For other places with the same name, see London (disambiguation).

London is an enormous city. It is divided into thirty-two boroughs, although information on this page is divided between districts, inner boroughs and outer boroughs of the city. These district and borough articles contain sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.

Noisy, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is a megalopolis of people, ideas and frenetic energy. The capital and largest city of both England and of the United Kingdom, it is also the largest city in Western Europe. Most residents of Greater London are very proud of their capital and the multiculturalism of the city.

Situated on the River Thames in South-East England, Greater London has an official population of a little over 8 million. However, London's urban area stretched to 9,787,426 in 2011, while the figure of 14 million for the city's wider metropolitan area more accurately reflects its size and importance. Considered one of the world's leading "global cities", London remains an international capital of culture, music, education, fashion, politics, finance and trade.

Districts [ edit ]

Tower Bridge at night, bridging the River Thames.

London's vast urban area is often described using a set of district names, such as Bloomsbury, Mayfair, Wembley and Whitechapel. These are either informal designations, reflect the names of villages that have been absorbed by sprawl, or are superseded administrative units such as parishes or former boroughs.

Such names have remained in use through tradition, each referring to a local area with its own distinctive character, but without official boundaries. Since 1965 Greater London has been divided into 32 London boroughs in addition to the ancient City of London.[204][205] The City of London is the main financial district,[206] and Canary Wharf has recently developed into a new financial and commercial hub in the Docklands to the east.

The West End is London's main entertainment and shopping district, attracting tourists.[207] West London includes expensive residential areas where properties can sell for tens of millions of pounds.[208] The average price for properties in Kensington and Chelsea is over £2 million, with a similarly high outlay in most of central London.[209][210]

The East End is the area closest to the original Port of London, known for its high immigrant population, as well as for being one of the poorest areas in London.[211] The surrounding East London area saw much of London's early industrial development; now, brownfield sites throughout the area are being redeveloped as part of the Thames Gateway including the London Riverside and Lower Lea Valley, which was developed into the Olympic Park for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Greater London consists of 32 London boroughs and the City of London that, together with the office of the Mayor of London, form the basis for London's local government. The Mayor of London is elected by London residents and should not be confused with the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The names of several boroughs, such as Westminster or Camden, are well-known, others less so, such as Wandsworth or Lewisham. This traveller's guide to London recognises cultural, functional and social districts of varying type and size:

Central London [ edit ]

Central London and inner boroughs. Bloomsbury

Vibrant historic district made famous by a group of turn-of-the-century writers and for being the location of the British Museum, the University of London and numerous historic homes, parks, and buildings. Part of the Borough of Camden. City of London

The City is where London originally developed within the Roman city walls and is a city in its own right, separate from the rest of London. One of the most important financial centres in the world with modern skyscrapers standing next to medieval churches on ancient street layouts. Covent Garden

One of the main shopping and entertainment districts. Incorporates some of London's theatreland. Part of the City of Westminster and Borough of Camden. Holborn-Clerkenwell

Buffer zone between London's West End and the City of London financial district, home to the Inns of Court Leicester Square

West End district comprising Leicester Square, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus and the centre of London's cinema and theatre land Mayfair-Marylebone

Some extremely well-heeled districts of west central London and most of the city's premier shopping street Notting Hill-North Kensington

Lively market, interesting history, the world famous carnival and diverse population Paddington-Maida Vale

Largely residential district of northwest central London with lots of mid-range accommodation Soho

Dense concentration of highly fashionable restaurants, cafés, clubs and jazz bars, as well as London's gay village South Bank

South side of the river Thames with good views of the city, several theatres and the London Eye South Kensington-Chelsea

An extremely well-heeled inner London district with famous department stores, Hyde Park, many museums and the King's Road Westminster

A city in its own right, the seat of government and an almost endless list of historical and cultural sights, such as Buckingham Palace, The Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.

Inner London Areas [ edit ]

Camden

a diverse area of inner north London which includes eclectic Camden Town East End

a traditional working class heartland of inner London to the east of The City made famous by countless movies and TV shows, and home to trendy bars, art galleries and parks, especially in the Shoreditch, Hoxton, Old Street area. Now redeveloped and world famous as the setting for London 2012 Olympic Games. Greenwich

on the pretty southern banks of the Thames, home of the Greenwich Meridian, Observatory and the National Maritime Museum Hackney

Hackney has risen the ranks and become fashionable in recent decades and is home to a thriving arts scene as well as many trendy, cafés bars and pubs. Hammersmith and Fulham

Borough in west London with a diverse population and the home of the BBC, plus a hotbed for professional football Hampstead

Bohemian and literary north London and the wonderful open spaces of Hampstead Heath Islington

Area to the north of Clerkenwell which has undergone huge gentrification since 1990 Lambeth

a diverse Caribbean-flavoured district to the south of the Thames which includes the buzzing, bright-lights of Brixton Southwark-Lewisham

inner southern districts of London, traditionally residential, with a large melting pot of communities. The area retains some leftfield, quirky attractions. You can just about find a resturant from any ethnic group in the world too. Wandsworth

grand Thames-side areas and open green parks in the north and dense housing in south

Outer London Areas [ edit ]

Outer boroughs. West

Taking in much of the ancient English county of Middlesex (which many residents still identify with rather than "London"). Heathrow Airport is located in this part of the city. North

Largely made up of lush green upper middle-class/bourgeois suburbs, many of which were formerly part of the counties of Middlesex and Hertfordshire before being absorbed into Greater London. East

Mostly originally part of the county of Essex, taking in former industrial areas on the upper Thames Estuary such as Beckton, Dagenham and Barking. Includes Stratford, home of the 2012 Olympic Games, the brand new Olympic Park leisure complex and the Stratford City mall which is the biggest inner city shopping complex in Europe. To the North East lies the gateway to the affluent Epping Forest area South

Originally divided between Kent and Surrey and Containing many commuter suburbs with housing of all sizes and styles, as well as the well known urban centres of Kingston-upon-Thames, Sutton, Bromley and Croydon, which have many commercial and cultural features in their town centres surrounded by generally leafy residential areas. Richmond-Kew

Leafy Thames-side scenery, Hampton Court Palace, the botanical gardens and some major parklands Wimbledon

The annual tennis championships

Understand [ edit ]

The Tower of London

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford" — Samuel Johnson

History [ edit ]

London has existed in various incarnations for two millennia. The city has been the principal seat of British royal dynasties and of English (later British) governments throughout its history and has survived through fire, invasion and plague.

Evidence has been unearthed of Bronze and Iron Age settlement on the present day site of London, though it is unlikely a city existed here before the Roman conquest of what was to become Britannia (present-day England and Wales) in AD 43. Londinium, the precursor to the modern city of London, was established in AD 50. Ten years later it was conquered and destroyed by the Celtic Iceni tribe, led by their queen, Boudica. Soon rebuilt, by the 2nd century AD Londinium was the capital and largest city of the Roman province of Britannia. Around AD 200, the London Wall was erected to defend the city. The wall stretched for two miles around the ancient City, from Tower Hill in the East to Blackfriars Station in the West. Isolated Roman period remains and traces of the wall are still to be seen within the City of London (now known as the Square Mile).

After the end of Roman rule in 410, London experienced a severe decline, then gradual revival, under Anglo-Saxon invaders. A coalition of Angles, Saxons and Jutes from Northern Europe, the Anglo-Saxons ruled in England for most of the 500 years until the Norman invasion of 1066. The early Anglo-Saxon trading settlement of Lundenwic was established a mile away from Londinium. London’s British Museum houses the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon artifacts in the world.

From the late 8th century, Viking raids on the British Isles were common. In 871 London was seized by the Danish Norsemen, until it was reclaimed for the Anglo-Saxons in 886 by King Alfred the Great of Wessex. In 1016 the Danish king Cnut gained control of London and all of England. Westminster Abbey was completed in 1065 during the reign of his stepson Edward the Confessor. Following the Norman Conquest in 1066, the paramount political status of London was confirmed when William the Conqueror was crowned King of England in Westminster. The Normans built fortifications throughout England and the Tower of London in particular confirmed their dominance over the existing population.

After the Norman Conquest London emerged as a great trading city and with the rise of England to first European then global prominence, London became a great centre of culture, government and industry. During the 12th and 13th centuries it gradually replaced Winchester as the royal capital of England.

There have been several plagues in London, notably The Black Death (1348 – 1350) and the Great Plague (1664 – 1666). The plague was followed by the Great Fire of London in 1666 after which the city was largely rebuilt. Georgian London (1714 – 1830) saw the erection of fine Georgian architecture, particularly housing (for example, 10 Downing Street) as the population greatly increased.

London's long association with the theatre flourished during the English Renaissance (late 15th to early 17th C). From 1576 indoor and outdoor theatres began to appear in London. The Rose Theatre was built in 1587 in the reign of Elizabeth 1st and was the first purpose-built theatre to stage the plays of Shakespeare. The most famous outdoor theatre was the Globe, built in 1599 by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. William Shakespeare was their resident playwright. Admission prices ranged from a penny standing charge to sixpence for the most desirable seats. There are currently over forty London theatres in the West End, in an area known as ‘Theatreland’. London’s Victoria and Albert Museum houses a permanent exhibition of the history of British theatre.

Hampton Court Palace was built from 1515 to 1530 under the reign of Henry VIII with traditional Renaissance lines. English royal dynasties spanning a millennium have all added to the cultural richness of present day London, from medieval buildings like Westminster Abbey to royal London palaces like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace. The Victorian Houses of Parliament (1840 – 1870) were constructed on the site of the old Palace of Westminster, built in the 11th century.

