GETTING AROUND - London - page 335

Night - buses (prefixed with the letter “N”), operating outside this period, depart at twenty-
to thirty-minute intervals, more frequently on some routes and on Friday and Saturday
nights.
SUBURBAN TRAIN LINES
To reach some of London's far-flung sights, you may need to use the suburban train net-
work, sections of which are now run by TFL and known as the London Overground. For
enquiries, call 0845 748 4950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk . In East London, the
Docklands Light Railway (DLR) runs driverless trains to Docklands, Greenwich and bey-
ond. Oyster and Travelcards are valid on all suburban, Overground and DLR trains.
CYCLING
Cycling is increasingly popular in London because - in the centre at least - it's the fastest
way to get around. Only folding bikes can be taken on public transport, although conven-
tional bikes can go on certain tube and railway lines at off-peak times - check
www.tfl.gov.uk for details. Cycle Hire is London's public bicycle sharing scheme, perfect
for short journeys, with over 700 docking stations. It's £2 for access, after which the first
30 minutes are free, the first hour's £1, increasing rapidly after that to £15 for three hours.
Bikes can be rented from the London Bicycle Tour Company, 1a Gabriel Wharf on the
South Bank ( 020 7923 6838, www.londonbicycle.com ) , costing around £20 a day or
£50 a week.
TAXIS
Compared to most capital cities, London's metered black cabs are an expensive option un-
less there are three or more of you. The minimum fare is £2.40, 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, it's higher still. Tip-
ping is customary. An illuminated yellow light 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
generally reactionary opinions. To order a black cab in advance, 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 carry a private hire sticker and all
drivers should have photo ID. There are hundreds of minicab firms, 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 book a cab from Lady Mini Cabs ( 020 7272 3300), or a gay/lesbian-
friendly driver, in which case call London Cabs ( 020 7205 2677). Avoid illegal taxi touts,