Handy guide to the London Underground

Travelling on the London Underground can seem a little complicated at first with so many lines and stops, but once you get to grips with it and get the hang of it you'll find that using it is quite intuitive.

To make it easier to get around on the London Underground, this guide tells you everything you need to know about how it works, its timetables, what tickets are available, how to buy them and more. You'll see how you'll end up getting around the British capital like a Londoner!

As one of the largest in the world, the London Underground links the different parts of the British capital very well and connects to most of London' s tourist attractions, so you're bound to use it to get around at some point during your stay.

I recommend downloading a London Underground PDF map to your mobile phone, so you can always carry it in your pocket and glance at it whenever you need to. Even in those moments when you don't have internet access.

Another option I suggest is to download the official Transport for London app (available on iOS and Android), where in addition to the tube map you can also search for routes and directions in the city to plan your journeys, see the quietest times to travel, check live bus and train timetables as well as see the latest updates on the transport network.

The London Underground is divided into 9 radial areas starting in the historic centre and covering almost the entire city. Most of the UK capital's main tourist attractions are located in zones 1 and 2, which you're likely to be travelling through all the time unless you're staying far from the centre.

The price of a single tube ticket if you pay in cash is quite high at exactly £6.70, regardless of which zone you are travelling in and regardless of peak tube times. There is a more convenient method of payment which is contactless, either by mobile phone, credit or debit card, which applies a cheaper fare. That is:

• Single ticket: has more expensive fixed price (£6.70), does not distinguish zones or peak times and is paid in cash at ticket offices or vending machines.
• Contactless: fare from £2.80 (off-peak) or £3.40 (peak) in zones 1-2, with prices varying according to zones and times, and automatic daily and weekly limits. Pay by card or mobile phone at the turnstiles.

To find out the exact cost of your journey before you travel, I recommend you visit the Transport for London website where you will find all the latest fares. From a financial point of view, it is not advisable to buy a single ticket if you are going to spend several days in the city and plan to use the tube frequently. It is also not very time efficient because you will have to stop at the ticket machines to buy it every time you want to use it.

As for the contactless system, it is much more economical and practical because you don't need to top up with credit or buy a special card. Although logically you must have a card or mobile phone compatible with this method.

Are there season tickets to use the London Underground?

Fortunately there are other alternatives to the single ticket for use on the London Underground that will help you save money on your travel around the city: the Oyster Card, the Travelcard or the Visitor Oyster Card.

The Oyster Card is a rechargeable card with a credit on it which gives you cheaper fares than buying a single ticket. As you use the card to travel on the London Underground, the balance is deducted from the card.

During peak times the 'peak fare' applies Monday to Friday between 6.30am and 9.30am and 4pm and 7pm, while the 'off peak' fare applies at all other times, weekends and public holidays.

How to buy an Oyster Card?

You can buy your Oyster Card from vending machines at any underground station in the city. The good thing about this system is that if you are not too fluent in English you can change the language of the machine to your own and follow the instructions. This way there is no confusion. You just choose the amount you want to put on the card, then the payment method and that's it!

And to top it up, it's very simple. It is done at the same machines where you buy your Oyster Card and can be topped up with a bank card or cash. No more hassle.

How do I use it?

To access the London Underground with an Oyster Card you have to swipe it through the yellow sensor on the turnstile both at the entrance and exit. This last step is essential, even if you find the turnstile doors open, because the Oyster Card calculates the fare for the journey when you swipe the card to exit.

If you forget to do this, the card will detect the journey as incomplete and will not be able to calculate your journey, so you will be penalised on your balance.

Overview of how the Oyster Card works

The Oyster Card currently costs £7, which is non-refundable. It is a reloadable card to pay for travel on public transport in London at cheaper fares than paper tickets and with daily limits to reduce costs. The card does not expire and can be reused on future visits.

In short:

• Initial cost: £7 (non-refundable).
• Top up: Add credit at machines, ticket offices or online.
• Daily Cap: Ensures you pay no more than a daily maximum based on zones travelled.
• Prices similar to Contactless: From £2.80 (zones 1-2 off-peak).
• Easy to use: Tap the card on the readers when entering and exiting transport.
• Non-expiring: You can reuse it on future visits to London.

This card is ideal for those who don't have Contactless cards or prefer a dedicated method of transport.

The Travelcard is another alternative to the single ticket and Oyster Card for travel on the London Underground. It is a card that gives you unlimited travel on London's public transport network for a set period of time.

Although there are monthly and annual Travelcards, these are intended for residents of the British capital, while 1-day and 7-day Travelcards are sold for tourists.

How to buy a Travelcard?

There are many ways to buy a Travelcard, as they are available at different points of sale. Depending on the location, the card will be issued in one format or another.

• Railway stations: The Travelcard is issued at the National Rail counters as a printed cardboard ticket. To purchase a 7-day Travelcard here you will need to provide a passport photo. It is an interesting option as you can get 2 for 1 discounts on various attractions such as tickets to St Paul's Cathedral or Madame Tussauds Museum.
• Metro stations: Here you can buy a 1-day Travelcard. If you wish to purchase the 7-day Travelcard, you will receive it loaded onto an Oyster Card. Unlike the National Rail Travelcard, it is issued by London Underground and does not entitle you to 2 for 1 discounts at tourist attractions.

How do I use the Travelcard?

Whereas the Oyster Card is plastic and must be swiped through the yellow reader on the turnstile to gain access, the Travelcard is cardboard and must be swiped through the slots on the turnstile both on entry and exit.

