How to Get Around London on the Cheap

London is one of the most exciting cities in the world, but it's also one of the most expensive. It is possible to get around London without spending all your holiday money, though, especially if you like to walk.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Athletic Shoes
• Walking Shoes
• London Visitor Travelcards
• Maps
• Eurail Passes
• Travelers' Checks

1. Get a Travelcard. You have to buy the three-, four-, or seven-day Visitor Travelcards before you leave home, but you can get various other types of Travelcards once you reach London. It's much cheaper to travel this way than to buy individual tickets; it also means fewer lines or "queues."
2. Get a Travelcard that offers unlimited transportation on the Underground and the bus system within all zones of London, including the Docklands Light Railway and some British Rail trains. This is great for travelers who plan to spend some time exploring London, rather than just a day or two hitting the main tourist sights.
3. Walk. It's the best way to see London. It's a big city, though, so wear comfortable, sturdy shoes.
4. Use the Underground. Once you get used to the map (which is beautifully designed and very easy to follow), you will be able to get just about anywhere you want to go in London on the Underground, or "tube."
5. Ride the bus. From the top deck of the number 23 London bus, you can see most of the sights that you would see on an expensive guided coach tour.
6. Take a walking tour. Companies such as Original London Walks offer a wide variety of reasonably priced walking tours, which can show you the London of Shakespeare, Dickens, Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper. Other tours even take you on pub crawls.
7. Avoid taxis. They're expensive because it takes three years of training to get a license to drive one of London's signature black cabs, and the cabs themselves are extremely costly. Take a taxi only in an emergency or if you need to visit an area that could be dangerous after dark.
8. Forget about driving. Even Londoners prefer not to drive in congested central London, where parking is often impossible. If you plan to rent a car, save it for side trips out of the city.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that traffic drives on the left instead of the right.
• Take a small pocket compass. Many tube stations have more than one exit, and it can sometimes be difficult to get oriented properly.
• Invest in a copy of "London A to Z." This book of detailed maps is indispensable to anyone visiting London for more than a few days, and even most London residents carry a copy.
• Avoid rush hour, when the tubes and buses can be uncomfortably crowded. Wait until the rush is over before heading out, and plan to get back to your home base either before or after the evening rush.
• Plan evening trips carefully. Find out in advance when the last tube or bus runs so that you can be sure to get where you need to go without having to take a taxi.
• Be careful on all forms of public transport, especially at night. Guard your belongings carefully, and be aware of the people around you.