When and where to use your freedom pass

Using your freedom pass to travel free is straightforward but you need to remember that you can only use it at certain times.

To help you, we have provided a list below which tells you which types of transport you can use and when you can use them.

You may wish to contact a particular transport service operator to check with them about your journey. Contact details for each service can be found below:

For general London travel information contact:

See www.tfl.gov.uk
Contact travinfo@tfl.gov.uk
Phone 020 7222 1234
Write to: 55 Broadway, London SW1H 0BD

Oyster contact details

See: www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster
Phone: 0845 330 9876

How to use your pass correctly

Times you can travel
The times you can use your pass for a bus, Tube, train, DLR and tram vary, so before you begin your journey please check the list below. If for any reason you have to travel outside the allowed times, you must buy a ticket or your may have to pay a Penalty Fare.

Where you can travel
The freedom pass allows you free travel in London. If you travel outside the valid areas you will need to buy a ticket or you may have to to pay a Penalty Fare.

Times you can use your pass on the:

Bus
Tube
National Rail
Docklands Light Railway
Trams
Thames River services

Bus

If you are aged 60 or over you travel free on most buses between 9am and 4.30am the following morning Monday to Friday, plus all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Disabled freedom pass holders can travel free at all times.

The freedom pass is not valid on some local bus routes in and around the boundaries of London, which are not part of the Transport for London bus network. A list of these routes is being prepared and will be on this website when available. In the meantime you should contact the relevant bus company to check if these special routes accept the freedom pass.

From 1 April 2008, all freedom passes issued to older London residents and most freedom passes issued to disabled London residents can be used on local bus services anywhere in England.

Outside of London, these pass holders will be able to travel free between 9:30am and 11:00pm Monday to Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays.

You will need to show your freedom pass and photocard to the bus driver.

A freedom pass will only be valid outside London if it has been renewed and re-stickered with a 2010 expiry date, a red rose logo and a bus hologram. The pass will not be valid on tram, light rail, metro or train services outside London.

A minority of disabled passes are issued at the discretion of the local council and so under Government legislation are not valid for use ouside London. These have a different sticker with a 2010 expiry date and the words 'London Only'.

National scheme

See: www.tfl.gov.uk/buses
Contact: customerservices@tfl-buses.co.uk
Phone: 0845 300 7000
Write to: London Buses, Floor 5, 84 Eccelston Square, London SW12 1PX

Tube

If you are aged 60 or over, you travel free Monday to Friday from 9am and 4.30am the following morning, plus all day on weekends and public holidays.

Disabled freedom pass holders travel free at any time.

See www.tfl.gov.uk/tube
Contact Online feedback form
Phone: 084 5330 9880
Write to: London Underground, Customer Service Centre. Albany House 55 Broadway, London SW1H 0BD

National Rail

Free travel for all freedom pass holders in standard accommodation on most local rail services between 9.30am and 4.30am the following morning Monday to Friday, plus all day at weekends and on public holidays. On some routes holders of the Older person's freedom pass may travel free from 9:00am Monday to Friday and any time at weekends and on public holidays. See the freedom pass travel map for further details.

The freedom pass is NOT valid for travel on train services operated by Arriva CrossCountry, Grand Central, Hull Trains, East Midlands Trains, Gatwick Express, National Express East Coast, Virgin Trains and Heathrow Express, or on Heathrow Connect between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow.

For travel beyond the freedom pass area you must buy a separate extension ticket before you travel. Please show your freedom pass at the ticket office when buying tickets. Holders of Senior and Disabled Persons Railcards may be able to obtain a discount on the price of extension tickets.

See: www.nationalrail.co.uk
Contact: online feedback form
Phone: 0845 748 4950
Write to: National Rail, Customer Relations. Selecta Vost, 31 Rotherham S97 32X

Docklands Light Railway

If you are aged 60 or over you travel free between 9am and 4.30am the following morning Monday to Friday, plus all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Disabled freedom pass holders can travel free at all times.

See www.tfl.gov.uk/dlr
Contact: cservice@dlr.co.uk
Phone: 020 7363 9700
Write to: Docklands Light Rail, Castor Lane, London NE12 8AE

Trams

If you are aged 60 or over you can travel free on Tramlink after 9am Monday to Friday, plus all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Disabled freedom pass holders can travel free at all times.

See: www.tfl.gov.uk/trams
Contact: feedback@tramlink.info
Phone: 020 8681 8300
Write to: Tramlink, Coomber Way, Croydon CRO 40Q

Thames River services

Freedom pass holders of any type can get a discount on many Thames river services - phone 020 7222 1234 for further details.

All freedom pass holders get a discount on the following Thames Riverboat services:

City Cruises - Westminster to Greenwich
Westminster Passenger Services - Westminster to Thames Barrier
Crown River Cruises - Westminster to St. Katherine’s
WPSA (upriver) - Westminster to Hampton Court
Thames Speed Ferry Company - Cadogan (Chelsea Embankment) to London Bridge City
Collins River Enterprises - Savoy to Greenland or Holiday Inn
Campion Launches - Greenwich to Thames Barrier

Accessibility

For advice on accessibility at stations and on vehicles and trains visit the Transport for London website or call 020 7737 2339 for buses, Tube, Docklands Light Railway and trams, or 08457 48 49 50 for National Rail.

The freedom pass is the 'travel permit' for the purposes of the GLA 1999 Act and the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007.
The scheme is managed by London Councils on behalf of all the London boroughs.