London is a huge city, so all individual listings are in the appropriate district articles.

• Context London, ☎ +44 207 193 9158 (info@contexttravel.com), [63]. daily. An organization of scholars who lead in-depth walking tours of London's museums, architecture, and history. Walks include Westminister Abbey, an exploration of the Thames through history, City of London from Roman times to financial capital, Kenwood House, Inigo Jones' Queens House, and thematic walks of the British Museum. from £30.  edit

• Fat Tire Bike Tours, [64]. Offers guided bicycle tours of Central London. Tours operate daily at 11AM Mar 1-Apr 30, 11AM and 3PM May 1-Aug 15, and 11AM Aug 16-Nov 30. Tours offer a great orientation, detailed city information and fantastic photo opportunities. They use California beach cruiser bikes with large comfortable seats. Tours are not the least bit strenuous and all ages are welcome. The company has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek and on CNN, the BBC and the Travel Channel.  edit

• Open top bus tour. Every day. These offer a good, albeit somewhat expensive, introduction to the sights of London. Two principal operators tend to dominate the market for this kind of tour: (The Original Tour [65] +44 (0)20 8877 1722 and The Big Bus Company [66] +44 (0)20 7233 9533). Both provide hop-on/hop-off services where you can get off at any attraction and catch the next bus; both provide live commentaries in English and recorded commentaries in other languages (not necessarily on the same buses). You can compare London Bus Tours [67] also.  edit

• Tours of London [68]. +44 (0)20 8669 3666. Offer a wide variety of personally tailored sightseeing tours of London, with private tour guides and a fleet of chauffeur driven vehicles.

• London Ducktours, ☎ +44 (0)20 7928 3132, [69]. Every day. If you are in the mood for a view of London by boat. The tour bus is actually a D-Day landing water/land vehicle that has been refurbished complete with tour guide.  edit

• Theatre. See a musical, play or comedy in the West End. For Broadway-like musicals the Leicester Square area is highly recommended. In the centre of the square there is an official half-price TKTS booth. For listings buy the weekly magazine Time Out [70] or visit all theatre listings online [71]  edit

• London Sightseeing Tours [72], [73]. Offering a wide variety of full day, half day or overnight. Tours also from London to Paris, Edinburgh and other locations in the UK such as Bath, Windsor and Stonehenge to name a few.

• Watch football, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Barnet (North London); West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, Millwall and Crystal Palace (South London).  edit

• London Open House Weekend, [75]. Explore many of the city's most interesting buildings during the London Open House Weekend every September. During this single weekend, several hundred buildings which are not normally open to the public are opened up. See website for details of buildings opening in any given year - book early for the popular ones!  edit

• London Walks, ☎ +44 (0)20 7624 3978, [76]. Excellent guided walks on a variety of themes. But buyer beware, there are a lot of impostor walking guides masquerading under the same name—make certain that you are getting the real deal!. 2-3 hours £6.  edit

• London Audiowalks, [77]. Soundmap audio walking tours that take you inside London, full of local interviews, historical and contempory facts, music and sound effects  edit

• New London Tours (by foot), ☎ +49 30 510 50030, [78]. Old City of London Free Tour starts everyday at 10 am and 4PM by the sundial directly opposite the Tower Gateway exit at Tower Hill Station. Royal London Free tour starts daily at 11am and 3PM by Wellington Arch. Use EXIT 2 when leaving Hyde Park Corner station. Free.  edit

• Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road (tube: South Kensington), [79]. One of the first of its kind in the world. The museum houses many permanent and temporary exhibitions covering plants, animals and geology from the worlds natural history. Of interest to most would be the permanent dinosaur exhibition. Although many displays feel dated this is an excellent museum and is always, deservedly, crowded. Free.  edit

If you don't feel like splashing out on one of the commercial bus tours, you can make your own bus tour by buying an Oyster card and spending some time riding around London on the top deck of standard London buses. Of course you don't get the open air or the commentary, but the views are very similar. You will likely get lost but that is half the fun; if it worries you go for a commercial tour. Alternatively make sure you are equipped with an integrated map of London buses and tubes [80] so that you can make the most of your Oyster card by enjoying unexpected surprises!

