Getting around London

Tell us where you are and where you want to go, and we'll show you the quickest ways to get there by Tube, train, bus or boat.

Travel style

Start typing a station, airport, landmark or postcode and pick a suggestion. For a street address, type it in full and press Enter (or Search) to look it up; nothing is sent to the address service while you type. Addresses: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Journey data is provided live by Transport for London.

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Ways to Travel

Every way to get around

London's transport works as one network. Here is what each mode is best for.

Underground

The Tube

Eleven color-coded lines serve central and Greater London, usually every few minutes. The fastest way across the city, especially in zones 1–2.

Rail

Elizabeth line

A fast east–west line linking Heathrow, Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. Step-free and air-conditioned.

Rail

London Overground

Orbital lines around central London, now each with its own name and color. Useful for Shoreditch, Hampstead, Camden and Kew.

Light railway

DLR

Driverless trains serving Canary Wharf, Greenwich, the O2 and London City Airport. Sit at the front for views.

Bus

Buses

Hundreds of routes, including night buses, cover everywhere the Tube doesn't. Slower, but you see the city. Ride with a contactless card; there are no cash fares.

River

River bus

Commuter boats run along the Thames between Westminster, the Tower, Canary Wharf and Greenwich. A sightseeing trip and a transport option in one.

Rail

National Rail

Overground-style national trains reach Kew, Hampton Court, Windsor and many day-trip destinations. Many accept contactless within London.

Cable car

Cable car

The Thames cable car links the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks, with long views over the river and Canary Wharf.

Road

Taxis & ride-hailing

Black cabs can be hailed in the street or booked; ride-hailing apps work too. Useful with luggage or late at night.

Active

Walking & cycling

The center is compact: Westminster to the South Bank to Tower Bridge is a riverside walk. Docked rental bikes are available across central areas.

Elizabeth line platform at Bond Street with glass platform doors
Photo: Amanda Slater, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
River bus at Bankside Pier on the Thames in London
Photo: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Paying for Travel

Simple to pay, easy to cap

You don't need to buy a ticket in advance. Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the yellow reader at the barrier or bus door, and use the same one for the whole trip.

  • ContactlessWorks on the Tube, Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground, buses and many National Rail services within London.
  • Daily capFares are capped each day, so you never pay more than a set amount, however many journeys you make.
  • Visitor Oyster cardA prepaid card that may suit visitors whose bank cards charge foreign-transaction fees.
  • ZonesCentral London is zones 1–2. Heathrow is zone 6. Fares depend on the zones you travel through.

Good to Know

Traveling like a Londoner

Stand on the right

On escalators, stand on the right and leave the left side clear for people walking.

Mind the peaks

Weekday rush hours are roughly 7–9:30am and 4:30–7pm. Off-peak travel is quieter and often cheaper.

Late-night options

Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria and Windrush lines (TfL, checked Nov 1, 2026). Night buses run on many routes: check TfL for your journey.

Check before you go

Engineering works can close lines on weekends. The live status panel above shows current disruption.

Step-free travel

Not every station has step-free access. Use the step-free option in the planner or check the TfL step-free map.

Bring one card

Use the same card or phone for every tap, or the daily cap won't add up correctly.

Rules, fares and times change. These official pages have the current details (links checked on ).

Row of red hire bikes at a Santander Cycles docking station in Southwark
Photo: Nick-D, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons