London Travel

Flying to London was the easy part. Now you’re there, standing outside of the airport, watching cars driving on the wrong (or right?) side of the road, trying to figure out how you’re going to be able to navigate this massive city. It’s all right, calm down. Here are some tips for making travel in and around the city on your London vacation a real piece of cake.

Travel London on the Tube

Commencing services in 1863, the London Underground (affectionately referred to as “the Tube”) is the world’s oldest underground rapid transit system. Covering a distance of over 250 miles (400 km), the underground system is also one of the longest on the planet. This is one of the best ways how to do London travel on a budget.

Traveling London on the Tube is extremely efficient and quite easy to do. Get a hold of a London Underground map as soon as you arrive and begin familiarizing yourself with where you are staying and where you want to go. You’ll easily find that most places in London are accessible directly or are just a short walk away from a Tube station.

The Classic Black London Taxicab

These days you’ll see them in just about every color of the rainbow, but the vast majority of them still tend to be black. A ride in a classic-style London taxicab is a truly enjoyable experience and is something that every first-time visitor should enjoy.

Collectively referred to as “black cabs,” regardless of color, be aware they are not the cheapest way to get around the city. So, unless Daddy Warbucks is sponsoring your visit, it might be a good thing to try a cab once or twice, but not every time you need to get from point A to point B. Black cabs can be hailed as needed, or you can usually find a line of them waiting at one of the many cab stands in the city of London.

Travel London on a Double-Decker Bus

Even though 19th century British Prime Minister William Gladstone was referring to double-deck horse drawn omnibus carriages when he said, “The way to see London is from the top of a bus,” he definitely had a point. A double-decker is a great, inexpensive choice for short distance London travel, as taking the Tube often calls for more time.

Keep in mind that there are other types of buses and London tours as well, so no matter where you’re off to, there’s a great selection of London public transportation options that will get you there!