Winter Skating. London has a number of outdoor ice rinks that open in the winter months. Considered by some to be somewhat overpriced and overcrowded, they nonetheless have multiplied in recent years, easing congestion and increasing competition. Most charge from £10-12 (adults) for an hour on the ice, including skate hire. See the district articles for the City of London, Docklands and Trafalgar Square.

Summer Skating. In summer (and also in winter, for the more dedicated) there is also a thriving roller skating (on inline and traditional "quad" skates) scene in London, catering to many disciplines including street hockey, freestyle slalom, dance, general recreational skating (including three weekly marshalled group street skates) and speed skating. This mostly centres around Hyde Park (on the Serpentine Road) and Kensington Gardens (by the Albert Memorial). See the district articles for Mayfair and South West London.

London with children London can be stressful with kids - check London with children for slightly less stressful sightseeing

London is a huge city, so all individual listings are in the appropriate district articles.

London hosts an outstanding collection of world-class museums. Even better, it is the only one of the traditional "alpha world cities" (London, New York City and Paris) in which the majority of the museums have no entrance charges, thus allowing visitors to make multiple visits with ease. Although London can be expensive many of the best museums and galleries are free including Tate Modern, Tate Britain, British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and most museums in Greenwich. Donations are welcome. Note that admission to many temporary exhibitions is not free. The 'green lungs' of London are the many parks, great and small, scattered throughout the city including St James Park and Hyde Park. Most of the larger parks have their origins in royal estates and hunting grounds and are still owned by the Crown, despite their public access.

• Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) in St James's. The seat of the United Kingdom parliament and World Heritage site, as well as setting for royal coronations since 1066, most recently that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

• St James' Park [59]. Charming and romantic, these gardens are ideal for picnics and for strolling around. They feature the famous statue of Peter Pan, complete with bronze rabbits that children are always trying to take.

• Buckingham Palace [60]. The official London residence of the Queen, one of several royal palaces in London. Open for tours during the summer months only, but a must-see sight even if you don't go in.

• Trafalgar Square . Home of Nelson's Column and the lions, and once a safe haven for London's pigeons until the recent introduction of hired birds of prey. It recently attracted controversy over the 'Fourth plinth', previously empty, being temporarily home to a Marc Quin sculpture, 'Alison Lapper Pregnant'. Overlooked by the National Gallery, it's the nearest London has to a 'centre', and has recently been pedestrianised.

• The London Eye. The world's third largest observation wheel, situated on the South Bank of the Thames with magnificent views over London.

• Tower Bridge. Is the iconic 19th century bridge located by the Tower of London near the City. It is decorated with high towers and featuring a drawbridge and you can visit the engine rooms and a Tower Bridge exhibition.

• The Tower of London. Situated just south east of the City, is London's original royal fortress by the Thames. It is over 900 years old, contains the Crown Jewels, guarded by Beefeaters, and is a World Heritage site.

• St Paul's Cathedral, in the City, is Sir Christopher Wren's great accomplishment, built after the 1666 Great Fire of London - the great dome is still seated in majesty over The City. A section of the dome has such good acoustics that it forms a "Whispering Gallery."

• Regent's Park (officially The Regent's Park [61]) is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the northern part of central London partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden. Virtual tour with photos and map [62] .

By plane

Image:London airport links summary.svg

London (all airports code: LON) is served by a total of six airports. 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. However, if transiting through London be sure to check the arrival and departure airports carefully as transfers across the city may be quite time consuming. In addition to London's six 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).

For transfers directly between London's airports, the fastest way (short of a taxi) is the direct inter-airport bus service by National Express [5]. Buses between Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton run at least hourly, with Heathrow-Gatwick services taking 65min (£18) and Heathrow-Stansted services 90min (£20.50) (note that services between Stansted and Luton run only every two hours). However, it's essential to allow leeway, as London's expressways, especially the orbital M25 and the M1 motorway, are often congested to the point of gridlock. Buses have toilets on board.

