London Travel Guide > Transportation > London Underground

London Underground

Probably the most useful transportation method for the visitor to London is the tube, or Underground. The London Underground can be properly said to have begun in 1890 when an electrically-powered line was opened between King William Street and Stockwell. There are now 12 lines plus the Docklands Light Railway serving millions of travelers around London every day.

Although the tube will usually be the quickest and most inexpensive way of getting about London (that is, if you take advantage of the various discount passes available), be aware that the British Rail "above-ground" trains serve some areas of London better than the tube (details here).

Regular underground service runs from 0530 to just after midnight. The gap in service during the night is bridged by a new night bus service.

Tickets - You can buy tickets either from automated machines or at a ticket window. You will need to keep your ticket until you have passed throiugh the gates at your destination station. Be aware that ticket inspectors randomly police the Underground and can (and will) levy £10 fines for invalid tickets.

Maps - the colour-coded London Underground map is a familiar site to travelers. It really is quite simple to follow, but when planning a journey please be aware of the number of transfers your journey will take. Many stations contain miles of corridors and numerous staircases, which can make traveling with heavy suitcases a real chore. A longer journey with fewer transfers between lines will be less troublesome if you are carrying down with luggage.

To study a copy of the London Underground map, click here (caution, this image from the London Transport web site is very large and takes some time to load).

Travelcards
The London Travelcard is good for unlimited travel on both the Underground and the buses. Travelcards can be purchased for 7 days or more at a time, but they require a passport sized photo.

Visitorcards are another option. They do not require a photo, and can only be purchased outside the UK. In addition to unlimited bus and Underground travel they include discount vouchers for many popular tourist attractions. Note that the Visitorcard is NOT valid for the Heathrow Express.

Greater London is divided into 6 transit zones. Anytime you travel beyond one zone the fare rises. You can save money by only buying as far-ranging a Travelcard as you'll need, but do not try to use a pass to go to a zone you are not authorized for! You'll be liable for the £10 fine mentioned above, and inspectors DO check.

Take a good look at the zones on a transport map (available free at any tube station or at the London Transport web site). Most of the major tourist attractions are located in Zone 1, so you're fairly safe with a Zone 1 or a Zone 1-2 card. However, be sure to check the location of your hotel against the fare zone map. If your hotel is out in zone 6 and you will be traveling to Inner London, you'll need an all-Zone Travelcard.

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