Page 376 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

374  SUR VIV AL GUIDE
GETTING AROUND LONDON

London has one of the busiest, most extensive and river buses, the Underground,
public transport systems in Europe; it also has overground rail lines – are coordinated
all the problems of overcrowding to match. by Transport for London (TfL), which
Initiatives are under way to make walking operates a common ticketing system
and cycling around the city safer and more centred on the pay-as-you-go Oyster card,
appealing. Within central and outer London, which passengers use to “touch in” each
most of the public transport systems – city time they use public transport.

The Transport System Travelcards and Oyster cards
The Underground railway – or can be bought at Tube and local
“Tube”, is generally the fastest, rail stations, Travel Infor mation
most convenient way to get Centres and hundreds of small
around the city. The Dock lands shops that have the TfL Ticket
area, some other parts of east Heritage bus Stop” sticker in the window. You
London and Green wich are can also obtain them before
served by the Dock lands Light available to visitors cut costs arriving in Lon don, on Eurostar,
Railway (DLR), which connects considerably. For Tube, DLR and Gatwick Express or Stansted
with the Tube network principally local train fares, London is Express trains, or online, with
at Bank, Tower Hill, Canary divided into six main fare zones advance delivery to 63
Wharf and Stratford. Tube and radiating out from Zone 1 in the countries, through the Visit
DLR lines do not run to every centre (on buses, there is a flat London and TfL websites.
part of the city, however; in fare for each trip, no matter how Travel is free on buses for
particular, large parts of south far you travel). If you aim to pack under-16s as long as they carry
London are reliant on over- all your sightseeing into one or a Zip Oyster card (apply for one
ground rail connections. Bus two days and expect to take on the TfL website at least four
routes cover every part of multiple trips around the city, weeks before you need to pick it
London. There are also riverbus the best ticket to get is a one-day up from a TfL Visitor Centre); the
boat services (see pp64–5). off-peak Travelcard, which gives Under ground and DLR are free
Avoid travelling on public unlimited travel on all systems for under-11s, and have reduced
transport during morning and after 9:30am on weekdays (or any fares for 11–15-year-olds. A one-
evening “rush hour” – 8–10am time on Saturday and Sunday) day Travelcard for 11–15s costs
and 5–7pm Monday to Friday – within zones 1–4 or 1–6 for a flat £6 for main fare zones 1–6.
if at all possible. For detailed fee. If you expect to travel more
information on every aspect of freely, it is better to get a pay-as- Walking
transport in London, check the you-go Oyster card, which you
TfL website. The site has an can preload and top up with Once you get used to traffic
invaluable “Journey as much credit as you driving on the left, London can
Planner” feature, to wish (note that a £5 be enjoyably explored on foot.
help you get around. deposit is required There are two types of pedes-
TfL also has several when purchasing an trian crossing in London: striped
Travel Information Oyster card and you “zebra” cross ings, marked by
Centres. Those at will need one card beacons; and push-button
Heathrow and A London Underground per person). It is also crossings at traffic lights. Traffic
Piccadilly Circus sign at a station possible to use a should stop if you wait at a
Underground stations contactless credit/ zebra crossing, but at push-
and Euston, King’s Cross, debit card to pay for journeys in button crossings, cars will not
Liverpool Street and Victoria much the same way as the stop until they have a red light.
mainline stations are helpful, Oyster card. When using public Look out for instructions
and provide free maps and other transport, you “touch in” with painted on the road, which tell
information. Mobile apps such your card on a yellow Oyster you from which direction you
as Citymapper are also useful Card reader, and the correspon- can expect traffic to appear.
for those navigating the city. ding amount is deducted. On
Underground, DLR and over-
ground trains, you must also
Oyster Cards and remember to “touch out” where
Travelcards
you finish your journey, or you
London’s public transport is will be charged a maximum fare.
relatively expensive compared Buses do not accept cash so a
to that of many European cities, ticket, Oyster card or contactless Pre-paid Oyster card being placed on a
but the multi-journey cards payment is required. card reader

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