I’ve got to visit London a couple of times this year. Should I get an Oyster Card or a Visitor Oyster card? I’m within the UK, so the UK-only restriction for the former is not relevant.
I don’t see any great difference. The normal and visitor cards work in exactly the same way and the costs are the same, you can top up both at station machines but you can’t top-up the visitor cards online.
If you don’t want the hassle of buying a card at a London station or topping it up while you are there then I’d suggest ordering the visitor card, getting it delivered to you ready for use and with the necessary amount loaded onto it so that you don’t have to do anything else for your visit other than badge in and out for your journeys.
Note, the visitor card is a permanent card, it doesn’t just last for a certain period. Should you visit London again you simply continue using it and any remaining credit until you need to add more credit at top-up machine (in most stations). Every time you badge out after a tube journey the exit gate will flash up your credit so it is easy to track.
Get an Oyster Card. I think I still have mine from my time in London. It worked well the last time I went there.