Transport for London (tel: (020) 7222 1234 (24-hour enquiries); website: www.tfl.gov.uk) provides comprehensive information on all forms of transport within London, as well as operating the buses. For information specifically aimed at tourists visiting London, log on http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/content/faq/tourism/introduction.asp: as well as maps and journey planners, this part of the TFL site contains all the necessary information about using the tube and it is been made available in different languages. TFL has recently introduced Oyster, the prepaid system that entitles residents to various discounts, if you are planning a long stay in London (a month or over), enquire at a tube station for details. London’s famous red ‘Routemaster’ double-decker buses are slowly being superseded by more modern single and double deckers. There is now only one fare zone for all buses. Flat fare of £1.20 applies for adults on all buses and trams. You can buy a carnet of six tickets in advance from newsagents and tube stations for £6, bringing the cost of each journey down to £1, or a one-day bus pass for £3. Tickets have to be bought prior to boarding and there is a £5 fine for travelling without a valid ticket. Services operate 24 hours a day, with night buses, prefixed by the letter ‘N’, replacing the standard services on most routes after midnight. Fares on night buses are the same as regular buses. There are also three tram routes at the moment in the Croydon area; it is fairly unlikely that visitors will use these, however, a Cross-River tram from Camden to Brixton via central London is planned for completion in 2011.
The London Underground (tel: (0845) 330 9880 or (020) 7222 1234; website: www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/), commonly referred to as the ‘Tube’, is the oldest and most extensive underground system in the world and pervades both the life and layout of London. An on-going programme is replacing old rolling stock, modernising stations and improving efficiency, however, escalator and station closures are still a regular problem. Despite the Mayor of London’s opposition, the system will now be partly privatised, with a 30-year investment deal underway as part of the PPP (Public Private Partnership). The network consists of 12 underground lines, each with a different name and colour, supplemented by the Docklands Light Railway (website: www.tfl.gov.uk/dlr), connecting the City of London and the Docklands. The entire network is divided into six concentric zones, which determine the price of tickets. Within the city centre (zone one) a single ticket costs £2.00, while to travel from zone one to other zones costs from £2.30 (to go to zone two) to £3.80 (to go to zone six). Carnets of 10 zone-one-only tickets cost £17.00. Tickets should be purchased at the station and must be passed through the barrier ticket gates in order for the passenger to enter and leave the system (and avoid a £10 penalty fare). The London Underground operates daily approximately 0530-2430 but should be avoided (where possible) during rush hour (Monday to Friday 0800-0930 and 1700-1830) when it is extremely crowded.
Various regional and commuter rail services, such as Silverlink Metro (tel: (0845) 601 4867; website: www.silverlink-trains.com) and Thameslink (tel: (0845) 748 4950; website: www.thameslink.co.uk), run between numerous stations in the capital and often cover routes not served by the London Underground.
There are a number of passes available, including the One-day Travelcard, which can be used on buses and London Underground. This costs £4.70 off peak (only valid after 0930) and £6 peak (valid from 0001). Both are valid all night until 0430 the next morning. A 3-day Travelcard, which is valid on any three consecutive days, costs £15 (peak). Prices quoted are for zones one and two only. Travelcards including other zones cost more. The One-day Bus Pass is only valid on buses (zones one to four) and costs £3. Weekly, monthly and annual passes must be accompanied by a photocard. All passes, as well as carnets for bus or London Underground, are available for purchase at Tube stations and participating newsagents.
There are a number of transport services operating on the River Thames. Thames Clippers, commuter ferries running between Savoy Pier (central at Embankment) and Masthouse Terrace (east of Greenwich) are operated by Collins River Enterprises (tel: (020) 7977 6892; website: www.thamesclippers.com). A single trip costs £3.80 (concessions are available). The River Taxi Service, operated by Connoisseur Charters (tel: (020) 7352 5888; website: www.connoisseur.co.uk), is a high-speed commuter service from Chelsea Harbour in the west to Blackfriars; a separate river bus also continues on to Greenland Pier (Greenwich). A single from Chelsea to the Savoy costs £4. This service only operates for commuters on weekdays, in the morning and evening. Full details of all river ferries can be obtained from Transport for London (see above).
Tickets for the various services available are available for purchase on board. Interested visitors can trace the history and development of the city’s transport system at the London Transport Museum in The Piazza, at Covent Garden (tel: (020) 7379 6344 or 7565 7299; website: www.ltmuseum.co.uk).
London is well known as one of the places with most expensive accommodation in Europe, therefore it has a reputation for providing hospitality for the rich and famous.