London Heathrow

Main article: Heathrow Airport

Heathrow (ICAO: EGLL, IATA: LHR) [6] is London and Europe's largest airport and the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services from most available major airports world-wide. There are five terminals, with a fifth one opened in March 2008. Flights landing at Heathrow are often delayed by up to an hour as a simple result of air traffic congestion and waiting for parking slots. A quick summary of transport options (also see Heathrow Airport [7]):

• Fastest: by Heathrow Express rail, ☎ 0845 600 1515, [8]. Every 15 minutes, journey time 15 minutes. To London Paddington. Travelcard not valid. One way £15.50, return trip £29.  edit

• Second fastest: by Heathrow Connect rail, ☎ 0845 678 6975, [9]. Follows same route as Heathrow Express but stops at several intermediate stations to London Paddington so journey is 25 minutes and trains less frequent. One way £6.90, round trip £12.90.  edit

• Cheapest: by London Underground (Piccadilly line), ☎ 0845 330 9880, [10]. Every few minutes, journey time approximately 1 hour. For the cheapest fare ask for an Oyster card (£3 refundable deposit). Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid. With Oyster one way £3.50-£4.80.  edit

• Taxi. A taxi from Heathrow to central London will cost £45-60. You may wish to consider taking a taxi if you have a lot of baggage or small children. Alternatively catch public transport into the city centre and then catch a taxi. There are two types of taxis: Black cabs (usually slightly more expensive - can be hailed on a street) or licensed mini cabs (cheaper - must be booked over the phone or on the web). There are over 1000 minicab companies in London.  edit

• Also: to South London, ☎ 0845 748 4950, [11]. Bus 285 (or taxi) to Feltham railway station (20 minutes) then a train to London Waterloo on the South Bank or Clapham Junction in South West London. Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid. £2 single.  edit

London Gatwick

(IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) [12] London's second airport, also serving a large spectrum of places world-wide. To get to the centre of the city, the following options exist:

• By rail: Southern Railway, ☎ 0845 127 2920, [13]. Every 15 minutes, journey time 35-40 minutes. To London Victoria via Clapham Junction. Much cheaper than Gatwick Express - about £10.  edit

• By rail: First Capital Connect, ☎ 0871 200 2233, [14]. To London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Luton Airport and further north. Much cheaper than Gatwick Express - about £10.  edit

• By rail: Gatwick Express, ☎ 0845 850 1530, [15]. Every 15 minutes, journey time 30-35 minutes. To London Victoria. Travelcard not valid. One way £16.90, round trip £28.80, for the cheapest fare visit their website.  edit

• By car. 29 miles (47 km).  edit

• By cycle, [16]. There is a long-distance cycle path into Central London, but as it involves going through the North Downs and South London and over, it will likely be quite a ride. For adventurous people.  edit

When departing, note that after passing through security you will find no drinking fountains in the South Terminal departure lounge.

London Stansted

Sleeping at Stansted Airport A large number of budget flights depart from Stansted as early as 6AM (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 5:30AM. 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 10PM, 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 pitching 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 overlook 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 4AM to open shutters. At least one cafe is open all night, offering snacks and hot drinks. Toilets remain open and are normally in good condition. When you come to depart, there is a drinking fountain after you pass through security, near the entrance to the departure hall, next to the Airline Information office.

(ICAO: EGSS, IATA: STN)[17] Currently London's third airport, the base for a large number of budget carriers (for example EasyJet [18] and RyanAir [19]) and flights within Europe and a few inter-continental flights. There are several commercial wi-fi hotspots covering most of the airport, but they charge extortionate rates. A free wi-fi hotspot is located in the arrivals gate area, next to the phone booths offering fixed internet. Transport options into central London:

• By rail: Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street, ☎ 0845 600 7245, [20]. Every 15 minutes, journey time 45-60 minutes. One way £15, round trip £24. Travelcard not valid.  edit

• By rail then London Underground: Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then London Underground (Victoria line), ☎ 0845 600 7245, [21]. Every 15 minutes. If you are going to South London, the West End or West London then take Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then the London Underground (Victoria line). At Tottenham Hale ask for an Oyster card  edit

• By coach: National Express, ☎ 0870 580 8080, [22]. Every 15-30 minutes. Journey time to Stratford: 1 hour. To Victoria: 90 minutes. To Stratford (tube: Stratford) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). Folding bicycles only. To Stratford: £8 one way, £14 round trip. To Victoria: £10, £16. Travelcard not valid.  edit

