London Travel
Get around
The city has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite residents constant, and sometimes justified, grumbling about unreliability public transport is often the best option for getting anywhere for
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Get around
The city has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite residents constant, and sometimes justified, grumbling about unreliability public transport is often the best option for getting anywhere for visitors and residents alike and is far more reliable than locals would have you believe. Indeed, nearly a third of households do not feel the need to own a car. The city has recently been awarded the city with the best public transport in the world.
Transport for London (TfL) [45] is a government organisation responsible for all public transport. Visit their website. It contains maps plus an excellent journey planner [46]. They also offer a 24-hour travel information line, charged at local rate: tel +44-20-72221234 (or text 60835) for suggestions on getting from A to B, and for up to the minute information on how services are running. Fortunately for visitors (and indeed residents) there is a single ticketing system, Oyster, which enables travellers to switch between modes of transport on one ticket - but even this has a few limitations (see the guide below) and it is not yet universally accepted by many of the private rail operators.
* By tube / underground
12 colour-coded lines cover the central area and suburbs mostly north of the River Thames, run by TfL
* By Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
Only runs in the east of the city, privately run but part of TfL's network
* By tram (Croydon Tramlink)
A tram service that only operates in southern suburbs around Wimbledon and Croydon.
* By London Overground
The London Overground is now featured on Tube Maps although runs a lot less frequently than the tube (some branches run just 2 or 3 trains per hour). A suburban rail service that crosses north London and round to Richmond, run by TfL. The East London Line is now closed until 2010 when it will become part of the new London Overground.
* By National Rail including Airport Express trains
Rail services to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports (tickets are generally sold at a premium) and suburban services that run out of the city from mainline stations like St Pancras International and Paddington (most lines are south of the River Thames and only one (Thameslink) runs through the city centre; operated by numerous private train companies).
* By boat
