Getting Around London: Tube, Uber & Hidden Tips

Getting around London is very easy, but the real secret is always choosing the right transport at the right time. The city is huge, so during the day you’ll often combine different options.

The Tube (underground) is the fastest and most practical option: it takes you everywhere in no time and it’s super efficient.
You can simply pay with contactless or Apple Pay, just like on all public transport in London, with no need for tickets.

The famous red double-decker buses are perfect if you want to enjoy the city while moving around. The upper deck, especially the front seats, is the best way to see London “in motion”. My advice is to take it only once, in an area you want to visit but where you don’t have much time, so you can see it from a different perspective. Go upstairs and try to get the front row for the best view.

Uber is the most comfortable choice, especially in the evening or when you’re tired.
They take you directly anywhere, with no changes or waiting, but of course they are more expensive than public transport. We always booked them easily through the Uber app with no problems.

Don’t pay for guided tours or tourist experiences that are only made to attract visitors — a real experience not to miss is the Uber Boat on the Thames. My advice is to take it in the evening, when the city lights up and London’s lights reflect on the river. It’s the perfect time to do it, especially if you follow my itinerary to Canary Wharf: doing that route at sunset or after dark is much more scenic and atmospheric than during the day, when it would feel a bit wasted.

It’s also very easy to use: along the Thames you’ll find the piers where Uber Boats depart, and once you arrive you just tap your contactless card and pay before boarding, exactly like the Tube.

One more tip: download Citymapper — in my opinion it’s the best app for getting around London.
It shows the best routes in real time, alerts you about delays, closures and line changes, and even tells you which Tube exit to take to save time.