London City Transport

The London Underground (The Tube)

London's Underground rail network, or 'the Tube' as it is known to Londoners, is normally the quickest and easiest way of travelling around London. You can pick up a London Underground Map for free upon arrival at any London Tube station. London Travel Information centers sell tickets and provide free maps. There are centers at all Heathrow airport terminals, major stations in London and at Tourist Information Centers.

The Tube maps on the station walls are diagrammatic representations of the routes and are drawn so that they are easy to read: they do not provide an accurate depiction of the physical location of the stations. Thus, even though you would not be able to determine it from the official Underground map, some tube stations are within easy walking distance of each other.

It is advised to get an Oyster card and/or Travelcard to get the best fares and beat the queues. If you're caught on the Tube without a valid ticket you're liable for an on-the-spot fine. Oyster card prices are always cheaper than paper tickets for the Tube. For example, the cash fare for a single journey in Zone 1 is £4.30, which is £2.30 more than the Oyster fare.

Always remember - Mind the gap!  The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. Because some platforms on the Underground are curved and the rolling stock that uses them are straight, an unsafe gap is created when a straight car stops at a curved platform. In the absence of a device to automatically fill the gap some form of visual and auditory warning was needed to prevent passengers from being caught unaware and suffering injury by stepping into the wide gap.

Buses

The London Bus is one of London’s principal icons, the archetypal red rear-entrance Routemaster being recognized worldwide. Although the Routemaster has now been largely phased out of service, with only two heritage routes still using the vehicles, the majority of buses in London are still red and therefore the red double-decker bus remains an iconic symbol of the city. Outside of the center of London, Tube stations are farther apart, so buses help fill the gaps.  Also, the budget-conscious will find that the bus offers a cheaper alternative, even if it is a slower journey.

A bus ticket costs £2.20 if paying with cash. It costs £1.30 if using an Oyster Card with a daily price cap of £4.00). You can top-up your Oyster from tube stations and newsagents. The One Day Pass is valid until 4:30 the following morning, so you don't need to worry about getting home after a late evening out. The bus is a nice alternative to the Tube as well because it offers more chances for sightseeing. Plus, it gets you out of the stuffy, un-air conditioned Underground stations, which is definitely a good thing to keep in mind during the hot summer months.

If you are using the buses it is advised to use the spider maps because they give complete details for each major bus stop. It is helpful to find the closest stop to your hotel and to print out that spider map before you begin your trip.

On regular buses, only board via the front door and either show your ticket or pass to the driver, touch your Oyster on the reader or hand him the stub of your Saver ticket. On bendy buses you may board any of the three doors, and there is no need to show your ticket to the driver. There are Oyster readers at each door. The exception is for those using Saver tickets - you must still board at the front and give the stub to the driver. 

Taxi (Cab)

You can complete your London experience with a ride in a black cab! London's classic black cabs also come decorated in a dazzling palette of colors these days. Black cabs can be hailed in the street or at designated ranks situated in prominent places, including many mainline rail, Tube and bus stations. They can also be booked by telephone. If the yellow TAXI sign at the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire. Black cabs are legally obliged to take on any job for journeys up to 12 miles, or up to one-hour duration. Fares are metered, and there is a minimum charge of £2.20. Black cabs are licensed to carry up to five people plus luggage. There are no additional charges for extra passengers or items of luggage. There is a £2.40 charge when you take a black cab from Heathrow Airport and also a £2 charge when you book a black cab by telephone. Many black cabs accept payment by credit or debit card but check with the driver before the trip starts. If you pay by card there is an additional charge of a maximum of £1 or 12.5% of the metered fare, whichever is greater.You can tip taxi drivers as much as you like, but most people round up to the nearest pound.

You can also find various alternative means of transportation: