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The tube is the best way to get around London - and it is fun....ok, not in peak hour!! As much as Londoners whinge about the tube, it is still an excellent method of transport, with lines criss-crossing the city and outer boroughs.
To work out the best way to get to your destination, you can pick up a tube map at any station, and you can also ask there for advice if you are unsure of the best route. As some stations have multiple tube lines passing through them, you may find that you have several options. If you have internet access you can use http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk to find the quickest and easiest route to take.
In central London you may find that some tube stations are very close together and it may be just as fast to walk between places, as it can take some time to get underground to the tube platforms. You may also find that some station interchanges are quite a walk - particularly, for example, if you change trains between Monument and Bank stations - you may find it takes you 10 minutes to walk between trains!
These days, most Londoners use Oyster Cards, which are electronic cards that are used to store your weekly/monthly/annual tube tickets. You can also have 'pay-as-you-go' credit on your Oyster Card, which is perfect for those not travelling every day. You just pay for each trip as you go, but you will only be charged up to the cost of a normal 'Day Travelcard', which makes this a good method for visitors to London.
You can add credit to your card at the ticket office, or at the machines at each tube station. Just touch them to the ticket barrier as you enter and exit the stations - it is that easy…..just make sure you do 'touch in and out' every time (even if the ticket barrier is open), or you will be charged the maximum fare for your journey. Oyster cards can also be used on buses. Leave a Comment
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As per my previous tips, the tube is a great way to get around London.
The only problem is that it doesn't run for 24 hours!! Most of the tube lines stop running by 1.30am at the latest.....often earlier....
I guess it is lucky that pubs shut at 11pm!!!
That said, there are night buses that cover most of London......but much slower than getting the tube.
Check out the website for details of last trains to your destination. Leave a Comment
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IIn London, the underground system is called the Tube. There are over 250 stations, and the trains run ever day from 5:30 am until just after midnight. On my warning tip, I talk about the inconvenience of little or no service after midnight.
The station in the photo (Liverpool Street Station), has a Tourist Information Center that is open:
8:15 am-7 pm Mondays
8:15 am-6 pm Tuesday-Saturday
8:15 am-4:45 pm Sunday
They have information about daytrips, guided tours, and accomodations.
I purchased a Weekly Travel Card It is by far the most economical plan if you are staying at least four days. I stayed for seven days; thus, it really saved me a good deal of money. It allowed me to have unlimited travel on all forms of transportation without time restrictions. I knew before I left (because Jill informed me) that I needed a passport-sized photo in order to purchase the card.
See my Packing Tip for the need of photo.. Leave a Comment Theme: Subway/Metro
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The London underground is one of my favourite forms of transportation - yes, it's packed (at certain times of day), it's grubby, and there are often delays. But its a great way to get about London quickly and sometimes, some of the adverts are an amusing diversion while you are waiting.
Oh and check this website out:
Going Underground
There's a collection here of very funny and impromptu announcements made by tube drivers to passengers eg:
"Covent Garden has been closed due to overcrowding. Please alight at Leicester Square and wander around aimlessly with your huge rucksacks until you get to your destination".
And
"Please note that the beeping noise coming from the doors means that the doors are about to close. It does not mean throw yourself or your bags into the doors".
One more:
"This is Victoria station. Please leave your valuables on the train and I will collect them at the end of my shift".
There are LOADS more. Leave a Comment
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London's Tube is probably one of the most famous, and best planned, in the World. I hate it. There is something about being underground I just can't stand. The crowds of people swarm toward the appointed train platforms, rushing, up and down stairs, following the familiar (to them) signs and obediently "Minding the Gap".
In my experience, the trains are always crowded: I inevitably get pushed up against someone smelly, there is absolutely nowhere to sit, and you can't see anything.
But that said, it is the cheapest and most efficient way to get anywhere in London.
Edited: July 2006
I am reading a novel that takes place in London and read an amazing statistic that I had to check out. Here is the result of my research:
On average, a person a week attempts suicide across the network (in 2003, 179 people committed suicides on the UK Rail Network). Only 1 out of 3 attempts is successful. To prevent deaths, most stations have pits between the tracks. These are actually known as a "suicide pit" to allow the body to fall between the tracks as the train passes over them. Such actions are announced in the station as "passenger action" or "a person under a train" but are called by the staff "one under".
