英國各類交通證的問題

1) Your hostel is located in between Swiss Cottage and Finchley Road Underground Station... From Gatwick Airport, you can either take the Gatwick Express train to Victoria Train Station which cost you GBP26 return or Local Train services to Waterloo East Train Station which cost you GBP9 per way on discount fare... You can also choose to take NationalExpress coach to Victoria Coach Station for aound GBP12.6 return...
For you... I would suggest you to take local train (Southern Train) to Waterloo East Train Station where you can connect onto Jubilee Line (Underground) at Waterloo Station or Southwark Station to Swiss Cottage or Finchley Road Station... If you choose to take NationalExpress/Gatwick Express, you will need to take the Victoria Line (Underground) at Victoria to Green Park then change to Jubilee Line (Underground) frm Green Park to Swiss Cottage or Finchley Road... So seems like taking local train to Waterloo East maybe most converience for you and least changes...
Further information can be found at www.gatwickexpress.com for Gatwick Express and www.nationalrail.co.uk for Local Train and also www.nationalexpress.com for NationalExpress services...
2) As you arrive at any Underground Station, you can go to the ticket office and buy a Oyster Card... And there is a capping rate for Oyster Card which is GBP0.5 lower than getting a paper travel card... Or you can also get a 3days paper travel card, all those options above will give you unlimited travel on London Undergrond/London Bus within specific zone... So GBP4.6 for Oyster Card or GBP5.1 for paper day ticket for Zone1/2... Then for 3days travel card on Zone1/2, it will cost GBP16.4 for paper ticket... So seems like Oyster Card capping rate would be good for you (but this is non-peak travel only which is after 9:30am)...
Further information can be found: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2007/one-day/travelcard-day.asp
3) Majority of the tourist spot in London are located in central London which is mainly in Zone1...
4) No... You will be required to get a local student card in order to get discount... This card will give you a 30% off at all travel... And this card will require an annual fees... So seems like the travel card or capping rate will do for you in London... And NationalExpress do have funfare tickets avaliable on travel to Bath/Nottingham/Manchester with fare starting from GBP1 per way... Further information can be found on www.nationalexpress.com.
If you have any more questions... Please dont feel hesitated to contact me...