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Illustrative London scene, AI-generated AI-generated illustration

Independent of TfL

London transport for a first visit

Choose a category, check the official source, and prepare the journey before leaving the hotel.

Categories

Illustrative London scene, AI-generatedEssentials4Cards, zones, hours and concessions before the first journey.Illustrative London scene, AI-generatedNetwork3Lines, interchanges and the differences between Tube, Elizabeth, Overground and DLR.Illustrative London scene, AI-generatedAirports4How to reach London from each airport and what to check before booking.Illustrative London scene, AI-generatedWhere to stay6Real neighbourhoods, hotels with official sites, and the cost of staying farther out.Illustrative London scene, AI-generatedExplore3Area walks with reference stations, without invented routes.Illustrative London scene, AI-generatedAccessibility2Step-free stations, luggage and decisions best settled before departure.Illustrative London scene, AI-generatedPlanning3Official maps, weekend closures and a three-day structure you can revise.

Local tools

Filter, compare a budget or prepare a list. No tool books travel or promises a journey time.

Tools

Trip budget calculator

Compare an outer hotel room with a central room, then subtract extra daily travel. You enter current quotes in pounds.

Tools

Printable trip checklist

Prepare documents, cards, contactless, luggage and accessibility notes. Changes stay in this browser only.

Tools

Itinerary planner

Prepare origin, destination and preferences, then open the official TfL journey planner. This page calculates no routes or times.

Available guides

Elizabeth line train reflected in the glass wall of Heathrow stationAI-generated illustration

AirportsFirst trip

Heathrow: Piccadilly, Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express

Heathrow has three different rail choices into London. The Piccadilly line is part of the Underground, the Elizabeth line is a cross-city railway, and Heathrow Express is a dedicated service to Paddington. Sharing an airport does not mean sharing a fare, route or ticket conditions.

White and red commuter train waiting at the airport station platformAI-generated illustration

AirportsFirst trip

Gatwick: trains, terminals and payment

Gatwick does not have a London Underground station. Its railway connection is National Rail: Southern and Gatwick Express serve Victoria, while Thameslink offers other central stations. Choose the arrival that reduces your onward journey instead of looking for a supposed Tube line extending all the way to the airport.

Modern red and white train at the airport station platformAI-generated illustration

AirportsFirst trip

Stansted: trains, contactless and connections

Stansted is linked to London by railway, not by an extension of the Underground. Stansted Express reaches Liverpool Street and offers an interchange at Tottenham Hale. From those stations you continue on the urban network according to your accommodation; choosing the right connection can prevent a detour with luggage.

Blue train crossing a brick viaduct towards the cityAI-generated illustration

AirportsFirst trip

Luton and London City: two airports, two routes

Luton and London City are different airports with different rail connections to central London. Luton combines the DART shuttle with National Rail, while London City has a DLR station. Check the airport name and code on your booking before choosing accommodation, buying a ticket or selecting your departure station.

Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster seen from the South Bank of the ThamesAI-generated illustration

ExploreEveryone

Westminster and South Bank: Tube and riverside walk

Westminster and South Bank work better as a riverside walking route than as a sequence of Tube journeys. Start at Westminster, explore the area around Parliament and cross Westminster Bridge to the south bank. The station provides access to the walk rather than replacing the walking experience itself.

Red-brick Victorian station typical of the Kensington areaAI-generated illustration

ExploreEveryone

South Kensington museums without rushing

South Kensington groups major museums close together, but proximity does not mean you can fully visit them in one morning. The Natural History Museum, V&A South Kensington and Science Museum offer different experiences. Choose one main visit and keep another optional, particularly with children, mobility needs or a timed admission booking.

Canal boats and residential buildings beside a railway bridgeAI-generated illustration

ExploreEveryone

Camden and Greenwich: two different outings

Camden and Greenwich are not neighbouring districts or consecutive parts of one continuous walk. Camden combines markets and a canal north of the centre; Greenwich brings maritime heritage, parkland and museums to the southeast. Visit on separate days or link them by transport, but do not let a simplified tourist map hide the transfer.

Hand tapping a contactless card on the yellow and blue reader of a London Underground gateAI-generated illustration

EssentialsFirst trip

Contactless and Oyster without mistakes

Contactless pays for journeys with a compatible bank card or device, whereas Oyster uses credit that you load in advance.

London Underground roundel with stacked coins, illustrating zone-based faresAI-generated illustration

EssentialsBudget

Fares, zones and spending caps

Fare zones help calculate rail travel costs around London, but they are not a substitute for checking a specific journey.

Red Underground train pulling into a lit station at nightAI-generated illustration

EssentialsEveryone

Operating hours and Night Tube

There is no single opening and closing time that applies to every station on every day.

Red London Underground train running through a curved LED-lit tunnelAI-generated illustration

NetworkEveryone

The eleven Tube lines

London Underground has eleven lines, but the official map also includes railways that are not Tube lines.

Crossing escalators inside a major interchange stationAI-generated illustration

NetworkEveryone

Making interchanges easier

An interchange is part of the journey, not an instant between two trains.

White and purple Elizabeth line train arriving at a night platformAI-generated illustration

NetworkEveryone

Elizabeth line, Overground and DLR

London's rail map combines Underground with other networks that can provide a better answer for many journeys.

Wheelchair user using a boarding ramp on the platform, assisted by staffAI-generated illustration

AccessibilityEveryone

Accessibility and step-free journeys

A step-free journey requires checking the entire route, not simply finding a lift at the starting station.