Britain became a supreme maritime power in the 18th and 19th centuries and London was at the epicentre of the global trade and commerce of the British Empire. The World Heritage site of Greenwich in London houses the Royal Museums, which include the Royal Observatory, home to Greenwich Mean Time, The National Maritime Museum and the last surviving tea clipper, the Cutty Sark. By the latter half of the 19th century in the Victorian era, London had become the largest city in the world.

During the two world wars of the 20th century, London suffered aerial bombardment by firstly German zeppelins in World War I (1914–1918) and by the German Luftwaffe during the Blitz of World War II (1939–1945). London dominates the economic, political and social life of the nation. It is by far the largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 8.5 million, over seven times more than England’s ‘second city’ of Birmingham and higher than the entire population of Scotland.

The capital is full of excellent bars, galleries, museums, parks and theatres. It is also the most culturally and ethnically diverse part of the country. In 1777, noted diarist Samuel Johnson famously said "When a man is tired of London he is tired of life." Whether you are interested in ancient history, modern art, opera or underground raves, London is a global centre of history, learning and culture.

People [ edit ]

There is a traditional world view of the White British citizen that they are reserved with a ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude to life, deemed to be particularly true of Londoners - even that they are positively rude to strangers. The lovable 'Cockney' of film and TV is seen as the exception. However, London today is a highly diverse mix of race and cultures. The year 2015 saw the population of London hit an all-time high of 8.63 million; the highest level recorded since 1939 and London is also home to the second-largest immigration population in the world (after New York).

In 2011, the London Evening Standard newspaper stated that London had 270 nationalities and 300 different languages. In the 2011 UK Census, around 3,000,000 Londoners were foreign-born – just less than one-third of the city’s population. However, 78% of Londoners had English as their first or main language and 20% as their second language, speaking English ‘well, or very well’.

About 60% of Londoners are White, of which 45% are White British. Just under a fifth are Asian British (of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese heritage) and just fewer than 15% are Black British, particularly from the Caribbean and Africa. Over one-third of the foreign-born population of the UK lives in London.

In the 1970s, half of London’s immigrants came from the former colonies of the British Commonwealth. Nowadays, many migrants come from the European Union and the expansion of the EU to Eastern Europe (10 new states joined the EU in 2004) brought new migrants to London, particularly from Poland (which has the highest level of foreign nationals in the UK at 13%).

This ‘melting pot’ of people in the capital brings a rich diversity of art and culture, from ethnic and world cuisine, to music, to dance, to global artifacts and fashion. It also brings a valuable workforce, particularly in the lower-paid service industries and in highly-skilled professions like health and finance.

London was the scene of so-called ‘race’ riots in 1958 (Notting Hill) and 1981/1985 (Brixton). There were also riots in 2011 (Tottenham) sparked by the shooting of local Black man Mark Duggan by the police. Many argue the roots of the 2011 riots were poverty and social alienation, not necessarily race. West Indian culture brought reggae music and the Notting Hill Carnival to the capital. Indian and Pakistani migrants have created a food revolution in London since the 1970s, notably in Brick Lane in the East End. From the Chinese cuisine and festivals in China Town, Soho to Irish music in Kilburn, to Polish delicatessens and Italian pasta and pizzas, each ethnic group in London brings it's own colour and flavour.

The ‘cheerful chappy’ Cockney, born within the sound of the Bow Bells in East London is a media stereotype, as authentic as Dick Van Dyke’s accent in the musical ‘Mary Poppins’ (1964). Cockney rhyming slang may be rich and colourful, but it is very much in the minority in the multicultural landscape of London today, and is at risk of complete extinction by 2030.

The world famous Elizabeth Tower (which houses the bell named Big Ben)

If you ask a Londoner where the centre of London is, you are likely to get a wry smile. This is because historically London was two cities: a commercial city and a separate government capital.

However, the point from which distances to "London" are measured is in Trafalgar Square, where the original Charing Cross stood.

The commercial capital was the City of London. This had a dense population and all the other pre-requisites of a medieval city: walls, a castle (The Tower of London), a cathedral (Saint Pauls), a semi-independent City government, a port and a bridge across which all trade was routed so Londoners could make money (London Bridge).

About an hour upstream (on foot or by boat) around a bend in the river was the government capital (Westminster). This had a church for crowning the monarch (Westminster Abbey) and palaces. As each palace was replaced by a larger one, the previous one was used for government, first the Palace of Westminster (better known as the Houses of Parliament), then Whitehall, then Buckingham Palace. The two were linked by a road called "The Strand", old English for riverbank.

London grew both west and east. The land to the west of the City (part of the parish of Westminster) was prime farming land (Covent Garden and Soho for example) and made good building land. The land to the east was flat, marshy and cheap, good for cheap housing and industry, and later for docks. Also the wind blows 3 days out of 4 from west to east, and the Thames (into which the sewage went) flows from west to east. So the West End was up-wind and up-market, the East End (as well as further down river and beyond) was where the city's heavy industries were based, and thus became the epicentre of the working classes.

Modern-day London in these terms is a two-centre city, with the area in between known confusingly as the West End. However, even this doesn't define the actual central area of London, which extends slightly beyond the City and Westminster, as inner portions of the surrounding boroughs (Kensington & Chelsea, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Lambeth) also lie within Central London.

Climate [ edit ]

Climate Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Daily highs (°C) 8 8 11 13 17 20 23 23 19 15 11 9 Nightly lows (°C) 2 2 4 5 8 11 14 13 11 8 5 3 Precipitation (mm) 52 34 42 45 47 53 38 47 57 62 52 54 London - Weather forecast

London Eye

Rain [ edit ]

Despite varied weather patterns, the city has an unfair reputation for being drizzly, grey and rainy. This is mostly an unfounded belief. In fact, London enjoys a drier climate than the rest of United Kingdom (and a warmer one) due to it having its own urban microclimate. On average, only one in three days will bring rain and usually then only for a short period. In some cases, 2010 being a well-known example, the city can go without rain for several weeks, leading to hosepipe bans across the city.

Temperatures [ edit ]

As for temperatures, London is far milder than nearby continental European cities due to the presence of the Gulf Stream. The average daily maximum is 8°C (46°F) in December and January (a full 4 degrees warmer than the rest of the United Kingdom on long-term average) and February is usually the coldest month of the year. In summer, temperatures can rise up to 24°C (75°F), and once reached as high as 38°C (100°F), as happened in 2003.

Due to the urban microclimate, inner London can feel hot and humid for several days in the summer months, especially during the evenings. However, summer is still perhaps the best season for tourists as it has long daylight hours as well as mostly mild temperatures.

Snow [ edit ]

Snow does occur, usually for a few days at the beginning of the year. In recent years, 2012 had snow both in February and December, with more in January 2013.

When it does appear, it causes huge transport problems. In 2010, just 7 cm (3 in) of snow caused trains to stop running, airports to see significant delays, and mail service problems, and this is a fairly typical response to even minor icy conditions.

Although roads will be gritted, it can be very dangerous in London in the snow, as slippery conditions combine with crowds with inevitable consequences. So travellers should be very prepared for problems in the snow, both in moving by foot and public transport. On the other hand, London does look uniquely beautiful in the snow, with the landmarks and parks taking on a postcard-perfect air.

Although the average day is mild and clear, rain, winds, sun or snow could come very quickly. So pack clothes accordingly.

Special events [ edit ]

January - March

New Year's Fireworks - January 1, Southbank The capital likes to start every year with a bang, and the New Year's Eve fireworks certainly do that. One of the most famous pyrotechnic displays in the world, with thousands of fireworks shooting from the London Eye and its surrounding area. Although these used to be free, paid ticketing was introduced in 2014, so booking is strongly advised.

Chinese New Year Parade - Dates vary, Chinatown and Central With a procession of floats, Chinese dragon and lions plus a whole host of performers, musicians and martial artists in one of the year's largest celebrations.

April - June

The Boat Race - Last weekend of March/first weekend of April, River Thames A true British institution, the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities has been held annually (except for the two World Wars) for 150 years. There are designated places to watch along the riverbank across the entire course from Putney to Mortlake, with the race kicking off at 12:00 at Bishop's Park and Furnivall Gardens.

London Marathon - April, Blackheath - The London Marathon sees over thirty thousand complete the 26 miles ending at Buckingham Palace. You can either watch the runners move past some of London's most famous landmarks, or why not even join the ballot to take part?

Trooping the Colour - June, Buckingham Palace Celebrating the official birthday of the Queen, Trooping the Colour is British military pageantry at its very best. A 250-year tradition including 41-gun salutes, the Household Cavalry on horseback in full uniform, and the Queen herself inspecting the troops makes this an essential watch for any Anglophiles.

July - September

Wimbledon - Late June-early July, All England Lawn Tennis Club In United Kingdom, it is not truly summer until the first ball has been struck at Wimbledon, when the world's tennis stars descend on southwest London. Try to grab a much sought-after ticket for the courts, or watch the action unfold on the big screen at 'Murray Mound'.

Festivals Season - Summer, various locations London has music festival options to suit everyone, making the most of its beautiful parks. There's hip hop at Wireless at Finsbury Park, dance and rap at Victoria Park, and a whole selection of themed festival days in Hyde Park that have seen everyone from Neil Young to Kylie Minogue play. And that's not to mention the Proms, three months of internationally famous classical music at the Royal Albert Hall.

Pride London - June, Trafalgar Square and Soho The only annual event that sees Oxford Street closed for traffic, Pride London is the gay community's biggest party, and perhaps London's best street party of the year. 750,000 people descend on central London, live music, and the famous parade.

Notting Hill Carnival - August bank holiday weekend, Notting Hill If you thought Pride was big and colourful, Notting Hill Carnival assures that you haven't seen anything yet. One million people visit every year, making it the second biggest street party in the world, offering all the sights, smells and spectacle of a West Indian carnival in the heart of West London.