The million dollar question! Choosing between an Oyster Card or Travelcard will depend on the length of your stay in London and how often you plan to use the tube. For example, if you plan to ride the tube two to four times a day for short periods of time such as four days in London or five days in London, or you want to travel to the outskirts of London, it is best to opt for an Oyster Card with balance ("Pay as you go"), as you can benefit from the "daily cap".

This is a system that works for a period of 24 hours and there is a maximum spending limit per day depending on the zones. Every time you make a journey on the tube, credit will be deducted from your Oyster Card until you reach that cap and from then on your journeys will be free as no more credit will be deducted from your Oyster Card.

However, if you plan to spend a week or more in London and you will be taking the tube to get around the central area continuously, then the most cost effective option is to choose a 7-day Travelcard.

Can I share an Oyster Card or Travelcard with someone else on the same journey?

No, you can't. If you are travelling to London with someone else you should each have your own Oyster Card or Travelcard, but if you are travelling separately in the future you can borrow or share them because if you buy them at tube stations neither card is linked to an ID card or name.

The Visitor Oyster Card is a similar card to the traditional Oyster Card but, unlike the Oyster Card, it has been designed specifically for tourists. It offers cheaper fares than paper tickets and daily limits that control maximum spending. It costs £5 (non-refundable) and comes with pre-loaded credit that you can choose from £10 to £50. The card can be purchased before travel and is not available for purchase within London.

Key benefits:

• Economy pricing: Lower fares and daily limit (e.g. £8.10 in zones 1-2).
• Credit options: £10, £15, £20, £25, £30, £40 or £50 depending on the length of your stay.
• Additional discounts: 10% on Thames Clippers River Bus and Thames tours.
• Reusable: No expiry date; you can use it on future visits or borrow it.

The London Underground is open Monday to Saturday from 5am to midnight and from 7am to 11.30pm on Sundays, when the first and last train of each line departs. This means, for example, that if a train departs at midnight it will run until it reaches the last stop on the line. On weekends (Fridays and Saturdays) the London Underground timetable is extended on some lines (Piccadilly, Central, Jubilee or Northern) and they are open 24 hours a day.

As a curiosity, public transport in London closes on 25 December. On the evening of Christmas Eve, the service starts to be reduced and there are no night buses. It resumes operation on 26 December ("Boxing Day") but in a reduced way. Keep this in mind if you plan to spend Christmas in London.

Trains run at a very high frequency of 2-3 minutes and there are usually no delays in service, so the London Underground is one of the best ways to get around the city.

• Children under the age of 11 can travel for free on Transport for London as long as they are accompanied by an adult, who can enter with a maximum of 4 children.
• Children aged 11-15 can ride trams and buses for free and get discounts on all other transport such as the Underground, London Overground, TfL Rail and DLR if they have a Zip Oyster 11-15 photocard.
• Teenagers aged 16 and 17 can purchase a Zip Oyster +16 card which entitles them to free travel or discounts on London transport. For example, 50% off adult 'pay as you go' fares on the Tube, bus, TfL Rail, London Overground, DLR and most National Rail services in London.

The London Underground consists of 11 lines and 274 stations covering over 1,500 square metres, almost the entire city. In addition to the "official" lines there are two other lines: the DLR (driverless light rail trains that run in the east and south-east of the British capital) and the London Overground (a line that runs above ground in the north and north-west of the city).

The London Underground lines are:

• Bakerloo, brown line.
• Central, red line.
• Circle, yellow line.
• District, green line.
• Hammersmith & City, pink line.
• Jubilee, grey line.
• Metropolitan, purple line.
• Northern, black line.
• Piccadilly, dark blue line.
• Victoria, light blue line.
• Waterloo & City, blue-green line.

• Have your ticket ready to get through the turnstiles quickly, especially if you're taking the tube at rush hour (before 9.30am or around 6pm) to ease the flow of passengers in and out of the station.
• If you can, plan your off-peak travel on the London Underground. It is usually crowded with commuters coming and going from all corners of the capital. This is especially true between 6.30am and 9.30am and between 5pm and 7pm. This way you'll be able to move around the underground with greater peace of mind.
• Check the London Underground app or website before you travel to see if there are any incidents on the lines you want to take or if any stations are closed for maintenance. It will give you up-to-date service information and even provide alternative routes.
• Move around the platform to find more space. When you get to the platform, don't crowd at the entrance. If you see that there are a lot of people on a section of the platform, keep walking to where there are fewer people. You may even find a free seat if you want to sit down.
• Let yourself out of the carriage before entering. You will be able to get in more easily and without being pushed by other passengers.
• "Mind the gap! For safety reasons, always stand behind the yellow strip on the floor when waiting on the platform and pay attention to the gap between the carriage and the platform when entering or leaving.
• Keep an eye on your belongings on the metro. Watch out for pickpockets as you would in any other city and make sure you keep your valuables safe during your journey.
• If you miss a station or get on the wrong line, don't worry, trains run frequently, so just get off at the next station and check the map carefully to find the correct route.
• London Underground trains run every 2-7 minutes, depending on the line, so simply get off at the next stop and look for an underground map on the platform to guide you.
• Stand on the right-hand side of the escalators and leave the left-hand side free for those who want to walk up them more quickly.
• If you are travelling with children or luggage, use the appropriate access on the London Underground. At all stations there are turnstiles with a wider passageway and doors that take longer to close for easier access.
• If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask London Underground staff or any other London Underground user for help - they're sure to be able to give you a hand if you need it!