How to get around in London as an Expat

Getting around in London can feel daunting when you first move into the city. There are so many Tube lines, Bus Routes and Overground options, so how do you decide which transportation method to use when going from one place to another? Some are faster than others, some are more prompt to fail than others, and some are simply more expensive. Irrespective of which public transport method you choose for your daily commute, it is undeniable that London has one of the best public transportation networks in the world, so rest assured, you will find your way to your destination.

Almost no one in London chooses to drive a car. This is because there are many restrictions such as areas in which you cannot drive through, days and times you can drive in the center and congestion charges which you have to pay - without even mentioning how difficult (and expensive) it is to find parking. So here are the top public transportation methods Expats in London choose to take:

• The Tube (aka the underground metro)
• The London Bus
• The overground trains
• The Boat

In addition to the above, there is also the DLR (which is a hybrid version between the Tube and the Overground Train), and the option chosen by almost a million Londoners a year: Cycling. But which are the best ones for your daily commute? Let’s get into it below.

The tube is the most used method of public transportation in London. There are 11 lines and 270+ stations covering most of the city - in fact, it is estimated that every day the Tubes receives about 5 Million rides from Londoners and Tourists. The Tube map splits across 9 Zones, with the most central one being Zone 1, and the further out you go, the higher the Zone number.

How much does it cost to ride the London Tube? Prices depend on the time you ride, with “peak hours” being pricier. The cheapest tube ticket is during “off-peak” time and within the same travel zone - This will cost you £2.70.
Do I have to buy a tube ticket before I travel? No, you simply have to get a contactless payment card and tap in to enter the station, and tap out to exit. You will be charged on that same card according to the ride’s fare.
Is there a daily cap to how much I can be charged? Yes, depending on the zones you travel within, the cap will vary, but for example, between Zones 1 and 4, you can travel however many times a day you want, and as long as you use the same card, you will only be charged up to £12.30 per day. If your individual rides don’t reach this cap, you will be charged for each individual cost instead.

• As the most popular method of public transportation in London, it gets BUSY. Specially in the mornings between 8 and 9am and in the afternoon after work between 5 and 7pm. Be prepared to be squeezed.
• There are often “signal line failures” as well as other problems, which means trains will stop, causing a congestion in the line. Always make sure you know an alternative route to go home. The best app to have in your phone as a Londoner is Citymapper - The Travel App that tells you in real time the fastest routes.
• The London Tube runs between 5am and Midnight every day except Sunday which has a slightly reduced schedule. There are five tube lines that run on a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Bus is many people’s favourite method of transportation. There are 700 routes, and SO MANY buses in operation at all times - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Another reason why Londoners love the Bus, is because it’s cheaper - £1.75. And that’s not even per ride! There is this thing called the “Hopper fare”, which allows you to hop on any bus or tram within a period of an hour since your first tap-in, and travel across unlimited rides without any other charge. For example, you can tap into 3 buses within the same hour and you’ll only be charged for one ride.

The London Bus has amazing views specially if you ride through the center of London and sit on the upper deck. If you are just looking to see the city, this is a top recommendation, but there are a few things you should know about riding a Bus in London:

• Similarly to all other TFL transports, you don’t need to buy a ticket, you just need to either have an Oyster card or a contactless bank card, and tap in when you enter a bus.
• The Bus is often a slower method of transportation as you will encounter traffic, specially during peak hours. Even with their dedicated Bus Lanes, you will most likely take longer in your journey with the bus.

The London Overground was established in 2007 to give Londoners a suburban train option to places where the tube might not reach. These are ideal for places a little bit further out of the center such as the outskirts of the city. It is an excellent travel transportation for daily commuters with over 100 stations all across. Here are a few facts you may want to know about riding the Overground:

• Although it also gets busy at peak times, it’s way less crowded than the Tube. Trains are larger and more spacious.
• The tickets tend to be a little pricier than the tube, but daily caps apply as well.
• The frequency of trains is lower than the Tube or Bus. With some trains passing every half an hour or so, while tubes sometimes come every 3 minutes.

In addition to the Overground, you also have the DLR, which is an automated train that runs both above and below ground. It covers shorter distances in the East of London and provides a lot of convenience for people around Canary Wharf. The DLR connects to the main Tube lines and has similar pricing to it.

There is a 1% chance you will actually take the boat as part of your daily commute in London - but the option exists! And it can work wonders if you live in East or West London near the river Thames and you want to go to the city center. Admittedly, taking the boat is more expensive, with prices starting at £7.60 per ride when you have a travel card, and going up to £17.30 across all Zones without a travel card. It’s only natural there is a lot less people choosing this method of transportation, so Boats are less frequent, but also less busy in comparison to the other options.

London has a lot of bike lanes, and its number has been growing substantially across the last decade. The city has been launching initiatives to get Londoners on a bicycle as part of their commute. This not only puts less pressure on the other methods of transportation across the city, but it also promotes a healthy habit of staying active.

You will find over 800 docking stations around London (like the ones pictured below) full of Santander sponsored bicycles. You can rent these out for 30 minutes for as little as £1.65, and for every extra 30 minutes you ride, you will be charged an extra £1.65.

• Daily: £3 for unlimited 30-minute rides
• Monthly: £20 for unlimited 60-minute rides
• Yearly: £120 for unlimited 60-minute rid