Getting There
| 1. City of London 2. City of Westminster 3. Kensington and Chelsea 4. Hammersmith and Fulham 5. Wandsworth 6. Lambeth 7. Southwark 8. Tower Hamlets 9. Hackney 10. Islington 11. Camden 12. Brent 13. Ealing 14. Hounslow 15. Richmond 16. Kingston 17. Merton |
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18. Sutton 19. Croydon 20. Bromley 21. Lewisham 22. Greenwich 23. Bexley 24. Havering 25. Barking and Dagenham 26. Redbridge 27. Newham 28. Waltham Forest 29. Haringey 30. Enfield 31. Barnet 32. Harrow 33. Hillingdon |
The public transport network, administered by Transport for London, is one of the most extensive in the world and Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the world for International traffic.
Whether you're a first time visitor or have lived in London for years, there's always something new and exciting just waiting to be discovered.
For general information on London please visit the official London website: www.visitlondon.com
Getting to London – Distances to London from Major Cities in the UK are as follows:
Please Note: the distances are calculated ‘as the crow flies’
| CITY | MILES | CITY | MILES |
| Aberdeen | 397 | Belfast | 321 |
| Birmingham | 100 | Bristol | 106 |
| Cardiff | 132 | Dover | 172 |
| Edinburgh | 330 | Glasgow | 334 |
| Kingston-upon-Hull | 154 | Leeds | 169 |
| Liverpool | 177 | Manchester | 163 |
| Norwich | 97 | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | 247 |
| Nottingham | 109 | Sheffield | 141 |
| Southampton | 69 | Swansea | 165 |
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By RAIL: Train is often the fastest way to get to London from other UK destinations. It's also a greener mode of transport than driving or flying. London is the hub of the UK's rail network, with frequent services to all corners of the country from the city's centrally-located mainline railway stations. Rail services in the UK are run by a set of private train operating companies. Your point of departure will determine the best service to take and your station of arrival in London. For timetables and ticket information visit www.thetrainline.co.uk and for general rail information visit the National Rail Enquiries website.
By ROAD: London is easy to reach using the UK's motorway network – with the M1, M2, M3, M4, M11, M20, M23, M25 and M40 motorways in or near London – as well as a multitude of major A-roads. All of London's motorways intersect the M25 orbital motorway. There are good road connections with London Airports and relevant ports. By AIR: |
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The Heathrow Express is the fastest way to travel into Central London. Trains leave Heathrow Airport from approximately 5.07am until 11.48pm. Standard fares are £14.50 for a single ticket purchased online (£15.50 if bought from the ticket machine at Heathrow Airport and £17.50 if purchased onboard – all prices quoted are correct at the time of research). Journey time is 15 minutes (average), non-stop to Paddington station. The Heathrow Express calls at two stations serving the airport, Heathrow Central for Terminal 1-3 and the other for Terminal 5. Passengers for Terminal 4 should change at Terminals 1, 2, 3 for a free and frequent transfer service to Terminal 4. Visit the Heathrow Express Website for more information.
GATWICK AIRPORT
London Gatwick (LGW) is the second largest airport in the UK after Heathrow Airport. Gatwick is located 45km (28 miles) south of London. The 2 terminals, North and South, are linked by an efficient monorail service, with a journey time of 2 minutes.
The Gatwick Express is the fastest way into Central London. Trains leave Gatwick Airport's South Terminal from 4.35am to 1.35am. Trains depart every 15 minutes between 5am and 11.45pm. Standard fares are £17.90 single and £30.80 return – all prices quoted are correct at the time of research. Journey time is 30 minutes and the service is non-stop to Victoria Station. Visit the Gatwick Express Website for more information.
STANSTED AIRPORT
London Stansted Airport (STN) is London's third international gateway and one of the fastest growing airports in Europe. It is home to many of the UK's low-cost airlines, serving mostly European and Mediterranean destinations. The airport is located 64km (40 miles) to the north-east of London.
