Transport in LondonThe easiest way to discover everything that London has to offer |
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London is served by three major international airports, Heathrow which is one of the busiest in the world, Gatwick and Stansted, and two smaller airports, Luton and London City. If you look on any map of the UK, you will notice that London is the destination of most major motorways, coach routes, train lines (local, national and international) and is in fact by far the most important transport hub in the country. London does not have just one main train station, but several throughout the centre of the city, strategically situated to serve different parts of the country. The main ones being; Paddington (west England and south Wales), Euston (Midlands, north Wales, northwest England), King's Cross (northeast England and Scotland), St. Pancras (south Yorkshire and nearby), Charing Cross (southeast England), Liverpool Street (East Anglia, Cambridge and Norwich), Waterloo (Eurostar Paris/Brussels), Victoria (southern England and the south coast). All these stations are well connected to each other, as well as the rest of London by the underground transport network (metro), which is more familiarly known as the Tube. If you are arriving in London by train or coach, you will most likely arrive automatically and directly in the centre. If by train, at one of the above mentioned train stations, or if by coach, you will more than likely arrive at London Victoria Coach Station, right in the heart of London. How to get to central London from the airports Heathrow There are several options for getting to Central London from Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Express is a rail service that takes just 15 minutes to get to Paddington train station. It is quick and comfortable, but is also expensive considering the mileage and time you are actually on the service. However, it is probably the most practical way, especially if you do not wish to waste much of your time on public transport. Another option is the tube (Piccadilly Line), which is frequent and goes right through the heart of London, but it can get uncomfortably crowded especially during rush hour, and may also be a little confusing if you are new to London. There are several coach services (Airbus, National Express, etc) which are quite a bit cheaper, but also much slower - fine for those rare travellers who have a lot of time on their hands. Another option is to take a taxi. But be warned, this can be very expensive, especially if you are travelling on your own and do not forget that traffic is congested in and around London. With all this in view, it does seem that (although at a cost), the Heathrow Express should be the most trouble free option, probably followed by the tube. Gatwick Again there are several options to choose from to get to and from Gatwick. Like for Heathrow, the best option is most likely by train. Several companies offer their services on this route and trains are frequent and not too expensive. They normally terminate either at London Bridge or Victoria, were you can easily continue your journey by tube, taxi or even bus. A reasonably cheap coach service is available, but very time consuming, and if you are on an all expenses paid business trip you could take a taxi, which word probably burn a hole in your pocket if it was your own money. Stansted Stansted is reasonably well connected to the centre of London via a train service which arrives at Liverpool St. Station in the City (financial area) of London (East Central). However, when arriving/departing on Sunday be careful to check that the service is running, as often there is a replacement bus service due to essential maintenance work being carried out. If this is the case, it is wise to give yourself much more time. There is also a coach service and of course there are taxi ranks, though travelling by taxing is expensive, especially if you are on your own. Luton Thameslink provides a regular train service to and from Luton Airport which takes customers directly to London Kings Cross Thameslink Station and London Bridge Station, both of which are in the centre of the city. From here, if necessary you can travel further by tube, taxi or bus. Luton Airport also has coaches to Central London and taxi ranks can of course be found in the airport's courtyard. London City Airport Although London City Airport is by far the closes airport to the city centre (10 miles (16km) from the West End, 6 miles (10km) from the City of London and 3 miles (5km) from Canary Wharf), there is not yet a direct rail service into the centre. However, there is a shuttle bus service to and from Liverpool Street, Canning Town and Canary Wharf - from here you can easily take the tube to reach the centre. Taxis are of course also a possibility. Travelling within London The city consists of areas known as boroughs with such names as Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Kensington and Chelsea, etc. To have a vague idea of where somewhere is, it is useful to know what the postcode (zip code) is. Please note the following abbreviations: W - West, WC - West Central (Predominantly the
West End) London is a large, sprawling city and it can take more than an hour to travel from one side of the city to the other, even via train or tube. Normally, these are the best ways to travel within the city, but we also recommend that if you are in Central London, you should try to walk as many of the sights are grouped nearby and concentrated in the centre and within Zone 1. Travelcards London's transport network is vast, allowing people to reach almost any destination within London, and at times beyond. To simplify pricing, etc, the city is divided into zones, zone 1 being Central London, Zone 6 the outskirts and suburbs, and zones 2 - 5 are the areas in between. It is possible to buy travelcards for various combinations of these zones and for different time periods (for example, 1 day (peak and off-peak), weekend, weekly, monthly and annual travelcards - for the longer periods you will also need a photocard). Usually, buying a travelcard can save you a reasonable amount of money, as for example a single trip within zone 1 on the tube is £2.00 and only valid for 1 trip, whereas a daily off-peak travelcard for both zones 1 and 2 is £4.20 (2004). For more up to date and detailed information ask at the station or visit the Transport For London website (see below). Car If you are visiting