October - December

Frieze Art Fair - Mid October, Regent's Park The London art world's biggest and most important art fair, Frieze sees 1000 of the world's most important artists displaying their work. If it is important in the art world, it will be at Frieze.

Lord Mayor's Show - November, Mansion House and Tower Bridge It has been a London institution since the time of King John, 400 years before Shakespeare and even a century before Chaucer. Now, five times more people (500,000) come to see the river procession and parade down Bank and Aldwych than actually lived in London when the event started.

Oxford Street Lights - December, Oxford Street Christmas is a great time to visit London, with most landmarks aglow in Christmas lights. Most famous of these are the Oxford Street lights, which change ever year but are always a major draw to the area, as are the equally notable Christmas lights on nearby streets at Regents Street.

Tourist Information Centres [ edit ]

Visit Britain now only exists on-line.

London's own visitor promotion body is known as London and Partners and also has no public office, but maintains the website Visit London.

The Millennium Bridge leading to St Paul's Cathedral

The only tourist information centre in zone 1 is the City of London Information Centre, St Pauls Churchyard, EC4M 8BX. Officially the tourist information centre for the City of London, it became the tourist office for Central London by default when everything else closed. Open daily Monday-Saturday 09:30-17:30 (9:30am to 5:30pm), Sunday 10:00-16:00. Closed Dec 25-26.

There is also a tourist information centre in Greenwich, near the Cutty Sark, in the same building as Discover Greenwich.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Summary map of rail connections to London airports

Due to London's huge global city status, it is the most served destination in the world when it comes to flights.

London (all airports IATA code: LON) is served by a total of six airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Stansted, Luton, Southend). Travelling between the city and the airports is made relatively easy by the large number of public transport links that have been put in place over recent years. In addition to London's five official airports (of which only two are located within Greater London), there are a number of other regional UK airports conveniently accessible from London. Since they offer a growing number of budget flights, choosing those airports can be cheaper (or even faster, depending on where in London your destination is).

Inter-Airport Transfers [ edit ]

If transiting through London, be sure to check the arrival and departure airports carefully as transfers across the city may be quite time consuming. Transferring between London's airports is never quick or simple, so any itinerary requiring an inter-airport transfer should be regarded as a "last resort" when no other option is available. There are inter-airport bus services by National Express between Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, most of which run at least hourly, except for Stansted-Luton. Heathrow-Gatwick services, from £12 to £27 one-way, are scheduled to take 65 to 90 minutes. Heathrow-Stansted services, from £11 to £30, take 80 to 100 minutes. However, it's essential to allow leeway, as many roads near London, especially the M1 and orbital M25 motorways, are often congested. Some buses have toilets on board.

London Heathrow [ edit ]

Rail and tube lines go to different terminals at Heathrow

Main article: Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport (IATA: LHR) is Europe's largest airport and the world's second-busiest international airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services available from most major airports world-wide.

There are five separate terminals. During 2015, T1 closed for redevelopment.

Heathrow is dominated by the UK's flag-carrier British Airways, who use the airport as its home base and principal hub, and consequently operate nearly 40% of all the airport's flights. BA have their main base in Terminal 5, but also have a major presence in Terminal 3. Flights landing at Heathrow may be delayed by up to an hour as a simple result of air traffic congestion and waiting for parking slots. To complicate the matter, airlines that fly into Heathrow are currently playing a system-wide game of musical chairs as gate assignments are cycled through the new terminal, making it even more necessary for travellers to check their terminal and gate assignment in advance. Do plan your itinerary to allocate some time needed to get through Heathrow Airport T3, there can be long queues if you are not holding an EEA passport.

For transport options into town, see our Heathrow Airport article...

Gatwick (IATA: LGW) is London's second airport and handles flights to the greatest number of destinations of any UK airport. It is the world's second-busiest single-runway airport and the main base of easyJet, the UK's largest airline by number of passengers. The two terminals, North and South, are linked by a free shuttle train (5 minutes). The train station is located in the South Terminal.

To reach the centre of the city, there are various rail options and two bus options; please note the wide range of prices. In most cases, it is cheaper to use an Oyster Card, which is available from Gatwick Airport railway station, than to buy a rail ticket. If you need to add a Travelcard, to cover any onward travel that same day on Underground or bus, Tickets valid on trains branded Gatwick Express are most expensive, at £34 off-peak or £45.70 anytime, compared with £17.10 off-peak or £31.10 anytime on Southern and only £12.70 off-peak or £27.50 anytime on Thameslink; this cheapest option connects with more Underground lines than the other two, and takes about the same time.

After passing through security you will find no drinking fountains in the South Terminal departure lounge so as to increase the profits of drink vendors.

North Terminal: after passing through security, the intrepid traveller can find power sockets on many of the large columns. There are accessible sockets to the right of the left hand door from security, adjacent Super Dry. Starbucks also has sockets below the seating by the window around the corner from the serving area. All are unofficial. There are official mobile charging stations (paid) also.

London Stansted [ edit ]

Stansted (IATA: STN) is London's third airport, and is dominated by the two low-cost airlines EasyJet and Ryanair who use the airport as a hub, as well as holiday charter airlines Thomson and Pegasus. Stansted also accommodates a few other scheduled carriers within Europe and a small number of inter-continental flights.

Sleeping at Stansted Airport

A large number of budget flights depart from Stansted as early as 06:00 (when the lowest fares are available). However, this presents travellers with a problem, as the airport's location is a long way outside London, and transport to the airport is sporadic before 05:30. Due to the high price of accommodation in the city and near the airport, and the fact that many budget airlines don't pay for accommodation in the event of cancellation, an increasing number of travellers choose to spend the night in the airport prior to their flight. A crowd of around 100 travellers (up to 400 in summer) camp in the main departure/arrivals hall every night, effectively turning it into a giant dormitory. Tips for sleeping at Stansted Airport: Arrive early, preferably around 22:00, and stake your territory immediately. Benches without armrests are in limited supply and fill up quickly.

If you arrive later, take a floor mat and sleeping bag. Sleeping on the floor is tolerated by the staff, but avoid making your bed in front of shops and counters.

A sleeping bag is generally recommended as the automatic doors constantly open and close as passengers arrive, and it can get chilly in winter.

Safety is not a problem. The airport is miles away from any settlement and security guards oversee the open-plan building 24/7.

Ear plugs and eye covers are a must, as the cleaning staff are noisy and shop assistants start arriving at 04:00 to open shutters.

At least one cafe is open all night, offering snacks and hot drinks. Boots the chemist is also open 24/7

Toilets remain open and are normally in good condition. There is a drinking fountain to the left of the Accessorize store front and the security entrance "Door 1", where you can fill water bottles for the night.

Stansted is very distant from the centre of London at Charing Cross - almost 38 mi (60km) away in Essex but less than 29 mi (47km) from either Cambridge or Colchester.

There are several commercial Wi-Fi hotspots covering most of the airport, but they charge extortionate rates. A free Wi-Fi hotspot is in the arrivals gate area, next to the phone booths offering fixed internet.

Getting to Stansted for an early morning flight is fairly straight forward, coaches run through the night, provided by National Express from London Victoria and London Liverpool Street. Since Oct 2015 Terravision is no longer allowed to transfer people to and from Stansted: be careful, since this is not advertised on the website (check the news on the Guardian). Be aware that lines are very common at Stansted. The airport authorities have been making an effort to increase passenger processing times. Even at the peak of the morning rush, security checks shouldn't take more than 30 minutes, with 15 more common. Also getting to the airport can take longer than the proclaimed 90 minutes, expect more like 120 minutes. Arriving in the airport, queueing for passport control can easily take up to an hour for non-EU passport holders, especially for Sunday night arrivals. If you are eligible to use the biometric passport scanners, the lines for these are often shorter than the standard queues.

The airside departure area is currently being renovated, and there is very little waiting area. There's not much you can do to avoid this however.

Transport options into central London:

Luton airport (IATA: LTN) is physically much smaller than Stansted, but still a major hub for many Low Cost airlines, and over 10 million passengers fly through the airport each year. It boasts the same facilities of the other major airports and also like Stansted, it is common place for some passengers on early morning flight, to sleepover in the terminal before their flights. The Parkway Airport station, which serves the terminal is about 20 minutes walk back into town, though there is a regular shuttle bus charging £1.50 to take you to the station. If your train ticket says Luton Airport (rather than Luton Airport Parkway), then the bus ride is included in the ticket.

The airport is a major hub for easyJet, Ryanair, Wizzair and Thomson Airways, to cities primarily in Scotland, Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. If leaving on a morning flight (departing 07:00-08:30), it is advisable to leave extra time to check in and clear security due to the large number of flights leaving (particularly Wizzair).

By rail: journey time: 20-55min and £13.50 one way, Travelcard not valid. The airport has its own railway station "Luton Airport Parkway", and is served by trains 24 hours a day from Central London using "Thameslink" and connects with St Pancras International. There are up to 10 trains an hour, depending on the time of day. All trains go to London St Pancras International, but many also continue on to Blackfriars, London Bridge and Elephant & Castle, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. The station is nearly 2km (1 mi) from the terminal building, there is a shuttle bus service running between the terminal and airport every 10 minutes, costing £1.50 each way. At rush hour times, this journey can take up to 25 minutes.

(IATA: LCY) A commuter airport close to the City's financial district, and specialising in short-haul business flights to other major European cities. There are a growing number of routes to holiday destinations including Malaga, Ibiza and Majorca. There is also a business class only flight to New York JFK operated by British Airways.

