London Travel Guide
The Tube
Hop On/Off Bus
DLR - Light Rail/Tram
Black Cab
The Tube
When I first arrived in London The Tube scared me...that spider web of coloured lines going every which way, I couldn't understand which train to get me where I needed to go. Added to that, everyone seemed in such a rush.
The trick I've learned with The Tube is not to rush. If you miss a train, wait a couple of a minutes for the next one. Just take your time, plan where you want to go and find the most appropriate line or lines to get you to your destination. It's actually easier than it looks. And of course, it was designed to be easy. I mean, why make a transport network such as this difficult to use right? The idea is to transport people, quickly and efficiently around Greater London.
Look closer and you'll notice that The Tube is interconnected by dozens, if not hundreds of different Tube Stations, many of them connected by multiple Tube train lines. This is what makes The Tube so easy to get around. You can get off at Waterloo station only for there to be another train taking you in a different direction. So it's quite common to use multiple tube journey's to reach your destination.
Tip: Everything is signposted. There are signs to show you where to go if you get a bit confused....signs to direct you to the next tube line, signs to show you the way out etc.
Unlike Australia, where you'll often have to wait 15-30 minutes for a train to take you somewhere, the frequency of The Tube makes it that much more efficient with trains running every 2-10 minutes in most cases, usually no more than a few minutes at the larger, busier Tube Stations. Of course, a larger population requires a more robust transport system and the population of Greater London is about the same as the population of the whole of Australia.
Tip: Don't forget to stop at each station. Along the platforms are little snippets of history about the underground including photographs. Well worth it for the history buff.
Tickets Please
At the entrance to each station are ticket barriers. Nearby are ticket machines where you can purchase single tickets, though most people simply use their Debit/Credit card or contactless device, namely their smartphones or watch to tap on for the start of their journey. At the other end are the same barriers which enable you to tap off your journey. Transport for London (TFL) then calculates how much to charge you based on which zone/s you've travelled.
A single tube journey on The Tube costs about £2.80 for travel in Zones 1 and 2, so if you're travelling frequently throughout any given day or week, it can start getting quite expensive. There is a daily cap on the amount you're charged regardless of how many journeys you take which is around £9.
Airport Transfers
Take either the Piccadilly Line or the new Elizabeth Line to the city from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Off-peak Travel
Travelling off-peak is much more enjoyable for the tourist as it's much less busy and you often have space to sit down rather than stand for most of your journey. Ticket prices are only marginally cheaper than a peak ticket so don't let that stop you if you need to be somewhere in peak times.
Light Rail or London Overground
In some circumstances, it's likely you will need to get to your destination via light rail or even the London Overground service. Suburbs like Canary Wharf is one such destination. But travel on the Overground or Tram is no different than the Tube really. You tap on when you start and tap off when you finish your journey. Prices will vary as the Overground often goes much further than The Tube.
Alternatives
Bus
If you're the type of person that would rather be seeing the sights of London, TFL also have a vast network of double decker buses to take you where you need to go. Of course, the bus is much slower but there's more to see. The price of a single bus fare is about £1.80 for the entire journey from A to B. Unlike The Tube, you only need to tap on once when entering the bus. You don't need to tap off when you alight.
If you're using 2 buses, then you won't pay extra if your journey continues within 30 minutes of switching buses making it a much cheaper option for many who need to use 2 buses to get to their destination.
Tourist Bus
If this is your first time in London, these tourist buses are a must do. They're not cheap mind you, around £30-40 for a single ticket but many of them also include their own tour guide to talk you through specific sites of interest. If the weather is nice, you can sit outside and enjoy the scenery. These buses operate on a hop on, hop off principle so you can jump off whenever you wish to explore a specific area or attraction, then hop back on as you desire and go somewhere different.
Bikes
By far the most popular forms of transport you'll often see is people riding are these red coloured bicycles. They're called Santander bikes but the local term used is Boris Bikes as the former Prime Minister/Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was responsible for introducing these. They offer a much more fun way to see and get around London.
A 30 minute ride costs £1.65, payable in advance when you hire the bike from a bike station. You can hire up to 4 bikes simultaneously with the one payment card. TFL also offer a monthly subscription for these bikes at just £20 per month which include unlimited free 30 minute rides for an entire month. Once you pass your 30 minutes of free travel, you're then charged the standard rate of £1.65 per 30 minutes of additional travel. For residents, there is also an option of a yearly subscription making the bike hire even cheaper.
Most roads in London include bicycle lanes, created specifically for riders. Be sure to adhere to the rules of the road and stop at traffic lights as required by law.
The only downside to using Boris Bikes is you must park them at designation parking stations.
Bicycle helmets are not mandatory in London but strongly advisable.
Scooters
I first used a scooter in Australia in the city of Melbourne. These are great and provide a fast, fun ride around the city of choice. However, unlike bikes they are can be considered a lot more dangerous so please take care when using them. There are quite a number of vendors offering scooters which you will see when you visit. Simply scan the QR code and you're off. Prices vary between vendors but are similar in price to Boris Bike hire.
Walking
The majority of Londoners walk pretty much everywhere. Its not unusual to rack up over 10,000 steps a day walking around London but it can get a bit tiring after a while. Make sure you have good walking shoes and take plenty of water.
Taxi/Uber
Lastly, if you simply get lost or you get completely over walking you can always hail a Black Cab or order an Uber. However, be warned, prices for cabs can be expensive. Uber offers a cheaper option but given how busy London is, don't be surprised if you have to wait a while, particularly during peak hour.
Download the TFL App
Whether you're travelling by The Tube, light rail or the bus, this app is a very handy tool. It's simple and easy to use and keeps abreast of where you travel in real time. The app is free, downloadable from your respective App store.
Enjoy
So there you have it. I hope this helps you in your quest to move around London. As you can see, there are multiple options to choose. Choose the most appropriate one for your needs or budget and enjoy your visit in one of the most spectacular cities on the planet.