< Introducing London
Getting Around London
London Underground sign showing where to pick up the different lines
London has an excellent, comprehensive and busy public transport system. Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for buses, the Underground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, Barclays Cycle Hire and River Buses. The worst times to travel are during the morning and afternoon rush hours – 8–9:30am and 4:30–6:30pm from Monday to Friday. Possibly the most pleasant way to travel in London is by river bus.
By bus
London buses generally run from 5am to 12:30am (7:30am–11:30pm Sun), with night buses, recognizable by the prefix N before the number, providing a less frequent service on many popular routes. Sometimes slow, particularly during rush hours, buses have dedicated lanes on most main roads and cover parts of the city that the Underground does not.
The traditional double-decker Routemaster, now only in service on two heritage routes, has been replaced by modern double-decker and single-decker buses. A line of eye-catching buses, promoted as the 21st century version of the Routemaster, called The New Bus for London has been introduced. By 2016, there will be more than 600 of these buses running in the capital. Routes are displayed at bus stops and on the Transport for London (TfL) website. The destination is indicated on the front of the bus. Make sure you are heading in the right direction.
There are two types of bus stop: a normal stop, where all buses stop, and a request stop, with the same logo and the word “Request” beneath it. Buses only stop at request stops if you raise your hand at the stop or ring the bell on the bus. Night buses only stop on request.
Routemaster heritage buses Nos 9 and 15 are great for sightseeing, but if the weather is fine, an even better way to see the city is from an open-topped double-decker. Guided bus tours are offered by Big Bus Tours and Original London Sightseeing Tours, which provide commentaries specially designed for children. Tickets are valid for 24 hours, and routes include most major landmarks, the service is hop-on-hop-off. The London Tramlink is a useful alternative to buses in some areas like Croydon. It is linked to Wimbledon Town Centre and connects the southernmost points of the Tube and London Overground as well.
An iconic red double-decker London bus travelling through Central London.
By underground, DLR and train
The London Underground (the “Tube”) is the fastest and easiest way to get around the city. It operates daily, except for 25 December, from approximately 5am to 12:30am and from 7:30am to 11:30pm Sun. If planning a journey late at night with several connections, be sure to set off in good time. Trains can be very crowded during rush hours.
Stations are easily recognized by the TfL logo – a blue horizontal line across a red circle. There are 11 colour-coded lines, making it simple to plan journeys and changes. Maps are displayed in Tube stations and on trains. Some lines are straightforward single routes; others have branches. The Circle line operates from Hammersmith to Edgware Road clockwise, and then back again.
Once you are through the ticket barrier (see
Tickets), follow the signs to the platform for the line and direction you need. Check the front of the train and the platform’s electronic indicator for the final destination and to make sure it’s not branching off or terminating early. On leaving the train, there are well-signed exits, as well as connections to other lines.
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is an automated, driver-less light rail system linking the City of London with the redeveloped Docklands area, including City Airport, and London Overground, a rail overground network serving suburban boroughs. The suburbs are also served by National Rail (visit its website). DLR trains run from 5:30am to 12:30am Mon–Sat and 6:30am to 11:30pm Sun.
With the exception of new stations, few Underground stations have a lift. In all, there are 66 stations with step-free access. The TfL website has a map marked with wheelchair symbols indicating Tube stations that have disabled access. Travelling on the Underground with a pram or pushchair can be awkward, particularly during the rush hours.
The red, blue and white London Underground logo, which can be found at every Tube station throughout the city.
Tickets
TfL divides the city into six charging zones for Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services, radiating out from the most central Zone 1 to Zone 6, which includes the outer suburbs. Zones 7–9 extend beyond Greater London. The most economical tickets that can be used on all forms of transport, including National Rail to Zone 9, are Travelcards – paper tickets available for one or seven days and in various combinations of zones – and Visitor Oyster cards – “smartcards” that store credit to pay for journeys. Both are available from the TfL website, Tube stations and Travel Information Centres. Oyster cards are also available from the many Oyster Ticket Stops (mostly newsagents) across London and can be charged up here, at Travel Information Centres and at Tube stations – but not National Rail stations. There is a small charge for the card, but it never expires so you can use it on your next visit. Oyster cards are valid across all zones and automatically calculate the cheapest fare for the journeys you make in a day. To use your Oyster card, touch it on the yellow reader when you enter a bus and at the start and end of every Tube or train journey. Travelcards must be shown to the bus driver and placed into the ticket machine at the start and end of Tube or train journeys.
