How to use the London underground It is one of the questions you ask us most when you start preparing your trip to the capital of the United Kingdom.
Considered as one of the best means of transport in London, both for locals and travelers, knowing some of its most basic details, will allow you to have a much more interesting and especially attractive experience, when using the London subway.
After having traveled to the city several times, the last one for a month and after writing the travel guide to London, we explain all the details about how to use the London underground and thus, to know the city in the easiest way, with this London transport.
London subway
With 11 lines, the London Underground is the oldest in the world as well as being considered one of the largest in the world. This allows us to currently say that practically all the places to visit in London essential, have a stop nearby, through which you can access in an easy and fast way.
Notting Hill Gate stop at the London Underground
Subway Areas
The London underground network is divided into 9 zones that cover practically the entire city. Keep in mind that virtually all things to see and do in London are located in Zone 1 and 2, so it is probably in those that you move around and only leave those areas if your flight has arrived at Heathrow Airport , which is in Zone 6.
Tariffs
Something very important to consider in the London subway is that the rates depend on the area of origin and destination, the route you make.
It will not have the same price to make a route of origin and destination in Zone 1 than to do it from Zone 1 to Zone 3, for example.
- Zones 1-3 (one way): £ 4.90
- Zones 1-5 (one way): £ 5.90
- Zones 1-6 (one way): £ 6.00
These prices are for single tickets, which are rarely used since as you can see, the price is especially high. This makes it highly recommended to use the Oyster Card or Travelcard for save on transport in London which we will discuss in detail a little later.
In this case, in addition to reducing the price with them, with these options, the rates are divided into Peak (Monday to Friday from 06:30 a.m. to 09:30 a.m.) and Off Peak (rest of the time), depending on the schedule, making The price can be reduced even a little more.
- Zone 1 (one way): £ 2.40 Peak / £ 2.40 Off Peak
- Zone 2 (one way): £ 2.90 Peak / £ 2.40 Off Peak
- Zone 1-3 (one way): £ 3.30 Peak / £ 2.80 Off Peak
- Zones 1-4 (one way): £ 3.90 Peak / £ 2.80 Off Peak
- Zones 1-5 (one way): £ 4.70 Peak / £ 3.10 Off Peak
- Zones 1-6 (one way): £ 5.10 Peak / £ 3.10 Off Peak
As you can see the saving is quite considerable, so it is highly recommended to purchase an Oyster Card or Travelcard for use the London underground.
In addition, with the Oyster Card or if you pay with a contactless card, you will have a cap cost per day, which is the final maximum price you will pay, regardless of how many trips you have made.
This maximum amount is applicable to all London transport, including the bus, subway and DLR.
- Zone 1-2 (cap cost): £ 7
- Zone 1-3 (cap cost): £ 8.20
- Zones 1-4 (cap cost): £ 10.10
- Zones 1-5 (cap cost): £ 12
- Zones 1-6 (cap cost): £ 12.80
Remember that children under 11 travel for free in the London transport network, provided they are accompanied by an adult and can travel with a maximum of 4 children. To enter you can use the large doors, which are for passengers with luggage or baby carriages.
London subway
Schedule
The London subway It has a very wide schedule that goes from 5 in the morning until midnight although on Sundays it opens a little later. In addition, on Friday and Saturday, some of the lines have night service.
The frequency is very high, between 2 and 3 minutes, and does not usually suffer delays on a regular basis, so as we said at the beginning, the London subway It is the best transport to move around the city.
London Underground Plan
Something very important to know how to use the London Underground, is to get acquainted with the lines and areas in addition to locating your accommodation in London and the places you are going to visit.
We leave you here the Metro Map so you can consult it and familiarize yourself with it.
How to use the London Underground
Oyster Card
The Oyster Card It is a rechargeable card, the size of a credit card, with which you can pay the public transport, including the London subway. With it, as we mentioned earlier, you can save a lot of money, especially if you take into account the prices of the single metro ticket.
In this card you will have to load a balance, which is the one that you will be consuming as you use the subway or any other public transport included.
Oyster Card prices
The subway prices if you pay with the Oyster Card are the rates mentioned above and the maximum price you will pay in one day will always be a little lower than the price of the one-day Travelcard, which is the ticket we will talk about below and includes unlimited trips for 1 and 7 days. Those of one month and one year are only allowed for residents.
Oyster Card
Please note that at the time of purchasing the Oyster Card, you will have to pay £ 5 which will be reimbursed just to the existing balance at the end of your trip, as long as it is less than £ 10.
In case you plan to return to London, you do not have to return the Oyster Card, as you can use it on your next visit to the city.
Where to buy the Oyster Card?
The Oyster card can be purchased and recharged at the machines of any London underground station and also at the Oyster vending machines in some stations. In addition, you can buy them at the National Rail ticket offices.
To reload them you can also use the press kiosks that have the identification.
Can I use the Oyster Card to go to the airport?
You must keep in mind that Stansted, Southend and Luton airports are outside of London, so the Oyster Card is not valid to make the payment.
What you can do is use the Oyster Card or the contactless card to pay for the Gatwick Express in addition to Southern trains, between London and Gatwick Airport.
