In 2007, London was voted best city for transports by a panel on Trip Advisor. But it also got the title most expensive transports by the very same panel.
If the first statement is subjective, the second is provable, and proved. Well, I must add that the prices can be reduced if you know the tips!
Different types of cards or special tickets exist: one-day, 3-day, one-week cards depending on the length of your stay. We didn’t choose any of these solutions, but rather the Oyster Card, very useful and quiet cheap. Let me explain: first you need to make a deposit of £3 (4.5 €) for the card. Then, just fill the card with the amount you wish. Without the card, a single ride within the Zone 1 will cost £6; when using Oyster, the same journey will only be £1.5… No need to be Einstein to get that you’ll be saving money!
Here’s another tip: if you use your card for the first time of the day AFTER 9.30AM (after rush hour), your card cannot be charged over £4.5 in the day. This means that after 3 rides in zone 1, you won’t pay for any additional rides. The card goes unlimited for the day. And that, well... that’s really nice, because you may want to roam around London, if you’re not there for a long time. And when your credit is gone, you just have to top up your card.
So think about Oyster Card!
Let’s talk a bit about the transportation. The tube runs in London since 1863. It’s actually the oldest subway in the world. With 270 stations, it services the city pretty well. You’ll never be too far from a station. The lines each have their own colours, and directions will need you to have some sense of directions. The general idea: the directions are indicated: Eastbound, Northbound, etc. That’s the only thing to know, and you’re all set!
Taxis and buses are also numerous.
Here’s an important thing for you: in England, they drive their cars on the left side of the road. So please, be very careful when crossing the street. I’ve almost been run a bunch of times (bad habit!)
The famous red bus with two stories, icons of the city with taxis and the red telephone booths. The Double Decks were introduced in 1956. They’ve been renewed since then.
We took the bus once, for fun. I truly believe that one was from the 50’s! It was so old, but also so cute! You should know that the Oyster Card works for the bus too (and will get you a discount as well: a ride without Oyster is £3 and with it, it’s only £0.90).
You’ll find a huge number of buses for tourists, offering to take you around London to see the major sights. I’m not fond of those transports for lazy or rushed tourists. When, on top of that, you’re verbally attacked in the street near the train station Victoria, by people selling tickets for these buses, you don’t really want to use those. Anyway, every one is free to choose their way to discover a city.
Taxis cabs to finish: they are everywhere (when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere! There’re almost all you see through the streets). They can take as many as 5 people. The fare is not cheap, but it can be useful from time to time. When the yellow light on top is lit, the taxi is free, you can hail it.
Taxis in London are truly itinerant advertisements. Usually black, they now array colours to attract people’s attention. Yellow, pink, multicoloured, any thing… If I ever become a taxi driver, I’d choose pink, it’s so pretty... and flashy!
The transit system is dense and easy to access. So even if walking is still the best way to discover a city, enjoy the transportation!