London, it is highly recommended that you do not use a car to reach the centre. Not only is it costly, due to the £5.00 congestion charge and to the extortionate parking costs, but it is much easy and often quicker to travel via public transport. Although the congestion charge has eased London's terrible traffic problem, it still is not a pleasant place to drive, especially if you don not know the area - sign posts are often very insufficient or confusing. N.B.: Do not forget to drive on the left-hand side! Tube The London Underground or tube is by far the easiest way to get around the city as a whole. Although, for shorter journeys you should consider the bus, as you could also do some sightseeing at the same time. The first trains on the tube start running at approximately 5.30am (Monday to Saturday) and 7.00am (Sundays). The last trains are at approximately midnight (Monday to Saturday) and 11.30pm (Sundays). But this does depend on where you are and where you wish to go. The tube is best avoided during rush hour, as things tend to become messy and trains are packed to breaking point (ca. 8.00am - 9.30am and 5.00pm - 7.00pm). Like any metro/underground system, the network will seem confusing to any newcomer. However, the map has been well designed and a portable version should be available from any station. Tickets for the underground can be bought from the ticket offices or machines at any underground station, as well as travel information centres and many newsagents. Bus Buses are a quick, cheap and convenient way to travel around London, providing plenty of sightseeing opportunities en route. London has several types of buses; single decker, double deckers and a few 'bendy' buses. The city also has over 17,000 bus stops with routes that pass from one side of the city to the other. Currently the buses run a flat rate pricing system. £0.70 for any destination (valid for one bus trip only and not transferable) excluding Zone 1, and £1.00 for destinations including Zone 1, whether you journey starts there, passes through or ends there. You can use certain travelcards for buses too, otherwise it is possible to buy tickets from the conductor (usually on the older type buses) or the driver. A new scheme has been recently introduced, and for many bus routes in the centre you have to buy the ticket before boarding, which should be available from a machine at the bus stop. It is also important to check what type of bus stop you are at. If the bus stop states 'request stop', you must indicate to the bus driver that you want it to stop by holding out your arm as you see the bus approaching. Buses should automatically stop at all other stops. When travelling on a London bus, you must ring the bell once to indicate that you want to get off at the next bus stop. Finally, several services run until after midnight and often re-start early in the morning. Night Bus As already mentioned above, the tube ceases it service at around midnight. After this time, Londoners and visitors will have to travel by taxi, etc. However, there is a very good and efficient network of night buses which can take you all over the city and in some cases even beyond. Night buses usually have the prefix N in front of the route number. Often, but not always, it will follow the exact route as the day bus with the same route number. But you should check first, either by looking at the route plan which is usually at the bus stop or ask the bus driver. Most night buses in Central London travel through Trafalgar Square and this is the main area to take a night bus, some routes may go along Oxford Street or Piccadilly Circus instead. Most travelcards are also valid on night buses, and you should note that fares are slightly higher than on the daytime routes, though they are still at a flat rate. Transport For London provides an excellent website on the complete public transport network in London and we recommend that, unless you plan to take expensive taxis all the time, you should have a look at their detailed website (see below for link). Dockland's Light Railway The Dockland's Light Railway provides transport for commuters, visitors and Londoners in the East of London. The network is mainly concentrated on the Isle Of Dogs and serves a regular and efficient mode of transport from the City of London, across the Thames to the South East (Beckton), passing through one of London's major financial areas (Canary Wharf) and beautiful Greenwich on another route. Tickets should be bought from the machines at the station before boarding and most travelcards are valid, depending on the zone. Trams Unfortunately, the economic and environmentally friendly tram can no longer be found in Central London. However, new and re-instated routes can now be found south of the river, which for some reason severely lacks the tube network that the area north of the river has. A regular service (Tramlink) now runs to and from Croydon, Wimbledon, Elmers End, Beckenham and New Addington. Boat There are several public and commuter services running on the River Thames, such as Westminster - Hampton Court, Central London - Canary Wharf, Westminster - Greenwich, etc, some of which only run during the summer months. Tickets should normally be purchased from the ticket office at the pier before you embark. However, on some routes, it is also possible to purchase tickets once on board. We advise that you have enough change to pay the exact fare. See the Transport For London website below for more information. Taxis Taxis are expensive in London. Saying that, they can also be one of the most convenient ways to travel. We recommend that you only travel with licensed taxis, which are usually noticeable in Central London as the famous Black Cabs. They can be hailed down on the street (if the yellow light on the roof is lit, it means that they are free), or found at designated ranks throughout the city. However, please be warned that there has been a sharp increase of illegal minicabs. Usually late at night, they can be found 'touting' for business on the streets, especially outside clubs and bars. These should never be taken as often the person will have no car insurance and at times not even a driving licence!! And apart from that, it is also highly dangerous. Useful contact details Heathrow Airport (LHR/15 miles). Tel: 0870 000
01 23. Transport For London: National Express: http://www.gobycoach.com.Tel:
0870 580 80 80. How to get to London > Home
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