London is a fantastic city, but as a Londoner, I can admit it’s a bit of a nightmare to navigate.
My friends always make fun of me because despite being a travel blogger, and flying for 12 hours to the other side of the world as if it was nothing, if you ask me to go south of the river, I will probably say I’m busy (it’s not just me, it’s an actual thing).
After 8 years of living in London I’ve tried every single mode of transport; the tube, the underground, buses, night buses, ubers, black cabs and whatnot.
In this guide I wanted to put together my 8 years of experience navigating this city, to help you do the same.
Whether it’s your first or tenth trip to London, if you’re struggling to get around the big city, this is the guide for you. So what are you waiting for? Let’s jump into how to get around London!
Want to know more about London? Check out this London quiz
Different ways to get around London
The “tube” (or underground)
Londoners refer to the underground train system of London as the “tube”. So if you hear someone saying they’re running to catch the tube, you know that’s what they’re referring to, they’re not just weird.
The tube is pretty well connected and travels to all the main areas of London. You can get pretty anywhere you want in the city with the tube, in a fairly reasonable amount of time.
The map of the London tube can be a bit hard to read on your first visit, but you will get the hang of it.
Just remember the Northern line has two separate branches. When I first moved to London I got on the Northern Line at Kings Cross and was so confused when I didn’t end up in Waterloo.
Remember also to check which cardinal direction you’re trying to go in, and you’re mostly sorted!
The tube runs from 5AM to midnight every day, except for Friday and Saturday night when some of the lines run all night (the Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Piccadilly, and the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line) for the joy of all weekend party goers.
The price of a tube journey starts at 2.40GBP, but varies depending on where you’re going, how many zones you travel across and if it’s peak travel time or not.
You can pay either with a London travel card (called an Oyster card) or tap in and out with any contactless credit and debit card.
I’m not a personal fan of the tube, but if you’re looking to travel big distances across London it’s the quickest and most cost effective way to do so.
Londoners feel very strongly about the tube, so make sure to check out these London tube etiquette rules, but also these London tube memes if you’re looking for a bit of a laugh.
Trains & the Overground
Besides the tube there is also a whole system of over ground trains that travel around London. Unlike the underground which has a funky name like “tube”, the over ground train is simply called the overground.
There are also a number of national trains that cross London on their journeys to other British destinations.
These will usually stop at a couple of stations within London so you can also hop on on these, just with your Oyster or debit/credit card, without needing a train ticket.
I quite like taking the trains as they do less stops than the tube, and can at times be quicker. They’re also more spacious and a more pleasant journey experience.
Some stations in London have more than one tube line, but also multiple types of over and under ground lines.
Buses
London also has an extremely good bus system. The buses do all the little stops along the way that the tube misses out. Depending on the route you have to travel, it can be faster to get a bus that the tube.
With its iconic red double decker buses, taking a bus in London is basically an experience in itself.
I much prefer taking the bus than the tube. If you can get a seat in the top deck it feels like you are out for a sightseeing drive around London, not a commute.
Not all buses run at night. To find out if the bus you need runs 24/7 just check at the bus stop if it has an N in front of the number.
The price for the bus is 1.50GBP and covers you for 1 hour. This is a new “hopper” fare introduced recently, which allows you to change buses and take as many as you need for the same price within one hour.
Uber vs Black cabs
Personally I find all the forms of public transport in London are excellent. They are generally on time, and unless you’re travelling during rush hour and squished in between all the other commuters, they’re not that unpleasant an experience.
However I totally understand that there are situations when you would prefer the comfort of a private car.
I have never rented a car in London and don’t recommend it, however you can easily get around with the black taxis (known as black cabs) or other forms of taxi apps.
After Uber appeared there has been a huge rise in taxi apps, from ViaVan to GoVolt, Lift and more. Basically in London you’re spoilt for taxi choices.
Uber is the most used. You can comfortably order a car while you’re still at home, or if you’ve just left a nightclub, and have it show up at your door within minutes. I also like their payment functions where you can split the ride with friends directly in the app.
Uber is usually cheaper than a black cab, but if you’re taking one late at night or in peak hours there will often be a surcharge. However if you want a true London experience, you have to try hailing down a black cab!
Walking!
This might sound crazy after having gone over all the main transport modes, but my personal favourite way to get around London is actually by walking! Walking in London is awesome!
All the main attractions in central London are fairly close to each other. Walking from one to the other actually allows you to see the beautiful places in London, and take in the London atmosphere.
Transport for London put together a map with the walking times between some of the central tube stations in London. Admittedly some are pretty far but look at the centre of zone 1, some stops are only 3 minutes away from each other!
In some situations you will find it’s not only prettier, but also quicker to walk somewhere than it is to wait for a bus and then get stuck in traffic or go all the way underground and then back up at the next station.
It’s also completely free and also good for you!
Final thoughts on the best way to get around London
There you have it, a summary and guide to all the different modes of transport to get around London!
I know London is a chaotic city and can be a nightmare to navigate, so I hope you will find this guide useful in planning your trip and finding your way around London!
Looking for more London advice? Check out these resources!
- The best areas to stay in London
- London 1-day itinerary
- London 2-day itinerary
- The prettiest streets in London
- Beautiful hidden gems in London
- 30+ awesome free things to do in London
- 20 iconic London landmarks
- What to pack for a trip to London
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