A great website with lots of interesting information about the London Underground is HERE Leave a Comment Theme: Subway/Metro
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London has probaby the most famous subway system in the world. It is debatably the largest and certainly the oldest subway system in the world. Being so ancient compared to North American mass transit system that I am used to traveling on, I looked upon traveling on the tube as a tourist attraction in itself.
Gazing upon a map of the Tube can be intimedating. The Tube stretches and twists around the city in every direction. There are twelve lines, each represented by a different colour on the map.
The Tube is broken up into zones. How much you pay in terms of fare is decided upon how many zones you will be travelling through. Tickets for the Tube must be bought before hand at a ticket machine or you will be fined for traveling without one. As of 2004 it is ?2.00 to travel within Zone One, the city centre, which seems rather expensive to me. It was just a pound or so when I visited. I recommend that you buy for ?15.00 a carnet of 10 tickets which you can only use in Zone One.
Inspite of my initial excitement of riding the Tube, I gradually found the Tube to rather dirty, smelly and certainly in need of restoration and repair. I understand that this has been going full throttle in recent years. Leave a Comment
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Since the Tube in London is a quite widespread thing, neading lots of attention and lots of reconstruction works, some stations will be closed time-by-time.
About the service on the different lines you can always see postings on the stations, showing on which line is possible to face some delays or problems. Bright! :) Leave a Comment
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The UNDERGROUND or the TUBE, is the best way to get around London --- and it is always an adventure. Pick up a tube map at any station. Each underground line has a different name and colour which makes it easy for you to follow your route.
The TUBE covers 6 Zones and carries 3 million commuters daily -- Imagine that!!!
You must buy the right ticket for your destination before you begin your journey or you will be liable to a 10 pound Penalty. The price of your ticket depends on how many Zones you travel through. Travel Cards offer the best value. Hans bought one "Off-Peak" card for 4.90 pounds.
Try to avoid the busiest times between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Leave a Comment Theme: Subway/Metro
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In the beginning it looks quite complicated, even with the free little leaflet you can find at the metro station in which you can find all information about the different lines.
The tubes are driving South or North so you can see if you go into the right direction.
When I was there I used the Bakerloo line, the Victoria line and the Northern line.
Some lines, like the Northern line might split up and meet a few times along their way, so you need to see what end station is at your travel. It is very well indicated at the signs in the tube station and on the front of the metro wagon.
Places where you can connect to another line are very well indicated at the map and an intercom will tell you what station you are arriving at and what connections you can take from there.
Inside each wagon there is also a map showing the stops and names of stations.
You get to find your way around in not much time.
Advantage of the subway is the fast way you travel to your destiny. In a bus you can get stuck into traffic although at some parts the bus have separate lanes.
for 24 hours travel info you can dial
020 7222 1234 Leave a Comment
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Elsewhere, under Local Customs, I’ve provided a tongue-in-cheek guide to using the London Underground, or “tube” as it’s more usually called. Here though is some practical information you may find helpful.
Firstly, and I can’t stress this too much, get a map (downloadable from the website below, though it’s better to have one of the small folded ones you can pick up for free at every station). This is a complex transport system with many lines, and most of those branch a lot. Even locals refer to the map whenever they travel somewhere off their regular routes. Plan ahead, and check where you’ll need to change lines, and in what direction you’ll need to travel each time. Each line has a distinct colour and name, and all the passageways in the stations are well signposted, so armed with this information you should be OK.
Secondly, if you’re in London for any length of time at all, consider getting a so-called Oyster card. These can be bought for a fixed period of time, such as a month, or can be used to carry a certain amount of value, topped up in advance (with a minimum of £3 the first time you buy). Your fare is deducted each time you touch in and out of the tube system at the barrier gates, or when you board a bus. Travelling with an Oyster is always cheaper than buying a ticket each time: for example at present a single fare in zone one (the central zone) is £1.50 with Oyster and £4.00 without. Plus it saves you the hassle of queuing or finding change for the ticket machines.
Thirdly, remember that as in any big city, crime can be a problem. On the tube this is mostly likely to take the form of pick-pocketing or bag-snatching, so do keep a careful eye on your belongings. Having said that, I’ve used the tube regularly all my life, and daily for the last nine years, and so far have never been robbed – and yes, I realise I’m tempting fate saying that ;) but I wanted to reassure you all. So get out there and enjoy the city!
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