Get an Oyster Card
The first step is to get an oyster travel smartcard in London. This is an essential accessory of public transportation in the city. An Oyster card is a much cheaper way to get around than purchasing one-day paper travel cards, or single cash tickets. More so, visitor holders of Oyster cards are eligible for tons of city discounts on food, drinks and a lot of other things.
Touch in your Card
As you get to the yellow card readers while starting your journey, be sure to touch in your Oyster card. You should also do the touch out at the end of your London Overground, Tube, TfL Rail, DLR and National Rail services in the city.
Consider Riding
Definitely, you want to take advantage of London’s public transportation system to get around on longer journeys. But if you’re just doing a few hundred meters, biking or walking is the way to go. The city’s ‘Boris Bike’ scheme makes this super easy. And that’s not all. You’ll be able to see a lot of sites and hidden gems along your way. Needless to say, this is also healthier for you.
You can hire a bike from companies such as Santander Cycles for as little as £2.
The London Pass
This special pass gets you in free to over 60 leading attractions in the city, including Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, the Thames River Cruise and many others.
Book in Advance
If you’re not able to get the London Pass, you can still get fast-track entry and save money on ticketing by booking in advance – online. Most attractions have their tickets cheaper online.
Consider Less Busy Hours
The busiest travel times are between 08:30-09:00 every morning, and between 17:30 and 18:30 every evening, Monday through Friday. If you have the flexibility to travel outside these times, you’ll be much quicker, and you’ll likely enjoy a more comfortable journey. If you’re ferrying heavy luggage, or traveling as a group, this can even be more advantageous.
Stand on the right
When using Tube stations and escalators, it’s important that you always stand on the right. This makes sure you leave enough space for passengers in a hurry. Always stand behind the yellow line once you get to the platform. More space is available along the platform so you should also move along there to easily board the next train.
If you’re looking to get from point A to point B any day in the city, these important tips can make your London travel a hell lot better, easier and cost-friendly.