The Underground - The London Tube
The fastest and cheapest way to get around London is by Underground. Londoners refer to the Underground as the Tube, and they love to complain about it. While it's true that track work, delays, and slow trains are chronic issues, we love the Tube. It's among the cleanest big-city subway systems in the world. Additionally, platforms have handy electronic signs indicating the arrival time of the next train. And then there are the oh-so-delightfully cushioned seats. Lastly, who can fail to be moved by that booming voice famously urging you to "mind the gap!"
Trains run every 3-10 minutes from Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and on Sunday from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Note station closing times! Running to catch the last train is something of a tradition, especially on weekends. The alternative is to board a night-bus filled with drunks or an expensive and hard-to-find taxi.
Tickets must be bought in advance from the booth or machines around the station. Hold on to your tickets, as you can be charged a £10 penalty for failure to produce a valid ticket. A one-way trip costs £4.60 for an adult and £1.00 for a child.
The Tube is divided into zones that radiate out from central London. Tourists will only very rarely need to venture beyond the borders of Zone 2.
One and three day tickets good for travel on the Tube and Dockland Light Railway can also be purchased. A one-day peak-inclusive pass costs £6.60 and a three-day peak-inclusive pass costs £16.40. A one-day pass exclusively for off-peak travel runs £5.10.
Travelcards can save visitors money. Travelcards, which can be purchased ahead of time online, cover Tube, bus, trams, Dockland Light Railway, and National Rail for periods of one, three, or seven consecutive days.
The Travelcard pricing scheme is complex. A three-day adult Travelcard for London's Zones 1 through 6 is priced at £18.90 for off-peak travel and £37.20 for peak travel. An equivalent Travelcard for a child costs £6 for off-peak travel and £18 for peak travel. "Peak" refers to travel prior to 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, while "off-peak" refers to all other travel times. A seven-day adult Travelcard good for travel in Zones 1 through 3 costs £26, while the child's version runs £13. A seven-day adult Travelcard good for travel in Zones 1 through 6 costs £41; the child's equivalent is just £20.50.
If you're traveling in London, we recommend you don't do so without an Oyster card. This travel "credit card" gives you substantial discounts on all London public transportation. A single ride in Zone A costs only £1.50 with the Oyster card in comparison with the whopping £4 you'd pay for the same ride going Oyster-less. You can purchase these cards on the Oyster website or at one of over 2,200 Oyster ticket shops throughout London. Put money on a card to debit per journey, or put a seven day or monthly bus pass or travel card on your Oyster. Either way the savings are huge.
For more information, check out the official Transport for London website.
London City Buses
London's bus system, though slower than the Tube, is just as easy and even less expensive than the Tube, costing just £2 per ride. A One-Day Bus Pass runs £3.50, and a bus ticket six-pack costs £4. After midnight, night buses (prefixed with the letter "N" in front of the route number) prowl the streets. Night buses run limited routes, so do the necessary advance research. Night buses are also usually something of a madcap adventure, especially on weekends when they fill with late-night partiers hitting clubs or ready to hit the sack.
London Taxis
In you're in a group of three or more, taxis may be a good transportation option. London's metered taxis are black cabs, starting at £2.20 (tariff #1), with a surcharge (tariff #2) after 6:00 p.m and on holidays (tariff #3). Generally, taxis are easy to wave down. A yellow light over the cab's wind-shield indicates a free cab.
A 10-minute cab ride on a Friday night will cost around £5.60 on the way out and about £6.40 return. A surcharge of £2 applies to cabs reserved by telephone.
To book taxi in advance, call +44 (0)20 7272 0272.
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