There are plenty of options for getting around London, you don’t have to be confined to using the Tube to explore the city. The famous red double decker buses never left, it was a specific type, the Routemaster, that was phased out but Londoners are full of nostalgia and they’re making a comeback – albeit new and improved! There are also trains running above ground, called ‘The Overground, and a ‘Light Rail’ system which serves the East End and the old Docklands (Now the financial district) again rather obviously called ‘Docklands Light Rail’.
London Buses are all bright red, weather they are single decker or double decker, they are very easy to spot thanks to this striking colour. The famous double decker routemaster – which you could hop on and off from an open platform on the back and had an on-board conductor – was phased out of service due to its age sometime ago, but its making a return with a 21st Century facelift in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Buses are run by Transport for London (Tfl) and are part of the wider Oyster Card system. Should you get an Oyster card (remember you can order one before you arrive or at any tube ticket office), load it with some credit and you can just simply hop on, tap your card to the large yellow button, and thats it. Quick, Simple, Cheap. Bus journeys are priced according to the time of day and the route, rather than the distance. You don’t ‘tap’ when you leave the bus (unlike the Tube) as you’ve already paid for the journey when you boarded, which shouldn’t be much more then £2. Buying a ticket from the driver is possible, but will cost more than the Oyster. Buses criss-cross the city and are fantastic for short journeys and are a great way to sightsee on a budget.
Bus stops are clearly marked, with route-numbers, a map detailing the stops, and a timetable. Announcements are made on board to let you know the next stop, and the name of the current one, so you don’t have to worry about missing your destination. Use the Transport for London website to plan your journey by bus, it will help you find the nearest bus-stop and plan the route for you!
The Overground train network, has been incorporated into the standard London Tube Map. It has separate stations, though some overlap with the Tube, and uses a different type of train as it never has to go below ground. You can use the Oyster card on this network too, it mainly serves north London, cutting across the city from West to East, but it also goes south of the River to Richmond, Clapham and Croydon. It can be a less busy alternative to the Tube, but it may not stop at every station, this might well mean your journey is faster or it means you miss a stop!
The Docklands Light Rail, was constructed when the once working class area of East London and London’s Docks were redeveloped into the financial heart of London. A cross between a tram and a train, it serves East London both North and South of the Thames and connects to the Tube network, its even on the Tube Map. If you use the London City Airport, or visit the Docklands Museum, or just want to take a look a ‘The East End’, the Docklands Light Rail is the best way to go. You can use your oyster card, just like the Tube, you tap in and tap out, but there are no barriers, rather it works on a honour system. You can buy tickets, but from unmanned machines so remember to bring lots of change.
While the Tube is the most famous way to get around London, there are plenty of ways to explore the city and get some fresh air or see the sights at the same time!
You can download a PDF bus route map here.
You can download a Tramlink PDF user guide here.
You can download a PDF Tube Map here.
You can download a PDF Oyster rail services map here.