Get from A to B

London's network is run by TfL: the Tube (11 lines), Elizabeth line, London Overground (six named lines since 2024), DLR, trams, over 600 bus routes and river buses. Fares are zonal (zones 1-9) with peak and off-peak prices; pay-as-you-go with a contactless card or Oyster is capped daily and weekly, so there is rarely any need for a paper ticket.

Lines and services

• MetroLondon Underground (the Tube)

  11 lines; trains every 2-5 minutes in the centre. Night Tube runs all night Friday and Saturday on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines. Many central stations are very close together - walking can be quicker.

  Roughly 05:30 to 00:30; 24 hours Fri-Sat on Night Tube lines

• TrainElizabeth line

  Fast east-west cross-London railway from Reading/Heathrow to Shenfield/Abbey Wood via Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. Standard TfL fares except the Heathrow premium.

  Roughly 05:30 to 00:30

• TrainLondon Overground

  Orbital suburban lines, renamed in 2024 as Liberty, Lioness, Mildmay, Suffragette, Weaver and Windrush lines. Useful for Hackney, Dalston, Peckham, Hampstead Heath and Forest Hill.

  Roughly 05:30 to 00:30

• MetroDocklands Light Railway (DLR)

  Driverless light metro serving Canary Wharf, Greenwich (Cutty Sark) and London City Airport; sit at the front for a free view.

  Roughly 05:30 to 00:30

• BusLondon Buses

  Contactless or Oyster only, no cash. Hopper fare gives unlimited bus and tram journeys within 60 minutes for one fare. Night buses (N-prefixed) run through the night. Heritage Routemaster-style buses run on route 15 past the Tower and St Paul's.

  24 hours on many routes

• FerryUber Boat by Thames Clippers

  River buses between Putney/Battersea and Barking via Westminster, London Eye, Bankside, London Bridge, Tower and Greenwich. Pay with contactless/Oyster at the pier or in the Uber app; fares depend on zones.

  Early morning to late evening, every 10-30 minutes

• BikeSantander Cycles

  Docked bike hire from hundreds of stations in central London; pay in the app or at the terminal. E-bikes cost more.

  24 hours

• TaxiBlack cabs

  Metered licensed taxis that can be hailed when the yellow TAXI light is on; all accept cards. Drivers know the city via The Knowledge.

  24 hours

• Ride-hailingUber, Bolt, FREENOW

  App ride-hailing is widely available; surge pricing late at night and at airports.

  24 hours

• TrainNational Rail and Thameslink

  Suburban trains from terminals such as Waterloo, Victoria and London Bridge; contactless PAYG works within the London fare zones and to Gatwick and Luton.

  Roughly 05:00 to 00:30

• FunicularIFS Cloud Cable Car

  Cable car across the Thames between Royal Victoria and North Greenwich; a sightseeing ride more than transport.

  Daily, daytime into evening

Common trips

• Heathrow AirportPaddington15 min

  Heathrow Express (15 min)

  • Elizabeth line (about 30 min, cheaper)
  • Piccadilly line then change (cheapest, slow)

• King's Cross St PancrasCovent Garden10 min

  Piccadilly line direct

  • Bus 91 to Trafalgar Square
  • Walk (about 30 min)

• WestminsterTower of London15 min

  District or Circle line to Tower Hill

  • Uber Boat from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier (about 25 min, scenic)
  • Walk the South Bank (about 1 hr 15)

• Tottenham Court Road (Soho)Shoreditch20 min

  Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street, then 10-min walk

  • Central line to Liverpool Street
  • Bus 55 from Oxford Circus to Old Street/Shoreditch

• South Kensington museumsOxford Circus20 min

  Piccadilly line to Green Park, change to Victoria line one stop

  • Circle/District to Victoria then Victoria line
  • Santander Cycle through Hyde Park (about 20 min)

• Bank / City of LondonGreenwich (Cutty Sark)22 min

  DLR direct to Cutty Sark

  • Southeastern train London Bridge to Greenwich (about 8 min)
  • Uber Boat from Tower or London Bridge City pier

• King's CrossCamden Town8 min

  Northern line (two stops)

