Travel cards and other London, United Kingdom Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Travel cards can be used on tubes and buses in and around london, just make sure the you check the map to see which zone you need to travel in.

if you're doing general sightseeing a zone 1-2 pass is usually standard and is about £4.60 yes it really is that expensive for a day.

They can be bought at any tube station, and it's much cheaper than paying for each journey...

single tube ticket £3.00
single bus ticket £1.50
understanding why Ken Livingstone (mayor of london) wants people to use public transport so introduces the congestion charge, then increases public transport tickets... priceless

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Take a bottle of water with you on the tube, the tunnels were made in the victorian ages and as a consequence they are too small for airconditioning units to be attached to the trains. so it gets very very hot...

even in the springtime it gets hot enough that people are uncomfortable, and so at the height of the summer it's pretty unbareable.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Every station has a list of all the lines before you go through the ticket barriers detailing which lines have delays or are closed due to engineering works. It's important to check these otherwise you could find yourself travelling all the way across london to find that you can't connect to where you wanted to go.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Sometimes due to unforseen circumstances (like people jumping in front of trains and overcrowding) stations can close. so instead of thinking your trip is ruined or that you need to transfer to another line change and change again go overground and try walking it.

as a general rule tube stations aren't too far apart (although i wouldn't try walking clapham to camden) so if it's near by on the tube map then it could take about 5-10 minutes to walk it and you never know what you'll see on the way.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: This applies for trains as well but back in the 80's because of constant terrorist threats from the IRA london transport removed all the rubbish bins in tube stations and train stations so that packages couldn't be placed in them.

don't do what you see everyone else doing and leave your rubbish on the train or station for someone else to pick up... take it with you until you're at street level and dispose of it properly

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: The Tube is London's metro system and the tub map has been heralded as one of the greatest pieces of Graphic design in the UK... the map orginally showed all the stations as they appear on the map, which confused people so much that they had to simplify it...

however if you're walking around london using a tube map will point you in the general direction of where you want to go.

The tube can get confusing, just make note of the colour of line you want to take, and when you get off the train look for that colour above head height.

For a printable copy of the whole tubemap go to... www.tubemap.co.uk

it's by far the most simple and easy way to get around but it does get very hot down there... the vitorian subway system means that there isn't enough space to fit air con in there.

Oh and mobile phones don't work down there, after polling a number of people they found that people on the tube would be 70% more likely to commit suicide if they did allow mobiles to be used... however due to security reasons they may fit this soon anyway.

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Website: www.tubemap.co.uk

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: When arriving at heathrow, many people take the tube because they can buy a travel card that they can use in London for the day as well

My advice is take the Heathrow Express, you'll see signs to the station from inside the terminal. You have to buy a seperate ticket but it only takes about 15 minutes to get into Paddington station (which is zone 1 central london) and the trains are air conditioned and there is ample room for you and your baggage

The tube on the other hand (depending on engineering works) can take about an hour or more and depending on the time of day you are likely to be crammed in with all the other commuters. There is no air conditioning in the tube and during the summer it is really unbearable. The worse thing about it though is having to go up and down lots of stairs in the tube with your bags... don't expect many people to help you out.

the heathrow express trains leave every 15 minutes can be booked before you arrive via the website (see below) or at the station. The trains travel in both directions to and from heathrow and a return ticket can be bought.

when i last checked the price of the ticket is £13.50

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Website: http://www.heathrowexpress.com/

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Like the Heathrow and Stansted express, the Gatwick express is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to central london from Gatwick airport (or to Gatwick from London) it costs around £14 for a standard ticket and for this you get a lot of space for your luggage, a comfortable seat and air conditioning which anyone that has been on the tube will realise is a huge benefit.

The trains leave every 15 minutes from Gatwick or victoria station. When arriving at gatwick the station is through the door on the left next to the money exchange place with the exit being to the right.

The train journey takes 30 minutes... and yes although gatwick is considered a london airport it's actually quite far outside of london so taking a taxi into central london will cost a lot more

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Website: http://www.gatwickexpress.com/

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Stansted is one of the smaller london airports and is not actually located in london... which is great for me because it takes me about 15 minutes to drive there... but for those not fortunate enough to know someone close to this airport or want to pay a taxi fee that would make Saudi Royals blush the Standsted express is for you.

Comfortable air conditioned trains with room for you to put your luggage will get you to liverpool st station (zone 1 central london) in 45 minutes. If you're staying in north london or need to catch the victoria line, some of the trains do stop at Tottenham Hale Station (zone 3 on the victoria line) trains are depart every 15 minutes and the tickets can be bought at the website below or at the station.

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Website: http://www.stanstedexpress.com/

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: if you buy a travel card your ticket will be valid on buses, tubes and trains, however if you buy an overground ticket travelling from A - B you may not be able to travel on the tubes. please look at the ticket when you get it and in the bottom left hand corner just above the national rail sign, it should read

"Route
Any Permitted"

this will allow you to travel through london by tube instead of having to travel by overground train.

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