5 Ways to Make Your London Commute Cheaper
If you’re regularly travelling in and around the capital, you’ll know that commuting in London can be one of your biggest expenses. But with a few smart choices, it’s possible to make your commute far more affordable without compromising on convenience.
Whether you're commuting in every day or a few times a week, these tips can help you to cut costs and make your journey more efficient.
1. Utilise Travelcard and Oyster Caps
Transport for London has fare caps in place that can make your commute more cost-effective. If you tap in and out with an Oyster or contactless card, every journey you make is logged, and then a cap ensures you never pay more than the relevant amount for a day or a week.
Daily Cap
A daily cap is calculated over 24 hours for journeys between 4:.30 am and 4:.29 am the following morning. If your travel varies day to day, or you work on a hybrid basis, then daily caps can be useful for managing spend.
Weekly Cap
If you’re a regular Monday-to-Friday commuter, then a weekly cap limits how much you pay for all your journeys in a fixed weekly period.
2. Consider Railcards and Public Transport Discounts
Railcards, despite popular belief, are not just for students. Many commuters are eligible for public transport discounts, and it’s always worth checking if you meet the criteria for any. From the 16–25 Railcard and 26-30 Railcard to the Veteran Railcard, these cards offer up to 1/3 off eligible train fares.
The great thing? Most of these can be linked to your Oyster card for when you tap in or out, automatically applying the discount to your Tube and rail journeys across London. It’s a quick setup that could save you hundreds each year.
3. Cycle All or Part of Your Journey
Cycling is a great way to cut down your travel costs, especially when combined with public transport. London is home to a wealth of ever-growing safe cycle routes, including paths connecting to our Royal Albert Wharf development, where local cycle lanes make commuting by bike easier and safer. You could explore options like:
- Cycling to your nearest station and then hopping on the train.
- Using Santander Cycles, which are easy to hire and cost just £1.65 for a 30-minute ride.
Plus, besides saving money, cycling boosts your physical health and can reduce commuting stress.
4. Travel Off-Peak Where Possible
If your schedule offers some flexibility, travelling during off-peak hours, which typically operate between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm on weekdays, can significantly reduce your fare.
A small adjustment, like catching the next train, could help you access cheaper fares. It’s worth checking your regular route online to get full visibility over cost differences.
5. Look into Employer Travel Schemes
Some employers offer commuter support schemes that can help you to save money on travel.
It’s worth asking your HR team whether they provide any of the following:
- Season ticket loans help spread the cost of a yearly pass over monthly payroll deductions.
- Cycle to Work schemes, which can offer tax savings on bicycles and cycling gear.
- Subsidised travel cards or public transport allowances.
These perks are often underused, so a quick enquiry could lead to real savings.
Start Saving on Your London Commute Today
Making your London commute cheaper doesn’t always require a complete overhaul, and adopting just one of these tips could help to save you money. Take a look at your current routine and see where there’s room to change; your budget will thank you.
At NHG Homes, we strive to ensure that all our developments benefit from convenient transport links, so that you can enjoy a stress-free commute. Browse our developments to find out more.
