Travelling Around London

Travelling around London The Tube - London Underground - London tube map Probably the most useful transportation method for the visitor to London is the tube, or Underground. The London Underground can be properly said to have begun in 1890 when an electrically-powered line was opened between King William Street and Stockwell. There are now 12 lines plus the Docklands Light Railway serving millions of travelers around London every day. Although the tube will usually be the quickest and most inexpensive way of getting about London (that is, if you take advantage of the various discount passes available), be aware that the British Rail "above-ground" trains serve some areas of London better than the tube. Walking - London Map Taking a walk around London is the best way to see it. The Capital has so much to offer, there's lots to explore and some great walks connecting them. London Buses - Bus Pass Double-decker red buses seem to be synonomous with London, but there are "single-deckers" carrying travelers around the city, too. Single or double, there are a few basic tips to get the most out of bus travel in the London area. There are weekly and monthly passes good for unlimited travel on all London buses, but a better deal is the London Travelcard, good for unlimited travel on both the Underground and the buses. Travelcards can be purchased for 7 days or more at a time, but they require a passport sized photo. Taxi - London Black Cabs The legendary black taxis of London seem to have been around forever, though nowadays not all the 23,000 black cabs in greater London are black, and a modernised streamlined version has been added to the "lumpy" old beasts. The bulging roofline of these taxis was originally designed to accommodate the height of bowler hats. Taxis are a good option for groups of people sharing the fare, which can be steep - the meter starts ticking at £1.40, and rises by 20p with every 219 metres travelled. You can hail a taxi by raising your arm when you see the yellow sign above the windscreen illuminated. If you don't see a yellow sign at all, you are looking at a minicab.