London is one of the world’s megacities, with a population of more than nine million. That sounds like a recipe for chaos, but getting around is easy thanks to a surprisingly well organised and flexible transport system. The subway metro system, known as the Underground, covers all of central London and reaches out to the suburbs. There are trains, referred to as tubes by locals, every few minutes throughout most of the day.
The Underground’s iconic, simplified map makes it almost impossible to get lost in London, However it comes at a price with a single trip in Zone 1 (the city is divided into zones, with Zone 1 in the centre) priced at £2.30 if you use an Oyster card or a contactless debit or credit card. A paper ticket will cost £4.30.
credits tfl.gov.uk
While riding on the tube is exciting, the view isn’t particularly memorable. That’s not the case with one of London’s famous big red double decker buses. Catch the 73 from Victoria to Marble Arch for instance, and you can peek over the wall into the back garden of Buckingham Palace. London buses have a display showing the name of the next bus stop, as well as an audio announcement.
Zoom in Google Maps on your smartphone, and you’ll see little blue icons dotted along main streets. These are bus stops, just tap on one to see its name. Note the name of the bus stop at your destination, and you won’t get lost. Travelling by bus is vastly cheaper. There is only a single fare in London, £1.50, regardless of the number of stops you might travel. However you can’t use cash or paper tickets on London buses, only Oyster cards and contactless debit or credit cards.
Author: Lynley Orlam
