Traveller’s Guide: Getting Around London

London is a busy, busy place. With many interesting festivals, events, concerts, exhibitions and what have you, it’s one of the best cities to live, culture and economical-wisely. Its population is nearly 9 million people, many of who – expats or living and working there.


Getting around the city can be a challenge, if you don’t know how to do it as a local. There are a bunch of options, depending on your route, personal preference and lifestyle, budget and distance in between places.

1. Trains

Trains are the number one option many passengers choose. Also known as Tube, it’s the fastest, cheapest and most reliable way of getting around the British capital. Aside of being very much budget-friendly, the London underground also caters to improving the environment by reducing the car usage around the city. It has a total of eleven lines, taking you from the heart of the British capital to the surrounding suburbs.

To get inside the Tube, you can buy an Oyster 7-day pass, which you can reuse. You can purchase it online and save up some time on waiting in line or buying the regular paper ticket. It’s important to know that cash payments are no longer accepted, but you can still pay with a contactless card transfer.

2. Bikes

If scenic views and the busy city vibe are your thing, and you love a good workout, then probably biking around London is the right way of transportation. A good bike is a good investment. However, you can always rent a Santander Bike. The payment is done with a debit card, and costs around a pound per hour. You can return it to pretty much any docking station and get a map for any nearby places to visit if you’re interested in exploring the cultural side of the capital.

3. Minicab and taxis

Minicabs are a reliable and convenient way of getting around the city. You only need to enter your location, date, time and final destination to see the quote and request the transportation. If you are more of an old-school head, you can always go for a cab, but keep in mind the fare will probably be relatively higher. The traditional London black cabs are a great way of taking shorter routes, for which you don’t need an app or a pre-order. The traditional black cabs or taxis are called hackney carriage, or simply a hackney.