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By Car
Driving in London is not for the nervous. Roads are very narrow and the traffic moves bumper-to-bumper at speed. Getting out at junctions requires quick reactions and roundabouts may have several lanes of traffic which flows continually. The next problem is parking. Central London hotels charge huge sums if you use their carpark but there is little alternative. Most on-street parking is for residents with passes, with automatic £100 fines minimal for infringement. There are some meters for short-term parking if you are lucky enough to find one free. Even shops charge by the hour for parking.
Entering inner London drivers need to have pre-paid the London Congestion charge. A daily fee of £8 (2009) must be levied. Cameras track every car licence plate and a huge fine will be levied which is unavoidable even in a hire car! The message is leave you car behind and use public transport in London. It is cheaper, easier and safer.
By Bus
London is known for its red double-decker buses. Those with open tops are now used as sightseeing buses and offer a great guided tour.
For general transport, buses are modern but still red. You can catch a bus anywhere you see a bus stop which is indicated with a red circle with a red bar through it. Beneath will be a list of bus numbers and their routes. Usually tickets should be bought from the driver on boarding and small notes and coins only are accepted. Buses are a very efficient way of traveling around.
By Underground
The London Underground is a vast subway system of interconnecting lines defined by color and by name such as Circle Line, Bakerloo Line, Jubilee Line etc which does not give any indication of their destination so travelers need to pick up a free underground map. The London Underground opened in 1863 and first the first underground railway system in the world. It is referred to in London as the ‘Tube’ and stations are indicated with a red circle and a blue bar through it which gives the station name. The Underground serves 268 stations so there is always an underground station close by.
The most reasonable way for tourists to use the tube is by purchasing an all-day Travelcard which cannot be used until after 9.30am. They cost about the same as a single normal fare so represent huge savings.
The underground opens at around 5.30am and last trains are around 1am so be sure not to miss the last train back to your hotel.
By Rail
The overground network of trains is used mostly by commuters but may also be useful to travel from the international airports at Heathrow and Gatwick into the center of London. The Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express are separate enterprises and offer swift modern trains but prices are much higher than on the regular railway.
Trains may be used for traveling from London around the United Kingdom for those who want to explore. Tickets should usually be bought at the station ticket office or machine before boarding.
More Information can be found:
At www.nationalrail.co.uk
By calling National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
By Taxi
Taxis traditionally are black in London with a light on top which is lit when they are available. The rear doors are hinged so that the driver can actually open them without leaving his seat! They are uniquely designed to carry 5 passengers in the rear; no-one travels with the driver in London cabs. Taxis frequent the streets of London and often have stands outside tourist sights. They also frequent hotels, especially when the liveried doorman blows his whistle and waves! London taxies are an expensive way to travel and can get stuck in traffic at rush hour with the meter ticking at an alarming rate. Tipping is customarily an additional 10%.
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