Destination guides > Europe > England > London > Local transport

London

Local transport

Despite constant grumbling from Londoners, London has a brilliant public transport system that is comprised of buses, trains, trams and the underground.

If you're planning on spending longer than a week in London, you should consider getting an Oyster Card. Transport fares paid using this smart card are substantally lower than the regular cash fare.

BUS

London's double-decker buses are a tourist attraction in their own right and riding on the top deck is a must for every traveller. Although slower than the tube, buses are an excellent way to get around London since they give you a totally different perspective of the city.

The destination, along with major stops, is indicated on the panel on the front and sometimes the back of each bus. Although you can pay for each ride on board the bus, most people just flash their Travelcard which allows free transport on bus services provided by London Transport and a number of private bus operators.

Bus fares on London buses are £2 (cash fare) or £1.20 with an Oyster card.

Although train and tube services stop shortly after midnight, there are a number of bus route that operate throughout the night. These night buses have route numbers prefixed with the letter "N" and run from around 11pm to 6am. Most night buses stop in Trafalgar Square, which makes this the place to head for if you're in Central London and you don't know which bus to get. Night buses cost more than regular buses and they don't accept one-day Travelcards although weekly and monthly passes are accepted.

There are also a number of touristy bus services that operate a circuit of the major tourist attractions. They give a running commentary, which some people may find entertaining and the open-top doubledeckers provide excellent photo opportunities. Although these tourist buses may seem like a good idea at first, they are a bit tacky, they don't give you the opportunity to mingle with the locals, and most importantly they are expensive. It's a much better idea to grab a Travelcard (or Oyster card) and take a regular bus and spend the money you've saved down at the pub!

TRAM

The Tramlink tram service operates around Croydon in the southern suburbs and it is unlikely that you will use this service. Fares are the same as the bus.

THE UNDERGROUND

The London Underground or the tube is the world's largest public transport network. Commonly referred to simply as 'the tube', the Underground network is made up of 12 lines plus Docklands Light Railway that provides an elevated network in the East End. Each line in the London Underground is named and indicated by a different colour on tube maps that appear at stations and on each train carriage. Because each line generally runs on its own tracks, you will have to follow the signs to transfer to a different line.

Following the fire at Kings Cross station in 1987, it is now illegal to smoke anywhere on the London Underground, even on stations above ground.

Some stations on the Underground network have curved platforms. This means that trains don't always stop flush to the edge to the platform creating a gap between the train and the platform. It is a good idea to pay attention to avoid falling in the gap when getting on and off your train. This has led to the Underground's most popular public safety announcement "mind the gap".

SUBURBAN TRAINS

London's suburban trains are run by around ten different companies and carry more commuters than the London Underground. Suburban train services fill in areas that aren't covered by the underground and generally run every 20 minutes or so, with more frequent trains operating the closer you get into central London. Trains on some routes (such as Waterloo to Clapham Junction) run almost as frequently as the tube.

The London Overground is a network of suburban train lines (mostly in North London) that are more closely integrated with the underground system than other suburban train lines. The London Overground appears on tube maps and London Overground lines accept Oyster cards (which are not always accepted on other suburban train lines).

You probably won't be using surbarban trains in London unless you want to go to places in south London, if you want to get to the good hitchhiking spots or if you are travelling beyond or out of London.

The Travelcard is accepted by virtually all suburban train services, the few exceptions include airport services such as the Heathrow , Gatwick Express and Stansted Express train services.

RIVER FERRIES

There are ferry services that link piers along the River Thames. The three main commuter services run between Chelsea Harbour and Blackfriars Millennium Pier, between Savoy Pier and Greenwich (via Canary Wharf) and between Hilton Docklands and Canary Wharf.

FARES

Fares are based on a zone system with six zones in the London area. Everything you are likely to want to travel to is located in zones one and two.

A single ticket valid for zone one on the tube costs £4 (cash fare) or £1.80 with an Oyster card. One-way ticket prices for other zones are as follows:

As you can tell from the above prices, the tube can be a very expensive way of getting around town. However, there are a number of ways of reducing the cost of getting around London.

If you're not getting an Oyster card then a Travelcard is a much better deal than individual tickets (although the Oyster card is still the best value). Travelcards allow unlimited travel during a set period.

Most visitors to London buy a travel card each day, but a weekly ticket a better option if you're staying more than a couple of days. One-day Travelcards are good for unlimited travel on buses, the underground and suburban trains after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

One-day Travelcards are not valid on night buses, although travel on night buses is included in weekly and monthly Travelcards.

You will need a Photocard if you are buying a monthly Travelcard or a seven-day rail-only season ticket. Photocards are available from tube stations, Oyster ticket shops and London Travel Information Centres.

Although the Travelcard represents big savings over individual tickets, the Oyster card is still better value because the Oyster card daily price cap is lower than the cost of the coresponding Travelcard.

Oyster card

If you're planning to spend a lot of time in London, the pre-paid Oyster card can save you a lot of money. Transport fares are substantially lower – in some cases you can save up to two thirds of the cash fare – when you pay using this smart card. For example a short tube journey in central London costs £1.80 with the Oyster Card compared with the £4 cash fare. Daily price capping means the maximum you pay is £7.20 a day for travel in zones one and two (or £5.60 for off-peak travel). This is a great idea since you don't have to buy a day pass if you're not sure whether you are going to travel enough to get the value out of it.

The Oyster may not be worth it if you're only in town for a couple of days as it is easy to leave credit on your card when you leave town, but it is a great idea if you're in London longer than a week or if you plan on returning.

Remember to validate your ticket or you could be up for a £50 fine.

TAXIS

London's black cabs are as famous as its red double-decker buses, and many visitors consider a ride in a black cab all part of the London experience. Unlike taxi drivers elsewhere, London cabbies can't get their licence until they've passed a rigorous test called 'the knowledge'. Getting the knowledge involves two to three years of studying a map for three hours a day followed by another three hours whizzing around London on a moped. By the time taxi drivers have graduated they know the shortest distance between any two places in London. Tipping isn't always expected although it is commonplace to add an extra 10%.

Minicabs are a cheaper alternative. Because they are unlicensed they are not allowed to pick up passengers off the street (although many minicabs hang around pubs at closing time) and you generally have to call them or wait for them at the office of a minicab company. Minicabs don't have meters so you'll have to negotiate a rate beforehand. Don't expect the professionalism of a black cab.

DRIVING

Although driving is one of the best ways to explore Great Britain, most travellers sensibly choose to avoid driving in central London. Although there is a fairly comprehensive network of motorways radiating from the outer suburbs, which are joined by the M21 Orbital Motorway (ring road), there are no motorways that run through the centre of town and this results in bottlenecks and traffic jams.

Congestion charge

In an effort to reduce congestion, a daily congestion charge of £8 (£10 if you pay the following day) is levied on every car driven into a designated area in central London. You are required to pay the congestion charge if you drive or park in the congestion-charging zone between 7am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Motorbikes and scooters are exempt from this levy.

A map showing the boundaries of the congestion charging zone is on the Transport for London website.

Payment may be made by sending a text (SMS) message from your mobile phone; however you first have to register your name, address, credit card and vehicle details either by phone or online (tel 0845 900 1234; website www.cclondon.com). Alternatively you apply for a Fast Track card that can be swiped at participating retail outlets, although this card is designed more for residents and other frequent users and is not a popular option for visitors to London.

If you're planning on renting a car in London to explore Great Britain, it is a good idea to make sure that the rental car office you're picking the car up from is located outside the zone to avoid having to pay the charge.

the backpackers' ultimate guide