Getting arround London

Public transport: 

Transport for London (tel: 0843 222 1234; www.tfl.gov.uk) operates London’s bus network and provides comprehensive information on all forms of transport in London. The London Underground (tel: 0845 330 9880; www.tfl.gov.uk/tube), commonly referred to as the ‘Tube', is the oldest and most extensive underground system in the world. The network of 12 lines is divided into six zones, determining the price of tickets. A prepaid electronic Oyster card is the cheapest way to travel around London – enquire at a Tube station for details. Around 80 London Underground stations are benefiting from free Wi-Fi internet access during the London Olympics; this will switch to a pay-as-you go service after the Games.

All London bus journeys cost the same. On many routes, tickets need to be bought prior to boarding – a carnet of six tickets bought in advance from newsagents and Tube stations offers reduced prices, as does a pre-pay Oyster card. There is also a one-day bus pass. A day travelcard and a three-day travelcard can be used on buses and the London underground, and holders receive discounts on river services.

Thames Clippers (www.thamesclippers.com) commuter ferries run between Savoy Pier (central at Embankment) and Royal Arsenal Woolwich Pier, with stops including Canary Wharf Pier, Greenwich Pier and London Bridge City Pier and a high-speed commuter service runs from Chelsea Harbour in the west to Blackfriars.

A new cable car across the Thames also opened in summer 2012 , connecting Greenwich peninsular in the south to the Royal Docks in the east. Linking the O2 and the ExCel Centre, the Emirates Air Line (www.tfl.gov.uk) journey takes just five minutes. Each pod can carry 10 passengers, with 34 pods in total. The cable car runs daily.

Underground railway Crossrail is currently under construction, and scheduled to open in 2018. This rail link running east to west beneath central London promises to offer speedier cross-city travel, and take the pressure off the existing transport network. On completion, a second underground rail route, the Chelsea-Hackney Line, running from south-west to north-east London, will begin construction.

Taxis: 

Black cabs can be hailed on the street or booked through Dial-a-Cab (tel: (020) 7426 3420) and Radio Taxis (tel: (020) 7272 0272). Minicabs should be booked over the telephone; a reputable city-wide firm is Addison Lee (tel: 0844 800 6677).

Driving: 

There is a daily charge for all vehicles entering the congestion charging zone in central London Monday to Friday between 0700 and 1800. See www.cclondon.com.

Off-road parking is available 24 hours at NCP garages (tel: 0845 050 7080; www.ncp.co.uk) situated around London. Street parking in central London can be extremely expensive.

Car hire: 

Major car firms include Avis (tel: 0844 544 5566; www.avis.co.uk), Budget (tel: 0844 5443 439;www.budget.co.uk) and Hertz (tel: 0870 599 6699; www.hertz.co.uk). There has been a recent growth in budget/internet car hire companies, spearheaded by easyCar (tel: (020) 3059 5684;www.easycar.com).

Bicycle hire: 

Public-use bicycles can be found at many docking stations across central London. Bikes are available on a membership or a pay-as-you-go basis. For the most cost effective cycling, sign up atwww.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire. Casual access is best for sporadic users and non-UK residents, and can be bought online, by phone or at the docking stations themselves. London’s public bikes are available round-the-clock and year-round, offering a hassle-free way for Londoners and tourists alike to travel around and enjoy the city.

Source : worldtravelguide