London Transport Guide – Tips for Subway, Train, Bus & Airport Transfers

Last Updated on 30/01/2025

London Transportation Guide – London is one of the busiest cities in the world. This guide will detail money-saving tips for the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), buses, and provide information on the six major airports and their connections to the city centre. It also covers how to conveniently travel from London to other UK cities, as well as practical advice on car rentals and driving.

Contents

London Articles：London Travel Guide｜London Top Attractions Overview & Info｜London Pass Guide｜Day Trips From London｜London Itinerary｜London Transportation Guide

London Main Attractions and Food Map

This map highlights London’s classic attractions (deep red camera icons), themed experiences within the city (black hearts, yellow footballs, blue music notes), central dining spots (orange fork and knife), and shopping destinations (red and black shopping bags).

The map is set to English by default. Simply click on the 'Enlarge Map' icon in the top right corner to switch to your preferred language!

London Transport Guide – Tips for Subway, Train, Bus & Airport Transfers — London Tube Map (Click the image to view the high-resolution version on the official website)

London Underground, DLR and Overground

The London Underground is the world’s oldest metro system, divided into nine fare zones, with most central attractions located within Zone 1 and Zone 2.

The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) primarily serves the Docklands area in East London, making it convenient for visiting attractions like Greenwich.

The Overground is a railway network connecting central London with the suburbs. It’s particularly useful for reaching areas outside the city centre, such as Camden Market.

Using Google Maps to plan routes is easy—simply enter your destination to get real-time public transport options.

London Underground Fares and Payment Methods

I’d recommend using a contactless credit or debit card for travel instead of an Oyster Card (and definitely avoid buying single tickets!). Just use the same card for all your journeys, and the system will automatically apply daily and weekly fare caps, saving you from overpaying.

As of 2024, a single fare in Zone 1 costs £2.80 during peak hours (£2.70 during off-peak hours). The daily cap for travel between Zone 1 and Zone 2 is £8.50 when using the same credit or debit card.

For detailed fare information, please refer to：Official website

London Buses, Sightseeing Buses, and River Buses

The iconic red double-decker buses are a symbol of London. You can hop on with an Oyster Card or a contactless credit/debit card. In 2024, a single journey costs £1.75, and you can transfer as many times as you like within one hour. The daily fare cap is £5.25.

If you have a London Pass, you can also use hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses (which cover most central attractions, though traffic delays can occur) and the Uber Boat on the Thames.

Buy London Pass Here

How to Travel Between London City Centre and 6 Airports

London has six major international airports: Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport (LGW), London City Airport (LCY), Luton Airport (LTN), Stansted Airport (STN), and Southend Airport (SEN). Each airport has different locations, flight coverage, and transport options, so it's advisable to choose the most suitable airport and flight based on your itinerary.

1. Heathrow Airport, LHR

London's largest international airport, ideal for long-haul travellers from Asia, North America, and Australia. The Piccadilly Line takes about 45 minutes to reach the city centre, while the Heathrow Express takes about 15 minutes.

2. Gatwick Airport, LGW

London's second-largest airport, mainly serving European flights and budget airlines. The Gatwick Express takes about 30 minutes to the city centre, while Southern Railway offers a more economical option.

3. London City Airport, LCY

Located in East London’s Docklands, this is the closest airport to the city centre, making it suitable for business travellers. The DLR light rail connects directly to the financial district and Canary Wharf, mainly offering short-haul European and domestic flights.

London City Airport: Transfer services to the city centre

4. Luton Airport, LTN

Primarily serves budget airlines, with train journeys taking about 40 minutes and buses about an hour to the city centre, making it suitable for budget-conscious travellers.

Luton Airport: Bus transfer services to and from central London

5. Stansted Airport, STN

Focusing on low-cost airlines, it is particularly convenient for travellers heading to Europe. The Stansted Express offers direct services to the city centre, taking about 45 minutes, with numerous flight options, especially for short trips.

6. Southend Airport, SEN

A small airport that suits travellers with flexible flight schedules, the train takes about an hour to reach Liverpool Street Station, helping you avoid the crowds at larger airports.

Travel Between London and Other Cities in the UK

London serves as the hub of the UK's train network, making it easy to reach major cities like York, Liverpool, and Edinburgh. The main train operators include:

Great Western Railway (GWR)：Connects London to Bath, Bristol, and Oxford on the western route.
Avanti West Coast：Serves routes to Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool.
LNER (London North Eastern Railway)：Travels from London through York to Edinburgh.
South Western Railway：Provides southern routes from London to Brighton, Southampton, and Bournemouth.

Recommended Itineraries:

London to Bath：Take the GWR from Paddington Station, arriving in about 1.5 hours. Enjoy the Roman Baths and Georgian architecture.
London to York：Board the LNER from King’s Cross Station, reaching York, rich in Viking history, in about 2 hours. Visit York Minster and the City Walls.
London to Edinburgh：The LNER route takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, offering picturesque views of the British countryside.
London to Liverpool：The Avanti West Coast train departs from Euston Station and arrives in Liverpool in about 2 hours, where you can explore the cultural history of The Beatles.

Useful Tools and Money-Saving Tips:

Use Google Maps and the Trainline App for planning and booking. Purchase tickets up to 12 weeks in advance for discounts. The BritRail pass is ideal for multi-city travel, and a Railcard offers a one-third discount. Return tickets are often cheaper than one-way fares.

Purchase the BritRail Pass

Designed for international travelers, the BritRail Pass allows unlimited train travel within specified dates, perfect for those planning to explore multiple cities in the UK.

Car Rental and Driving Tips in London

Driving to central London attractions is generally not advisable (unless you're prepared for endless traffic jams and have an unlimited budget for congestion and parking fees). However, if you're travelling with elderly relatives or young children and have a lot of luggage, renting a car for nearby attractions might be worth considering. The benefits include flexibility and freedom, and for larger groups, it can sometimes be cheaper than taking the train.

Ka's Tips：In the UK, you can use an international driving permit or a UK driving licence to rent a car. *Car rental companies in the UK have restrictions on the age of the driving licence; newly issued licences are usually not accepted for rental.* When my partner, friends, and I rented a car for a road trip in Scotland, one of the drivers, despite having over ten years of driving experience, couldn't drive. This was because his UK driving licence was newly issued (he hadn't transferred his original licence for certain reasons). The Hong Kong driving licence only shows an expiry date, not an issue date, and he assumed driving in the UK was the same as usual. He didn't bring his international driving permit, which led to the issue. Fortunately, another travel companion had an international driving permit, so the trip was able to continue.