London Public-Transport

London Public-Transport information

Fare Structure, Travelcards, Zones

Before looking at the various options, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the fare structure, so that you don't end up paying too much. The fares for individual trips are quite pricey, so if you make a number of trips and pay for them separately, the cost can build up alarmingly. The answer is to buy one of the several types of "travelcard" available, which greatly reduce the cost of a day's travel. For example a ticket costing £4.70 will cover your whole day's travel in zone's 1 and 2 (see below for explanation) on all the above public services. This ticket is available provided your first journey of the day starts after 9.30am, which is ideal for most tourists. There are one, three and seven day travelcards and the cost is determined not only by time of day travel can start, but the number of zones covered. The £4.70 card is for one day in zones 1 and 2 only, whereas the card covering zones 1 to 6 costs £6.00. You would need the zone 1 to 6 card if making a visit to outer London to visit places like Kew Gardens. There are also special travel cards for tourists, but these are not always the best value. The underground maps displayed at every station show the travel zones clearly, so it is easy to make an informed decision about which travel card you need. The travelcards can be purchased from all Underground Stations and from many newsagents' shops in central London. Visit the excellent Transport for London (TFL) website for details of the price structure of the whole system and the zone map htttp://www.tfl.gov.uk

Buses

London's buses go everywhere in the city and if you don't believe me, just look at the map for Central London (you will find one on TFL). The map is a treasure in itself, because when you zoom in, you can see all the main roads, all the parks, all the attractions, the actual locations of all the tube stations and of course, where all the buses run. Similar maps are available on the TFL site for all the areas of outer London too. Have a look at the bus spider maps too, which show the routes in a diagrammatic form, which is easier to follow. Contributors to the Slow Travel Message Board often praise London's sightseeing buses and I wouldn't argue. But the more intrepid traveler, armed with a bus map and travel card, can see all the same wonderful locations and many more for a fraction of the cost. You can pay for individual journeys on the bus as you get on. Single journeys of any length in the central area cost £1.20 (£0.40 for children). If you have a travelcard, you do not pay extra; just show it to the driver. A travelcard for buses only costs £3.00 for the whole day (£1.00 for children), which is a real bargain. If you are a night owl, it's good to know that there is an extensive network of night buses, running right across London. Again details are available on the TFL site. Bus travel does have its disadvantages. You can get stuck in traffic and move very slowly, but I would urge all visitors to do at least some of their traveling this way. You see so much more and somehow get more of a feel for the city by seeing it from the top of a double-decker.

The Underground and the Dockland Light Railway (DLR)

The Underground offers travelers rapid transport about the city from early in the morning until about midnight, every day of the week. Central London is very well covered and most locations are only short walk from the nearest station. The system also provides access to Heathrow Airport and many parts of outer London There are 12 different lines, as shown on the famous London Underground Map and for practical purposes the DLR can be considered part of the system. The trains run frequently on all the lines and there is no need to worry about timetables. Once you have arrived on the platform, a train will usually arrive within a few minutes. Although the trains on the system are all quite modern, there has been under-investment in the infrastructure over the years and hold-ups and breakdowns are not as infrequent as they should be. Nonetheless, the system works pretty well most days and visitors will generally find it a very effective way of getting about. Click here for Tube map of London Buying Tickets Buying tickets is easy, because every station has a ticket office (where you can also ask for guidance) and ticket machines. Some of the machines, particularly in the larger stations, take credit cards. Once armed with a ticket you access and exit from the system through automatic barriers. Both entering and leaving the station, you put your ticket into a slot beside a gate, the gate opens, and your ticket is given back to you. If you take a ticket outside its designated zone, it won't open the barrier and you will have to pay an excess charge. Tips for Traveling on the Underground Traveling on the Underground can be a bit daunting at first, so here are a few tips to help you on your way. First of all, it's a good idea to spend a little time planning each journey, preferably before setting out from your base. Once you have identified the stations at the beginning and end of the trip, use the Underground map to identify the line or lines you will be traveling on. When the journey involves more than one line, note the names of the stations where you will have to change trains. Note also the direction of travel on each line, i.e. Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound or Westbound. Most stations serve one line only, but many serve two or more. In the latter case, follow the signs for the line you require and, so that you get a train going in the right direction, look for signs saying such things as "Southbound trains" or "Piccadilly Line Westbound". Once you arrive at the platform, look for a prominent diagram showing the stations served and make sure the one you want is on it. If it isn't, you will need to retrace your steps and find your way to the platform serving the opposite direction of travel. When changing lines, you will need to follow pretty much the same rules and there will always be clear directions to the line you want.