Not as expensive to fly into as it used to be, and you may indeed find that from some origins, this may be your cheapest London airport to fly to, without even considering the cost savings of NOT coming from the distant larger London airports with £10+ transfer costs. Then there is the added bonus that it is close to central London, with a convenient link on the DLR. Minimum check-in time for most airlines is around 30 minutes, with some offering 15 minute check-in deadlines. Queues for security can be long at peak business times. From touchdown to the DLR (including taxi, disembarkation, immigration and baggage reclaim) can be as fast at 5 minutes, although 15 minutes is normal.

To get to the city centre the following options exist:

(IATA: SEN) only officially became London's sixth airport when it was recently included within IATA's classification of the Metropolitan Area of London, LON – meaning the airport is now officially London Southend to the rest of the world and airline booking systems. Like "London Gatwick" or "London Stansted", the name is something of a creative liberty, since Southend is certainly not in the south end of London - it is located near the seaside town of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, which is some 42 miles (67km) to the east of the city. As this is a small airport (the smallest of the other 5 London airports), it is recommended to allow plenty of time to get through check-in/bag drop and security (especially on early morning and late afternoon/early evening flights), as there can be long queues. There are not a lot of facilities on landside (Moneycorp, Europcar, a small WHSmith kiosk, Taxi Desk, vending machines and a Costa Coffee), but once you get through to departures, there is a lot more choice (Giraffe Stop, another Costa Coffee, a Tapas bar called Bourgee, a pub restaurant called The Navigator, WHSmith, another Moneycorp, a First Class Lounge and World Duty Free). It is best to get to the airport no more than 2 hours before departure, any earlier can leave you getting bored very quickly, being a small airport. A regular rail service runs from Southend Airport Station to London Liverpool Street Station in central London 36 miles (58km) to the west.

By rail, a journey time of 55-65 min. Oyster cards and Travelcards are NOT valid. The airport has its own railway station "Southend Airport", and is served from Liverpool Street, via Stratford by trains 17 hours a day. Trains often run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday (with increased frequency at weekday morning and evening peak times) and every 30 minutes on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The station is c. 200 yd from the terminal building. The line can be notable for frequent engineering work at weekends and bank holidays, so it's always best to check in advance for any disruption, to avoid missed flights.

By bus: Ensignbus provide an early morning and late evening bus service, called the Jetlink X1 from London Victoria, Grosvenor Gardens to the airport, via Embankment Station, Tower Hill, Canning Town Station and Lakeside Shopping Centre. This provides a viable and cheaper form of public transport than a taxi and even the train, to and from London and Southend Airport late at night and early in the morning. Fares can either be purchased online or on the bus. A single fare from Southend Airport to London is around £17.50 Adult and £12 Child. The bus leaves Southend Airport at 23:40 and arrives at London Victoria at approximately 01:05. On the return journey, the bus leaves London Victoria at 03:00 and arrives back at Southend Airport at 04:30, in time for the first departures of the day at around 06:30. The X30 (Operated by First Essex Bus), provides an hourly service from Southend-On-Sea and Stansted Airport, via Southend Airport, Rayleigh Station and Chelmsford, 24 hours a day. Fares are payable to the driver on the day of travel, no need to book in advance. NOTE: The X30 only goes via Southend Airport between 05:11 and 00:10.

By taxi: Taxis to and from the airport and London are very expensive and should only be used as a last resort (e.g. Missing the last train to London). Andrew's Airport Cars are based at the airport, but the service is not very good (e.g. very few taxis availible for arriving passengers) and the fares tend to be slightly more expensive than other taxi firms in the Southend-on-Sea area.

NOTE: Passengers from central London intending to use the first departures of the day (or the latest arrivals into SEN) should note that the earliest train from Liverpool Street arrives too late for first flights, and the final train to Liverpool Street leaves before the final arrival of the day. The airport terminal building is not open 24 hours a day, opening at 03:30 and closing at around 00:30, or 45 minutes after the last flight has landed, so it may sometimes be closed earlier. Passengers will be asked to leave the terminal building when it closes. Therefore, this airport is not suitable for sleeping overnight for an early morning flight. There is a Holiday Inn Express hotel, a few minutes walk from the terminal, but it is wise to book in advance. The first train from London arrives at the airport just after before 05:30 and the last train of the day from the airport to London is at 23:59. Trains start later and finish earlier on Sundays and Bank Holidays. If you miss the last train to London, you could be in for a very expensive taxi journey (taxi fares from the airport to Liverpool Street station can run up to over £100!). It is wise to plan your journey to and from the airport in advance, to prevent dissapointment and being stranded.





Other airports near London [ edit ]

London Ashford Airport, also known as Lydd Airport has rather seasonal, limited services and is used primarily for businessmen.

Bournemouth Airport similarly operates a couple of Ryanair flight amongst others, and is not too far west on the train line from Southampton.

Other small airports, such as Oxford Airport can also be useful. Kent International Airport and Shoreham Airport (near Brighton) are similarly small. Biggin Hill in Bromley borough had a rejected licence bid in 2010 for commercial flights for the Olympics but may receive one in the near future.

By train [ edit ]

Wikitravel has a guide to Rail travel in the United Kingdom.

London is the hub of the British rail network - every major city in mainland Britain has a frequent train service to the capital, and most of the smaller, provincial cities and large towns also have a direct rail connection to London of some sort - although the frequency and quality of service can vary considerably from place to place.

Rail fares to London vary enormously from very cheap to prohibitively expensive - the golden rules are to book Advance tickets for a particular train time, don't travel into the city on Friday afternoons and Sundays, and avoid buying tickets on the day of travel. There are three basic types of ticket, which are summarised below. Note that much of the advice applies to rail travel in general within the United Kingdom.

ANYTIME - travel on any train, any operator at any time, returning within one month with few restrictions. Very expensive however - on a long distance journey from Northern England or Scotland for example - an Anytime return ticket to London won't leave you with any change out of £250!

OFF-PEAK - travel on certain trains within a specific time-frame; again returning within one month. Typically this excludes anything that arrives into London during the morning rush hour (before 10:00 typically), or any train which departs during evening rush hour (16:30-18:30). Weekends generally carry no restrictions on the use of Off-Peak tickets. There are however, a monumentally complex number of exceptions for which Off-Peak tickets are and aren't valid which are barely fathomable to the British, never mind overseas visitors. If you are in any doubt at all about the validity of an Off-Peak ticket, ask a guard at the station or a ticket office BEFORE getting on a train - as on-train conductors can be notoriously unforgiving.

ADVANCE - travel on a specific day and train time, booked up to 12 weeks in advance either in person at a railway station, over the telephone, or online. Two Advance single tickets for the outward and return legs of the journey are generally cheaper than the Off-Peak return ticket. Better deals can often be had by going directly to the train operator's website. The earlier you book, the more you save - you can get down to as little as £12.00 one-way from Scotland for example, but these tickets are non-refundable, and cannot be used on anything other than the date, train time and operator that is printed on the reservation. Go on any other train and get caught and you will be obliged to pay the Anytime fare for the journey you are making - which as we've said before is hideously expensive!

The local and commuter rail companies within the London and Home Counties area also have a bewildering array of special fares which are all in essence, variations of the Off-Peak ticket and are far too detailed to cover here, go directly to the website of the operator concerned for more information. Note that if you only intend to use trains within the Greater London boundary, then the Oyster Card (explained below) is by far the easiest and cheapest option to use.

Seats can be reserved for free on all long-distance trains to London - the reservation is always issued automatically with an Advance ticket, and with most Off-Peak and Anytime tickets bought on-line. If, for whatever reason you hold an Anytime or Off-Peak ticket and there is no seat reservation coupon, then it is highly recommended you get one from any railway station ticket office - if you want to avoid camping out in the vestibule for all or part of the journey!! First Class is available on all long distance services to London, the standard of service varies from operator to operator, but in general you get a wider, more comfortable seat, free tea/coffee for the duration of the journey, and some sort of complimentary catering service. If can be great value if you get an Advance first-class fare, but it is extremely expensive otherwise, and to be honest - not really worth it. You can pay a Weekend supplement (generally £15-£20) to sit in the first class section of the train on Saturdays and Sundays, - useful if the service you are on is hideously overcrowded - but you don't get the same catering service as during the week.

If you are the holder of a Britrail pass, things are simpler - but remember you still have to make a seat reservation for the train you intend to travel on - otherwise you run the risk of standing for the journey! If you intend to use the overnight Sleeper trains to London, you will have to pay a berth supplement for every member of your party - provided there is berth availability on the train.

London has one international high speed rail route (operated by Eurostar [188] 0870 518 6186 ) from Paris (2h 15min) and Brussels (1h 50 min) diving under the sea for 35 km (22 mi) via the Channel Tunnel to come out in England. It terminates at St. Pancras International Station. For domestic train services, there are no fewer than 12 main line National Rail [189] terminals (although in conversation you may hear the brand National Rail infrequently if ever it differentiates main line and London Underground services; journey planner online or phone 0845 748 49 50). With the exception of Fenchurch St (tube: Tower Hill) these are on the London Underground. Most are on the circle line. Clockwise starting at Paddington, major National Rail stations are:

London Paddington, serves South West England and south Wales including Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth and Cardiff and Swansea. Also the downtown terminus of the Heathrow Airport Express (see above) and serves some suburban stations such as Acton Main Line and Ealing Broadway.

London Marylebone, serves some north western suburban stations such as Amersham, Harrow on the Hill and Wembley Stadium. Also serves Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and the city of Birmingham. It is much cheaper but slightly slower to take a train from Marylebone to Birmingham instead of a train from London Euston.

St Pancras International, serves Paris, Brussels, Lille, as well as Luton Airport, Bedford, Brighton, Gatwick Airport, Catford several destinations in Kent and the East Midlands: Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.

