Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trains run about every 3-10 minutes. For a rough idea of how long it takes to get from
point A to point B by Tube, estimate five minutes per stop (which includes time to walk
into and out of stations, and to change trains). So a destination six stops away will take
you about 30 minutes.
Rush hours (8:00-10:00 and 16:00-19:00) can be packed and sweaty. If one train is
absolutely packed and another to the same destination is coming in three minutes, wait to
avoid the sardine routine. Bring something to do to make your waiting time productive. If
you get confused, ask for advice from a local, a blue-vested staff person, or at the inform-
ation window located before the turnstile entry.
At most stations, you can't leave the system without touching your Oyster card to
an electronic reader, or feeding your ticket or One-Day Travelcard into the turnstile. (If
you have a single-trip paper ticket, the turnstile will eat your now-expired ticket; if it's a
One-Day Travelcard, it will spit out your still-valid card.) Some stations, such as Hampton
Court, do not have a turnstile, so you'll have to locate a reader to “touch out” your Oyster
card. If you skip this step and leave the station, the system assumes you've ridden to the
most remote station, and the highest fare will be deducted from your card. When leaving