London's Mainline Railways

Many visitors to London don't even think about using mainline trains and in the central area there is rarely any benefit from doing so. But if you look at the comprehensive map of the system, you will see that if you are making journeys to parts of North, South East, and South West London in particular, the mainline often provides the best access. Fare prices are similar to the underground and remember that travel cards for the underground also cover mainline trains within the 6 zones. Mainline trains are generally less frequent than the underground, so you should use a timetable in planning your journey. If you have access to the Internet, the Network Rail timetable is excellent. Once on the website, just click on "planning your journey".

London's Black Cabs

Taxi cabs in any major western city tend to be expensive and London's are no exception. But, as any seasoned traveler will tell you, the advantages will sometimes outweigh the cost, particularly if you have lots of heavy luggage. Only official black cabs (not all of which are actually black these days) can be hailed in the street. All London cabbies have to pass a tough exam called "the knowledge", which means they will almost always know the quickest and/or shortest route to where you want to get to. There is also a strictly regulated pricing system, which means you can always read the correct price off the meter. The price structure is shown on the TFL site and it can work out reasonably economically, if four people share. Tipping is discretionary and anything above 10% would be considered generous.

Rent a Car

click here to find a great deal on car rentals in London.

Driving

You will not need a car within the city - unless you enjoy stress and slow moving traffic. The congestion is chronic in the centre and parking nearly impossible. Unlike many international cities, London has nothing like an organised grid structure of streets and navigation around the city is extremely difficult for visitors. If you must drive to and around London it is worth knowing that the M25 orbital motorway rings the city at approximately 20 miles' (32km) distance. The inner London ringroad is the A406, which allows full orbital navigation around the city centre. Renting a car is a good option if you plan to explore the countryside around London. Get the best of both worlds by taking the train to Gatwick or Stansted and then renting and driving the car from there. Most major car hire companies have desks at London airports and in the city centre. . You will need to bring your overseas driving licence if planning to drive while in the UK. You do not need a special licence and can use your national licence for up to 12 months from the date of your entry into the country. A current International Driving Permit is also accepted. All visitors bringing their own cars require green card insurance to ensure full insurance cover and you should carry your registration documents at all times. The minimum driving age is 17. You must drive on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right. The driver and all passengers in the car must wear seat belts where fitted. Although drivers are allowed to drive with a minimal amount of alcohol in their blood stream, the penalties for exceeding this limit are extremely severe in the UK. You are encouraged to never drive following a drink, even if you believe you are under the limit. Congestion Charges In February of 2003 London introduced congestion charges for all vehicles driving in the central zone of the city between the hours of 07h00 and 18h30 - with the exception of weekends and public holidays. The charge is currently GBP8 per day. The limit of the zone is clearly marked with roadside and on the road signs and a system of cameras and wardens operates throughout to catch out people who don't pay. If you are driving a hire car which has been picked up in London it is likely that the charge has been pre-paid (and probably included in the hire charge) and pre-arranged by your car hire firm. If you've hired a car elsewhere and are driving into central London, or driving your own vehicle you must pay the charge yourself in advance. You can do this by visiting a newsagent or store that bears the white C in a red circle sign, indicating that the shop sells congestion charge tickets. Alternatively you can pay by phone on Tel: 0845-900-1234 or by text message from a mobile phone, as long as you register in advance on the same phone number. Distances and speed limits on UK road signs are indicated in miles. Speed limits are: 70mph (112km per hour) on motorways, 60/50/40mph (96/80/65km per hour), on major roads outside towns where posted, 30mph (48km per hour), in built up areas and 20mph (35km per hour), in residential areas where posted. In London city centre speed restrictions are strictly enforced with speed cameras and traffic police. Heavy fines are imposed on anyone caught exceeding the limit, although the congestion rarely affords the opportunity.