Tips for getting around London

London Underground (Tube)

The London Underground (known as the Tube), is usually the quickest and most convenient way to travel around the city.

Tickets & Payment Options for London Underground

To enter and leave tube stations, you'll need to go through a ticket barrier which you can do with a paper ticket, contactless bank card or travelcard (You don't need an oyster card).

Contactless payments apply daily and weekly fare caps, so you'll only pay up to a certain amount each day/week, depending on the zones and time of travel. For a daily cap between zones 1-2, it's usually £8.90.

London Underground Zones:

London is divided into Zones 1–9, which determine how much you pay for each journey.

• Zone 1 covers central London (Westminster, Soho, City of London).

• Zone 2 surrounds it (Camden, Notting Hill, Shoreditch).

• Zones 3–6 include suburbs and Heathrow Airport (Zone 6).

• Zones 7–9 cover outer areas.
  Most tourists only travel in Zones 1–2, unless visiting places like Wembley, Heathrow, or Harry Potter Studios.

Peak vs. Off-Peak Times on the London Underground:

Fares are cheaper during off-peak hours, which are outside weekday rush hours (6:30–9:30 AM and 4:00–7:00 PM). Off-peak includes weekends and public holidays. Some lines (Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Northern, Piccadilly) run 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Avoid rush hour if you can – it's more expensive and extremely crowded, especially between 7:30–9:30 AM and 4:00–5:30 PM.

London Underground Navigation

The tube map can be confusing, but the main takeaway is that each tube line has its own colour and there are a total of 12. When travelling on the tube, you may need to switch lines to reach your destination, as not all stations are served by a single line.

It's best to use an app that will show you which lines you need to get on to reach a certain location (otherwise you'll have to work it out by the maps at the tube station).

I have always used the Tube Map - London Underground App, which I highly recommend. You can also use the TfL Go App and Citymapper.

London Buses

London’s iconic red buses are one of the most affordable and convenient ways to get around the city. They cover areas that the Tube doesn’t reach and sometimes offer a more direct route.

How to Pay for London Buses:

London buses don't accept cash — pay using a contactless card, Apple/Google Pay or a Travelcard. A single fare is £1.75 and this lets you take unlimited bus rides within one hour for the same price.

How to Use London Buses:

• Wave to signal the bus to stop, board through the front door, and tap your card on the yellow reader.

• Press the red button to request your stop — buses don’t announce every stop.

• No need to tap out as your fare is charged when you board.

• Many buses run 24/7, and night buses (marked with an "N") operate after the Tube closes.

Other Public Transport in London:

Besides the Tube, you might encounter the DLR (serving East London), London Overground (connecting outer and some inner London areas), and National Rail (for trips outside London — separate ticket needed).

You can also travel by river buses and Uber Boats on the Thames, using contactless or Oyster payment.

Taxis & Ride-Hailing Apps in London:

You can get around using black cabs (more expensive but faster in traffic, using bus lanes) or ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt (cheaper, but surge pricing can apply).
Black cabs can be hailed on the street, at taxi ranks, or booked via apps like Gett; fares are metered unless booked through an app.

Bikes & Scooter Rentals in London:

London is bike and scooter-friendly, with lots of cycle lanes and parks. Santander Cycles (Boris Bikes) are available citywide — rent via contactless card or the app. It costs £1.65 for 30 minutes (£3.30 for e-bikes), with Day Passes for £3. Stations are common in areas like Hyde Park, South Bank, and Shoreditch.

You can rent e-scooters from Lime, TIER, and Bolt via their apps. It usually costs £1 to unlock, then 15p–25p per minute. Scooters are available in designated zones across central London — check the app for availability.

Is London a walkable city?

London is one of the most walkable cities in the world, with most of the top attractions, historic landmarks and shopping districts within walking distance of each other.

There are some instances where you might need to get a bus, tube or uber, such as travelling from Westminster to the Tower of London or Tower Bridge, which takes roughly an hour to walk between. However, attractions like Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street and Covent Garden are walkable (all within 20-30 minutes).