• By coach: Terravision, ☎ +44 (0)1279 68 0028, [23]. Hourly, journey time 75 minutes. To Bishopsgate (tube: Liverpool Street) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). To Bishopgate: £6.70 one way, £11.80 round trip. To Victoria: £8, £14. Travelcard not valid.  edit

• By minibus: EasyBus, [24]. To Baker Street (tube: Baker Street). From £2 (advance web purchase) to £8 one way. Travelcard not valid..  edit

• By taxi. Journey time 90-120 minutes. Not the most efficient option. The airport is actually quite a long way from London. It's normally a better idea to take a train to London Liverpool Street and continue by taxi from there. approximately £70.  edit

London Luton

(ICAO: EGGW, IATA: LTN)[25] Has traditionally been a holiday charter airport, but is now also served by some budget scheduled carriers. As per Stansted, and for the same reasons, many choose to spend the night here before flying, although "First Capital Connect" trains run 24 hours. To get to central London the following options exist:

• By rail, [26]. Journey time: 30-60 minutes. The rail station is not actually in the airport, but the there is a shuttle bus from the airport to Luton Airport Parkway station which runs every few minutes and takes five minutes. It costs £1 single, or £2 return, if you are buying a rail ticket, Otherwise it costs £1.5 single or £3 return. From there, Thameslink trains run by First Capital Connect run four or more times an hour to London St Pancras International. £11 one way. Travelcard not valid..  edit

• By coach: Green Line number 757, ☎ 0844 801 7261, [27]. Every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes.. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Brent Cross, Finchley Road tube station, Baker Street, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner. Travelcard not valid.  edit

• By coach: National Express, ☎ 0870 580 8080, [28]. Every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes.. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Golders Green and Marble Arch. From £1 (advance web purchase) one way. Travelcard not valid.  edit

• By minibus: EasyBus number EB2, [29]. To Baker Street (tube: Baker Street) via Hastingwood Motorway Services and South Woodford. They now run from the city centre (Victoria), but terminate in Baker St on the way back from the airport. From £1 (advance web purchase) to £8 one way.  edit

• By car. 35 miles (60 km).  edit

London City Airport

(ICAO: EGLC, IATA: LCY)[30] A commuter airport close to the city's financial district, and specializing in short-haul business flights to other major European cities. To get to the city centre the following options exist:

• By Docklands Light Railway (DLR). See also: Get around. Travelcard valid.  edit

• By taxi. Journey time approximately 30 minutes. £20-35.  edit

• By car. 6 miles (10 km).  edit

• By bus, [31]. Take the 474 bus to Canning Town station and then the 115 or N15 into central London. See also: Get around. Travelcard valid.  edit

Other airports near London

• London Southend Airport, ☎ +44 (0) 1702 608100, [32]. (IATA: SEN, ICAO: EGMC) Currently undergoing redevelopment and is set to become London's sixth international airport once the new rail link is completed. At present it serves destinations in the British isles only.  edit

• Southampton Airport, ☎ +44 (0)870 040 0009, [33]. Every 30 minutes, journey time 1 hour. (IATA: SOU, ICAO: EGHI) is not officially a London airport, though accessible enough to conveniently serve the capital, especially South West London. A couple of budget carriers serving an increasing number of European destinations are based here. Direct trains connect Southampton airport to London Waterloo station. £30-35 round trip.  edit

• Birmingham International Airport, ☎ +44 (0)8707 335511, [34]. Every 30 minutes, journey time 75 minutes. (IATA: BHX, ICAO: EGBB) is another non-London airport worth considering as a less congested and hectic alternative to Heathrow, being just over an hour away from London. As a major airport serving the UK's second largest city, there is a good choice of long distance and European destinations. Direct trains connect Birmingham International to London Euston and Watford. From £10 (advance web purchase) one way. £35-100 round trip..  edit

By train

London has one international rail route (operated by Eurostar [35] 08705 186 186 ) from Paris (2h15) and Brussels (1h50) diving under the sea for 22 high speed miles (35km) via the Channel Tunnel to come out in England. It terminates at St Pancras International. There are no less than 12 main line National Rail [36] 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 08457 48 49 50). With the exception of Fenchurch Street (nearest 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 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.

