Can you get around London without a car?

Many bus routes cover the entire city and run 24 hours a day. According to the London visitor's bureau, routes Nos. 9, 14, 15 and 22 are particularly good for sightseeing. Transport for London (TfL) oversees a variety of rail options.



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If you need a little guidance on where to wander, consult a local by taking one of London's top tours. The London Underground, otherwise known as the Tube, is simple to use and has extensive routes throughout the city and into neighboring counties.

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How to travel cheap in London
  • Get an Oyster card. ...
  • Go contactless. ...
  • Know where you're travelling to. ...
  • Avoid travelling during peak hours. ...
  • Take the bus for long distances. ...
  • Take advantage of the Hopper fare. ...
  • Rent a bike when it's sunny. ...
  • Walk wherever possible.


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A Visitor Oyster Card costs £5. You can then pre-load the card with pay-as-you-go credit, in quantities of £10, £15, £25, £40 or £50. The Visitor Oyster card is the cheapest way of getting around London as the maximum daily charges mean you travel free after you reach the 'daily cap'.

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Travelcard prices start at £15.20 for a central London 1 day Travelcard (zones 1-4). Child Travelcards prices start at £7.60 (zonnes 1-4).

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Great value Pay as you go fares are cheaper than buying a paper single ticket or Day Travelcard. Your Visitor Oyster card offers daily capping. This means you can travel as much as you like in a single day and the amount you pay for your travel is limited (or capped).

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Contactless cards are also subject to the same price capping as an Oyster Card, so you never pay more than you would have spent had you purchased a daily travel card. You are also able to take advantage of the 'bus hopper' fare. However, you won't get the same discounts available with the Visitor Oyster Card.

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A London Travelcard is the ideal accompaniment to travelling around London, as it allows unlimited travel within the fare zones it's applicable to. London is split into different fare zones, so the cost of a Travelcard depends on the number of zones you are looking to travel within.

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You don't necessarily need an itinerary to discover London's hidden gems. One of the best ways to see the city is on foot – there's always something interesting around every corner. There are plenty of walking tours for those who prefer a more organised approach.

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Oyster and contactless payment cards For most people travelling around London, the cheapest way to get around is by using an Oyster or contactless payment card. An Oyster card is a smart card you can use instead of paper tickets, available on buses, Tubes, trams, rail, DLR and some river services.

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It is significantly cheaper to travel in London using an Oyster card than it is to purchase individual tickets for each trip. The only reason you would want to just buy individual tickets is if you are only using public transportation once or twice during your stay.

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Oyster fares and caps are the same whether you use a standard Oyster or a Visitor Oyster, a common misconception. Visitor Oyster cards you pay an activation fee (£5 in 2023) which is non-refundable. If you buy a standard Oyster card in London or online after 4 September 2022 you now have to pay £7 for the card.

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You can buy Day Travelcards (paper ticket): From ticket machines at Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations.

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What day of the week is cheapest to stay in London? Weekends are cheaper than week days and most chains have some kind of deal covering Friday thru Sunday night. In the summer though, flights are more expensive so what you save on one, you lose on the other.

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The most affordable time to visit London will almost always be the winter months of January and February, as the holiday season is over and there's not a whole lot going on.

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If you're travelling somewhere within the Transport for London zones, the cost will be the same whether you take the train or the tube.

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