The Underground (Tube)
The London Underground has 11 lines and 272 stations. It is fast for most central journeys and runs from around 5am to midnight (Friday and Saturday nights there is a Night Tube on some lines, running through the night). Buy an Oyster card at any station or tap a contactless debit or credit card directly on the readers — both charge a capped daily maximum so you will never overpay relative to a day travelcard. Paper tickets from the machines cost significantly more per journey and should be avoided.
Fares are zone-based: most tourist sights are in Zone 1. A single journey within Zone 1 using Oyster/contactless costs £2.80 (2024); the daily cap for Zone 1-2 is around £8.10. The Tube is less comprehensive south of the river, where buses and the Overground are often more useful.
Buses
London's bus network is comprehensive and covers many areas the Tube doesn't reach. The double-decker buses give excellent views of the city. Contactless payment only — cash is not accepted. A bus journey costs £1.75 regardless of distance, and there is a daily cap of £5.25 for unlimited bus travel. Buses are slower than the Tube during rush hour but useful at other times and considerably more pleasant.
Elizabeth Line (Crossrail)
Opened in 2022, the Elizabeth line runs east-west across the city from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, with fast frequent services through central London. It has significantly improved journey times across the city.
Thames Clipper (river buses)
Clipper services run along the Thames between Putney in the west and Woolwich in the east, with stops at Embankment, Waterloo, Blackfriars, Tate Modern, London Bridge, and Canary Wharf. Slower than the Tube but far more scenic and useful if you are moving between Southbank destinations. Oyster/contactless accepted.
Taxis and Ride Apps
Black cabs are licensed and metered, reliable and excellent for door-to-door travel at any hour, but expensive: a typical central London journey costs £10–20 and airport runs £45–120. Uber, Bolt, and similar apps offer substantially lower prices.
Cycling
The Santander Cycles docking scheme (colloquially 'Boris bikes') has stations across central London. A day pass costs £1.65 with the first 30 minutes of each ride free; longer rides incur additional charges. Useful for short hops between attractions. Traffic can be intimidating in the centre but the Embankment and Regent's Canal towpath routes are pleasant and low-stress.