How to get around London

Getting into London

The Heathrow Express vs The Tube

In getting into central London from Heathrow airport there are a couple of options to consider when using the cheapest, fastest, best method. The Heathrow express, which costs about £25 into Paddington station and taking the Tube which will run about £5.50. Unless you have special circumstances these are the two options I would consider.

So why would you pay more for the Heathrow express? Speed is one reason. It will take about 15mins to get into Padding station on the express train which runs non stop. Another reason, how much luggage do you have? And what time of the day are you arriving? If you’ve got a lot of bags and/or are leaving Heathrow during rush hour then you will be much more comfortable on the Express train.

The Tube, while being much cheaper at £5.50 will take around 50mins to get to somewhere like Kings Cross. If you’re arriving on an early morning, or late evening, flight then you’ll have to brave London’s infamous rush hour on the underground. As mentioned above, if you’ve come long haul with a few bags you may want to think before taking this option. But if you’re traveling light, as I often advocate, and you’re not in a hurry then this could be the option for you – especially if you’re familiar with the London Tube. If you’re not sure probably take the Heathrow express unless budget really is a factor. It’s pricey but fast and easy.

Third option – Taking the National Express

Another option is getting the National Express into Victoria station. The National express coaches run up to 48 times daily and can cost as little as £6. The journey takes about 25 minutes although they have to deal with London traffic so Tube and express times are probably more reliable. This is a good in-between budget option, especially if you’re carrying a lot of luggage. Well worth checking out this option.

Getting around London

To get around London you’re going to want an oyster card. There are contactless options but if you’re a visitor with a foreign debit card then you may incur currency charges – but you can always check this option out as it may be right for you. The best thing to do is buy an Oyster card for £5 pounds at a tube station. You have options to pay as you go or buy a week unlimited. Daily cap is currently £8.10 and a weekly tube pass for zones 1-2 goes for £40.70 currently (most visitors will travel in this area – check your itinerary though).

You will want to check how long will you be in London, is it worth getting a one-week tube pass? And how many days will you use the Tube? It’s worth noting that an Oyster card can also be used on busses and the London overground rail in addition to the Tube. One of the important things to think about is what zones will you need to travel in as this could have a significant impact on which option is most economical, the daily cap vs weekly tube pass.

Using the Tube

If you’re new to London it pays to have a map of the tube ready. You can get a hard copy of the map download the latest map to your computer / tablet / phone or there is even an app from TFL (Transport for London), the TFL Go app you can download for iOS or Android. Make sure you are downloading the legitimate app on the TFL website.

Once you’ve got all that sorted you’ll want to start using the Tube as a tourist. First things first, keep to the left on the corridors and stand on the right on the escalator so that people in a hurry, this is London, can walk by on the left. The system works well but if you don’t know it might catch you out. You’ll want to plan your route first time and if you’re just moving around central London check if walking might be faster. If you are only going one or two stops then it may actually be quicker to walk than all the way down to a Tube station. London is a very walkable city. In using the tube you tap on when you go through the station and tap off when leaving the station. That’s how they know what zone(s) you traveled in.

Using the Bus

The bus is different. When using the Oyster card or contactless on the bus you only have to touch in. Don’t touch off, the reason being is there is a single flat fare on the London bus network so there is no need to tap off.

London transport as a tourist

As a tourist, you should enjoy using the London underground and buses. You will be able to get everywhere you need using the Tube and buses in London. Even outside of central London everything is well connected with underground trains, overground trains, and the buses. Take advantage of a city with great public transport during the day and avoid it during early morning and late afternoon rush hours, or you might not think it is so great.