Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
London's transport system has vastly improved over the past decade. The congestion charge
has reduced traffic by thirty percent within central London, and much of the money has been
ploughed into improving the buses. That said, London still has one of the most expensive
transport systems in the world.
Transport for London
(TfL) provides excellent free maps and information on bus and tube
services from its six
Travel Information Centres
: the most central one is at Piccadilly Cir-
cus tube station (Mon-Fri 7.45am-7pm, Sat 9.15am-7pm, Sun 9.15am-6pm), with other
desks at Heathrow arrivals (terminals 1, 2 and 3), Victoria, King's Cross and Liverpool Street
train stations. There's also a
24-hour helpline
and an excellent website ( 0843 222 1234,
For transport purposes, London is divided into six concentric
zones
(plus a few extra in the
northwest), with fares calculated depending on which zones you travel through: the majority
of the city's accommodation and sights lie in zones 1 and 2. If you cannot produce a valid
ticket for your journey, or travel further than your ticket allows, you will be liable to a
Pen-
alty Fare
of £80, reduced to £40 if you pay within 21 days. Try and avoid travelling during
the
rush hour
(Mon-Fri 8-9.30am and 5-7pm) if possible, when tubes can become unbear-
ably crowded and hot, and some buses get so full they literally won't let you on.
OYSTER CARDS AND TICKETS
The cheapest, easiest way to get about London is to use an
Oyster card
, London's transport
smartcard, available from all tube stations and TfL Travel Information Centres, and valid on
the bus, tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Tramlink, Overground and almost all sub-
urban rail services. The simplest way to use an Oyster card is as a pay-as-you-go card - you
can top-up your card with credit at all tube stations and most newsagents. As you enter the
tube or bus, simply touch in your card at the card reader and the fare will be taken off. If
you're using the tube or train, you need to touch out again or up to £8.60 will be deducted.
Oyster operates daily price-capping at £8.40 for peak travel times and £7 at off-peak times