  • Walk the Regent's Canal towpath (about 30 min)
  • Bus 214 or 390

• Central London (Charing Cross)Hampstead25 min

  Northern line (Edgware branch) to Hampstead

  • Mildmay line (Overground) to Hampstead Heath station
  • Bus 24 to South End Green / Hampstead Heath

• Oxford CircusNotting Hill (Portobello Road)10 min

  Central line to Notting Hill Gate

  • Bus 94 along Oxford St and Bayswater Rd
  • Walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (about 45 min)

• VictoriaLondon Bridge (Borough Market)20 min

  Victoria line to Green Park, then Jubilee line

  • District/Circle to Monument and walk across London Bridge
  • Bus 11 then walk

• WaterlooHampton Court Palace35 min

  South Western Railway direct to Hampton Court

  • Summer river boat from Westminster (several hours)
  • District line to Richmond then bus R68

• King's Cross St PancrasHeathrow Airport55 min

  Piccadilly line direct (cheapest)

  • Thameslink one stop to Farringdon, then Elizabeth line
  • Taxi (slow in traffic)

• Soho (late night, Fri/Sat)Brixton20 min

  Night Tube Victoria line from Oxford Circus

  • Night bus N3 or N109
  • Uber/Bolt

To and from the airport

LHR

• Train · 15 minGBP 25 walk-up (contactless), from GBP 10 if booked well ahead (2026, Head for Points)

  Heathrow Express to Paddington every 15 minutes.

• Train · 35 minAbout GBP 15.50 single PAYG from March 2026

  Elizabeth line direct to Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street without changing.

• Metro · 55 minGBP 5.90 Zone 1 to Heathrow PAYG (2026)

  Piccadilly line to Earl's Court, South Kensington, Piccadilly Circus, King's Cross. Cheapest; can be crowded with luggage.

• Taxi · 60 minMetered; varies strongly with traffic - get a quote or use a pre-booked car

  Black cab rank outside every terminal.

LGW

• Train · 30 minAbout GBP 24 contactless (2026, secondary)

  Gatwick Express to Victoria, non-stop.

• Train · 35 minContactless GBP 10.70 off-peak / GBP 19.20 peak (2026, secondary)

  Thameslink to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras; Southern to Victoria and London Bridge. Usually the best value.

• Bus · 80 minGBP 5.20-12 (2026, secondary)

  National Express coach to Victoria Coach Station.

STN

• Train · 50 minAbout GBP 10 advance to GBP 22 walk-up (2026, secondary)

  Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street every 15-30 minutes.

• Bus · 80 minGBP 7-16 (2026, secondary)

  National Express and Airport Bus Express coaches to Stratford, Liverpool Street and Victoria; cheapest when booked.

LCY

• Metro · 25 minStandard TfL PAYG fare (zone 3)

  DLR from London City Airport to Bank; change at Canning Town for the Jubilee line or Custom House for the Elizabeth line.

• Taxi · 30 minMetered

  Taxi rank outside the terminal.

LTN

• Train · 45 minContactless GBP 15.10 off-peak / GBP 19.50 peak plus GBP 4.90 DART shuttle (2026, secondary)

  Luton DART shuttle (4 min) to Luton Airport Parkway, then Thameslink or East Midlands Railway to St Pancras. Oyster not valid; contactless is.

• Bus · 90 minGBP 7-14 (2026, secondary)

  National Express A1 coach to Victoria via Golders Green, Baker Street and Marble Arch; runs 24 hours.

Good to know

• Stand on the right on escalators; walk on the left.
• Use one card or device all day - switching between phone and physical card breaks the cap.
• Travel off-peak (after 09:30, before 16:00) for cheaper Tube fares.
• Buses are cashless: use contactless or Oyster.
• Check TfL Go for weekend engineering closures, which are common on Tube and Overground lines.
• Many central Tube hops (Leicester Square-Covent Garden, Charing Cross-Embankment) are faster on foot.
• Contactless is valid to Gatwick and Luton Airport Parkway; Oyster is not valid to Luton.

Useful apps

• TfL Go (official live journey planner and status)
• Citymapper
• Google Maps
• Santander Cycles
• Uber (also sells Uber Boat tickets)
• Bolt
• FREENOW (black cabs)
• Trainline (National Rail advance tickets)