Roaming around London
By Staff Writer, écoute moi
As one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world, it can be a bit daunting to get around London. Unlike other cities, you can’t travel around the whole of London on foot. It’s far too big so visitors need to rely on transport to see all of London’s sights. The public transport system is extensive and relatively reliable, but it’s also fast-paced and the people using it are generally unforgiving of people who don’t know or follow the unspoken rules.
An Oyster card- If you use a contactless debit or credit card, you can use the London transport network at the same rate as you would get by using an Oyster card, but it gets better: you are capped at a daily and a weekly rate, so you’ll never spend more than you would by buying a weekly pass, and you don’t need to worry about carrying an extra card around. Of course, if you’re travelling with an international card and have to pay fees on every single transaction, an Oyster is still the best way – but for anyone else, it’s a faff you no longer have to deal with.
Roaming around London
Local Bus
There are good local bus networks year-round in cities and towns. Buses also run in some rural areas year-round, although timetables are designed to serve schools and businesses, so there aren’t many noon and weekend services (and they may stop running during school holidays), or buses may link local villages to a market town on only one day each week.
In tourist areas (especially national parks) there are frequent services from Easter to September. However, it’s always worth double-checking at a tourist office before planning your day’s activities around a bus that may not actually be running.
Local Bus Passes
If you’re taking a few local bus rides in one area, day passes (with names like Day Rover, Wayfarer or Explorer) are cheaper than buying several single tickets. Often they can be bought on your first bus, and may include local rail services. It’s always worth asking ticket clerks or bus drivers about your options. The unlimited hopper fare is an initiative that the London Mayor introduced to make transit more affordable. If you tap into a bus or tram (for a set cost of just £1.50), you can catch unlimited buses or trams within the next hour for no additional cost. It’s a cheap way of getting around, and riding in a London bus is something of an iconic experience in itself.
Taxi
There are two sorts of taxi in England: those with meters that can be hailed in the street; and minicabs, which are cheaper but can only be called by phone. Unlicensed minicabs operate in some cities.
In London, most taxis are the famous ‘black cabs’ (some with advertising livery in other colours), which charge by distance and time. Depending on the time of day, a 1-mile journey takes five to 10 minutes and costs £6 to £9. Longer journeys are proportionally cheaper.
Roaming around London
Uber in London is really affordable compared to black cabs, and sometimes – like when it’s freezing cold and late at night – even though there’s public transit available, you just want to get home quickly and in comfort.
It’s absolutely not the cheapest way around, but if you want to travel in London like a local, an Uber is about as authentic as you’ll get while similar apps like Kabbee allow you to book a minicab in double-quick time. In rural areas, taxis need to be called by phone; the best place to find the local taxi’s phone number is the local pub. Fares are £3 to £5 per mile.
Travel by boat
It’s not the cheapest way to travel in London, but it’s definitely the most scenic way to get around. The Thames Clipper, a boat that runs from Putney in the west to Greenwich in the east, along the Thames, is part of the London transport network. That means you can pay by contactless, like the tube or buses, but you’ll get a tour of some of London’s most famous sights along the way. Expect to see the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, to name just a few! Travel off peak
If you can be flexible about when you travel, you can save money by paying off-peak fares on much of London’s transport network. The peak travel times on the Tube, DLR, London Over ground, TfL Rail and National Rail services are Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 6:30 in the morning till 9:30, and then again between 4pm and 7pm. Avoid these times when you’re using pay as you go, and you’ll save money per fare, which leaves you more cash for seeing the sights of the city.
Roaming around London
Expense- Hotels in London are very expensive and can be a daunting experience too. Looking for the place which could fit into ones budget can make any trip worth having fun. Backpacking through London is a rite of passage for many travellers and a great way to keep your travel costs down. Here are some accommodations which could be into one”s budget and pocket friendly.
Institutions- Student accommodation can be a great idea if you plan to travel during summer days. People can have a great time while students are not there. During this time of the year, these student accommodations are given on rent at avery reasonable prices.
Hostels-YHA’s inspiring locations and high quality accommodation position us as a perfect destination for taking your school group for a trip to learn away from the classroom. They offer budget friendly packages in all forms be it in shared or private space. Each individual can have according to their need and requirements.
Camping- Camping is a great way to get close to nature, yes, a little too close sometimes, but whether it’s raining or not I’m still happy to get outdoors in my tent.
Roaming around London
Keeping entertained
The beauty of Britain is that some of our national treasures are completely free. But even if they aren’t, there are options available that can save you money.
National Trust/English Heritage/Historic Scotland membership – If your thinking to see places around London, then taking one of these membership could be of advantage as it gives you the permission to see lot ancient breath-taking picturesque places. You can get an individual membership, joint membership or a family membership.
Roaming around London
Museums – While London may be among the most expensive cities to visit, one advantage is that its museums are free. This means you can hop from looking at 1920’s fashion at the V&A to visiting the T-Rex at the Natural History Museum, all without getting your purse out.
Roaming around London
Walking – Be it in a city centre such as Liverpool, or along a coastal path, one of the best ways to experience Britain is to get walking. It could be a ‘free’ city walking tour (there may not be a ticket cost, but you are encouraged to tip your guide) or just getting out and walking along the national trails, but this is often the best and cheapest way to see the country.