London Transportation Tips by irisbe

Lining up for a tube/bus or day

ticket

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: When arriving at London at Waterloo station I needed to get some tickets for the Tube or the Bus. You can as well take a day ticket if you plan to travel a couple of times.
Tickets can be purchased at an automat but the highest accepted coin is 2 GBP, which I didn't have as a new arriving tourist, I only had paper money!
So nothing else left but to wait your turn and buy it at the desk.
Don't worry; at the automats there was quite a line too!
I was lucky as Azer was getting my ticket while I was waiting next to my heavy suitcase.

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Phone: 020 7918 30 15
Website: www.tfl.gov.uk

The tube: Getting around by tube

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Written by irisbe

on Jun 29, 2004

subway, fast and easy

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: In the beginning it looks quite complicated, even with the free little leaflet you can find at the metro station in which you can find all information about the different lines.
The tubes are driving South or North so you can see if you go into the right direction.
When I was there I used the Bakerloo line, the Victoria line and the Northern line.
Some lines, like the Northern line might split up and meet a few times along their way, so you need to see what end station is at your travel. It is very well indicated at the signs in the tube station and on the front of the metro wagon.
Places where you can connect to another line are very well indicated at the map and an intercom will tell you what station you are arriving at and what connections you can take from there.
Inside each wagon there is also a map showing the stops and names of stations.
You get to find your way around in not much time.
Advantage of the subway is the fast way you travel to your destiny. In a bus you can get stuck into traffic although at some parts the bus have separate lanes.

for 24 hours travel info you can dial
020 7222 1234

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Phone: 020 7918 3015
Website: www.tfl.gov.uk

Trains: Waterloo Station

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Updated by irisbe

on Jul 2, 2004

Waterloo Station

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Arriving in Waterloo Station you can take connections with the bus or by tube.

Connections by Bus: look at the official bus schedule.
Connections by Tube: look at the official tube schedule.
Connections for the Eurostar: look at the Eurostar page.

Inside the hall there is a huge screen on which you can see arrival and departure times of trains.

Tip: in some stations (train or tube) you need to use your ticket to show or insert in the automatic doors to get out again, so pay attention you don't loose it!

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Website: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Trains: Eurostar

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Written by irisbe

on Jul 1, 2004

Eurostar: gateway to the Continent

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Waterloo station has 4 Eurostar platforms.
It connects UK with the continent by the Cannel Tunnel.
I agree it is funny that the Station is named after Waterloo, the place nearby Brussels where Napoleon got defeated.
Nowadays it gives way to France!

I booked my traintickets online, giving me the possibility to travel from any station within Belgium to Brussels midi to connect with the Eurostar.

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Website: http://www.eurostar.com/dctm/jsp/index.jsp

Trains: Eurostar: the booking the prices

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Written by irisbe

on Jul 1, 2004

First class treatment at Eurostar

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: When you book your tickets for Eurostar it is a good idea to book them in advance:

21 days advance:
1st class = 80 Euro
2nd class= 40 Euro

prices going up for 14 days booking in advance till a week...

Panoramic picture, click on it to enjoy the full size

When I booked my tickets I only had my onward journey for 40 Euro. If I wanted to go back in 2nd class I needed to purchase the 62,5 Euro ticket.
But if you go back around dinner time, maybe you just add 17,5 Euro for the 80 Euro 1st class ticket.

You get really a good service in return:

less crowded wagons;
free available magazines and newspapers;
an apperitive (champaign!)
an entry (yummie pieces of brie, cheese pie and vege pie) accompanied with a drink of your choice (wine in my case);
a choice between 2 menu's, I chose for the white fish, accompanied with another drink (another kind of wine);
coffee and a chocolate toffee
and a supplementary cup of coffee.

Overall the service and the meal was far better then the one I got on the Thalys train.

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Website: http://www.eurostar.com/dctm/jsp/index.jsp

Buses: Getting around by bus

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Written by irisbe

on Jul 1, 2004

Getting around by bus

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: If you can�t get there by tube or train, then you should take the bus.
Sometimes the bus get stuck in traffic and it takes longer to get you to the place you want to go. On some parts the bus can drive on its own lane, often shared with cycling lanes.
If there are different busses stopping at the same stop you need to indicate the approaching bus driver that this is the bus you intend to take, if not they might just pass by without halting.

For more information about getting around by bus have a look at the official bus schedule.

Prices can differ from company to company and along the distance.
With a day ticket bus/metro you just have to show your ticket and get on.
If you want to pay cash be sure you have the exact change.

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Website: http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/buses/spiders/pdf/waterloostn.pdf

Transportation: I bet no one has this transport tip!

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Written by irisbe

on Jul 2, 2004

Birthday balloon Zeppeling NT

Youkosu Japan

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: A Zeppelin!!!
Ok I must admitt it was just a temporary occasion and only meant for 12 passengers and 2 crewmembers on its 2-days flight over London.

On Sunday and Monday a German-built Zeppelin, baptized NT Youkosu Japan was making its inauguration flight above London and Greenwich where it crossed the Greenwich meridian .
It is on its way on a 10 000 miles flight to Japan where it will be used to fly tourists around. Its arrival is due for August.

Zeppelins are named after the inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who flew in the first on 2nd July 1900. They where used during the World War I to bomb London and other cities. The first Zeppelin raid on London took place on 31st May 1915. The raids would go on till June 1917.

Zeppelins were popular way of transport, between the 2 World Wars, until the disaster with the Hindenburg in America in 1937: 36 people died in that crash and inferno when the balloon caught fire.

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Transportation: Cruising the Thames

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Written by irisbe

on Jul 5, 2004

embanking the boat

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: If there is as much money in your wallet as there is water flowing through the Thames, you might be seduced to take a trip on a cruise ship combined with lunch or even more romantic: combined with dinner while you enjoy London by night. You can book a trip at Bateaux London at Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment. Phone +44 (0)20 7925 2215.
Tube: Embankemen
Trainstation: Charing Cross
Don�t worry, there are different kind of boats and boat trips and even with a smaller budget you might want to enjoy a trip on the Thames, if not by cruise ship, you can do it a cheaper way: with just touring without trop de tralala ! On the website you will find different formulas to take trips from and to different locations.

The boat on the picture is just departing from Embankment Pier and passing underneath the Hungerford Bridge.

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Taxis: Cabs!

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Written by irisbe

on Jul 10, 2004

London cab