London Moorgate, serves some northern suburbs.

London Liverpool Street, serves East Anglia: Ipswich and Norwich. Also the downtown terminus of the Stansted Airport Express.

London Fenchurch Street, serves commuter towns north of the Thames estuary to Southend.

London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross, serve south and south east London and England: Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ramsgate.

London Blackfriars, serves Bedford, Luton, Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

London Waterloo, serves south west London and England: Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury and Exeter.

London Victoria, serves south east London and England: Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings, Portsmouth and Ramsgate. Also the downtown terminus of the Gatwick Airport Express.

In South London many areas have only National Rail services (no London Underground services but there are buses). London Bridge, Victoria, Cannon St and Charing Cross serve the South East. London Waterloo serves the South West. Thameslink is a cross London route between Bedford and Brighton via Luton Airport (Parkway), St. Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.

By bus [ edit ]

Most international and domestic long distance bus (UK English: coach) services arrive at and depart from a complex of coach stations off Buckingham Palace Road in Westminster, close to London Victoria rail station. All services operated by National Express or Flixbus (see below) serve Victoria Coach Station, which actually has separate arrival and departure buildings. Services by other operators may use this station, or the Green Line Coach Station across Buckingham Palace Road. The following are amongst the main coach operators:

By car [ edit ]

Driving into the centre of London is definitely not recommended. Do not be surprised if you discover that the hotel you have booked has no parking. London is the hub of the UK's road network and is easy to reach by car. A car is also useful for travel outside of London.

Greater London is encircled by the M25 orbital motorway, from which nearly all the major trunk routes to Scotland, Wales and the rest of England radiate. The most important are listed below.

M1: The main route to/from the North, leading from the East Midlands, Yorkshire and terminating at Leeds. Most importantly, Britain's longest motorway - the M6, branches from the M1 at Rugby, leading to Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, the Lake District and onwards to the Scottish border, and ultimately Glasgow.

The main route to/from the North, leading from the East Midlands, Yorkshire and terminating at Leeds. Most importantly, Britain's longest motorway - the M6, branches from the M1 at Rugby, leading to Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, the Lake District and onwards to the Scottish border, and ultimately Glasgow. A1/A1(M) The A1 is the original, historic "Great North Road" between England and Scotland's capital cities and has largely been converted to motorway standard; it runs up the eastern side of Great Britain through Peterborough, York, Newcastle and continues north through Northumberland and the Scottish Borders to Edinburgh.

The A1 is the original, historic "Great North Road" between England and Scotland's capital cities and has largely been converted to motorway standard; it runs up the eastern side of Great Britain through Peterborough, York, Newcastle and continues north through Northumberland and the Scottish Borders to Edinburgh. M40/A40: Arrives in London from a north westerly direction, linking the city with Oxford and providing an additional link from Birmingham.

Arrives in London from a north westerly direction, linking the city with Oxford and providing an additional link from Birmingham. M4: The principal route to/from the West - leading to Bath, Bristol and cities South Wales (Cardiff and Swansea). It is also the main route towards Heathrow Airport.

The principal route to/from the West - leading to Bath, Bristol and cities South Wales (Cardiff and Swansea). It is also the main route towards Heathrow Airport. M3: The main route to London from the shipping port of Southampton. Additionally, the A303/A30 branches off at Basingstoke, leading to Exeter, Plymouth and through the heart of Devon and Cornwall to finish at Land's End.

The main route to London from the shipping port of Southampton. Additionally, the A303/A30 branches off at Basingstoke, leading to Exeter, Plymouth and through the heart of Devon and Cornwall to finish at Land's End. M2/M20 : Together, these motorways are the main link to the coastal ferry (and Channel Tunnel) ports of Dover and Folkestone from Continental Europe.

: Together, these motorways are the main link to the coastal ferry (and Channel Tunnel) ports of Dover and Folkestone from Continental Europe. M11: The M11 connects Stansted Airport and Cambridge to London, and it terminates on the north eastern periphery of the city.

In addition to the M25, here are two inner ring roads in London which skirt the central area:

A406/A205 North Circular/South Circular The North Circular is a half circle on the North of the Thames, and is mostly a dual carriageway. It has direct connections with the M4, M40, M1 and M11 motorways and can be useful if you want to quickly get around the northern suburbs of the city. The corresponding South Circular is really a local road which is made up of segments of main suburban thoroughfares. The two roads are connected at the east end of the circle in North Woolwich/Woolwich Arsenal by the Woolwich Free Ferry, which runs approx. every 10-15 min and is free of charge, although it can only carry a limited amount of vehicles so avoid during busy periods as the queues can be very long! The ferry stops running after 10pm, so it's advisable to travel through the Docklands and use the Blackwall Tunnel instead.

Ridesharing is a cheap, social and green way to travel to and from London. BlaBlaCar connects drivers with empty seats with passengers looking to travel the same way. BlaBlaCar is the UK's leading app and website with over 20 million members.

Very few people drive into (or anywhere near) the centre of London. The infamous M25 ring road did not earn its irreverent nicknames "The Road To Hell" and "Britain's biggest car park" for nothing. The road is heavily congested at most times of the day, and is littered with automatically variable speed limits which are enforced with speed cameras. Despite the "congestion charge", driving a car anywhere near the centre of London remains a nightmare with crowded roads, impatient drivers and expensive parking charges (that's if you can find a space in the first place, that is!). From Monday through Friday, parking in parts of the City of London is free after 18:30; after 13:30 on Saturday and all day Sunday. There are also a number of Pay as you go car rental companies operating around London including WhizzGo [190] and Car Clubs [191]

Get around [ edit ]

London has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite residents' constant, and sometimes justified, grumbling about unreliability, public transport is almost always the best option for getting anywhere for visitors and residents alike.

In central London use a combination of the transport options listed below - and check your map! In many cases you can easily walk from one place to another or use the buses. Don't be a Londoner and only use the tube as a way of travelling longer distances - you're here to see London - you can't see it underground!

In this section, the different travel ticket types and how to obtain and use them, and the fare structures are discussed under under ticketing, while guidance solely related to using the different types of transport in the city is given in the section for each mode.

Transport for London (TfL) is a government organisation responsible for all public transport. Their website contains maps plus an excellent journey planner. They also offer a 24-hour travel information line, charged at premium rate: ☎ 0843 222 1234 (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.

The main travel options in summary are:

Central London

By tube / underground 11 colour-coded lines cover the central area and suburbs, run by TfL.

By Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Runs only in the east of the city, providing links with London City Airport, Canary Wharf/Docklands, Stratford (For Westfield Stratford City and the Olympic site) and Greenwich, privately run but part of TfL's network.

By boat Commuter boats and pleasure cruises along the River Thames, privately run but part of TfL's network.

Airport Express Rail services run to Heathrow, Gatwick, Southend, Stansted and Luton airports. Some of the express trains to airports require a premium fare. The trains to the other airports are part of the UK rail network, but are beyond the TfL network, so Oyster is not valid.

Outer London

By tram (Tramlink) A tram service that operates only in southern suburbs in and around Croydon.

By Overground Surface-level rail lines controlled by TfL, providing an orbital service and some other key routes.

By National Rail A complex network of suburban rail services, mostly running in the southern suburbs, but also connecting to some areas to the north. privately run and not part of the TfL network, although all operators now accept Oyster payments.

Ticketing [ edit ]

In London, there are 3 main options for travelling on all public transport in the capital. Firstly, there is the Oyster Card, a pre-pay card that is the cheapest option to travel. It also has the ability to load season tickets, which is discussed later. Secondly, there is Contactless, which works with contactless-enabled bank cards, as well as Apple/Google/Android Pay. This functions similarly to an Oyster card, however it needn't be pre-loaded as any fares are withdrawn from your bank account, you cannot have season tickets, and there are some capping complexities with Contactless. For both Oyster and Contactless it is important to tap the card/phone in the correct places, and this is explained later also. On these payment methods there is a system called capping to reduce your fares. Finally, paper ticketing is still an option however is highly dissuaded, unless using a travelcard. The fares for each mode are discussed under fares.

To buy a paper ticket or top up an Oyster card, it is easiest to use a ticket machine (oyster cards can be automatically topped up online, but this feature is more useful for commuters). There are two types of ticket machine, one type which is wider accepts coins, notes and card payments, while the narrower machines which only facilitate card payments. Both types issue Oyster cards and have the same user interface software, which supports more than 17 different languages. To top up an Oyster card, begin the process by pressing the card against the yellow pad until it registers on the screen; when purchasing tickets use the display. Note: TfL ticket machines will not accept £50 notes.

Buses operated under contract to London buses (that's all red buses within the M25) do NOT accept cash - you MUST use Oyster or Contactless

Oyster Card [ edit ]

Oyster Card in use

Oyster [192] is a wireless electronic smart-card run by Transport for London. Oyster is almost always the best option for travel. You can buy an Oyster Card from any Tube station ticket machine for a deposit of £5, although this credit is pre-loaded onto the card so is not lost. You can "top up" an Oyster card with funds for any amount starting in increments of 10p, though top ups using credit cards start at £5. This cash is then deducted according to where you travel. The cost of a single trip using the Oyster card is considerably less than buying a single paper ticket with cash. Prices vary depending on the number of zones travelled, whether by bus or tube, and on the time of day. You can also add various electronic 1 week, 1 month and longer-period tickets onto the card, and the card is simply validated each time you use it. The deposit is refundable if you return your card. However, there is no expiry date on the Oyster Card or any pay-as-you-go credit on the card.

If you have a National Railcard, such as the 16-25 year old Railcard, you can register this with your Oyster card at a Tube station by finding a member of staff in the ticket hall, or by visiting a visitor centre. This will then apply a discount to your Oyster journeys. The discount which is available to you depends on the Railcard that you have, full details are available on the TfL website.

