Handy Information: Getting around London

Maps

If plan to do any walking around London Get an A to Z. It's a book of maps of all of London. You can buy one at any newsagent or bookstore. They are amazingly useful. Especially since the street layout of London is more-or-less random.

Also keep in mind that while street numbers usually follow the normal pattern of one-side-odd, one-side-even, you will occasionally find streets that go sequentially up one side and down the other. For example, you may find number 4 is next to number 5, but is across the street from number 62. Tottenham Court Road is one of the more major streets that use this numbering system.

The Tube

The easiest way to get around London is by the London Underground (aka the Tube). London is divided into 6 zones. The cost of travel depends on how many zones you cross. Most places you're likely to go are in zones 1 or 2. Heathrow is in zone 6.

London has a lovely system of travelcards. A travelcard works on any tube or train in the specified zones, and any bus in London. One day travelcards only work on tubes or trains after 9:30am on weekdays. Weekly or longer travelcards are valid all day.

A Single journey in zone 1 is £2. If you plan to make more than one journey a day, it is worth it to get a travelcard.

Rules of thumb:
Short stays
4 days or less		 Longer stays
5 days or more
  • If you're not planning to travel before 9:30am on weekdays, get one day zone 1&2 travel cards each day (£4.30). On the weekend get a zone 1&2 weekend travel card (£6.40).
  • If you're up for going around London on the day you arrive, and plan to take the tube into town from Heathrow, and you're arriving after 9:30am, get an all zone one day travelcard when you arrive (£5.40). Get one day zone 1&2 travelcards (£4.30) for the rest of your stay. The same holds for the day you leave.
  • If you're not up for going around London on the day you arrive or leave, just get a single journey to the airport (£3.80).
  • Get a weekly zone 1&2 travelcard (£20.20).
  • If plan on taking the tube from Heathrow, buy a weekly zone 1&2 travelcard (£20.20) and a single journey from zone 6 to zone 3 (£2.20).

Useful ticket prices:

Zone 1Zone 1&2All Zones
Single £2.00£2.20£3.80
1 Day travelcard (after 930) £4.30£5.40
Weekend travelcard £6.40£8.10
1 week travelcard £17.00£20.20£38.30
All fares.

Busses

The fare system for the busses is far less complicated than the tube:
A single journey is £1
A 1 day bus pass is £2.50
A 1 week bus pass is £9.50

Traveling by bus is by far the cheapest way to get around, but it is not for the meek. If you don't know where you're going it's very easy to get lost. If you're unsure, always ask the bus bus driver to let you know when you get to your stop.

Busses are great for short trips and are a good way see London. Always take a map with you. Busses are fairly fast, as long as you don't take them through the really congested routes. Avoid busses during rush hour, and on the following routes:

The full set of fares is here.

Taxis

Taxis are the most expensive and fastest way to get around London. Avoid minicabs and always take Black Cabs. Even then, they will sometimes try to take advantage of tourists. Be warned.

Fares depend on the time of day, distance traveled, and time spent idle. The minimum fare is £2.