London Public Transport

Public Transport in London

Discover everything you need to know about getting around London, from payment options and transport modes to understanding travel zones and fares.

The Oyster Card & Payment Options

Your key to seamless travel across London’s transport network

Why Use an Oyster Card?

  • 1
    Cheaper fares – Up to 50% less than paper tickets on the Tube
  • 2
    Daily/weekly caps – Automatic limit on what you pay (Zones 1-2: £8.10 daily)
  • 3
    Works everywhere – Tube, bus, tram, DLR, Overground, Emirates Air Line
  • 4
    Easy refunds – Get deposit and balance back when leaving London

Tap your Oyster card on the yellow reader

How to Use Your Oyster

  • Buy: £7 deposit (refundable) + credit at Tube stations, TfL Visitor Centres, or online
  • Top up: At stations, online, or via the TfL Oyster app
  • Tap: On yellow readers when entering AND exiting stations (not buses/trams)
  • Check balance: At ticket machines or by holding card on reader

Alternative Payment Methods

💳

Contactless Payment

Use any contactless credit/debit card or mobile payment (Apple/Google Pay) – same fares as Oyster.

Best for: Visitors staying ≤1 week (no deposit needed)

✓ Pros
  • No card fee
  • Auto-calculates best fare
  • Works internationally
✗ Cons
  • No weekly capping
  • 1 card per person
🎫

Travelcards

Paper tickets valid for unlimited travel within selected zones for 1 day or 7 days.

Best for: Those needing unlimited travel or keeping receipts

✓ Pros
  • Unlimited travel
  • Good for expense claims
  • No daily limits
✗ Cons
  • More expensive for light use
  • Must choose zones in advance
🛍️

Visitor Oyster Card

Special Oyster card with discounts at restaurants, shops, and attractions.

Best for: Tourists wanting transport + discounts

✓ Pros
  • Exclusive discounts
  • Can be mailed abroad
  • Same fares as regular Oyster
✗ Cons
  • £5 non-refundable fee
  • Must pre-load credit

Essential Payment Tips

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Group travel: Each person needs their own card

👶 Children: Under 11s travel free with paying adult

💷 Refunds: Get deposit + balance back at Tube stations

🚫 Avoid: Using different cards – breaks fare capping

📱 Apps: TfL Oyster for balance checks

🏛️ Museums: Some offer discounts with Oyster

London Transport Explorer

Navigate London like a local with our comprehensive guide to the city’s world-class public transport network. Find the best options for speed, scenery, accessibility, and value.

🚇

London Underground (Tube)

The fastest way to navigate central London with 11 color-coded lines serving 270 stations.

⏱ 3-5 min peak frequency 🕒 5am-1am (24h on weekends) 💷 Contactless/Oyster
Best for: Quick journeys across central London
Avoid: Peak hours (7:30-9:30am, 4:30-6:30pm)
Tip: Stand on the right on escalators
🚌

London Buses

Affordable and scenic routes covering all areas with 675 routes and 19,000 stops.

⏱ 5-10 min frequency 🕒 24/7 on many routes 💷 £1.75 per journey
Best for: Short trips & sightseeing (routes 9, 15, 24)
Night buses: N-prefixed routes operate after midnight
Tip: Wave to stop the bus, tap when boarding
Iconic routes: 15 (Heritage), 9 (Royal Parks), 24 (West End)
🚆

London Overground

Connects outer boroughs and suburbs with 6 lines and 112 stations.

⏱ 5-15 min frequency 🕒 5am-12:30am 🌐 Covers Zones 1-9
Best for: North/South London connections
Key routes: East London Line, North London Line
Tip: Great alternative to crowded Tube lines
Orange network on Tube map
🚈

DLR (Docklands Light Railway)

Driverless trains serving East London and Docklands with 45 stations.

🤖 Driverless ⏱ 3-10 min frequency 🏙 Serves Canary Wharf
Best for: Financial district & Excel Centre access
Key stations: Bank, Tower Gateway, Greenwich
Tip: Sit at front for best views
♿ 100% accessible
🚋

London Trams

Light rail network serving South London with 39 stops across 4 routes.

🌍 Croydon area ⏱ 7-10 min frequency 💷 Same as buses
Best for: Croydon, Wimbledon, Beckenham areas
Connects to: National Rail at Wimbledon, West Croydon
Tip: Check platform displays for destinations
Green lines on transport maps
⛴

Thames River Services

Scenic Thames routes with 23 piers from Putney to Woolwich.

