Getting Around London
Use contactless or Oyster, combine Tube and buses, and walk the scenic bits. Open a card for quick tips.
Oyster & Contactless
Fastest, cheapest everyday way to pay fares.
- Use a contactless bank card/phone/watch or an Oyster card.
- Daily/weekly caps limit how much you’ll pay across journeys.
- On Tube/rail: tap in and tap out with the same card/device.
- On buses: tap in only (no tap out).
- Keep one card/device per person; don’t mix mid-journey.
Tube Essentials
Quickest for medium/long hops across zones.
- Stand on the right on escalators; let people off before you board.
- Avoid peak crowds if you can (weekday early mornings and late afternoons).
- Interchanges can be long—follow wayfinding signs and line colors.
- Keep your card ready; barriers need one clean tap in/out.
- Check last trains if returning late.
Buses
Great for short hops and sightseeing above ground.
- Tap in when boarding; you don’t tap out.
- Use the front door; move downstairs before your stop.
- Request stops: press the red button in time.
- Night buses cover many routes after the Tube closes.
- Sit upstairs front row for the best views.
Walking
Often the nicest way between nearby sights.
- Use crossings; look both ways—traffic drives on the left.
- Riverside paths (South Bank, along the Thames) are scenic and flat.
- Comfortable shoes; distances can be longer than they look on maps.
- Combine with Tube/bus to skip boring stretches.
- In busy areas, keep valuables secure.
River Bus
Thames boats link Greenwich, Tower, Westminster, and more.
- Pay with contactless/Oyster; separate fares from Tube/bus.
- Great views—use it as a mini river tour.
- Services run to key piers; check first/last sailings if late.
- Good link for Greenwich, Canary Wharf, and central sights.
- Queues on sunny weekends—arrive early.