Children under 11 travel free on buses and up to four under-11s travel free on the Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services when accompanied by an adult. Under-16s are also eligible for free bus and discounted Tube travel provided they have an 11–15 Oyster photocard, which must be ordered for a fee from the TfL website at least three weeks in advance. A simpler option, the child Travelcard gives 11–15 year-olds half-price travel on all Tube and rail networks.
Cash fares are not accepted on any central London buses. Those without a Travelcard or Oyster card, can buy a ticket from a machine at the bus stop, but these are sometimes not working and only take exact change, so consider using a card. For buses outside the centre, it is possible to pay on the bus, but keep plenty of change handy.
By taxi
London’s distinctive “black” cabs (although some now sport different colours) have drivers who must pass a tough test to prove their familiarity with the city before being licensed. Cabs can be hailed in the street if their yellow “taxi” light is illuminated. They can also be found at ranks outside airports, stations and some major hotels and stores, as well as various other locations throughout the capital. Once they have stopped, taxis are obliged to take you to your destination, provided it is within 9.6 km (6 miles) of the pick-up point and inside the Metropolitan area. The fare is shown on the meter, which will start ticking as soon as the driver accepts your custom. There are three fare tariffs: between 6am and 8pm, and 8pm and 10pm on weekdays; and between 6am to 10pm on weekends. For public holidays, it is between 10pm and 6am. Tip the driver 10–15 per cent of the fare. Cabs can also be ordered online or by phone from Radio Taxis and Dial-a-Cab.
A London “black” cab travelling through the streets of Central London.
By mini-cab
Mini-cabs are not governed by the same strict regulations as black cabs and the drivers are not as well qualified, but they are quite professional. Order a mini-cab by phone, or email or by visiting a mini-cab office, and agree the fare in advance. Do not hail one in the street as it is illegal for mini-cab drivers to take customers without a booking. For names of local mini-cab firms, enter your location into Cabwise on the TfL website. Lady Minicabs only employs women drivers.
By car
Expensive parking and congestion charging are designed to deter people from driving in Central London, and traffic, particularly on arterial roads outside the congestion zone, can be very heavy during rush hours. The charge for driving in the congestion zone, which covers the area to the east of Park Lane, south of Marylebone/Euston Road, west of Tower Hamlets and north of Elephant and Castle, is £10 per day (7am–6pm, Mon–Fri), payable on the day, or £12 if paid by midnight the following day. It costs £9 if you register online for Congestion Charging Auto Pay. Payments can be made online, by phone, by text. If you fail to pay in time, you will be fined £120, reduced to £60 if you then pay within 14 days.
Parking in Central London, usually in pay-and-display bays with payment by mobile or text, can be scarce and restrictions need to be observed. Be careful not to park in a residents-only bay during the designated hours. There is also no parking on red routes or on double yellow lines. You can park on single yellow lines in the evenings and on Sundays. Parking illegally or overstaying the time limit in a pay-and-display bay can result in a fine and/or your car being wheel-clamped or towed away. A notice should be displayed informing drivers of where to go to pay their fine and collect their vehicle.
There are plenty of car-hire firms in London, including
Avis,
Budget,
Europcar,
Hertz and Thrifty, which have offices at airports and other locations throughout the city, but the best rates are through comparison websites such as
travelsupermarket.com. For large families,
5th Gear has 7- and 9-seaters, plus child and booster seats to rent. Most firms offer a car delivery and collection service. All drivers need to study the UK
Highway Code and familiarize themselves with the traffic signs used in London.
By river
Regular river services are operated by TfL’s River Bus, which operates four lines between Putney in the west and Woolwich Arsenal in the east. Timetables, which change according to the season, and maps are available on the TfL website.
By bicycle
Barclays Cycle Hire is a public bicycle-sharing scheme, launched in 2010. Its distinctive blue-and-grey bikes are now available from docking stations at locations throughout central and eastern London (shown on a map on the TfL website). Register online, or pay at the terminals, borrow a bike and drop it off at any docking station in the scheme. The bikes have three gears and adjustable seats. They are quite heavy though, so maybe not ideal for long rides. Bikes suitable for all the family can be rented from the London Bicycle Tour Company, which also arranges cycle tours, and Go Pedal, which offers child seats and trailers. If you are cycling with children, TfL promotes Greenways – safe, family-friendly routes running through parks, forests, and quiet streets and along waterways. It is always advisable to wear reflective clothing and a helmet when cycling and to use a strong lock to deter thieves.
On foot
Although it is large, London is still a great city to explore on foot, whether it’s a stroll around the back streets of Covent Garden or the City or a more serious ramble through the green spaces of Richmond Park or over Hampstead Heath. The TfL website has a walking route planner. A number of companies arrange themed walks, from Ghosts of the Old City to Harry Potter Film Locations. The most established operator is London Walks.