• London Euston, serves the Midlands, north-west England and west Scotland: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Oxenholme Lake District, Carlisle, Glasgow, and Holyhead for connecting ferries to/from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Sleeper trains to Scotland leave from Euston.

• St Pancras International, serves Paris, Brussels, Luton Airport and the East Midlands: Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.

• London King's Cross, serves East Anglia, north-east England and east Scotland: Cambridge, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter books is marked with a special sign, although platform 9 itself is actually in the fairly unpleasant metallic extension used by Cambridge trains.

• 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 Luton 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 and Ramsgate. Also the downtown terminus of the Gatwick Airport Express.

In South London many areas only have National Rail services (no London Underground services but there are buses). London Bridge, Victoria, Cannon Street and Charing Cross serve the South East. London Waterloo serves the South West. First Capital Connect (frequently referred to as 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

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 St James's close to London Victoria rail station. All services operated by National Express or Eurolines (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:

• National Express, ☎ 0870 580 8080, [37]. is by far the largest domestic coach operator and operates services to / from London from throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Advance ticketing is usually required and recommended practice in any case  edit

• Eurolines, ☎ +44 08705 143219, [38]. is an associate company of National Express, and runs coach services to / from London with various cities in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe. Advance ticketing is required.  edit

• Megabus, ☎ 0900 160 0900, [39]. operates budget coach services from/to London (Victoria Coach Station) to/from several major regional cities, it is even possible to get to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Fares are demand responsive but can be very cheap (£1.50 if you book far enough in advance).  edit

By car

There is also the option of a central London Park and Ride site located at Park Lane and Marble Arch, see National Park and Ride Directory [40].

The city has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite residents constant, and sometimes justified, grumbling about unreliability, public transport is often the best option for getting anywhere for visitors and residents alike and is far more reliable than locals would have you believe. Indeed, nearly a third of households do not feel the need to own a car. The city has recently been awarded as having the best public transport in the world.

Transport for London (TfL) [41] is a government organisation responsible for all public transport. Visit their website. It contains maps plus an excellent journey planner [42]. They also offer a 24-hour travel information line, charged at local rate: tel +44-20-72221234 (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 - but even this has a few limitations (see the guide below) and it is not yet universally accepted by many of the private rail operators.

The main travel options in summary are:

Central London

• By tube / underground
  11 colour-coded lines cover the central area and suburbs mostly north of the River Thames, run by TfL.

• By Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
  Only runs in the east of the city, 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
  Express rail services run to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports (tickets are generally sold at a premium), privately run and not part of the TfL network.

Suburban London

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

• By Overground
  3 orange-coloured lines circling the northern suburbs, part of TfL's network. The Underground's East London Line is now closed until 2010 when it will become part of London Overground.

• By National Rail
  A complex network of Suburban rail services, mostly running in the southern suburbs, privately run and not part of the TfL network.

Oyster Card

Oyster pay-as-you-go on National Rail Be careful - while Oyster pay-as-you-go is valid on London Underground, London buses and London Overground, pay-as-you-go is not valid on many National Rail trains - you have to use a Travelcard, buy separate paper tickets. Refer to the Oyster Pay-as-you-go on National Rail map [43] to help you, or ask at the station. Don't get caught out, staff are generally unsympathetic! However, if you are only using the tube, bus and tram, Oyster pay-as-you-go makes a lot of sense.

Oyster [44] is a contactless electronic smartcard run by Transport for London. You can get an Oyster Card from any Tube station for a deposit of £3. You can "charge up" an Oyster card with electronic funds. This cash is then deducted according to where you travel. The cost of a single trip using the Oyster card is less than buying a single paper ticket with cash. Prices vary depending on distance 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 fully refundable if you hand it in at the end of the trip. However, there is no expiry date on the Oyster Card or any pay-as-you-go credit on the card. If you have any pay-as-you-go credit left this will also be refunded. Be prepared to give your signature on receipts or even show ID for refunds over a few pounds.

Pay-as-you-go (PrePay)

You can charge 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. This money is then deducted from your card each time you get on a service. The fare is calculated based on your start and end points. Pay-as-you-go is much cheaper than paying in cash for each journey. For instance, a cash tube one way in Zone 1 is £4, while with an Oyster Card it costs £1.50. Furthermore, a cash bus fare is £2 while with Oyster it is £0.90.

