London is a dream country for many. Many people fly day in and day out from the UK for commercial, travelling, jobs and study purposes. If you are planning to visit or settle in the London, you would want to have complete information about the transportation system in London to move within the city. Also, it is always a good option to have complete information about the laws or systems when visiting a new country. This way you would not have to depend on others and no one can make a fool of you too.
The transportation system in London is impeccable. The city is divided into 9 zones. There are all sorts of modes available for public commutation and cover all zones. Depending on your budget, you can choose to travel to any one of them.
Underground Tubes
This is the fastest transit option available in London and its spread across the entire London area. People refer to it as “tubes”. Almost 2 million people use Tubes to make their journeys across the city on daily basis. It is also the cheapest mode of travelling to London. Almost 50% of the tube network is underground and that is the reason it is called underground transport.
Due to the wide network of tubes, the stations are usually at a walking distance. The frequency is not more than 10 minutes and sometimes it’s even less. Using this transport system means that, you don’t have to worry about the traffic on the streets. It is perfect when you have to reach somewhere urgently.
Buses
London is often characterized by the red buses that move around the city. Most of the residents would consider underground tubes as the most used form of public transport and why not, billions of passengers travel through the underground network on daily basis. But, what they don’t know is that London buses also carry almost billions of passengers a year, making it the second best-used transport system in London.
London buses cover a huge area and hence, you can get almost anywhere in London by bus. Since, fares are also fixed and cheaper, many people find it comfortable and cheap travelling on a bus. One big advantage of the London bus service is that, in a few areas, it runs round the clock. So, even if you are travelling late at night, you don’t have to worry about transport. The only downside with buses is that you have to bear the traffic which can be pretty terrible during peak hours.
DLR or Docklands Light Railway
If you want to travel to the docklands of London, you would have to take the DLR. This is an automated rail system that covers the dockland areas of London. The biggest differentiator between the regular rail system and DLR is that it is completely automated. This means that there are no drivers on the train. The DLR is well connected to the Tube network as well.
Trams
Trams are not quite famous in London because it only has 17 miles of track and covers specific areas of London. The fare charges are pretty same as the bus service. The rates are fixed and cheap. Despite being a small network, it is frequently used by people where tram service is available.
Taxis
If you don’t have any budget constraints, then taxis are a good way to move around in London. Travelling in the iconic black cabs of London is an experience in itself. They are definitely convenient and easily available for people. However, they are an expensive mode of commuting. It can be used when you are travelling in a group when the total fare cost can be divided.
River Boat
If you are a tourist, Riverboats are a great way to explore and travel in London. The big old Thames River runs across the city making it perfect for a water transport. There are four routes on which the boat operates and takes passengers from one end to the other.
Self-drive
If you have the license issued from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency, you can also use a personal car to move around. The DVLA is a vehicle licensing agency in London that issues driving licenses and keeps the database of all drivers and cars in London. It is important to have a license issued by the agency in order to drive around. You can also have an international driving license to drive in London.
So, looking at all the options, Underground and buses are the best options to move around in London. One of the good things here is that there is traveler’s card available which can be used for travelling on buses, trams and tubes. It can be recharged online as well as on the stations. Using traveller’s card would have added discounts on the trip.
