London Underground Tube Map and Public Transport Information from online discounted hotels
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Click on the London Underground Tube Above Map for a Larger Resolution |
The Underground Trains (Tube) Except for very short journeys, the Underground or tube, as it’s known to Londoners is by far the quickest way to get about. Eleven different lines cross much of the metropolis, (although London south of the river is not particularly well covered). Each line has its own colour and name — all you need to know is which direction you’re travelling in: northbound, eastbound, southbound or westbound (this gets trickier when taking the Circle Line). As a precaution, it’s also worth checking the final destination displayed on the front of the train, as some lines, such as the District line, have several different branches.
Services operate from around 5am, Monday to Saturday, until 1230am, and from 730am on Sundays, until 1130pm, and you rarely have to wait more than five minutes for a train between central stations. Tickets must be bought in advance from automatic machines or from a ticket booth in the station entrance hall. Single fares are outrageously expensive — a journey in the central zone costs an unbelievable £2 — so if you’re intending to make more than one journey, a Travelcard (see below) is by far your best option, and if you’re staying in London for longer than a few days, then it’s probably worth investing in an Oyster card. That said, underground lines can frequently suffer from delays, escalators are sometimes out of action and, occasionally, there are station and line closures (typically at weekends and Bank Holidays due to engineering work this can be common). Crime is not a major problem on the tube, although you would be wise to avoid getting into an empty carriage on your own, but beware of pickpockets they can be a problem. Smoking is illegal anywhere on the underground system. |
Buses
London’s famous red double-decker buses www.tfl.gov.uk/buses are fun to ride on, but sadly often fail to run to their appointed timetables. In central London, and on all the extra-long “bendy buses”, you must buy your ticket before boarding from one of the bus-stop ticket machines (which don’t give out change); elsewhere, you can buy it from the driver. The standard walk-on fare is £1.20. If this is the type of journey you’ll) be making once or twice a day, then it might be worth buying a block of six Saver tickets for £3.90 for adults, £2.10 for kids. Another option is a One-Day Bus Pass, which costs £3 for adults and £1 for kids and can be used on all buses any time anywhere in London. Sadly, the old Routemaster double-deckers, with their open rear platforms and roving conductors, have virtually all been withdrawn, some replaced by giant bendy buses, others by newer double-deckers. lot of bus stops are request stops (easily recognizable by their red sign), so if you don’t stick your arm out to hail the bus you want, it will pass you by, and if you don’t ring the bell for the bus to stop, it will just keep on going. Some buses run a 24-hour service, but most run between about 5am and midnight, with a network of Night Buses (prefixed with the letter “N”) operating outside this period. Night-bus routes radiate out from Trafalgar Square at approximately twenty- to thirty- minute intervals, more frequently on some routes and on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are £1.20 from central London, and Travelcards (see below) are valid until 430am. All stops are treated as request stops, so you must signal to get the bus to stop, and press the bell in order to get off.
Suburban trains
Large areas of London’s suburbs, particularly in the southeast, are not served by the tube and are impractical to reach by bus. The only way to reach these parts of London is by the suburban train network (Travelcards valid), which fans out from the main city termini. Wherever a sight can only be reached by overground train, we’ve indicated the nearest train station and the central terminus from which trains depart. A couple of useful train lines that actually cross the capital are the North London Line run by Silverlink www.silverlink-trains.com , which connects Richmond and North Woolwich via Hampstead Heath, Camden, lslington and Stratford (Mon—Sat every 15 minutes, Sun every 30 minutes), and the Thameslink service , which runs north—south via King’s Cross, Blackfriars and London Bridge (Mon—Sat every 15 minutes, Sun every 30mins.
If you’re planning to use the railway network a lot, you might want to purchase a
Network Railcard, which is valid for year, costs £20, and gives you up to a third off fares to destinations in and around the southeast. For information on services, phone National Rail Enquiries on 0845I748 4950, or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk .
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway, or DLR www.tfI.gov.uk/dlr , runs driverless trains from Bank in the City, or from Tower Gateway (close to Tower Hill tube and the Tower of London) overground to the financial centre of Docklands, plus other areas in the East End and also below ground to Greenwich. Travelcards (see below) are valid, or you can get a variety of DLR-only day passes giving you unlimited travel on certain sections of the network. Tour guides give a free running commentary on DLR trains that set off on the hour from Tower Gateway (daily 10am to 3pm), as far as the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. |
Taxis
Compared to most capital cities, London’s metered black cabs are an expensive option unless there are three or more of you. The minimum fare is £2.20, and a ride from Euston to Victoria, for example, costs around £12—15 (Mon—Fri 6am—8pm). After 8pm on weekdays and all day during the weekend, a higher tariff applies, and after 10pm, a much higher one. The meter will show two amounts: one calculates distance and time, while the other is a small fixed charge — after these are totalled, add a tip it is customary. A yellow light over the windscreen tells you if the cab is available — just stick your arm out to hail it. London’s cabbies are the best-trained in Europe; every one of them knows the shortest route between any two points in the capital, and they won’t rip you off by taking another route. They are, however, a blunt and forthright breed, renowned for their opinions and chat. To order a black cab in advance, phone 0871/871 8710, and be prepared to pay an extra £2.
Minicabs
look just like regular cars and are considerably cheaper than black cabs, but they cannot be hailed from the street. All minicabs should be licensed and able to produce a Public Carriage Office licence on demand. There are hundreds of minicab firms in the phone book, but the best way to pick is to take the advice of the place you’re at, unless you want to be certain of a woman driver, in which case call Ladycabs (020/7254 3501). or a gay/lesbian-friendly driver, in which case call Freedom Cars (020/7734 1313). Avoid illegal taxi touts, who hang around outside venues alongside licensed cabs, and establish the fare beforehand as minicabs are not metered.
Last, and definitely least, there are usually plenty of bicycle taxis available for hire in the West End. The oldest and biggest of the bunch are Bugbugs (020/7620 0500, who have over fifty rickshaws operating Monday to Saturday from 7pm until the early hours of the morning. The rickshaws take up to three passengers and fares are negotiable, though they should work out at around £5 per person per mile
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 Journey Planner :
Journey Planner is a London Underground application, offering you the ability to plan a journey by Tube, Train, Bus, or on foot, or any combination of the above try it now.
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 Route planner :
Route planner Is slightly easier to use than the extremely powerful Journey Planner, but only offers journey planning by London Underground Trains only.
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Travelcards
To get the best value out of the public transport system, buy a Travelcard. Available from machines and booths at all tube and train stations (and at some newsagents as well — look for the sign), a Travelcard is valid for the bus, tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Tramlmnk and the suburban rail networks.
Day Travelcards come in two varieties: Off-Peak — which are valid after 930am on weekdays and all day during the weekend — and Peak. A Day Travelcard (Off-Peak) costs £4.70 for the central zones 1 and 2, rising to £6 for zones 1—6 (including Heathrow); the Day Travelcard (Peak) starts at £6 for zones 1 and 2. A 3-Day Travelcard costs £15 for zones 1 and 2, but is obviously only worth it if you need to travel during peak hours; Weekly Travelcards are much more economical, beginning at £18.50 for zone 1.
Children under 5 travel free on all forms of transport and under 1 6s travel free on all buses (under 18s in full-time education will, too, from September 2006), although those aged 14 or over will need to apply for an Oyster card to qualify. Off-Peak Day and Weekend Travelcards for children cost £2 and £3 respectively, however many zones you want. Children aged 14 and 15 must have a Child Rate Photocard to buy any child-rate ticket. However, a better option If you’re travelling with kids is to buy a Family Travelcard, which costs £3.10 for an adult (zones 1 & 2), rising to £4 (all Zones), plus an additional 80p for each child (up to as many as four) on weekdays only; on weekends, the children go free. Despite the name, the adults and children don’t have to be related, they just have to travel together, and the restrictions are the same as for Day Travelcards (Off-Peak).
There are further youth and student reductions available on weekly and monthly Travelcards and passes for 16- and 1 7-year-olds. and for students. Women over 60 and men over 65, who are London residents, can obtain a yearly Freedom Pass that allows free travel on all services within London; to find out more, contact your local council for more information Visit The Official London Underground web site
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