You can charge up/top up your Oyster card with electronic cash at any tube station ticket machine or ticket desk (you can even use a credit card to do this if your credit card has a PIN number) with Oyster pay-as-you-go, also known as PrePay. Top ups can also be done at any National Rail ticket machine found in central London stations. This money is then deducted from your card each time you use transport. The fare is calculated based on your start and end points. Pay-as-you-go is much cheaper than paying in cash for a ticket for each journey. For instance, a cash tube one way in Zone 1 is £4.50, while with an Oyster Card it costs £2.40. Furthermore, it is impossible to pay a cash bus fare - the Oyster fare is £1.50. A system called capping to reduce your fares across a day.

The specific instructions for where to touch your Oyster card can be found in the section for that mode. If you forget to touch your Oyster card where needed you will be charged extra! This is usually a hefty charge of £8.80, which is not counted towards the daily/weekly fare cap. This fine can be disputed by calling TFL using the phone number on the back of the card. Just quote your Oyster number and remember where you finished your journey. You can "get away" with it once or twice a month, but they'll get suspicious if you repeatedly call.

An alternative to Oyster is a contactless credit or debit card. A contactless credit or debit card can be used anywhere Oyster is accepted. Most European and some American credit cards have an embedded contactless chip; this number will only grow in the coming years. Look for the contactless symbol on your card. The fare charged when using a contactless credit or debit card is the same as when using an Oyster card, and users of the former can also take advantage of the daily/weekly price caps offered to the latter. And you also don't need to worry about leaving any money on an Oyster card at the end of your trip. This can be a good option for those who need to use public transit infrequently over several days, as it is cheaper than getting a travel card.

Phones with Apple or Google Pay may also be used to travel, however: Choose only one device and one payment card within it. For example, you have an two payment cards enabled for Apple Pay on your iPhone, they are treated as two separate accounts. Likewise, if you have only one payment card linked to two Apple Pay devices such as an iPhone and Apple Watch, your iPhone and Apple Watch are also treated as two separate accounts. In both scenarios, it means two price caps where you can be spending up to £12.80 for Zone 1 & 2 travel if you do not stick to only one device and/or one card within it. This also means that you should avoid using the actual physical payment card and its Apple Pay version in the same day. If you attempt to enter the Tube using an iPhone and exit using an Apple Watch device, even if they are linked to one and the same payment card, you may be charged the maximum fare of up to £8.80 twice (that is £17.60). Equally, if your phone runs out of power and an inspector asks to see your travel card, you are likely to be charged a penalty fare.

The main advantage of contactless debit or credit cards, and Apple/Google Pay over Oyster cards is that it eliminates the need to queue to purchase or top-up the latter. Moreover, you do not need to fork out at least £10 at once when using a debit/credit card to top up Oyster (£5 for the card itself and at least £5 for credit). However, just as with any foreign exchange transaction you need to take note of foreign exchange fees your bank levies, especially if your card isn't denominated in pound sterling. Another disadvantage of using contactless cards is that you cannot use it to avail of discounted fare schemes, such as those offered in conjunction with Railcards.

Fares [ edit ]

There are 2 key concepts in the London fare structure. The first is peak vs off-peak, and the 2nd is the zone system.

The following times are charged as peak on Oyster and Contactless, and are not valid to travel during with off-peak tickets:

06:30-09:30

16:00-19:00

These are the morning and afternoon "rush hours", and it's generally advisable to avoid travelling during these times anyway. All other times are billed as off-peak. Some National Rail tickets may be "Super-off-peak", and these are only valid during the weekend. For Oyster and Contactless users, weekends are billed as off-peak. These are some exceptions, where the making a journey at a given time in one direction will be counted as peak, while in the other direction will be counted as off peak.

It is recommended to use the TfL Single Fare Finder to pre-calculate the fare for all your journeys, and to explain which times count as peak and off-peak for that journey.

The other principle for the fare structure is the zones. The transport maps are split into 9(ish) concentric zones, where inter-zoneal travel costs more than intra-zonal travel. It is possible to buy travelcards which cover specific zones. The zones you pass through also count towards your capping. Zone 1 is most central, and zone 9 most exterior.

Note that Oyster and Contactless can not be used on some Airport Express trains (Heathrow Express or Stansted Express). The Gatwick Express now allows Oyster and Contactless cards, but at a premium rate to standard Oyster fares.

(For details on the complications, for the curious, visit this page)





Travelcards and Capping [ edit ]

A Travelcard is a ticket that allows unlimited travel within the defined area during the time period. Capping is a system which limits your daily fare, so that if you travel lots in an area within a day, or within a Monday-Sunday period (only with Contactless) then your fare is reduced. This is usually typically cheaper than purchasing a day travelcard, but it is always worth checking using the calculator below. However, the flexibility in planning afforded by capping is very useful. There are 2 price caps, the Anytime price cap and the off-peak price cap. Journeys where you touch in between 04:30 and 09:30 count towards your Anytime cap, while Journeys where you touch in outside these times count towards both caps - it is simply a matter of which you hit first

The pricing for travelcard tickets, and the caps for each zone can be found at TfL's calculator.

Note that this uses the zonal system as explained in the fares section. For travelcards, there is no price difference between a paper ticket and loading the travelcard onto an Oyster card, however the single-day travelcards cannot be loaded onto an Osyter card. It is advisable to load longer-duration travelcards onto an Oyster card to prevent wear-and-tear. However, a journey on the London Underground (Piccadilly line) to/from Heathrow Airport and will charge Oyster/Contactless users the standard fare.

Travelcard season tickets [ edit ]

Weekly, monthly and longer-period Travelcard season tickets can be purchased at all tube station ticket machines. These can be used on any tube, DLR, bus, London Overground, National Rail or tram service. You have to select a range of zones when you buy it, numbered 1-9. If you happen to travel outside the zone, you can use Pay-as-you-go to make up the difference. Note that they can not be used on some Airport Express trains (Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express or Stansted Express). However, a Zone 1-6 Travelcard can be used on the London Underground (Piccadilly line) to/from Heathrow Airport, and will charge Oyster/Contactless users the standard fare. Notice a weekly travelcard may be a better value than a PAYG Oyster card if you are looking to travel extensively within London for more than five days in a week, especially given that the former's effectivity will last a week after it was purchased, whereas weekly fare cap on the latter will reset at 4.30 every Monday.

Return an Oyster Card [ edit ]

You will get refunds in cash only if you paid in cash. Be prepared to give your signature on receipts or even show ID for refunds over a few pounds. If you intend to use only the Bus (and/or the tram), there is a daily capping at £4.40. If you use the Tube as well, the daily capping stands at £6.40. If you have £10 of credit or less loaded onto your card this can be refunded at any ticket machine, otherwise you will need to go to a visitor centre. You could also drop your Oyster card into a box to donate the remaining value to charity.

Tips [ edit ]

Touch the card against a yellow disc, prominently displayed on the entry and exit gates for the Tube (do not try to insert it into the slot!) and on buses and trams.

On all of the Docklands Light Railway, and on the outlying parts of the Overground, railway stations in y there are no entry or exit gates (except at interchanges with the Tube like Bank or Stratford), so you have to be sure to touch your Oyster card on the readers (which are clearly signposted) as you enter and leave. Failure to do this when you begin a journey is regarded as fare dodging (carrying a penalty fare or even a fine if you are caught). Equally, failing to touch out when you leave a station will result in you being overcharged for your journey, as the system will make a default deduction of £6.50 since it doesn't know which station you left at. Do not be tempted to travel without a ticket, a significant number of people are prosecuted for not having a ticket, giving them a criminal record, as well as a large fine.

Once you have used the tube once, you will recognise the yellow circle oyster card reader where you touch your card in and out from. You may also notice that on some platforms, this is pink coloured. Most tourists can ignore this as it is no use to them. Due to the fact that tickets are priced in zones, if you travel by avoiding a particular zone you can save money. An example of this is if you travel from a zone two station in South London to a zone by taking an alternative route that doesn't go through zone one. You can find alternative cheaper routes using the TFL Fare Finder, however this will not be of any use to you if you live or visit places in zone 1 (central London) only.

Many stations in London are very close together (even next door!) but you cannot transfer between train lines within the ticket barriers. This is because historically the train lines were built by competing companies and there was no traveller need, or commercial reason to create interchanges back then. Now we have OSI (Outside Station Interchange), this means that you can touch your oyster card out of a station, walk the 5 minutes to a nearby station and touch in again, without charging you two tickets - you will be charged as if you made an interchange without leaving the station. This is also the case at some large stations which are integrated, but it might be easier to touch out at one entrance and touch back in again at another entrance when changing lines, such as transferring between the Northern and Circle, H&C or Metropolitan lines at King's Cross St. Pancras station. Be warned that there is a time limit of how long you can stay out of the network before your touch-in is considered a new journey. You are given plenty of time to transfer and can even stop off to buy a snack at a local supermarket. There is a useful guide online listing the stations where OSI exists and the time limit you have to make the change.

You can use your Oyster Card to pay for tickets on National Rail services that operate within London, however some routes are charged at a slightly higher rate. A map exists showing which routes are subject to the higher rate. As a general rule, if the journey you are making on a National Rail service either can me made by using the tube, or is within two stations which could be made by taking the tube, you will be charged the local standard TFL fare.

Theoretically you don't need to remove your Oyster card from your wallet or bag to do touch in/out - the card reader can work through a bag, but in reality you may need to take the card out to get it to work. Keep other contactless cards such as bank cards separate, as the fare might be deducted from them instead of your Oyster.

