With plenty of things to do in London, many people spend most of their planning time considering where to stay and places to visit. However, an important factor to consider is how you plan on getting around the big city. As London attracts 30 million visitors each year, the city is known for being busy at all times of the day, which can make travel overwhelming for new visitors.
Planning travel solutions also means visitors can make the most out of their time in the capital city by eliminating unwanted delays in transport. If you are planning a trip to London and want some advice on how to get around London easily, this is the article for you! Keep reading to understand how you can navigate the city by foot, rail and even water.
Does Location Really Matter When Staying in London?
When creating the perfect itinerary for spending time in London, location is something you will want to consider. The reality is that choosing the best area to stay depends on a few factors such as budget, available time, intended activities and the type of transport you feel comfortable using.
For example, if you are simply planning a weekend getaway in London, it is likely to be more important. Although there are many forms of travel, any option will eat into available time. However, we will add that even when visiting for a limited amount of time, the wide variety of travel solutions mean it’s possible for anyone to take a whistle-stop tour of the big smoke.
Another factor to consider is how close your chosen place of stay is to different transport options. This is something that many people must think about when choosing between staying in a hotel or Airbnb as hotels are often more centrally located meaning they offer better accessibility to transport connections. Once you consider the forms of transport available, it’s much easier to align your plans and preferences with the available options.
What Are the Best Methods of Travelling Around London?
London is a beautiful city with lots of sights to take in. All of the below methods of getting around London allow different experiences in terms of interacting with the city. Whether you choose one mode of transport or mix things up to make the most of time and available methods of travel, we can assure you that getting around the city is easy for anyone.
On Foot
The first option, which we appreciate won’t be for everyone, is walking. This is ideal if you are looking for an outdoorsy trip to London or if you are looking to explore smaller areas. Walking is a fantastic way to notice parts of the city you didn’t even know were available, and it means you are more likely to stumble upon unique spots.
You can also book London walking tours as a way to combine sightseeing with spending time outdoors. All we recommend is choosing a comfy pair of shoes and taking a waterproof coat with you as you never know what weather London will offer!
Buses, Tubes and Overground Services
One of the most common methods of travelling around London is using buses, tubes and overground train services. These forms of travel can be used standalone or combined for affordable prices thanks to the Oyster pay-as-you-go contactless scheme, Which means travellers can either use a prepaid Oyster card or a credit/debit card to travel with a single tap. Prices are capped at a certain amount per day based on the zones that are visited, which means it’s also a cost-effective method of getting around.
Travelling via these methods is also ideal if you are staying somewhere central, such as Liverpool Street, as all of the travel options we’ve mentioned are available within close proximity of each other.
The best way to navigate transport routes is to use an app or map on your mobile device.
Cycling
Another method of travelling around London is via bicycle.
The Santander Cycles, most commonly known as the ‘Boris Bikes’, are a fleet of e-bikes located at various spots around the city. Prices start from just £1.65, and bikes can be picked up and then dropped off in a selection of locations, meaning visitors can cycle around the city with ease. This method is ideal if you are looking to take in the beauty of Autumn in London, if you want to avoid other transport options or if you want to keep fit whilst visiting the city.
London also offers lots of cycle lanes and safety solutions for bike riders as the city is trying to reduce the number of motor vehicles. This means getting around is easy, even for novice rider.
Riverboats
With the river Thames flowing through the centre of London, it won’t come as a surprise that another popular way to travel around the city is via boat.
Options are available from Transport for London or via private hires with boats regularly travelling up and down the river, helping people get from A to B. Travelling on the River Thames by boat offers scenic views, and the river buses connect key locations like Westminster, Greenwich, and Canary Wharf meaning all tourist hot spots can be easily reached by water. This also allows a unique experience, plus it is simple to navigate, with many offering contactless payment methods the same as tubes and buses.
Taxis (Black Cabs and Other Services)
Finally, we have something that London is probably best known for: the Black Cab. There are more than 17,000 taxis for hire in London, which are made up of a mix of private hire drivers, such as Uber, and licensed black cab drivers.
Like other cities, there are often options to ride-share as a method to reduce the cost of travel. Plus, taxis can either be booked in advance or hailed down when a ride is required.
What’s the Cheapest Method of Travelling Around London?
Although visiting London can be a pricey trip, there is no need for transport to take up all of your budget.
Of course, walking is the most cost effective method of getting around the city as you don’t have to spend a single penny. If choosing this option, be sure to book a stay that is close to where you are wanting to explore.
In terms of transport, any of the Oyster options are also extremely affordable plus they can be used together to reduce the need to spend out on additional transport. They also stretch across the entire city meaning any location can be reached. Taxis are the most expensive option but are ideal if you need to get somewhere in a hurry or if you are sharing the price with others.
Is It Easy to Reach Outer City Locations via London Transport?
Yes, most travel solutions in London have brilliant connections with the rest of the country. This means it’s simple to plan visits to the rest of the UK when visiting the city! The most popular methods of travel are road and train, but there are also a number of UK airports served by London locations.
Choose a Stay in London for Your Next Trip!
Are you planning a trip to London? After reading this article, hopefully you feel better about how to get around!
With travel sorted, all you need to do is choose the perfect stay. Our hotels are ideal as they provide competitive pricing plus a selection of special offers across our wide selection of rooms.
Available to book are the Great St Helen, Hatton Garden, Bloomsbury Palace, Mabledon Court, Cavdendish and Arran House hotels. With our stays covering a wide amount of popular London areas, there are perfect spots for anyone to book no matter their travel preferences.
To learn more, please contact our team now.
