Key Information Guide
Share
INTRODUCTION
<p>London is a sprawling city, not a compact one. Neighbourhoods sit far apart, and the gap between two sights can swallow an hour. The Tube does the heavy lifting, so you rarely walk those distances. The city rewards travellers who plan by area rather than by checklist, and it works for first-timers and repeat visitors alike.</p>
<p>Plan your days by district. Keep the centre — Westminster, the South Bank, the West End — for landmarks, theatre, and riverside walks. Use the east, around Shoreditch and Spitalfields, for markets and food. Use the west, around Kensington and Notting Hill, for museums and quieter streets. Grouping sights by area saves you from criss-crossing the city. Trains connect it all, but they get crowded from 8 to 9.30am and 5 to 7pm.</p>
Getting There
Local Transport
- The Underground (Tube)
The backbone of city travel, with 11 lines covering most tourist routes. Trains run from around 5am to midnight, with a Night Tube on some lines on Friday and Saturday nights. Tap in and out with a contactless card or Oyster; fares are zone-based and capped daily. - Buses
Red double-deckers reach corners the Tube misses and are good for short hops. They are cashless — pay only by contactless or Oyster. A flat £1.75 fare includes the Hopper: unlimited transfers within one hour. - Elizabeth Line, Overground & DLR
The Elizabeth line crosses the city fast from east to west and reaches Heathrow. The driverless DLR serves Docklands and Canary Wharf. The Overground rings the outer boroughs. All use the same tap-in payment. - Black Cabs
Licensed taxis you can hail on the street when the yellow light is lit. Metered, and they accept contactless. Drivers pass "The Knowledge", so they know the city well. - River (Uber Boat by Thames Clippers)
Commuter catamarans run along the Thames and double as sightseeing. They accept contactless and Oyster, though river fares sit outside the daily cap.