🌉 Great views ⏱ 20-30 min frequency 💷 £4.80-£8.40
Best for: Sightseeing & avoiding crowds
Key routes: RB1 (Woolwich-Putney), RB6 (London Eye)
Tip: Combine with Oyster for discounts
See: Tower Bridge, London Eye, Canary Wharf

Fare Comparison (Zone 1-2)

Transport Peak Off-Peak Daily Cap
Tube £2.80 £2.70 £8.10
Bus £1.75 £5.25
Overground £2.80 £2.70 £8.10
River Bus £4.80-£8.40 –

*Using contactless/Oyster. Prices as of 2024. Caps apply to combined TfL services.

London Travel Zones & Fare System

Understand how London’s zone system affects your travel costs

London Travel Zones Map

London’s 9 concentric travel zones with Zone 1 at the center

Understanding the Zones

1
Zone 1: Central London (Westminster, Soho, City of London)
1-2
Zones 1-2: Covers most tourist areas (Camden, Greenwich, London Zoo)
3-6
Zones 3-6: Inner suburbs (Wimbledon, Wembley, Heathrow Airport)
7-9
Zones 7-9: Outer areas (Watford, Brentwood, some National Rail services)

Fare Structure & Pricing

Peak vs Off-Peak

  • Peak hours: Weekdays 6:30-9:30am & 4-7pm
  • Off-peak: All other times (including weekends)
  • Price difference: ~20-30% more during peak

Daily & Weekly Capping

  • Daily cap: Automatic limit on what you pay (Zone 1-2: £8.10)
  • Weekly cap: Applies Mon-Sun (Zone 1-2: £40.70)
  • Note: Only with Oyster/contactless (not paper tickets)

Sample Single Fares (Peak)

  • Zone 1: £2.80
  • Zones 1-2: £3.40
  • Zones 1-6: £5.60 (Heathrow Airport)

Zone Travel Tips

🏰 Tourist strategy: Most sights are in Zones 1-2 – focus your travel here

✈️ Heathrow: Zone 6 – use Elizabeth Line for cheaper fare than Heathrow Express

⏰ Time savings: Walking between close Zone 1 stations is often faster

🚆 National Rail: Some services extend beyond Zone 9 – check fares separately

🚌 Bus advantage: Flat £1.75 fare across all zones

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family tip: Under 11s travel free with paying adult

Essential London Transport Tips

💳

Payment Tips

  • ✅ Always tap in AND out on Tube/DLR/Overground
  • ✅ Buses: £1.75 flat fare (tap in only)
  • ✅ Daily fare cap applies automatically
  • ❌ No cash accepted on buses
  • 💡 Contactless/Oyster always cheaper than paper tickets
⏱️

Time-Saving Tips

  • 🚇 Avoid Tube 7-9am & 5-7pm (rush hours)
  • 🚶 Walk short distances – often faster!
  • 📱 Use Citymapper or TfL Go app for live updates
  • 🚌 Night buses run when Tube is closed
  • 🔍 Check for station shortcuts (e.g., Bank/Monument)
🙏

Etiquette Tips

  • ⬆️ Stand on right on escalators
  • 🚪 Let passengers exit before boarding
  • 🚌 Buses: always board at front door
  • 🎒 Remove backpacks in crowded spaces
  • 🔇 Keep noise to a minimum

💡 Bonus Pro Tips

🚕 Black Cabs: Can use bus lanes – often faster in traffic

🚲 Santander Cycles: £2 for 30 mins – great for short hops

👶 Kids: Under 11s travel free on most services

🌧️ Weather: Buses better than walking in rain

✈️ Getting to Central London from Airports

✈️

Heathrow (LHR)

  • 🚆 Express: Heathrow Express (15min, £25-£37)
  • 🚇 Budget: Elizabeth Line (30min, £12.80)
  • 🚕 Taxi: ~45min, £45-£80
  • 💡 Tip: Book Express in advance for discounts
✈️

Gatwick (LGW)

  • 🚆 Express: Gatwick Express (30min, £19.90)
  • 🚇 Budget: Thameslink (45min, £12.30)
  • 🚕 Taxi: ~1h10m, £80-£120
  • 💡 Tip: Southern Railway also serves this route
✈️

Stansted (STN)

  • 🚆 Express: Stansted Express (50min, £19.40)
  • 🚌 Budget: National Express (75min, £10)
  • 🚕 Taxi: ~1h15m, £90-£130
  • 💡 Tip: Trains stop at Tottenham Hale for Victoria Line
✈️

Luton (LTN)

  • 🚆 Express: Shuttle + Thameslink (40min, £14.90)
  • 🚌 Budget: Green Line 757 (90min, £12)
  • 🚕 Taxi: ~1h20m, £80-£110
  • 💡 Tip: Allow extra time for shuttle transfer
✈️

London City (LCY)

  • 🚇 DLR: To Bank (22min, £3.30)
  • 🚕 Taxi: ~20min, £20-£35
  • 🚶 Walk: Canary Wharf in 15min
  • 💡 Tip: Closest airport to central London
💡

Essential Tips

  • 🎫 Book express trains in advance
  • 🧳 Left luggage at major stations (£6–£12)

💷 Children under 11 travel free on TfL services when with an adult

London Tourist Travel Passes

Choose the best payment option for your London visit

Oyster Card

  • Cheaper fares: Up to 50% less than paper tickets
  • Daily/weekly caps: Never pay more than £8.10/day (Zones 1-2)
  • Works everywhere: Tube, bus, tram, DLR, Overground, river services
  • £5 deposit: Refundable when you leave London
  • Visitor tip: Consider Visitor Oyster Card for discounts

Where to Buy:

  • • All Tube stations
  • • Heathrow/Gatwick airport stations
  • • TfL Visitor Centres
  • • Some newsagents (look for Oyster logo)

Contactless

  • No card needed: Use your bank card or mobile wallet
  • Same benefits: Daily/weekly caps like Oyster
  • Best for: Short stays (no deposit required)
  • Works with: Most UK/EU cards + Apple/Google Pay
  • Important: Use same card consistently for capping

International Visitors:

  • • Check for foreign transaction fees
  • • Some non-UK cards may not work
  • • Consider Oyster if unsure

Travelcard

  • Unlimited travel: Within selected zones
  • Best value: If making 3+ journeys/day
  • Options: 1-day, 7-day, or monthly passes
  • Price example: 7-day Zones 1-2 = £40.70
  • Bonus: Includes some Thames Clipper discounts

Where to Buy:

  • • Tube station ticket machines
  • • National Rail stations
  • • TfL Visitor Centres
  • • Can be loaded onto Oyster card

Which Option is Best For You?

⏳ Short Stay (1-3 days)

  • • Contactless payment (if available)
  • • Oyster Card if making many journeys
  • • 1-day Travelcard only if unlimited travel needed

📅 Medium Stay (4-7 days)

  • • 7-day Travelcard if heavy travel
  • • Oyster Card for flexibility
  • • Contactless for convenience

🗓️ Long Stay (1+ weeks)

  • • Monthly Travelcard if daily commuting
  • • Oyster Card + weekly capping
  • • Consider rail discounts if outside London

Alternative Transport: Bikes & Boats 🚲🚤

Santander Cycles: London’s Bike Rentals

  • 🚲 Rent a bike for as little as £1.65 per ride.
  • 🗺️ Docking stations across the city.
  • 📱 Use the official Santander Cycles app or a debit/credit card.
  • 🕒 Available 24/7.
🚴‍♂️

Thames River Boats: A Scenic Ride

  • ⛴️ Faster than Tube & buses on some routes!
  • 🏙️ Enjoy stunning views of London’s skyline.
  • 💳 Pay with an Oyster card or contactless
  • 🕒 Boats run every 20 minutes.

📍 Operating Hours

  • • Monday – Friday: 05:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • • Saturday: 08:00 AM – 10:30 PM
  • • Sunday: 09:00 AM – 09:30 PM

Top 5 Most Scenic Transport Routes

Discover London’s beautiful sights from these unique transportation routes

Bus Route 24 – Landmark Tour

Ride past Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Camden Town on this iconic bus route.

Pimlico → Camden Town
~35 minutes
Sit on the upper deck, front row for best views!

Tramlink – Countryside Escape

Experience green spaces, small towns, and parks outside the city center.

Wimbledon → East Croydon
~25 minutes
Travel in autumn for the best scenery!

Thames Clippers – River Adventure

Stunning water-level views of Tower Bridge, The Shard, and Canary Wharf.

Westminster Pier → Greenwich
~40 minutes
Sit outside for the best experience!
Check Thames Clippers Routes

Jubilee Line – Skyline Spectacular

Breathtaking elevated views of the London Eye and Thames between stations.

West Hampstead → North Greenwich
~15 minutes
Sit near the windows for best views!
Jubilee Line info

DLR – Front Row Experience

Driverless trains offer panoramic views of Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers.

Tower Gateway → Lewisham
~20 minutes
Try to get the front row seats!
DLR Timetable

🚆 Tube & Rail Access

♿

Step-Free Stations

100+ stations with lifts and ramps

🔊

Audio Guidance

Tactile paving and announcements

🛗

Priority Assistance

Staff available at all major stations

🚌 Buses & Roads

♿

Wheelchair Access

100% of buses have ramps

🔊

Stop Announcements

Audio and visual next-stop info

🚖

Black Cabs

Wheelchair accessible by law

ℹ️ Travel Assistance

📱

TfL Accessibility

0343 222 1234

🚂

National Rail

0845 748 4950

📧

Email Feedback

[email protected]

🕒

Plan Ahead

Book rail assistance 24h in advance

Useful Resources

Last Verified: February 2025 – Transport details may change. Check official sources for the latest updates.

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