Getting around London: public transport, passes and taxis

London has one dominant answer and several niche ones. Match the tool to the trip: the Tube for cross-city hops, buses for short or scenic legs, walking for anything under about 25 minutes in the centre, and a cab only when luggage, late hours or a fixed price matters.

Everything below is a 2026 estimate. Fares and caps change most Januaries, so confirm the current numbers before you rely on them.

Contactless is the simplest system. Touch the same card or phone on the yellow reader at the start and end of every Tube, DLR, Overground and National Rail journey, and on entry only for buses and trams. The system tracks your day and stops charging once you hit the cap. Mixing a physical card and a phone breaks this: each is counted separately, so you can pay twice over before either cap triggers.

A 7-day Travelcard or Oyster card still makes sense in a few cases: stays of a week or more, travellers who want a child rate, visitors without a contactless card that works abroad, and anyone who prefers a physical ticket. Oyster also carries a small deposit, refundable at the end of the trip.

Children under 11 travel free on Tube, bus and DLR with an adult. Ages 11–15 need a Zip photocard or a child Travelcard for free or discounted travel; under-5s are free everywhere.

Peak pricing applies on weekday mornings and late afternoons. If your plans are flexible, shifting a journey by 30 minutes can drop it to the off-peak fare.

Black cabs are metered, licensed and can be hailed on the street or taken from a rank. They take card and are the easiest option with luggage or a group of four. Expect a short central trip to land around £10–20 depending on traffic and time of day (2026 estimate).

Ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt and Free Now usually undercut the meter, and you see the price before you accept. At peak hours, after big events or in heavy rain, surge pricing can push them above a cab. Both are licensed and regulated in London.

For airport runs, a fixed-price pre-booked transfer is often cheaper than a metered cab, and the train is cheaper still. Compare before you commit.

Stand on the right on escalators and let passengers off before boarding; these two habits prevent most commuter friction. Contactless works on almost everything, so you rarely need cash for transport.

Plan around the last trains: the Tube runs roughly 05:00–00:30, with Night Tube services on some lines on Friday and Saturday nights. Night buses cover more of the map and run all night.

Central London is walkable and often faster than a two-stop Tube ride once you add stairs and waiting time. Use the Tube for river crossings and longer legs, and walk the rest.

The table below is a planning guide in pounds, 2026 estimates. Treat every figure as a band, not a quote, and confirm current fares before you travel.