Stansted Express is the quickest way into Central London. Trains leave Stansted Airport from 6am to 11.59pm (from 5.30am to 12.30am, Friday to Monday). Trains run every 15 minutes. Standard fares are £15.50 single and £25.50 for return – all prices quoted are correct at the time of research. Journey time is 45 minutes and trains stop at Tottenham Hale station before terminating at Liverpool Street station.
Getting around London
LONDON UNDERGROUND
The London Underground or 'the Tube' as it is universally known to Londoners, is normally the quickest and easiest way of getting around London. Greater London is served by 12 Tube lines, along with the Dockland Light Railway (DLR) and an interconnected Local Train network.
Trains generally run between 5am and midnight, Monday to Saturday with reduced operating hours on a Sunday. Exact details depend on the station and the line, so it's worth checking the Transport for London website .
Transport for London produces free maps and guides to help you get around. You can pick them up upon arrival at any Tube station or you can download a handy Tube map designed for visitors from the Maps & Guides section at www.visitlondon.com
Note: Always be sure to be on board your train a couple of minutes before the scheduled departure time as many trains have automatic doors that shut 40 seconds before departure.
BUS
Buses are a quick and convenient way to travel around London, providing plenty of sightseeing opportunities en route. The Central London bus guide will be sufficient for most traveller, which is available from transport travel information centres at larger Tube stations or available to download from the Maps & Guides section at www.visitlondon.com
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There is a flat fare throughout the bus network, 90p with a pre-pay Oyster card and £2 if you are paying by cash. Bus passes are valid for the whole bus and tram network and are charged at £3.50 for 1 day and £13.00 for 7 days – all prices quoted are correct at time of research. Most routes in Central London require that you buy tickets before you board. Ticket machines selling single fares and daily bus passes are located next to the main bus stops on these routes. You'll need the exact money as they do not give change. Many newsagents sell bus saver tickets and bus passes, and also have Oyster top-up facilities. |
Night bus services are available to cover the period between the close of the Underground and the start of daytime bus services. In addition, many bus routes run for 24 hours. If you're not familiar with the routes, head to Trafalgar Square (the hub for night buses) or check one of the bus-stop information boards. Other than Friday and Saturday nights, services tend to be infrequent. Night buses stop on request only, you need to indicate your stop clearly to the driver when boarding or alighting.
DRIVING
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London has a well-developed public transport system which often offers the quickest way to get from A to B. It's a good idea to avoid driving in Central London particularly at peak times. The Congestion Charge applies to all drivers in Central London between 7:00am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. The charging zone is clearly marked by traffic signs and road markings and covers the following areas: Bayswater, Notting Hill, North and South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Brompton, Belgravia, Pimlico, Victoria, St. James's, Waterloo, Borough, City of London, Clerkenwell, Holborn, Finsbury, Bloomsbury, Soho, Mayfair, and parts of Marylebone. |
Parking can also be difficult, particularly in Central London. Restrictions typically apply between 8.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday and from 8.30am to 1.30pm on Saturdays. Many of London's roads operate 'Pay & Display' schemes, which are expensive for longer stays.
RIVERBOAT
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Thames riverboat services are becoming ever more popular with visitors and commuters alike. They are a great way of beating the traffic while soaking up fantastic views. City Cruises: Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing cruises with commentary, between Westminster, Waterloo (London Eye), Tower and Greenwich piers. Thames Clippers: Serving both as scheduled commuter and tourist boats, Thames Clippers' services are great value and fast. They run from Savoy Pier (Embankment) to Woolwich, via Canary Wharf, stopping at Tate Modern, London Bridge, Tower of London and Greenwich. River Roamer (hop-on hop-off day ticket) is available. You can download a free Riverboat Services Guide from Transport for London . Schedules and rates vary according to season. |
WALKING
Walking is a fantastic and environmentally-friendly way to get around London. You can beat the traffic while getting some exercise and taking in the fabulous views and sites. Travelling within Central London on foot can even save time, as many landmark locations are closer to each other than you might think.
The TfL website (Transport for London) features useful resources for walkers. You can discover leisure routes across the capital including accessibility information and find out about special walking events. TfL's online Journey Planner is a handy tool for walkers as well as those planning a journey on public transport. Use the advanced options to plan your route on foot and print out maps.