Understand how to get around London for tourists. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on different ways to get around the city.
1. How to get around on the subway in London?
The city of London has a huge range of means of transport and two great allies for getting around the English capital are the bus and the subway, since they connect all points of the city and most people use these means of transport.
Starting with the subway, also known as the London Underground, which is super efficient. The London Underground map is divided into zones/areas, with the more central the zone number, and the further away, the higher.
Based on this, the zones most frequented by tourists are 1 and 2, as they are home to most of the tourist attractions.
Prices, in turn, increase depending on the area: the more areas you need to pass through, the more expensive the ticket will be. This information is very important when choosing your hotel in London – always prefer more central hotels to avoid paying more for transportation (which, in the end, isn’t worth it).
Important tip: London is a city that has many museums, attractions and tours. Always buy the tickets in advance. We always buy everything on this website that has the best price.
2. How to get around by bus in London?
The bus is another very popular means of transportation and is of excellent quality. It’s also a great option for getting around London at night, when the subway closes (around midnight from Monday to Saturday, and around 11pm on Sundays).
Transport respects arrival and departure times, and you can access them at every bus stop. There are even electronic signs at these stops warning you if the bus is running late. The stops are identified by a red circle and the sign informs you of your destination and the stations you will be passing through.
It’s important to note that bus lines with the letter “N” mean that they only run at night. You should also be aware that tickets are not sold on the bus. Therefore, you need to buy an Oyster card or individual passes at a metro station. We particularly recommend the Oyster card, as you can buy cheaper tickets with it (and the card is also good for the metro).
About the Oyster Card
The Oyster Card is a great option for those going to London for between 1 and 7 days, as it allows you to use all means of transport at discounted prices.
It can be recharged with cash, credit or debit card and can be obtained for £7.00. But each person must have their own Oyster, as it cannot be shared. The advantage is that the Oyster is much cheaper than buying each ticket, and the credit doesn’t expire.
You can choose the best plan: if you’re staying less than 4 days in the city, for example, you can load the card with a value per day of use. From then on, you can travel at will on any means of transport in zones 1 and 2 and you don’t have to queue to buy tickets.
- It’s important to remember that children under 10 don’t pay for public transport and those over 10 are entitled to discounts.
- There are also other ways to top up the card, such as the 7 Day Travelcard plan, which is nothing more than 7 consecutive days of unlimited passes in zones 1 and 2.
- You can also buy a single ticket for as little as £1.55 (buses), £2.70, £3 or more, depending on the zone – but it’s almost never worth it.
3. How to get around in a taxi in London?
Although this is a common option in London, we don’t recommend it for your trip. After all, because the city has more “cramped” roads, you’ll end up paying a lot to use this service and you’ll probably end up wasting time in traffic.
4. How to get around by car in London?
Now, if you want to leave central London and travel to neighboring cities or places in other countries, the best option is to rent a car.
Remember that England’s traffic system is organized and very easy to drive, but it’s worth noting that the seating there is reversed. The driver sits on the right and the passenger on the left.
How to rent a car?
Book your car in advance
Make your reservation online as soon as possible, because another tip on how to plan a trip to London on a budget, and get a cheap car, is to book as far in advance as possible and online. The earlier you book, the cheaper you’ll pay. It’s well worth it and you’ll save a lot with promotions, paying much less than renting a car on the spot.
Don’t rent a GPS in London
Another good tip is not to rent a car with a GPS, as it costs a lot per day. Instead, you can buy a good chip, like the one we listed above, unblocked for international calls and with unlimited Internet. That way, you’ll be able to use the map and location apps with your own cell phone.
Use this incredible price comparator
There are some car rental price comparators in London (and throughout England) that are sensational and search all the main car rental companies there, finding the best prices and excellent deals.
We recommend one that you can use by going to the website and entering the date of your trip. It then searches for all the best car rental companies in Paris.
If you want to do the search, click here on Car Rental Comparator. In just a few seconds, you’ll have all the options for renting a car in London from the best companies on your screen, and you can choose the cheapest one. You really will save a lot.
More tips: prefer larger and reliable rental companies, such as Europcar, Budget and Avis. Take out basic insurance when booking, which is super important and is usually included in the price. But don’t fall for the companies who, when you pick up the car, try to push extra insurance that isn’t worth it.
Save money on your trip to London:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to London cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your London tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Mobile chip: We always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one, from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