Be careful standing near the readers on some buses, they are often quite sensitive and may read your card from several centimetres away, even if you did not intend this.

If you keep your Oyster card in your wallet try not to sit on it as sometimes they will crack and stop working.

Validity [ edit ]

The following table summarises the validity of the different tickets you can use on Oyster. For most tourists, tubes and buses are the only transport you will use, but be aware that these tickets are not valid on any Rail trains to any of London's airports.

Bus London Underground London Overground National Rail DLR Tram Airport Express trains Pay-as-you-go yes yes yes yes yes yes Gatwick only Travelcard yes yes yes yes yes yes no Bus pass yes no no no no yes no

Visitor Centres [ edit ]

All ticket offices are now closed, and information is instead now available from members of staff in the ticket hall area. At certain tube stations, TfL provides visitor centres offering guidance, the opening times are listed below from TfL's website:

Location Opening hours Liverpool Street, Liverpool Street Underground station Monday to Saturday: 08:00-18:00 Sundays and Bank Holidays: 08:30-18:00 Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly Circus Underground station Monday to Sunday and Bank Holidays: 09:30-16:00 Victoria (main), Opposite platform 8, Victoria rail station Monday to Sunday and Bank Holidays: 08:00 - 18:00 Victoria (cube), Opposite platform 8, Victoria rail station Monday to Saturday: 09:00 - 16:00 Sundays and Bank Holidays: 08:30 - 18:00 Euston, Opposite platform 8, Euston rail station Monday to Saturday: 08:00-18:00 Sundays and Bank Holidays: 08:30 - 18:00 King's Cross, King's Cross Underground station, Western Ticket Hall near St Pancras Monday to Saturday: 08:00 - 18:00 Sundays and Bank Holidays: 08:30 - 18:00 Paddington, Opposite Platform 1, Paddington rail station Monday to Saturday: 08:00 - 18:00 Sundays and Bank Holidays: 08:30 - 18:00 Gatwick Airport, North Terminal arrivals hall Monday to Sunday and Bank Holidays: 09:15 - 16:00 Gatwick Airport, South Terminal arrivals hall Monday to Sunday and Bank Holidays: 09:00 - 16:00 Heathrow, Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 Underground station Monday to Sunday and Bank Holidays: 08:00 - 18:00





Modes [ edit ]

In this section, each travel mode is discussed - where it runs, how to use payment for it (where appropriate), usage advice and etiquette, and other key information.

It is recommended to plan your journey using the TfL Journey Planner, then consulting the relevant mode section for information you may need.

A reminder on the streets of London to "Look Right" when you cross the road

London is a surprisingly compact city, making it a walker's delight and walking is often the quickest method of transport.

The city is incredibly well signposted so it is very easy to find your way round by foot.

Because Britain drives on the left hand side of the road, for most foreign visitors it can be all too easy to forget that traffic will come at you from the opposite direction than you are used to when crossing a street - for this reason remember to look right when you cross the road.

Particularly on Central London's busiest streets, it is easy to spot native Londoners as they are able to weave in and out of the large crowds at fast speed. Refrain from walking slowly in tight spaces to avoid annoying any fast walking people that may be trying to pass.

In stark contrast to many other countries jaywalking is completely acceptable in the UK and many British people are unaware that it is even a crime in some places (e.g. in the US) or will not even be aware of this concept. One can even jaywalk directly in front of a police officer or police car and you will not be stopped and shouted at. However tourists should bear in mind that Londoners are well used to the acceptable limits of this, such as when it is safe to jaywalk and when not. Given the existence of heavy volumes of traffic, confusing one-way roads, and vehicles driving on the left, visitors should proceed with caution in this regard until they are confident in navigating London's roads.

Cars can generally be relied upon to follow the rules of the road, however cyclists will often flout them, a source of much annoyance to Londoners. It is common to see cyclists skipping red lights, turning without indicating or moving between the pavement and road. Take caution.

By Tube / Underground [ edit ]

To-scale Central London Underground map

Full to-scale London Underground map

General Tube advice

Beware of pickpockets. Ensure zips and backpacks are done up securely. Drinking alcohol or smoking anywhere on the underground is illegal. Flash photography within stations is prohibited because it may interfere with fire detection systems. Be careful at the ticket barrier of people coming up close behind you in an attempt to get through the barrier on your ticket. This isn't a huge problem, but it does happen. Some platforms in Zone 1 have the words "Mind the Gap" written on the platform edge. When the train stops, the carriage doors will usually line up with this warning. Alternatively, train doors will also line up near the platform exits (not directly in front, but slightly off centre). You will notice Londoners walk fast down the platform and then randomly stop in a specific spot. This is also where train doors will open. Stand behind the ""yellow line"" when a train approaches, even if Londoners do not. Ensure pushchairs are secured when the train is approaching/leaving a station (hold onto it) as the gusts of wind can suck pushchairs onto the Tube tracks. Inter-personal etiquette: Londoners live with continuous tourism in their city. Many are patient and willing to help you if you're lost Underground, however the volume of inconsiderate tourists who are ignorant about local customs can become irritating. To avoid confrontations with busy travellers and angry Londoners, you should follow the following 'unwritten' rules: When using the escalators, you must always stand on the right (as indicated on signage) as busy commuters walk down the left side of the escalator. If you stop on the left side, or have luggage/bags blocking the passage, you are likely to be confronted by an angry Londoner instructing you (loudly) to move. You must always ""let people off the train before boarding"". When a train arrives, stand to the left or right of the door (not directly in front) and ensure your luggage/bags are not blocking the way for those disembarking. Londoners can get extremely irritable when tourists barge past them. Move down the cars if standing during busy periods. Do not crowd the doors (as you will likely be pushed down the car by those boarding) and do not stand as a group if there is limited room. Have your Oyster card or ticket ready for the top of the escalators so not to obstruct barriers. It is important, especially during peak times, to be quick when 'touching in' or 'touching out' (Londoners can do it in around two seconds) -- hold your card to the yellow scanning disk, keep looking down until the LED goes green and then proceed through quickly. Some barriers, such as those at non-commuter stations (e.g. Sloane Square), open slower than those at major interchanges (e.g. Victoria), where the barriers snap open rapidly. Give up your seat to the elderly and those less able to stand, especially if the seat is reserved for such a purpose. This is indicated by a blue plaque with white writing. Never try to board or leave a train when the door warning (a rapidly-repeating high pitch beep) is sounding. Many older trains are not fitted with sensors to detect if the doors are blocked and it's all too easy to become stuck in the doors, and although the train cannot start if the doors are still open you will incur the wrath of tired and busy commuters. For the same reason, do not hold the doors open in order to let people on or off either. When coming down the escalators to a platform, do not go through the first platform entrance you see and crowd one part of the concourse. Walk down the platform to an end, where there is more space and the train carriages (when they arrive) will likely be emptier. Blocking a part of the platform will not be welcome by Londoners trying to get past. Do not stop directly in front of ticket barriers. Ensure your Oyster/ticket/Travelcard are ready before entering the station.



The London Underground - also known popularly as The Tube - has trains that criss-cross London in the largest underground rail network in the world (it was also the first, the first section of the Metropolitan Line dates back to 1863). The Tube is an easy method of transport even for new visitors to London.

Tube maps are freely available from any station, most tourist offices and are prominently displayed in stations and in the back of most diaries. The Tube is made up of 11 lines each bearing a traditional name and a standard colour on the Tube map. Since the Tube Map is well designed it is very easy to work out how to get between any two stations, and since each station is clearly signed it is easy to work out when to exit your train. Visitors should be aware, however, that the Tube map is a diagram and not a scaled map, making it misleading for determining the relative distance between stations as it makes central stations appear further apart and somewhat out of place - the most distant reaches of the Metropolitan Line for example are almost 60km (36 mi) from the centre of the city. In central London, taking The Tube for just one stop can be a waste of time; Londoners joke about the tourists who use the Tube to travel between Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations. This is especially true since the walk from a tube station entrance to the platform at some central stations can be extensive. The Tube map also gives no information on London's extensive overground bus network and leaves out non-TfL-run rail services.

Trains run from around 05:30 to about 00:30 (Sun - Thurs). On Friday and Saturdays trains run 24hrs, currently on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines. Note: the night service may not cover the extremities of the line, and the interval between services will be significant. See the Night Tube map for more details. They are usually the fastest way to travel in London, the only problem being the relative expense, and that it can get extremely crowded during rush hours (07:30-10:00 and 16:30-19:00). On warm days take a bottle of water with you. Also note that engineering works usually take place during weekends or the evening. Use this page to check planned works. Avoid rush hours if at all possible (08:00 - 09:00 and 17:00 - 18:00) as over 500,000 people crowd onto the tube on their way to and from work. [193]

All lines are identified by name (Circle Line, Central Line, Piccadilly Line) and by colour (on maps and signage). Many lines have multiple branches rather than running point-to-point so always to check the train's destination (which is shown on the front (and often sides) of the train, the platform indicator screens and will be broadcast on the train's PA), especially if you plan to travel outside zones 1 and 2. Some branch lines (such as the Mill Hill East branch of the Northern Line or the Kensington Olympia branch of the District Line) run as shuttles and require a transfer onto the 'main line'. Note that the Northern Line has two separate routes through the city centre which split at Euston and rejoin at Kennington, one (officially called the Charing Cross Branch but known by locals as the West End branch) runs through the West End serving Leicester Square, Charing Cross and Waterloo, while the other route runs via the City of London (officially called the Bank branch but also referred to as the City branch) with major stops at Kings Cross and Bank.

