What is the most popular public transport in London?

South London is served primarily by surface railways (the majority of London Underground's route length is actually on the surface rather than in tunnel). Carrying nearly 50% of London's commuters, the Tube is the most heavily used mode of public transport in the area.



The London Bus remains the most popular and widely used form of public transport in the city, consistently recording the highest number of daily passenger journeys. While the London Underground (the Tube) is iconic and carries millions, the bus network's sheer accessibility, lower point-to-point cost, and 24-hour service make it the backbone of London's transit system. In 2026, Transport for London (TfL) data shows that despite a post-pandemic shift toward "active modes" like walking and cycling, the bus continues to lead in total trip stages. The introduction of the Elizabeth Line has shifted some rail demand, but the bus network's ability to reach neighborhoods not served by the Tube ensures its dominance. For most Londoners and tourists, the red double-decker bus is the most reliable "door-to-door" public option, especially since the "Hopper Fare" allows for unlimited journeys within one hour for a single flat fee.

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Whether you're in the city or the country, the local bus is the most common form of public transport in the UK. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that the bus is the most popular form of public transport. In fact, 1.5 billion local bus journeys were completed in the last year.

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A Visitor Oyster card* is one of the cheapest ways to pay for single journeys on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river bus service, London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services in London.

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The most well known is the London Underground (commonly known as the Tube), the oldest rapid transit system in the world (opened 1863). Another system also in London is the separate Docklands Light Railway (opened 1987).

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It's more than 50% cheaper than buying a paper Travelcard or single tickets with cash. Oyster cards have a daily price cap – once you reach this limit, you won't pay for any additional journeys (excluding Thames Clippers River Bus where there is no capping).

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There is no price difference between the Oyster card and contactless card. Every time you travel on London's public transport, your contactless payment card is charged the same fare as your Oyster, including cap prices (the maximum amount you'll pay daily and weekly to travel throughout London).

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From the subway to buses, streetcars, and ferries, public transit networks in the United States offer a variety of travel options. The most widely used form of public transport in the United States is buses, which account for nearly half of all public transit trips.

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Britain's railways remain the safest and greenest forms of land transport, but there is no room for complacency.

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London is known to have one of the largest, safest and most efficient public transport networks in the world. It has integrated bus, rail, river and road systems spanning the city's 32 boroughs, and beyond.

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Cons: A £7 cost applies when you get a standard or visitor card. You'll need to top it up in advance of travel. You can't use an Oyster card at any station between Reading and Iver.

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How much does an Oyster card cost? The Oyster card costs £7. You then add money to the card to pay for your travel. The £7 fee is not a deposit.

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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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The most convenient places to buy an Oyster card are Underground stations across London, including Heathrow airport. You can buy one using either cash or your credit/debit card. Although there are a few manned ticket offices in London, the likelihood is that you will buy an Oyster card from a ticket machine.

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In conclusion, the main difference between Standard and Visitor Oyster cards is that Standard Oyster cards are reusable, while Visitor Oyster cards are disposable. In addition, standard Oyster cards do not come with a daily price cap, while Visitor Oyster cards do.

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However, the average visitor will use public transportation multiple times each day and the Oyster card can save both time and money. As an example, traveling offpeak from Zone 1 to Zone 2 on the Tube will cost you (as of April 2023) £2.70 using an Oyster card versus £6.70 if you buy a single ticket.

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The New Routemaster, originally referred to as the New Bus for London and colloquially as the Borismaster or Boris Bus, is a low-floor diesel double-decker bus operated in London, England.

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