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London, United Kingdom

London Underground payment methods

Check how to enter the gates, buy tickets and use fare cards on London Underground. Operated by Transport for London; last verified on 2026-07-21.

Official website ↗
Yes
bank card at gate
Yes
open-loop payment

Quick answer

Can I tap a bank card on London Underground?

Yes. London Underground accepts physical contactless bank cards directly at its fare gates. Documented schemes: Visa, Mastercard, American Express.

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Passenger access

Gate entry

Transit card

Yes
Oyster Source: TfL fares

Contactless bank card

Yes
Visa, Mastercard, American Express Source: TfL contactless

Mobile wallet

Yes
Apple Pay, Google Pay, contactless mobile wallet Source: TfL contactless

QR gate entry

No
QR tickets are not the standard gate-entry method for the Underground.

Official app

Partial
TfL account/app supports account management, not direct QR gate entry.

Paper ticket or token

Partial
Paper ticket Paper tickets remain available for some journeys but are not the recommended payment method.

Visitor pass

Partial
Visitor Oyster Source: TfL fares

Purchase and top-up

Ticket purchase

Cash

Partial
Availability varies by station and machine.

Bank card

Yes
Visa, Mastercard, American Express Source: TfL fares

Contactless card

Yes
Visa, Mastercard, American Express Source: TfL contactless

Mobile wallet

Partial
Apple Pay, Google Pay Treated as partial because support follows card acceptance at machines and varies by station/machine.

QR payment

No

Evidence

Sources

Treat London as the reference implementation for mature open-loop urban rail payment.

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