Using London's Public Transport

London Underground (Tube)

For most visitors to London the de facto method of getting about in London. There will be an Underground Station within easy walking distance of your hotel and also wherever you want to go in Central London.

London Public Buses

London's famous red buses are frequent and for those ready to invest in understanding the route map very rewarding and cheap. You'll see a lot more on the top deck of a bus than underground on the Tube.

London Train Services

London has a very large commuter rail network separate to the famous London Underground. Although used mostly by commuters to get home from work, places like Windsor and Hampton Court are attractive to visitors.

River Services

Comparatively lightly used by commuters but a services operates year round along the River Thames passing major sights. In summer more services are introduced including the 3-hour trip to Hampton Court.

Public Transport Maps

A map is a great help when you are travelling a strange new city using public transport. If you take time to research routes prior to travelling you can save yourself a lot of time and stress.

Hop On Sightseeing Buses

Very popular way of getting orientated with London on your first day. Hop-on hop-off buses visit all the main sights frequently. There's also traditional and novelty tours.

Travelcard Transport Pass

The original travel pass for London providing unlimited travel on bus, underground, DLR and rail network for fixed periods of time. Comes for 1 or 7 days, 1 month or longer.

Oyster Card Transport Pass

The high tech electronic alternative to Travelcard. The card of choice for residents of London providing the lowest cost and convenient basis for using London's public transport on a regular basis.

Travelcard or Oyster Card?

A discussion of the pros and cons of Travelcard and Oyster Card. It's very complicated but this page should allow you to explore which of London's travel passes is correct for your personal needs.

The London Pass

Combined sightseeing passport ticket that comes with an option to bundle a Travelcard public transport within the ticket. The London pass is also flexible in the durartion of the pass.

Rail Services

London has many stations. Commuter lines dominate what can be used for the airports and some sights like Windsor, Hampton Court and Greenwich. Longer services cover major cities and towns in Great Britain.

Coach Services

The main long distance coach station is at Victoria. The largest operator, National Express, runs at least daily to all major towns and cities in England and Wales. Megabus competes on the busiest routes.

Heathrow Airport Transfers

Travelling into London there is a wide choice from the cheap and crowded Underground through airport coaches to the expensive, fast Heathrow Express. Direct coach services available to much of England.

Gatwick Airport Transfers

Built on the London to Brighton railway line transfer traffic is dominated by rail. Choice of rail operators. Direct rail and coach services are available to much of the United Kingdom too.

Stansted Airport Transfers

A single fast rail link, the Stansted Express, is complemented by 5 competing airport bus routes meeting the needs of the budget traveler. Rail + coach routes allows longer transfers missing out London.

Luton Airport Transfers

The smallest of London's major airports has cheap airport buses into London. Luton Airport has no train station but a free airport shuttle takes you to Luton Parkway with frequent services to London.

Southampton Cruise Port Transfers

Details of public transport, private transport, hotel bus shuttles and transfer tours between London's main cruise port and your Central London hotel or rail terminus.

Dover Cruise Port Transfers

Details of public transport, private transport, hotel bus shuttles and transfer tours between Dover cruise port and your Central London hotel or rail terminus.