The amount of PrePay deducted from your Oyster card in one day is capped at the cost of the appropriate paper day ticket (day Travelcard) for the zones you have travelled through, less 50 pence. For zone 1-2 (central London including everywhere inside the Circle line and some places outside) this is £4.80 (£6.30 M-F before 9:30AM).

On the tube, be sure to touch in and touch out again at the end of your journey. If you forget to touch your Oyster card at the start and finish you will be charged extra! Oyster also saves time getting onto buses. In the central area, tickets have to be bought at a machine by the bus stop if you don't have an Oyster and outside the zone from the driver.

Travelcard season tickets

Weekly, monthly and longer-period Travelcard season tickets can be purchased at all tube station ticket offices. 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 PrePay (see above) to make up the difference. Note that they can not be used on any Airport Express trains (Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express). However, a Zone 1-6 Travelcard can be used on the London Underground (Piccadilly line) to/from Heathrow Airport.

Tips

• 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.
• For the tube, be sure to touch the card on the yellow disc both when you enter the tube AND when you exit at your final destination; otherwise you will be charged £4.
• Theoretically you don't need to remove your Oystercard 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.
• Be careful standing near the readers on some bendy 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 Oystercard in your wallet try not to sit on it as sometimes they will crack and stop working.

Validity

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 of the limitations if you travel on National Rail or on Airport Express trains.

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

• Travelcards are only valid within the zones you buy.
• Piccadilly line to Heathrow is a London Underground train, so PrePay and Travelcards are valid.
• Airport Express trains are Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Express, and Thameslink to Luton

By foot

London is a surprising compact city, making it a walker's delight and often being the quickest method of transport. London walking directions can be planned online with the walkit.com walking route planner [45].

By tube / underground

Tube etiquette Beware of pickpockets. As of May 2008 drinking alcohol anywhere on the underground is illegal, When using the escalators always stand on the right to allow people in a hurry to pass. If you are standing on the left people will occasionally shove you out the way. Move down the platform when waiting for a train. Try not to crowd the entrances to the platform. If a train is badly overcrowded, to see when the next is due look at the information display. If it's only a couple of minutes you would be as well to wait, it could be less crowded. Allow passengers to get off the train before boarding yourself. While passengers are trying to get off do not stand in front of the doors. Stand either to the right or to the left of the train doors, and allow passengers to disembark before attempting to get on. Adhering to this train etiquette will make life easier. Have your Oyster card ready for the top of the escalators so not to obstruct barriers. Move clear of the foot of escalators, ticket halls and station entrances. 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.

The London Underground [46] - also known popularly as The Tube - has trains that criss-cross London in the largest underground rail network anywhere 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 [47] are freely available from any station, most tourist offices and are prominently displayed throughout stations and, for some obscure reason, 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. To plan your trip on The Tube work out first which station is closest to your starting point and which closest to your destination. You are able to change freely between lines at interchange stations (providing you stay within the zones shown on your ticket). Use the Tube Map to determine which line(s) you will take. 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 and announced it is easy to work out when to get off your train. Visitors should be aware, however, that the Tube map is actually 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. 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 Charing Cross and Embankment stations. The Tube map also gives no information on London's extensive overground bus network and its orbital rail network.

Trains run from around 5:30AM to about 1AM. This mode of transport is usually the fastest way to get from one part of London to the another, the only problem being the relative expense, and the fact that it can get extremely crowded during rush hours (7:30AM-9:30AM and 4:30PM-7PM). On warm days take a bottle of water with you.

An integrated map of London's Tube, Train and Bus Map can be purchased online at mapvendor.com [48] or alternatively you can view the map online [49].

By bus

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 9 and 15 daily between about 9:30AM and 6:30PM, every 15 minutes. Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for short (less than a couple of stops on the Tube) trips, and out of central London you're likely to be closer to a bus stop than a tube station. Many of the most popular buses tend to be of the articulated double-length variety, known as bendy buses. Routes served by these buses always carry a yellow route sign as detailed below. Care should be taken as it is possible for those unfamiliar with them to get on then have no way of paying. This could be related to the relative ease of hopping on and off without paying (doors open along the length of the bus and there is no on-board conductor). This is, however, illegal and can be very risky - large teams of inspectors frequently descend on these buses accompanied by police, and it's possible to be arrested and prosecuted.

