60+ London Oyster Photocard and Freedom Pass Guide
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
If you live in a London borough you can travel free on most of London's public transport from the age of 60 with a 60+ London Oyster photocard, and then move to the older person's Freedom Pass when you reach State Pension age. Neither gives free travel in the weekday morning peak.
Two passes, one after the other
| 60+ London Oyster photocard | Older person's Freedom Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 60 until you qualify for a Freedom Pass | State Pension age and over |
| Run by | Transport for London (TfL) | London Councils |
| Fees | An application fee, plus a fee for the yearly eligibility check | See the Freedom Pass website |
| Free bus travel outside London | No | Yes, on local buses in England at off-peak times |
An "Oyster photocard" is simply a plastic travel card with your photograph on it. You touch it on the yellow reader on buses and at station gates, exactly as you would an ordinary Oyster card or bank card, but no fare is taken.
The 60+ London Oyster photocard
Who qualifies
You must be 60 or over and live in a London borough. You keep the card until you become eligible for a Freedom Pass. You cannot hold one at the same time as a Veterans Oyster photocard.
What it covers
The card gives free travel on London's buses, Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line, and on most National Rail services within London. It is a London-only concession: it does not work as a bus pass elsewhere in England.
What it costs
TfL charges an application fee and a further fee each year when it checks you are still eligible. Both fees were reported to have risen in July 2025 and may change again, and we could not confirm today's amounts on TfL's own page, so we have not quoted them. The current figures are on TfL's 60+ London Oyster photocard page. Even with the fees, anyone who uses public transport more than occasionally is likely to come out well ahead.
The older person's Freedom Pass
When you reach State Pension age you can apply for the older person's Freedom Pass. You become eligible on the date you reach State Pension age and can start the application up to 14 days before. Your sole or main home must be in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London; working or studying in London is not enough.
State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, so check your own date with the GOV.UK State Pension age checker. Full details and the application form are on the official Freedom Pass website.
The Freedom Pass covers the London network and also acts as an English national bus pass, so you can use it on local buses across England at off-peak times. If you qualify for both the older person's and the disabled person's Freedom Pass, the official guidance is to apply for the disabled person's pass.
When travel is not free
Since January 2023 it has been a permanent rule that neither the 60+ London Oyster photocard nor the older person's Freedom Pass gives free travel between 4.30am and 9am, Monday to Friday (bank holidays excepted). Outside those hours on weekdays, and at weekends and on bank holidays, travel is free. Some National Rail services have their own start time, so check before an early train.
If you must travel before 9am on a weekday you pay the normal fare, for example with a contactless bank card.
How to apply and what you will need
60+ London Oyster photocard
Applications are made online through TfL's website, and you can apply about two weeks before your 60th birthday. Check TfL's page for the exact list, but expect to need:
- a digital photograph of yourself (a clear head-and-shoulders picture)
- proof of age, such as a valid passport or driving licence
- proof of your London address
- a bank card to pay the fee
If you are not confident online, a family member can sit with you and complete it. Our guide to paying safely online explains how to check you are on the genuine TfL site before entering card details.
Freedom Pass
Start at the Freedom Pass website, or call the Freedom Pass helpline on 0300 330 1433 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, not bank holidays). You will need to prove your age and your London address; the website's "What I need to apply" page lists exactly which documents are accepted.
Common questions
Will my 60+ Oyster turn into a Freedom Pass automatically?
Do not assume so. The two passes are run by different organisations, so plan to apply for the Freedom Pass in the two weeks before you reach State Pension age so there is no gap.
Can I use the 60+ Oyster on buses outside London?
No. It is valid only within London. The Freedom Pass, by contrast, works on local buses across England at off-peak times, like any other English older person's bus pass.
I live just outside London but work there. Can I apply?
No. Both passes are for people who live in a London borough. Outside London, your concessions are the national bus pass at State Pension age and discounts such as the Senior Railcard.
What happens if I move out of London?
You are no longer eligible. Tell the scheme, and apply to your new council for its bus pass if you are old enough.
Where can I see all the other savings available at 60?
Start with what you get at 60 and our main over-60s discounts guide.