By Joanna Szabo
Just looking at a map of the London Underground is probably the most intimidating part of your first few days in London. Don’t despair! It’s a lot easier than it looks. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you not panic during your Tube travels. First step: call it the “Tube.”
More about London: Things to do in London | Day Trip Ideas | Exploring the British Museum
Tickets
Oyster cards are probably your best bet if you’ll be in London for more than two days. There are a couple of options for oyster cards: Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG), where you load your card with money that is deducted each time you swipe at a station; and weekly unlimited passes, where you pay a lump sum at the beginning of the week. For a traveler, the second option is ideal — this allows you to hop on and off the Tube as often as you’d like. For shorter visits, (think 1-2 days) a couple of one-day unlimited passes will be more cost efficient.
Keep your card easily accessible and always store it in the same place in your purse, jacket, etc. — spare yourself the trouble of being in a crowded Tube station without your pass.
Cards or single tickets can be purchased at machines in any underground station. Many stations also have kiosks with employees that can help you with your purchase.
Tube Maps
Pick up a map in the first station you see. The map is separated into nine different zones to help separate sections of the city for more efficient and cost-effective travel. If you’re staying in Central London, you’ll mostly be traveling within zones 1 and 2, which cuts out seven zones you don’t need to worry about. The London Underground signage is extremely thorough, and Tube routes are programmed into Google Maps, your new best friend if you’re traveling with your smart phone. Get to know zones 1 and 2 of your map, but don’t be afraid to mark destinations and routes for the first couple of days.
Tube Etiquette
Stay quiet. Perhaps bring a book, newspaper or iPod. Discretely triple-check how many stops until your destination on the convenient maps in each car. In London, morning travel is a time for silence, afternoon travel allows casual chat with your travel companions, and evening travel is generally too crowded to talk at all. Be aware of any Tube passengers who might need your seat more than you do.
If You Miss Your Stop
Don’t panic. Simply get off at the next station, find the same line going in the opposite direction, and backtrack.
Just remember to give yourself plenty of time to get to scheduled events — plays will not wait for you. (They will, however, serve alcohol while you wait pre-show in the bar.)
Dealing with Rush Hour
There are three real rush hours in Central London — before work from 7:30-9:30 a.m., after work from around 5:00-6:30 p.m., and after the theatres get out each night (especially weekends) from 10:00-10:30 p.m. You can avoid these times, but as long as you’re not hugely bothered by a few extra friends on the Tube with you, rush hour isn’t too bad.
Speed-Learning: The Underground Challenge
Your first or second night in London, go to your nearest Tube station, get on a line (pick your favorite color) and transfer at least twice. Get off at a random stop (make sure to stay in zones 1 and 2) and find a place to eat. On your way back, challenge yourself to get back to the hotel via a different route. This challenge will help you feel considerably more relaxed navigating the city; after this, you can do anything. And it’s a pretty fun way to learn about new parts of the city!
Asking for Help
Perhaps most importantly: don’t be afraid to ask for help. Londoners are almost always willing to point you in the right direction and wish you “cheers!” as you go on your way.
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Photo credits:
London Underground Map Shirt: Roger Wollstadt via Flickr
London Underground Poster: Annie Mole via Flickr
London Tube: Tab59 via Flickr