.
Can my spouse use my card? No - the card carries your photo and is strictly personal. Anyone caught using someone else's card can have it withdrawn.
Do I need to touch in and out? Yes, always - touch the yellow reader at the start and end of rail journeys, and when boarding buses. It keeps your card valid and the gates open.
I'm not sure if my journey is covered - what should I do? Check the official 60+ Oyster map on the TfL website, or ask staff at the station before you travel. If in doubt, buy a ticket for the section outside the free area - penalty fares are not worth the risk.
The bottom line
- Just turned 60? Apply for the 60+ Oyster card straight away - you can apply from 13 days before your birthday. The £35 fee pays for itself almost immediately.
- Already 66 or over? You should have a Freedom Pass - and if you don't, apply free at londoncouncils.gov.uk.
- Remember the two golden rules: no free travel before 9am on weekdays, and free travel ends at the edge of the London fare zones.
Fees, ages and rules correct as of June 2026. State Pension age and TfL fees can change - always check tfl.gov.uk or londoncouncils.gov.uk for the latest details before applying.