Travel tickets
London 2012 ticket holders can benefit from a range of special travel tickets for the Games. Depending on which venue you are visiting, there are a number of ticket options available for different types of travel. Where possible, plan and book your travel in advance.
Tickets for travelling in London
Spectators with a ticket for a Games event in London will receive a one-day Games Travelcard for the day of that event. Games events include all ticketed sporting events and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The Games Travelcard will entitle you to travel within zones 1–9 on the London public transport network throughout the day of your event.
This includes London Underground (Tube), London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), buses, trams and National Rail services – but not the Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick Express trains, or taxis and private hire vehicles.
Spectators will also be able to use their Games Travelcard on the Javelin® service between St. Pancras and Stratford International stations. Spectators will also be entitled to a one-third discount on the price of river service tickets on 2012 Games river bus express and 2012 Games river tour services.
View a map of the area covered by the Games Travelcard
If you are planning to come to London before, or stay after, the day of the sporting event you are attending, you can make your travel in London easier by buying a Visitor Oyster card in advance. More information on Visitor Oyster cards can be found at on the Transport for London website. Visitor Oyster cards can be used on London Underground, London Overground, London’s buses, Docklands Light Railway and most National Rail services in Greater London.
Tickets for travel to venues outside London
Spectators with tickets for Games events at Eton Dorney, the Lee Valley White Water Centre and Hadleigh Farm will receive a Games Travelcard for use on public transport in London on the day of their event. Spectators will also be able to use their Games Travelcard to travel by National Rail between London and the recommended stations for those venues. No additional fare will be payable.
Travelling to co-Host City venues
London 2012 ticket holders for events at co-Host City venues will not receive a Games Travelcard to use on public transport. These venues are: Weymouth and Portland; the City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry; Old Trafford, Manchester; Millennium Stadium, Cardiff; Hampden Park, Glasgow; and, St James’ Park, Newcastle.
Spectators with tickets for sporting events at these venues will be able to book travel from around the UK as early as summer 2011 on any of the additional Games services. These bookable services are:
- 2012 Games rail services.
- 2012 Games park-and-ride for venues.
- 2012 Games coach services to ExCeL, and Greenwich (30 July only), the Olympic Park and Weymouth and Portland.
- 2012 Games Blue Badge parking.
National Rail tickets for travel to London and co-Host Cities
Once you have received confirmation that you have been allocated event tickets, you will be able to book a 2012 Games Train Ticket for journeys from any National Rail station in the country to London and co-Host Cities over a year before the Games begin. These tickets are only valid when used with a London 2012 event ticket.
More information on booking these tickets will be available on this website once you have received confirmation of whether you have been allocated tickets.
Tickets for trains with non-reservable seats will be valid for any train on the date of travel without restriction. You will be able to return on the date of the ticket and up to midday the following day.
For journeys that are not to London and co-Host Cities, or to venues covered by the 2012 Games Travelcard (such as Eton Dorney), you should book services through the National Rail Enquiry System (NRES).
Special Games tickets for trains with reservable seats will only be valid for outward travel on the date and train specified. Your return ticket will be valid for travel on services up to three hours later than booked (or on the first available train after this period if there is no train available within those three hours).
Your reserved seat will only be available on the train you are booked on. If you miss your booked train, reserved seating is not available on the next train you catch.
If you need to change your journey date or time due to a change in date or time of the session you are attending, you will be able to adjust your booking once free of charge. Charges will apply for any subsequent changes.
If you require assistance at the station, we recommend that you book this when you book your National Rail tickets. Read more about accessible travel by National Rail.
Park-and-ride
Day tickets will include parking and travel by shuttle bus to and from your venue on the date of the event you are attending. Tickets are available for cars and minibuses, and each ticket will cover travel for all the occupants of the vehicle.
Coach
Individually priced day return tickets are available for adults, children, senior citizens and for those who are registered disabled. A family ticket offering travel for up to two adults and two children will also be available. Tickets are valid for one day of travel only. Assistance dogs will travel free.
Pre-booked accessible parking
Limited accessible parking will be available as close as possible to London 2012 venues for Blue Badge holders or members of an equivalent national scheme. It must be pre-booked. Proof of membership will be required for booking and to access the parking on the day of the event. Each ticket will include parking and where appropriate a shuttle bus service to and from the venue. The shuttle bus will be provided for all other occupants of your vehicle, when space permits.
Pre-booked accessible parking tickets will be valid for the session for which you have a London 2012 Games ticket – and you must depart by the time shown on your parking ticket.
