When you first arrive in London, the transport system can feel huge and busy, but it’s actually easier to use than it looks.
The good news is that most of it works with a simple tap. Use a contactless bank card or an Oyster card, and your fares are capped daily and weekly, so you’ll never pay more than the cap for the trips you make. Just remember to touch in and out on the yellow readers (only touch in on buses and trams), and look for the pink readers when you’re changing trains to avoid Zone 1, those can lower your fare on some routes.
Zones
Zones still exist (1–9), but you don’t need to memorise them. If you’re new, the Single Fare Finder and TfL Go app will tell you the cheapest route and what to tap, with live updates when things change. TfL Go even shows step-free routes, lift status, and accessible toilets, very handy if you’ve got a buggy or luggage to carry!
The Tube and Elizabeth Line
The Tube and Elizabeth line are your fast backbone across the city. The Elizabeth line links Heathrow directly to central London in around half an hour to Paddington, and runs deep east and west through the capital, while the Piccadilly line is the lower-cost Tube option to the airport.
Night Tube runs on Fridays and Saturdays on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines, and Night Overground runs between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate.
London Overground, DLR and Tram
London Overground, DLR, and Trams bring together the bits of the city the Tube doesn’t reach, from north London to Docklands and south London’s tram network around Croydon.
The standard Tube map shows all of it in one place, you can download a copy, and you’re set. If you need step-free access, there’s a dedicated map that shows where you can go from street to platform.
Buses
For many journeys, buses are the most convenient way to travel. With the Hopper fare, you can make unlimited bus and tram trips within one hour for a single adult fare. Night buses keep the city moving 24/7, and almost everyone uses the TfL Go app to check live arrivals at their stop.
River Travel
The River boats are a relaxing way to travel and see London’s sights. The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services run along the Thames with piers from Putney to Barking Riverside; it’s a relaxed way to commute or explore. You can use contactless or Oyster to pay on the River Bus, but river journeys don’t count towards your daily or weekly pay-as-you-go caps.
Prefer two wheels?
Santander Cycles has thousands of bikes and growing numbers of e-bikes, with simple day passes and cheaper single e-bike rides introduced this year to make cycling even more accessible. If you’re bringing a bike onto public transport, check the rules: non-folding e-bikes are banned on most TfL services from 31 March 2025 for safety reasons, and there are weekday peak restrictions for non-folding bicycles on the Tube, Elizabeth line, and Overground.
E-scooters
London’s rental e-scooter trial continues in selected boroughs, but privately-owned e-scooters are still not legal to use on public roads or TfL services. If you want to try one, stick to the approved rental schemes in the designated areas.
Taxis and minicabs
Taxis and minicabs are straightforward. Black cabs can be hailed on the street and must accept card and contactless, with a regulated meter and published tariffs; minicabs must be pre-booked via an app or over the phone.
Driving in London
If you plan to drive, know the charges. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates 24/7 across all London boroughs (except Christmas Day), and the Congestion Charge applies in central London during daytime hours every day. In east London, using the Blackwall or Silvertown tunnels between 06:00 and 22:00 now carries a user charge. If you do drive, set up Auto Pay to avoid penalties.
London Airports
Airports are well linked. Contactless and Oyster work to Heathrow on the Tube and Elizabeth line, to Gatwick on Thameslink, Southern and Gatwick Express, and to London City via the DLR. It means you can usually tap all the way from plane to home and benefit from capping where it applies. Note that some premium services (like Heathrow Express) aren’t included in caps.
Travelling with small children
Travelling with kids or a buggy is doable. Most buses can lower to the kerb, wheelchairs have priority in the dedicated space, and TfL publishes step-free and buggy-friendly guidance plus maps you can download. The Journey Planner can filter for step-free routes and lift availability in real time.
Ready to make London home?
If you’re relocating, Cornerstone can help you set up your life here, from figuring out the best commute for your new neighbourhood to handling visas and the rest. Tell us where you’re moving and what you need, and we’ll guide you step by step.