Destination LONDON - How to Get Around in Britain's Bustling Capital

For the first time visitor, the London Transport system is not for the faint-hearted. It can be baffling. And it can be very expensive. Here are a few tips to reduce the stress.

Let me address the 'expensive' part first. If you intend to make frequent use of public transport then the ONLY way to minimize your expenditure is to obtain an OYSTER CARD. This is a plastic smart card that becomes your valid ticket for all forms of public transport subject to loading it with credit, or "topping up" as the British say. There are numerous different plans you can purchase for your Oyster card - far too many to try and explain here. But they will be significantly cheaper than paying the single fare for each and every journey, and often there is a "cap" on how much you will be charged withing a given 24 hour period. Which means that after just a few journeys you are travelling virtually free for the rest of the day.  For a crash course in Oyster card use, just click here. 

And is the transport system baffling? Well sure -at first!  What else can you expect from one of the largest and most complex cities on the globe? But it's actually easier than it might seem at first. I always advise folks who are new to London to stick to the trains. There is a station within walking distance of just about everything worth seeing in London. They come in three distinct forms.
The London Underground ("the Tube" - equivalent to the subway or the Metro in most other cities)
The London Overgound (similar but always above ground. To add to the confusion, many sections of the Underground are overground as well!!)
The DLR = Docklands Light Railway. (the newest and most modern section, serving East London and the Docklands area)
Here is a standard Tube Map which, despite its name, actually shows all three of the above systems.

There's nothing wrong with London Buses - they too are a great way to get around and to actually see the city while en route to wherever you are headed. But they have two major disadvantages. If you need to get somewhere specific, finding the right bus can be very tricky if you don't know the city well. And despite designated Bus Lanes, they are often at the mercy of traffic, so can be one of the slowest ways to get around.