Getting Around London: Transport Tips and Advice
- London Information
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- Night life in London
- Getting around in London
- Things to do in London
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London’s numerous airports deal with more flights than any other city in the world. The largest and busiest is Heathrow, although Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton are also sizable international destinations.
From Heathrow, the Heathrow Express train runs several times an hour, from early morning until just before midnight, into Paddington Station in central London. Alternatively, the extensive Underground network will take you from the airport to anywhere in the center and will cost significantly less, although the trains are slower and often very crowded.
There is also a Gatwick Express service which runs every 15 minutes to and from Victoria in the center of the city. Trains don’t run all night but they do resume extremely early in the morning. The journey generally takes 30 minutes; the fare, however, is very expensive.
Both Stanstead and Luton, where many cheaper European airlines fly into, have similarly direct links to the city center. The Stanstead Express goes to and from Liverpool Street Station, while Luton is accessible by a National Express bus or trains via King’s Cross.
Central London is absolutely enormous and the best way of getting around is by the city’s metro system, the London Underground, or ‘the Tube’ as it’s known locally. The network is broken into six concentric zones and the cost of a fare is determined by which zones you’ll be traveling in.
A one-way pass in Zone 1 – the center of London – is quite pricey but purchasing an ‘Oyster Card’ brings the cost of traveling by tube down significantly. It’s valid for travel on all light rail and underground services within Zones 1 and 2 and Transport for London (TFL) buses anywhere. Oyster Cards are available from ticket offices or automatic machines at any tube station.
Depending on the line, trains run every couple of minutes or so from about 0530 till shortly after midnight. It can become extremely crowded and uncomfortable, especially during peak hours, so the bus can also be a good option for exploring.
London’s bus network is as expansive as the city itself, with routes (especially those iconic double-deckers) offering great views as well as transport. Many run throughout the night, too – look for a ’24 Hour’ or ‘N’ next to the number on bus stop sign posts.