What's the best way to get around London?
Short answer
Tap in with a contactless bank card or phone — no Oyster card or travelcard needed. The Tube is fastest across town, buses are cheaper and better for short hops, and central London is far more walkable than the Tube map suggests.
Never buy paper tickets and never buy a travelcard in advance. Contactless applies the same fares plus an automatic daily and weekly cap, so you cannot overspend.
The Tube map is diagrammatic and misleading: Leicester Square to Covent Garden is one stop and a three-minute walk. Check the walking time before you descend.
The Elizabeth line changed cross-city travel — it is fast, air-conditioned, and the sensible route in from Heathrow.
The specifics
Contactless
Same card in and out, every journey. Don't tap with two different cards.
Buses
£1.75 a journey with unlimited free changes within an hour. Best value in the city.
Walking
Most of zone 1 is under 40 minutes end to end on foot.
Cycle hire
Santander bikes and Lime for short hops; use quiet-street routes, not main roads.
Night travel
Night Tube Friday and Saturday on five lines; night buses run every night.
More London questions
- Where do locals actually eat in London?
- What should I skip in London?
- Is London safe at night?
- How many days do you need in London?