The Tube, red London buses, cable cars and traditional black cabs. Locals bustle around London in so many different ways. And soon, you’ll see the best of a city just like a Londoner.
You’ll tap your Oyster Card on busy public transport. You’ll ride the Night Tube and chat with a London cabbie. Let us guide you through the tube, bus, DLR, taxis and more with our London transport guide.
Transport for London (TfL) the body that governs public transport services in London. You can pay for single journeys on TfL services by tapping your debit card at the start and end of your journey. Just remember which card you used.
But if you’re making multiple trips during your stay, your best option is an Oyster Card. This is a pre-paid pay-as-you-go card to use on the tube and across other Transport for London services. It will cover you for the bus network, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, IFS Cloud Cable Car and Thames Clippers River Bus Service.
You can choose how much credit you add to your Oyster Card:
- 1,012IR
- 1,518IR
- 2,024IR
- 2,530IR
- 3,036IR
- 3,542IR
- 4,048IR
- 5,060IR
As it’s pre-paid, you won’t have to queue for a ticket. Although you will have to queue up the first time you buy your Oyster Card – get one from any TfL ticket office. There’s a daily cap on fares, so you won’t pay any more for that day in the zones you travel in. It’s much cheaper than buying a single fare or day travelcard. Plus, you can top up if you run out of credit too.
Children under 5 also travel on Transport for London services for free with a fare paying adult, so they won’t need an Oyster Card.
Insider tip:
Buying an Oyster Card in person at a TfL office will cost you 708IR. You can buy a Visitor Oyster Card for 506IR before you arrive in London, although you will have to get it posted to you before you travel. It’s easier to save yourself 202IR and grab a normal Oyster Card when you arrive. If you land in Gatwick you can get a Visitor Oyster Card at the Gatwick Express train station.
1
The Tube
THE QUICKEST AND EASIEST WAY TO GET AROUND LONDON
London Underground, better known as the Tube, serves 272 stations across 11 lines. You can see pretty much everything you want to in London using the Tube.
It’s the quickest and easiest way to get around London. Plus, if it’s cold in winter it will be your warmest option too. Just remember, it can get quite stuffy if you’re wearing a lot of layers, or if it is a warm day.
The Tube runs roughly from 5.00am until around 12.30am. If you’re out late at the weekend, you’ll find 24 hour services on the Central, Victoria, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s called the Night Tube, and services run every 10 or 20 minutes depending on the stations.
Insider tips for taking the Tube:
Get to know the map
Each line is represented by a different colour, so it’s easy to get used to after a couple of journeys. Here’s the map.
You can walk between stations
A lot of stations in Central London are much closer than they look on the map, and it’s quicker to walk between them. The most famous example is Leicester Square and Covent Garden, with others including Embankment and Charing Cross.
The Piccadilly line covers off some top tourist attractions
You can see Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge.
2
Buses
SEE WHERE YOU’RE GOING
With your Oyster Card, you’ll be hopping on and off London Buses.
While they don’t look like the older versions where you jump on the back, they’re still a handy option when travelling in the city. And you can see where you’re going too – an added benefit over the tube – so you’ll get to know the city and your surroundings.
You’ll find great bus maps at every stop and most stops have LED displays for the next arrivals. Downloading the Citymapper app will also help with bus times too.
3
Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
FUN IN THE DOCKLANDS
A driverless train network operating in the old docklands area in the east of the city, the DLR is always a fun ride. Especially if you have children. Your Oyster Card will cover the cost of your ticket.
You’ll likely get it to use the Air Line Cable Car of if you’re travelling to London City Airport.
4
IFS Cloud Cable Car
GET A BIRD’S EYE VIEW
The IFS Cloud Cable Car runs from Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.
You’ll see some of the top sights in London from the air – Canary Wharf, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard, The O2, the Thames Barrier, Maritime Greenwich and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The cost of your ticket is covered by your Oyster Card. If not, book tickets online with a cost of £1,214IR for a round trip.
5
Private cars
FOR COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Your hotel will likely be able to book you a private car for your stay in London. To organise it yourself, you’ll find plenty of reputable companies. The most well-known is Addison Lee, but a quick online search will reveal a range of other options.
6
Taxis
A QUICK TRIP WITH A CABBIE
For quick journeys across the capital, it’s easy to hail a black cab. If you see one passing with its yellow light on, simply stick out your arm and wait for it to pull up to the curb.
London cabbies are some of the most knowledgeable people in the city. They have a passion for London and always know a short cut in a traffic jam. Black cabs work on a meter and cabbies won’t appreciate being bargained with. It’s not like home.
Uber is another option for quick journeys. It runs 24/7 in London and just like anywhere else, the cost of your trip depends on the demand. If it’s raining, expect the price to hike. Other options over Uber in London include Bolt, Free now and Bla Bla car.
7
Sightseeing tours
HOP ON, HOP OFF
If you’re travelling around the city purely for sightseeing, consider a sightseeing tour. These hop-on-hop-off tours allow you to travel across London and jump off at any attractions you want to see close up. There are loads of options to book online. The most popular – you’ll see these buses everywhere in central London – are:
- City Sightseeing: 3744IR for one day / £2428IR for up to 48 hours
- Big Bus Tours – £4048IR for 24 hours
8
Car hire
IS IT WORTH IT?
If you’re sticking to central London, then no. Hiring a car is definitely not worth it, because navigating London’s streets when you’re not local, and making sure your car is ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) compliant can be an additional stress you don’t need given how well-connected the city is. Even outside of London, you can travel by rail, as the United Kingdom has an extensive rail network. However, if you’re planning to tour the UK, and would prefer to have the flexibility of your own vehicle, you can find plenty of car hire options with our search tool, which helps you filter by transmission, size, and price (and even offers low emissions search options should you need it).
So, now you know how you’ll be travelling around London, it’s time to check out exactly what you can do with your time in the city with the rest of our travel guides, including the best cricket grounds in the UK, the best views in London, and how to see the capital in 48 hours.
Thinking of travelling to London? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals for your next trip.
