With so many events going on in the British capital, from the Queen’s Jubilee to the Olympics and the many festivals that go with them, it’s essential to learn about getting around London this summer.
And it’s not just those two major events, it’s the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth, the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and even the New Harry Potter Studio Tour!
And many more, of course. And London being one of the world’s cultural travel meccas has an unlimited supply of amazing experiences!
Getting around London: The basics
London is huge. HUGE! And it may get confusing. With boroughs and neighborhoods and villages and districts, it can get quite daunting.
Technically speaking “London” is the approximately round area contained within the orbital M25 motorway, roughly 1,570 km2 (607 sq mi), which is bigger than New York and Rome.
It is comprised of 33 administrative boroughs, that is the main “City of London” borough, 12 Inner London boroughs and 20 Outer London boroughs.
Since 1965 they were roughly organized in a counterclockwise snail fashion, starting with No. 1, City of London.
Here’s the borough list (Source: Wikipedia):
- City of London
- City of Westminster
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Wandsworth
- Lambeth
- Southwark
- Tower Hamlets
- Hackney
- Islington
- Camden
- Brent
- Ealing
- Hounslow
- Richmond
- Kingston
- Merton
- Sutton
- Croydon
- Bromley
- Lewisham
- Greenwich
- Bexley
- Havering
- Barking and Dagenham
- Redbridge
- Newham
- Waltham Forest
- Haringey
- Enfield
- Barnet
- Harrow
- Hillingdon
This is the official division, but there are more informal names of ancient villages or neighborhoods that are used today such as the West End, the entertainment and shopping district.
Or the East End, the poorest area of the city which is now seeing a redevelopment with the construction of the the Olympic Park for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
Or maybe Kensington and Chelsea, two of the most expensive areas in town.
Some of the most memorable neighborhoods
Albertopolis: It’s a nickname for an area in South Kensington that holds major cultural sites like Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum.
Canary Wharf: Is a major office and shopping development in East London.
Chelsea: Is one of the most expensive areas in London, with many celebrities living there. It used to be the bohemian quarter.
Chinatown: Located in Soho in the City of Westminster. Does that sound a bit like New York?
Covent Garden: Is a shopping and entertainment district, containing the Royal Opera House.
Greenwich: Yes, the one with the Greenwich meridian time.
Kensington: Is a district of West London where a lot of affluent people live.
Knightsbridge: Is another wealthy district of West London, where the famous store Harrods is located.
Westminster: Is an area in central London that has a large concentration of historic sites such as Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
Means of transportation
Do not use a car in London. As with every major city, you’ll be better off riding the public transport system, which in this big city is definitely extensive.
The system’s website is www.tfl.gov.uk (tfl stands for Transport for London) and it provides detailed information about getting around London by Tube, buses, DLR, river, trams, rail and cycling.
Plus, you can use the online Journey Planner to speed up your trip.
The best tip for getting around London
The absolute best tip is to use the London Tube Map (the Underground) to orient yourself inside the city.
Even though the map is a graphical representation of the routes and not an accurate geographical map of the city, it does retain the general layout.
Plus, most of the stations are named after the neighborhood, village or district they’re in, which helps you know where you are.
The London Tube map is actually the model from which every other metro map has been designed since its introduction in 1931.
Using the London Tube: The basics
The London Underground (London Tube) stations are marked with the red circle and blue crossbar and the routes are color coded.
The map divides the city into nine different zones and they determine the fare you’re going to pay.
Though not very cheap for a visitor (from £4,30 inside zones 1-6), the Tube is the fastest way to move around in London.
The Tube runs every day of the week from 5:30 am to 12:30 am (Except on Sundays when it runs until 11:30 pm; check first, this does not apply to every line).
The fantastic free audioguide of the London Tube will help you understand the system even more!
How to save on London Tube and bus transportation
First way is to get an Oyster Card for £5. As the official brochure claims, the Oyster Card is a reusable plastic card that you can use to pay as you go or prepay trips.
Savings are quite significant: Paying for the Tube with cash will cost you from £4,30 to £5,30 in zones 1 – 6, with the Oyster Card it will cost you from £2 to £4,80 on peak hours and from £2 to £2,90 in off-peak hours.
Using the bus and tram is £2,30 with cash and £1,35 with Oyster Card. Here’s an Oyster Card brochure that explains everything in more detail.
There are also Day Travelcards that you can use from 1 day, 7 days, 1 month or a year and that you can add to your Oyster Card.
And if you’re a student or over 60, there are even more discounts or even traveling for free!
Where are London’s major attractions located?
As it was to be expected, they’re near the center of the city and most of them are walking distance from one another.
However, here’s the basic information to get to the most important. I’ve arranged it in a circular fashion, to give you a circuit based on their geographical position.
Prices are for adults, discounts based on age may apply.
Natural History Museum: Tube: South Kensington station. Entry fee: Free.
Science Museum: Tube: South Kensington station. Entry fee: Free. Six minute walk from Natural History Museum.
Victoria and Albert Museum: Tube: South Kensington station. Entry fee: Free. Four minute walk from Science Museum.
Buckingham Palace: Tube: Victoria station. 5 minute ride on the Tube from Victoria station.
Imperial War Museum London: Tube: Lambeth North and Waterloo stations. Entry fee: Free. Aprox 16 minutes on the Tube from Lambeth North station.
London Eye: Tube: Waterloo station. Entry fee: Adults from £31.50. 20 minute walk from the Imperial War Museum London.
Tate Modern: Tube: Southwark. Entry fee: Free. 30 minute walk from London Eye.
Tower Bridge: Tube: Tower Hill station. Entry fee to the exhibition: £8. 24 minute walk from Tate Modern.
Tower of London: Tube: Tower Hill station. Entry fee: £20,90. 9 minute walk from Tower Bridge.
Saint Paul’s Cathedral: Tube: Saint Paul’s station. Entry fee: £15. 12 minute ride on the Tube, from Tower Hill station.
The Big Ben: Tube: Westminster station. Entry fee: Free. 20 minute ride on the Tube from St. Paul’s station.
Trafalgar Square: Charing Cross station. Entry fee: Free. 12 minute walk from The Big Ben or 8 minute ride on the Tube from Westminster station.
The National Gallery: Tube: Charing Cross station. Entry fee: Free. Located on Trafalgar Square.
The British Museum: Tube: Tottenham Court Road station. Entry fee: Free. 17 minute walk from The National Gallery or 12 minute ride on the Tube from Charing Cross station.
Madame Tussauds London: Tube: Baker Street station. Entry fee: £30. 35 minute walk from The British Museum or 10 minute Tube ride from Tottenham Court station.
Olympic Park: Tube: Stratford Regional station. 30 minute ride on the Tube from Baker Street station.
Ooooh, I’ve got this crazy urge to go to London! So much to see and do!
What about you? Will you be visiting London this summer?
I hope this brief guide for getting around London is useful for you and let me know your comments in the field below!
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