Getting around London

London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. A sprawling, densely populated metropolis, the city is a seemingly ideal blend of the traditional and contemporary. Its status as an international financial hub is readily apparent, yet the presence of the monarchy lends a timeless flavor.

There are several options for getting around London, ranging from luxury limousines to the ubiquitous Tube or underground railway. The local government body that manages the transport system in Greater London is called the Transport for London, or TfL. Headquartered at Windsor House in the City of Westminster, the TfL formulates supervises most transportation service in and around the city.

The Tube
The Tube, as Londoners call their underground railway network, may well be the easiest, quickest, and cheapest method of moving around the city proper. In addition, twelve lines with the Docklands Light Railway serve greater London, and this network is connected to the local train network, making rail by far the most convenient way to reach any location in the surrounding countryside. Trains run from 5 am till midnight, so it’s perfect for everyone – except perhaps hard-partying night owls. Getting around is even cheaper with an “Oyster Card”, which offers great deals multiple journeys, and goes a long way toward avoiding queues at ticket booths.

The Bus Network
Among the more economic ways of getting around London is the extensive bus network, with something like 17,000 stops across the city. The night buses run even after midnight, making them the only form of public transportation in London after the Tube closes down. Most of these night buses are to be found at Trafalgar Square, and all of them are marked with the prefix N. You are likely to encounter some interesting characters on those N busses.

Rent a Car
Booking a car in London is easy and can even be done online from a glut of car rental companies. A wide range of models is available – from plush Mercedes and BMWs, to more utilitarian vehicles. This option can be expensive, however. Rentals range from 15 to 135 pounds sterling, and even higher for the fancier models. Aside from the high cost, there is also that problem of driving on the left side of the road in the United Kingdom… quite a psychological adjustment! If you manage not to wreck your expensive rental, you will still need to find places to park it, which is notoriously difficult and expensive in this crowded city.

The Black Cab Option

London’s heavily regulated cab system, known as “the finest taxi service in the world”, is a London experience in itself. They can be booked in advance, hailed while on the road, or taken from the taxi ranks scattered across London. All the drivers have extensive knowledge of the city. In fact, they must study laboriously over a period of 4 years, and then must prove their mastery of “the

knowledge” before being awarded their license. The London taxi is one of the safest methods of getting around the city, but is going to be much more expensive than the Tube or bus service.

Using the River
The River Thames is synonymous with the London landscape, and the London River Services is a picturesque way of getting around the city. The London River Services (LRS) operates 8 passenger piers between Millbank and Greenwich on the Thames, and the river transport is fully integrated with the rest of London’s transport network. Floating on the Thames is a wonderful way to get around London. You avoid the congestion and noise of the traffic, and are offered an opportunity to view some of the most beautiful sights in the city.

The Cycling Alternative
The metropolis also offers some offbeat and healthy ways of moving around for the visitor. One of these is cycling. Try out the Barclays Cycle Superhighways, a set of bicycle lanes that take the cyclist from outer London right smack into the center of the city. These lanes are equipped to offer people with a faster, safer and more direct route into the city. 15 of them will have been introduced by the year 2015.

The more you walk, the more you smile
Walking around the city is the only option when one wants to explore London’s interesting nooks and crannies. Walk London is an initiative funded by TfL, and working with local authorities, which maps out a walking route network stretching to all corners of the city. The Walking Journey Planner provides a printable map of a walking route, and even goes as far as giving the estimated time it takes to reach each particular destination.

Some marvelous walking routes give the visitor the best glimpse of what this amazing metropolis is all about. Capital Ring, Green Chain, Jubilee Greenway, and Jubilee Walkway are just a few.

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