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. Yellow signs indicate you must purchase your ticket before you board. You must either have a Pay-as-you-go Oyster card, travelcard season ticket, bus saver ticket, bus pass, or have bought a one way ticket from a machine at the bus stop. These machines don't provide change (all the more reason to use one of the other options). Under 14s travel free without identification, 14-16s travel free on production of a Child Oyster photocard.

Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side and rear.

The difficulty with buses over the tube is knowing when to get off; while tube stations are clearly marked it is sometimes more difficult to work out where to get off a bus. All bus stops have their location and the direction of travel on them, although by the time you've seen this it can be too late. Bus drivers are usually too busy to be able to tell you. Your best bet is to ask fellow passengers or trace your route on a map. However, some buses including the 414 which runs from Maida Vale, the Chippenham to Putney Bridge have screens which display the next scheduled stop including a pre-recorded announcement.

[50].

Unlike The Tube one way tickets do not allow you to transfer to different buses.

Night bus

Standard bus services run from around 6AM to 12:30AM. Around midnight the network changes to the night bus network, a reliable and often interesting way to get home. Bus numbers, routes and timetable change with most radiating from the Trafalgar Square area to most outlying parts of Greater London. Night buses are identified by an 'N' at the start of the route number, for example the N73 runs between Victoria and Walthamstow Central. Be careful though, not all night buses are prefixed with an "N", some are a 24 hour service, such as the 214 from Liverpool Street-Highgate Hill. Fares are the same as for regular services.

By DLR

Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a dedicated light rail network operating in East London, connecting with the tube network at Bank, Tower Gateway 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. 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.

By train

The British railway system is known as National Rail. London's suburban rail services are operated by a large number of independent private companies and mostly run in the south of the city, away from the main tourist sights. Only one line (Thameslink) runs through the city centre. There is no one central station - instead, there are many mainline stations dotted around the edge of the city, and most are connected by the Circle line. Most visitors will not need to use National Rail services except for a few specific destinations such as Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, Greenwich or the airports.

Airport Express Rail services run to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports - tickets are generally sold at a premium. Visitors should take care as Oystercards are generally not accepted.

By Overground

In common parlance, Londoners may refer to travelling by "overground", meaning going by National Rail (as opposed to going by Underground). However, only one service is officially called this - London Overground is a Transport for London rail service. It is operated and promoted just like the Underground, with the Tube logo on stations and full acceptance of Oystercards. London Overground appears on the Tube map as an orange line, and services run across North London suburbs from east to west. Overground services can be a useful shortcut for crossing the city, bypassing the centre, for example from Kew Gardens to Camden.

By tram (Tramlink)

Tramlink, opened in 2000, is the first modern tram system to operate in London. South London is poorly served by the Tube and lacks east-west National Rail services so the network connects Wimbledon in South West London to Beckenham in South East London and New Addington, a large housing estate in South Croydon. The network is centred on Croydon, where it runs on street-level tracks around the Croydon Loop.

Route 3 (Wimbledon to New Addington - green on the Tramlink map) is the most frequent service, running every 7 1/2 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 15 minutes at all other times. Beckenham is served by Routes 1 and 2 (yellow and red on the Tramlink map), which terminate at Elmers End and Beckenham Junction respectively. Both services travel around the Loop via West Croydon and run every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes at all other times. Between Arena and Sandilands, these two services serve the same stops.

By cycle

Due to the expense of other forms of transport and the compactness of central London, cycling is a tempting option. Excellent free cycle maps [51] can be obtained from your local tube stations, bike shop, or ordered online.

Despite recent improvements, London remains a relatively hostile environment for cyclists. London motorists seem reluctant to acknowledge the existence of cyclists, especially at busy junctions. The kind of contiguous cycle lane network found in many other European cities does not exist. The safest option is to stick to minor residential roads where traffic can be surprisingly calm outside rush hours. The towpaths in North London along the Grand Union Canal and Regent's Can