Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KIDS'
travel
DISCOUNTS
As long as they're accompanied by an
adult, children under 10 travel free on
just about everything public, including
Tube, Overground, DLR, bus, and regular
rail services. Children in this age bracket
who look older than 10 should carry
photo ID. Children aged 11 to 15 carrying
an
11-15 Zip Oyster photocard
travel
free on buses and trams, and pay child
fare on Tube, Overground, DLR, and reg-
ular rail services—up to a maximum of
£1.30 for unlimited off-peak journeys in
one day. To obtain a Zip Oyster photo-
card, apply online at
www.tfl.gov.uk/
zip
. There's an administration fee of £10,
and you'll need to upload a photo. Post-
age is free to U.K. addresses, and over-
seas visitors can arrange to collect their
card at any Travel Information Centre.
It's a similar drill for anyone aged 16 to
18. The
16+ Zip Oyster photocard
gets
you single tickets at half the adult price
on bus, Tube, tram, and Overground ser-
vices, as well as child-fare Travelcards.
4
THE OVERGROUND & OTHER RAIL SERVICES
The remarkable improve-
ments in London's surface rail network have been the big transport story of recent
years. Especially useful for visitors to south and east London is the
London
Over-
ground
(marked in orange on most transport maps). The Overground connects Kew
in southwest London with Highbury in North London, Stratford in East London
adjacent to the Olympic Park, as well as Whitechapel and Wapping in the East End,
and then points south of the river as far as Croydon. The new, air-conditioned car-
riages and upgraded track ensure an efficient, comfortable ride. Oyster Cards are
valid on Overground services. See
www.tfl.gov.uk/overground
for more. Oyster
Cards are also valid on the remainder of London's surface rail network—encompass-
ing a vast web of commuter and local services.
TRAVELCARDS
For the
1-Day Off-Peak Travelcard,
valid for travel anywhere
within zones 1 and 2 after 9:30am, the cost is £6.60 for adults or £3 for children aged
5 to 15.
One-Week Travelcards
cost adults £27.60 for travel in zones 1 and 2. For
more Travelcard prices, visit
www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets
.
By Taxi
London “black cab” taxi drivers must pass a series of tests known as “the Knowledge,”
and cabbies generally know every London street within 6 miles of Charing Cross. You
can pick up a taxi either by heading for a cab rank—stations, marquees of West End
hotels and department stores, and major attractions all have them—or by hailing one
in the street. The taxi is available if the yellow taxi sign on its roof is lit.
Black-taxi meters start at £2.20, with increments of £2 or more per mile thereafter,
based on distance and elapsed time. Surcharges are imposed after 8pm and on week-
ends and public holidays. Expect a mile-long journey to average around £6 to £8, a
2-mile journey around £8 to £12, and so on. There's no need to tip, although you may
like to round the fare upward if you receive friendly service. To book a black cab,
phone
One-Number Taxi
on
&
0871/871-8710.
There's a £2 booking fee.
Minicabs
are also plentiful, and are useful when regular taxis are scarce, as is
often the case in the suburbs or late at night. These cabs are usually meterless, so do
discuss the fare in advance. If you text CAB to
&
60835,
TfL's Cabwise service will
text you back with the telephone number of the nearest two licensed minicab offices.
