Useful Information
Getting Around
By Underground
The "Tube" is quick, clean, safe, extensive, and the oldest in the world!
This is one of the most effective ways of getting around. As long as you are not colour blind and you know north, south, east and west, you should be able to figure out the Tube. The Tube map is stylised and uses coloured lines. The small marks on the lines represent stops, the circles represent stops where you can change to an alternative line.
To find out which direction you want to go you simply use a general compass bearing (for example, 'Piccadilly Line Westbound').
Buying a ticket
In the Underground are ticket machines and also ticket booths, you can use credit cards and notes in many of the machines, but it is best to have change available.
The Zones
London has been divided into concentric rings – Zone 1 is Central London, Zone 6 is Heathrow Airport. Generally, all the major tourist attractions that you are likely to want to visit are in Zone 1.
The Tickets
You can buy simple single and return tickets, travelcards or the new electronic "Oyster" travelcards (see below).
A single ticket in Zone one costs £4.00
Travelcard: Probably the best value if you are doing a number of journeys throughout the day, allowing for unlimited travel on the tube, buses and trains. If you are staying in Central London you will need a zone 1 & 2 travelcard costing £5.10 after 9:30am and £6.60 before 9:30am
Oyster cards
If you are going to be in London for a number of days, I would recommend that you invest in an Oyster Card before you arrive in London. This will give you the very cheapest rates available — for example, you will pay £1.50 for a single journey rather than £4.00.
Tube etiquette
It is most important to know how to get around without upsetting the locals!
When you are on the escalator please stand on the right hand side: people wishing to walk down will be on the left hand side and get most upset if you are blocking their way!
When you reach the platform please walk along the platform, the trains get very crowded especially at rush hour and entrances tend to get congested. The emptiest part of the train is typically at the end carriages. Don’t worry - the trains reach all the way along the platforms
Link: Transport For London: Tourist Pages.
Walking
You will be amazed at how much walking you are likely to do in London. Many of the great sights of London are within walking distance and at times it is quicker to walk than to use other forms of transport.
However, one must be aware of a few rules that we have over here. The traffic has the right of way! As a consequence, please make sure that you always use the crossings and only walk when the “green man” is illuminated. The only place where you are guaranteed to have right of way is at one our zebra crossings. If you place one foot on a zebra crossing, all traffic must stop (but make sure you put a foot on it, otherwise traffic is likely to go streaming past!)