Transportation In and Around London

Navigating London

Greater London has one of the most elaborate modes of transportation in the world. The city is served by 11 Tube lines, along with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), the London Overground, the Elizabeth line and National Rail services. More information about these ways of traveling around the city can be found below.

The Tube

The London Underground rail network, also called "the Tube," is the best way to travel to, from and around central London.

London Underground trains generally run between 5am and midnight Monday to Saturday. Operating hours are slightly reduced on Sunday. Night tube trains run on some lines throughout the night on Fridays and Saturdays.

The city is divided into nine travel zones. Zone 1 is in central London and zones 6 to 9 are on the outskirts of the city.

The Tube fare depends on how far you travel, the time of day, and what type of ticket or payment method you use. Oyster cards or contactless payments (by credit or debit cards or Apple Pay) are the cheapest ways to pay for Tube journeys if you are not commuting every day. If you are taking the tube every day, students should consider purchasing a travelcard or a student travelcard with a 30% discount on travelcard fares. 

The London Underground is easy enough to navigate. Here’s a simple idea of how your trip should go:

1. Enter the station, touch the yellow card read with your Oyster card or contactless card and follow the signs toward the correct line. The tube lines are indicated by a color. 
2. Most lines will have two platforms to choose from (ie. Northbound and Southbound or Westbound and Eastbound). Take a minute to look at the list of stops to ensure you are going the right way.
3. On the platform, you will see a digital display that indicates both the endpoint and arrival time of the next train. Please note that some trains have divergent routes serviced from the same platform. In this case, the sign will say something like ‘Endpoint (via ‘Station Name’). 
4. Once at your destination, leave the station by touching with your card the yellow card reader at the gates again. It is important that you touch out to be charged the correct fare for your journey.
   
   

Here are some useful tips for travelling on the Tube to make your journey more enjoyable and efficient:

• Avoid travelling during morning and evening rush hours (weekdays from 7am to 8.45am and 4.30pm to 6.45pm).
• Trains run frequently so there’s no need to rush for the train, just wait for the next available service.
• Check the front of the train for the destination.
• Stand on the right when using escalators.
• Wait for passengers to leave the train before boarding.
• Move down inside the Tube carriages while travelling so you don't block the doorway for other passengers.
• Stand behind the yellow line while waiting on the platform.
• If you’re carrying luggage, board at the raised platform areas for level access onto the train.
• Offer your seat to anyone who is unwell, elderly, pregnant or travelling with small children.
• Hold onto the rails if you are standing during your journey.
• Mind the gap!

For more detailed travel information and suggestions for the best route to reach your destination, download the app CityMapper or use Transport for London (TFL)’s Journey Planner.

Buses

Buses are an easy and affordable way to travel around London, with 95% of Londoners living within 400 meters of a bus stop and the Hopper fare giving you unlimited journeys within one hour of touching in for just £1.75.

Taking a bus in London is incredibly easy. Here is how:

1. Figure out bus numbers and timetables by checking your journey on CityMapper, TFL Journey Planner or Google Maps. 

1. Go to the designated bus stop (each bus stop has a name and a letter) 
2. Flag down your bus unless someone aboard has requested to disembark.
3. Get on the bus using the front doors and tap the yellow card reader with your card. 
4. Press the bell before your stop to give the driver plenty of notice that you want to get off the bus.
5. Get off the bus using the doors in the middle or at the end of the bus. You do not need to touch out with your card.
   
   London has worked hard to make the public transportation system accessible for users and almost all London buses can “kneel” to reduce the step from the sidewalk to the bus if you are unable to step onto the bus. Many also offer assistance for wheelchair users to get on/off the bus if needed. All this to say, don’t let concerns about accessibility on public transit stop you.

Overground

London Overground is a suburban rail network serving a large part of Greater London as well as the home county of Hertfordshire, with 113 stations on nine different routes.

The Overground forms part of the National Rail network but it is under the concession control of Transport for London (TfL). TfL assigned orange as a mode-specific color.

The Overground rail fares cost the same as underground prices on Oyster cards or contactless payments. Peak times on the overground are also the same, with prices rising between 6.30am and 9.30am with a reduced cost thereafter. 

Alternative Modes of Transportation

Taxis

For a more privatized experience, traveling in the classic black cabs is preferred by many. One of the primary reasons to opt for black cabs is the drivers, who are well-versed with the topography of the city. YOu can only hire the black cabs when the yellow TAXI sign is on and being a metered transport in London, the base rate is £3.20.

Another option is by using car hailing apps like Uber or Bolt which are cheaper as compared to black cabs, especially when traveling long distances for example to an airport.

Bicycles

With London’s public bicycle hire scheme, you are provided with yet another means of transport in London, that not only gives you the freedom to go wherever you want but also promotes a healthy lifestyle. 

The cost of Santander bikes starts from £1.65 for up to 30 minutes, and £1.65 for each additional 30 minutes. You can also purchase a monthly membership for £20 a month, with unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes each for 30 days. Annual memberships are also available, they provide unlimited 60 minute rides for 365 days.

Riverboat

Traveling via the river is a great way to commute, as stunning views come in handy. This is also an efficient means of commuting. As you board the Thames riverboat service, get ready to sight all the famous landmarks of London while on the journey.
Both Oyster cards and contactless payment cards can be used with Uber Boat by Thomas Clippers, the renowned riverboat service provider in London.

Navigating England and the UK

Want to explore cities outside of London? One of the most important things to consider when planning your travel is to book your transportation in advance. This will ensure that you have a guaranteed spot on the train, bus, or plane and will also save you money.

Here you can find some suggestions on how to travel outside of London:

Bus/Coach

You can check out routes on the National Express website (Coach Travel & Airport Transfers | National Express) or Megabus website (Low cost coach and train travel in the UK | megabus.com). If you book your tickets ahead of time and off peak, you can find really good deals.

These buses connect London with its 5 different airports, several cities around the UK and also with Continental Europe, such as France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Train

There are train stations all over London, such as Victoria, Euston, Paddington and St. Pancras (this is the station where the Eurostar train departs from).

Use the website Trainline to search for trains and check fares.

To reach Gatwick Airport you can use the Gatwick Express train
To reach Stansted Airport you can take the Stansted Express train
To reach Heathrow Airport you can take the Heathrow Express train or the Elizabeth line.

Flights

Before booking a flight check if you can reach the city by train. For example London to Edinburgh is only 4 hours and 30 minutes by train and you arrive in the city centre without having to show up at the airport 2 hours before your flight.

Use the website Skyscanner to search for flights and check fares.