London is a fantastic tourist destination with many things to do and see. All the same, it is one of the biggest and busiest city in the world, and you might have to depend on public transportation if you want to see and enjoy it all. Fortunately, getting around London can be quick, cheap, and hassle-free with numerous travel options perfect for all travelers. That said, you can choose to explore on a Santander Cycle, hop on a bus, or take advantage of off-peak fares. Here are some brilliant tips for getting around London if you want to save money on your next trip:
Don’t Take a Taxi Unless Necessary
A taxi is one of the easiest and most convenient means of public transportation in London. With a taxi, you can get to any destination without having to trek much (compared to tube passengers). Even better, London cabbies are reliable, professional, and will always leave you happy and content with their services. Unfortunately, most taxis in London are extremely expensive and the meter will not stop reading even when you are caught up in traffic. On the bright side, there are numerous cheaper transportation alternatives that might even be quicker than taxi rides.
Get an Oyster or Travel Card
An Oyster card might be one of your best purchases on your trip to London. This magnetic rechargeable smart card allows you to access all London’s public transportation. It is convenient, eases the payment system, and is much cheaper than paying for every single journey you make on a bus, train, underground, or taxi. Travel cards will give you the privilege to ride on rail networks, bus, the Docklands Light Railway, and the tube countless times for seven days on your visit. Even better, this pass will earn you incredible bargains on riverboat routes especially when you stick to public boats instead of the incredibly overpriced tourist boats.
Hop Onto a London Bus
Buses in London are not only convenient with numerous sightseeing opportunities throughout the journey – they are kind on your pocket too. There are numerous bus companies in London including Flixbus one of the largest intercity bus services across Europe. Most London busses are clean and comfortable, providing digital tickets and online booking services. Be sure to take advantage of hopper fare which allows you to hop into multiple buses within one hour. You might also want to travel off-peak if you want to save money on your next London trip. That said, avoid traveling by bus from 6.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Go for Riverboat Services
Traveling by river is another incredible, convenient, and cheap way of getting around London. Besides avoiding crazy traffic, you can also enjoy amazing London views during the journey. For instance, the River Thames clipper is an incredibly fast and convenient boat with lots of sightseeing opportunities during the journey. While this might not be a private sightseeing cruise, the boat will take you from London Waterloo to North Greenwich where you can enjoy some of London’s most incredible views and on top of that at an unbelievably cheap cost.
Use a Santander Cycle
A London Santander cycle is easily accessible and available to rent anytime throughout the year. With prices as low as 2 Euros, you can access these rides for up to 24 hours. Even better, the first 30 minutes of every new ride is free meaning that you can make several trips and eventually pay 2 Euros. After your ride, you can return your cycle to any docking station. If you take longer than 24 hours to return your bike, you will end up paying an extra 2 Euros per half an hour which is still cheaper than riding the tube.
London has an incredible public transportation network making it easy for visitors to get around and explore this gorgeous city. Whether you are in London for a day or a longer visit, you will always find a transport option that suits your needs and budget.
Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!