Ticket machines & cash fares
Ticket machines
When buying your tube or train ticket, you might find it easier and quicker to use a ticket machine. Most London Underground and rail stations have touch-screen fast-ticket machines, which you can use cash, credit or debit cards to buy your ticket.
Touch-screen machines
To use the touch-screen machine, first select what type of ticket you want (e.g. adult single journey), then, use the touch-screen keyboard to type in the name of the station you're going to. Select your station, and then pay the fare displayed on the screen. Your ticket will fall into the compartment under the screen.
Don't worry if you don't know how to spell the name of the station, if you just type 'T', it'll list all the stations beginning with 'T' and you can select from that list.
Fast cash fare machine
There may also be another ticket machine at your station, which gives you the option to buy your ticket according to the zone you're travelling to. This can be more confusing if you don't know which zone your station is in, but there should always be a map posted up showing all stations and their zones. These machines only accept coins.
If you can't work the ticket machines, go to the ticket office where you can buy a ticket from a station attendant, or ask another station attendant to show you how it works.