London Subway Ticket Office
Travelcard
Unlike the Oyster Card, the Travelcard allows you to use the London Underground unlimitedly during the period of time for which you purchase it.
In addition to the subway, the Travelcard can be used to travel on the bus network, the rail network that runs through London and the surrounding area and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Overground.
Travelcard prices
1 day travelcard
Zone 1-4: £ 13.10 Peak / £ 13.10 Off Peak
Zone 1-5: £ 18.60 Peak / £ 13.10 Off Peak
Zone 1-6: £ 18.60 Peak / £ 13.10 Off Peak
Remember that if you are going to use the London Underground before 9:30 in the morning, between Monday and Friday, you will need your card to cover the schedule Peak.
All children under 11 travel for free on buses and the subway.
7-day travelcard
Zone 1-2: £ 35.10
Zone 1-3: £ 41.20
Zone 1-4: £ 50.50
Zone 1-5: £ 60
Zone 1-6: £ 64.20
In addition to these, there are also one month and one year Travelcards, but being only for residents, we do not indicate the details.
Remember that Travelcards are valid per calendar day, not at the time of purchase or activation.
Where to buy the Travelcard?
The Travelcard can be bought in different places and according to the one you choose, they will have some characteristics or others:
- Train station: The Travelcard will have a cardboard format and in case you want to acquire the 7-day one, either for an adult or a child, you must take a passport-sized photograph with you so that they give you a card, which they do at the moment.
- Online: If you buy the Travelcard online, on the VisitBritain page, you will not need the photo and they will also send it to you directly.
This is something to keep in mind since in this way you should not worry about buying it when you arrive in the city. - Metro: In London Underground stations you can only buy the 1-day Travelcard. If you want to buy the 7-day ones, you must first purchase the Oyster Card, recharge it and load the 7-day Travelcard there.
Travelcard VisitBritain website image
Can I use the Travelcard to go to the airport
Currently, from Heathrow Airport you can use your Travelcard in the TFL, on the route from Paddington to Heathrow.
Remember that you will not be able to use the Travelcard in the Heathrow Express since it is not part of the network Transport for London.
For the rest of airports such as Gatwick, Stansted, Southend and Luton, you cannot use the Travelcard.
Pay with contactless card
This is a payment method that is increasingly being used, both by locals and travelers. It would be identical to pay with the Oyster Card unlike you should not recharge it and worry about carrying it. You only have to pass your contactless card through the machine or even pay with Apple Pay through your mobile phone.
The rate will be the same as that applied to the Oyster Card including the maximum rate per day that will be adjusted in your account at the end of the day.
Keep in mind that if you want to use this Payment method for the London Underground, it is important to verify that your bank does not charge you commission for payments outside of Spain or your country.
We recommend using the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
Oyster Card or Travelcard?
Although as you may have seen, both cards have many similarities to travel on public transport in London, there are certain things to keep in mind, such as the days you are going to use it, to take full advantage of any of them.
- Oyster Card: In principle they are more recommended if you are not going to make many journeys in the London underground and your stay in the city will not exceed 4-5 days.
Also, keep in mind that the Oyster card must be purchased, recharged and at the end of the trip, if you have a balance, return it.
In case of traveling more days, you can recharge within the Oyster a 7-day Travelcard, with which you can travel on public transport unlimited. - Travelcard: This is the most recommended option if you are going to make many subway trips per day and / or your stay in London will exceed 5 days.
If you need the 7-day one, we recommend you buy it online, on the VisitBritain page, since they will send it to you directly. This will allow you not to worry about buying it when you arrive in the city.
Remember that for 1 day, the Oyster Card is always more recommended than the Travelcard.
London subway
Can I share the Oyster Card or Travelcard?
No. Each person must use their Oyster Card or Travelcard if they travel together. In case of traveling separately, it can be shared since none of them is associated with a name or identity document.
Tips for using the London Underground
Although initially it may seem complex, we assure you that the London Underground is one of the most intuitive in the world. You only need to use it a couple of times to understand it and move like a real Londoner.
Despite that, we leave you a few tips to make it even easier:
- It is important to familiarize yourself with the lines and areas before use the London underground for the first time. This will help you be more calm and above all, be clear about how it works.
- Look well at the stop where you are and where you should go. You will see that in many areas there are panels with lines and stops. Check them as many times as you need.
- If you use an Oyster Card or a contactless card, you will only have to pass it through the yellow sensor and the doors will open so you can pass.
- If you use a Travelcard, being a card in cardboard format, you must insert it through the slot, so that it is activated and the door is opened.
- Both cards must be passed at the station of origin and destination, so they can calculate the amount of your trip and make the necessary adjustments for the maximum payment per day in case you use the Oyster Card.
Do you want to organize a trip to London?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to London here
The best hotels at the best prices in London here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from London in Spanish here
Book your London Pass with all the advantages here
100 things to do in London
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
The best offers of Flights to London here
The best hotels at the best prices in London here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from London in Spanish here
Book your London Pass with all the advantages here
100 things to do in London
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
