London transport and traffic

Underground
The Tube, as Londoners call their metro system, is by far and away the best mode of transport. No queues, and a great many lines and stations. The only disadvantage is the huge depth of the underground stations. There are lots of staircases to negotiate, but then again, there are always the escalators. All the information you need, including access for wheelchair uses, is available on their website.

City Buses
Though cheaper than the underground you will frequently find yourself queuing. On London buses you step aboard at the back and pay the conductor. As part of recent savings measures you may find there is no conductor, in which case you pay the driver. But with the Visitor Travelcard you can ride the London buses for free!

Taxis
There are about 14,000 taxis, and 60% of these are owned by the drivers themselves. They follow a four-year taxi driver course. By the end they know all the streets and where the main hotels, services and tourist attractions are. The licence can be seen in the passenger section at the back of the cab.

The driver is obliged to stop for anyone who hails him, even if the journey is only a small one. If not, his licence number can be reported to the police and he is in danger of losing his license. There are very few taxi ranks and the drivers usually look for fares along the streets. Raise your hand to hail a taxi - the light on the roof of the cab will tell you if he’s free. The price is certainly not expensive, especially if you are travelling in a group.