Despite the confusing layout of the line, it is fairly easy to work out which way your train is going; for example a northbound Northern Line train to Edgware along the Charing Cross branch will be displayed on the indicator as 'Edgware via ChX' and the on-board PA will announce 'This train terminates at Edgware via Charing Cross'. Finally, note that direction signs for the platforms indicate the geographical direction of the line, not the last stop of the line. Always always advisable to carry a pocket Tube map (available for free at most stations) to help you with this.

To enter the system at a station with a line of barriers, you must press your card against the yellow pad on the barrier line, or insert a paper ticket into the slot. When using a paper ticket the gates will not open until you remove the ticket! If a card is being used, you must hold it until you hear a beep! If you hear multiple beeps, there is likely an issue with your card. Attempt to enter again, but pay attention to the screen on the gates (on older gates there will be a smaller screen on the yellow card reader). This will provide you with an error message, such as insufficient balance or a read error. If the balance is too low, top up, otherwise you should speak to a member of station staff. If you have luggage, are in a wheelchair, or otherwise require a larger entryway there is almost always a wide-access gate which a staff member will help you find. Almost all Underground stations have a barrier line, however some rural stations do not. It is vital that you touch in at a stand-alone pad which will be clearly visible. The gates which can be used by persons entering the station will have a green arrow on the screen to the left of them, while the gates that cannot be used will be marked with a red X on that screen

To exit a station on the Underground, it is vital that you also touch out (except when advised not to by station staff). The procedure is identical to entry; remember to touch out at stations without a gateline.

Always have your ticket or card ready as you enter the station or approach the gates to exit.

If the gates are left open, you must still touch out if you are using a card.

By bus [ edit ]

Double-decker bus in London

Bus stop

London's iconic red buses are recognized the world over, even if the traditional Routemaster buses, with an open rear platform and on-board conductor to collect fares, have been phased out. These still run on Heritage Route 15 daily between about 09:30 and 18:30, every 15 minutes. Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for short (less than a couple of stops on the Tube) trips, but for longer ones can be much slower especially when traffic is heavy. Many people who live and work in London mainly use the bus for short journeys (e.g. 3 stops). For sightseeing, buses are a much more pleasant way to travel than the Tube, and cheaper too for a single journey. Out of central London you're likely to be closer to a bus stop than a tube station.

Over 5 million bus trips are made each weekday; with over 700 different bus routes you are never far from a bus. Each bus stop has a sign listing routes that stop there. Bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters, for example the 73 runs between Victoria and Seven Sisters, and the C1 (C for Central) runs from Victoria to White City. The letter N before a number designates a night bus, but a few services without the letter N run 24-hours - these are uncommon but clearly indicated and can be very useful!

Importantly, since the 6th of July 2014, it is not possible in London to purchase a bus ticket on the bus, nor can you expect a ticket machine at your bus stop! You must either have a Pay-as-you-go Oyster card with sufficient funds, a Travelcard ticket, a bus pass, or a contactless bank payment card (see note below). For the vast majority of tourists, Oyster cards (either pay-as-you-go or with a Travelcard loaded) remain the best option. TfL now allow you to make one more journey on an Oyster card with positive balance, but not enough to pay the full fare. Your card will go into negative balance, and you must top it up as soon as possible. The rest of the fare will be taken then.

London Transport has recently enabled using contactless bank cards (e.g. Visa payWave, MasterCard PayPass) to pay for transport within London. Simply use your credit or debit card as if it were an Oyster card and pay the usual £1.50 for a single fare. Daily and Monday-Sunday capping also work, but you should be wary of bank charges for foreign transactions. If using contactless, there is one charge to your card per day, so you would only pay one foreign transaction fee per day. Contactless bank cards are accepted everywhere where Oyster is and charged the same way.

Youngsters aged 11-15 travel free on buses with an 11-15 Oyster photocard (which are available for visitors, but unlike Oyster cards, these require an online application form and you must be prepared to wait four weeks). Similarly, if aged 16-18, half-price travel is available, but this again requires an application form and a long wait. Student Oysters (only available to students studying in London) are available from age 18 and provide a 35% discount on weekly and monthly travel cards.

Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side and rear. All bus stops have their location and the direction of travel on them.

The iBus system has now been rolled out the iBus on every bus and garage in London. This system provides bus times and destination information on a audio-visual display.

Single bus fares paid using Contactless or Oyster cards include a second bus journey within one hour at no extra charge. You must touch in using the same card on the second bus and the free fare will be applied automatically. The free fare will not apply if you take the Underground between bus journeys or your Oyster card has a negative balance.

Night bus [ edit ]

Standard bus services run from around 05:30-00:30. Around half past midnight the network changes to the vast night bus network of well over 100 routes stretching all over the city. There are two types of night buses: 24 hour routes and N-prefixed routes.

24-hour services keep the same number as during the day and will run the exact same route, such as the number 88, for example. N-prefixed routes are generally very similar to their day-route, but may take a slightly different route or are extended to serve areas that are further out. For example, the 29 bus goes from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green during the day; however, the N29 bus goes from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green and on to Enfield.

Night buses run at a 30 minute frequency at minimum, with many routes at much higher frequencies up to every 5 minutes.

Prices stay the same, and daily travelcards are valid until 04:00 the day after they were issued, so can be used on night buses. Most bus stops will have night bus maps with all the buses to and from that local area on it, although it is good to check on the TfL website beforehand, which also has all those maps easily available.

London's night buses are occasionally used by loud drunks who when provoked, can be quite confrontational but rarely violent. Stay polite and on the bottom deck of the bus to best avoid them although there will be just as many if not more friendly drunks who would be up for a chat. Use your instincts.

By DLR [ edit ]

Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a dedicated light rail network operating in East London, connecting with the tube network at Bank, Tower Gateway (close to Tower Hill tube station), Canning Town, Heron Quays (close to Canary Wharf tube station) and Stratford. As the trains often operate without a driver, it can be quite exciting - especially for children - to sit in front and look at through the window, whilst feeling as though one is driving the train oneself. The DLR also runs above ground on much of its route, and travels through many picturesque parts of London, including the Docklands area where most of London's skyscrapers are located. Apart from the trains looking slightly different and running slightly less frequently than the Tube, visitors may as well treat the two systems as the same.

Unlike the tube, the DLR uses the honour-system at all stations apart from Bank and Stratford. Tickets are available from the machines at stations (most stations are unstaffed so make sure you are armed with a handful of coins or low-denomination notes) and are distance-based. Travelcards are also accepted, as are Oyster cards, which must be validated when entering the platform, and then validated again when exiting the station.

The DLR can be a little confusing as the routes are not easily distinguished - generally trains run between Bank - Lewisham, Stratford - Lewisham, Bank - Woolwich Arsenal, Stratford - Woolwich Arsenal and Tower Gateway - Beckton. Displays on the platform will tell you the destination and approximate wait for the next 3 trains, and the destination is also displayed on the front and side of the train.

By train [ edit ]

Wikitravel has a guide to Rail travel in the United Kingdom, with information applicable to using the National Rail system within London.

The British railway system is known as National Rail (although some older signs still refer to it as "British Rail"). London's suburban rail services are operated by several private companies under tightly-written government contracts, and mostly run in the south of the city, away from the main tourist sights. Only one line (Thameslink) runs through central London - on a north-south axis between London Bridge or Blackfriars stations, and the underground level of St Pancras main line station. There is no one central station - instead, there are twelve mainline stations dotted around the edge of the central area, and most are connected by the Circle line (except Euston, Fenchurch St and those South of the river like London Waterloo and London Bridge). Most visitors will not need to use National Rail services except for a few specific destinations such as Hampton Court, Kew Gardens (Kew Bridge station), Windsor Castle, Greenwich or the airports, or indeed if they are intending to visit other cities in the UK. Since 2 January 2010, pay-as-you-go Oyster cards are accepted on all routes within London travel zones 1-6.

Visitors are well advised to remember that the quickest route between two stations might be a combination of the Tube as well as the National Rail network. (For example: getting to Wimbledon from central London by Tube using the District Line takes significantly longer (around 45 minutes) than taking the National Rail service from Waterloo to Wimbledon (around 15 minutes).)

Trains branded as Express serve Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports. However, trains to Stansted and Luton also have intermediate stops serving commuter stations. Trains to Gatwick are non stop, but the time saving is less than five minutes compared to other services. Tickets for trains branded express are generally sold at a premium. Oyster cards are only valid to Gatwick and not on other mainline routes to airports.

When you make National Rail journeys in London you can do so in the same way as the tube, however some journeys are charged at a slightly more expensive (or sometimes, but not often) cheaper rate. As a rough guide, if a journey between either your two stations or two stations further along the line where you get on and get off, you will be charged the standard fare, otherwise, you will be charged a higher fare. You can find out what fare you will be charged, as well as alternative routes for cheaper fares on using the TFL fare finder. There is also a map which shows National Rail services running in London coloured by the type of fare they charge. If you are following the route for cheaper fares, when you change trains, you will need to tell the system you are taking that route, by touching a pink oyster card reader at the station you interchange at.

Tourists should bear in mind that London's railways are as a rule less punctual or frequent than the tube or Overground (a source of much annoyance to Londoners who rely on them to get to work) and should bear this in mind when planning journeys. Rail services at rush hour will typically be standing room only. Conditions in general are below those of other western European countries, with trains often old, not fully cleaned and subject to delays and cancellations (not to mention more expensive). Public anger at this state of affairs has led to calls for re-nationalisation of the rails in some quarters. TfL has slowly been taking over some lines as part of the Overground system.

By Overground [ edit ]

In common parlance, Londoners may refer to travelling by "overground" (or "overland"), meaning going by National Rail (as opposed to going by Underground). However, only one service is officially called Overground - London Overground is a Transport for London rail service. It is operated and promoted just like the Underground, with the logo like the Tube (except orange) on stations and full acceptance of 