An Overview Of London Transport Fares

 

When contemplating London Transport fares it would be prudent to first of all take a look at the various transport options.  The availability and frequency of transport options in London is especially useful for those visiting the Capital.  The details contained in this website will be invaluable for all sorts of visitors to the Capital and in particular those of you visiting for the 2012 Olympics.

Transport for London is ultimately responsible for coordinating the many transport options for the City.  These can be conveniently listed as:

  Busses

  Underground railway

   Overground railway

   Docklands Light Railway

   River transport

You can of course add to this list the many thousands of taxis and minicabs. This massive transport network covers the whole of Greater London. The airports serviced by this impressive transport network are Heathrow and London City Airports.

The system is arranged into six circular zones which ripple out from a central point. I would suggest that most of the hotels and places of interest will be located within Zones 1 & 2.  Obviously travel costs will vary depending on the type and length of your journeys.  However the Zonal system goes some way towards simplifying the London transport fares conundrum!

In the inner Zones such as 1, 2 and 3 the transport system is dominated by the London Underground Railway System and the Buses.  On arriving in London you will immediately recognize the world famous Red London Buses.

 

London Transport Fares Explained

 

The first thing to appreciate is that you will not be able to board a bus or train (underground or overground) without pre-purchasing a ticket.  The single fare on a bus is a flat fare however far you travel. The London transport fares for the underground are determined by the number of Zones you intend to travel through on a journey. You can of course switch trains between the various lines within any single journey.

 

London Transport Fares Ticket Arrangements

 

There is always a fully operational and manned ticket office at London underground stations.  However, once you get used to the system you should make use of the automatic ticket machines.  This can help to speed up your journey time by avoiding one of the British institutions – The Queue.

At bus stops there is usually a ticket machine, or one nearby, where you can purchase your bus tickets.

Tickets when purchased are generally used for multi-trips.  That is to say they are rarely used for single journeys.  It is a much more cost effective arrangement for the passenger to operate a card or pass system.  Hence it is usually cheaper to buy one of these cards or passes than to purchase a single journey ticket.

 

London Transport Fares – Pass System Explained

The easiest and simplest way to purchase these passes is at a London Underground ticket office.  Alternatively you can purchase passes at nominated retail ticket point and these are easily recognised. Look out for signs in the windows of many shops and retail outlets such as newsagents.  These outlets will clearly advertise the fact that they can sell a whole range of ticketing options at the same price as from London Underground Stations.

 

London Transport Fares – Travelcards

 

Perhaps the most popular and indeed sensible option for the visitor to London is to get a Travelcard.  These can be for differing periods from one day upwards depending upon the length of your stay.  Three day travel cards have proved to be the most common choice for many visitors.  Travelcards can be obtained to cover all public transport options within set zones.  Zones 1 & 2 are regarded as the most popular options for sightseeing visitors.  An advantage when purchasing travelcards for Zones 1 & 2 is that they cover the cost of bus journeys in all Zones.

On most buses you will need to just show your travelcard to the driver as you get on board.  On the London Underground your travelcard will need to be inserted into the machine at the barrier on entry and exit.

 

London Transport Fares – Oyster Cards

 

There is a well established ‘Oyster Card’ scheme for London Transport fares. You will need to purchase these at the usual

places as described above and you can top up the cards here as well.  The system here is to load a specific amount of money electronically onto the card, say £10.  The Oyster Card is used by swiping the cards over yellow pads on buses and at ticket barriers at London Underground Stations. Oyster Cards are typically the size of a credit card and the fare for your journey is automatically deducted from the monetary value on your card.

 

London Transport Fares In Conclusion

 

Under normal operating guidelines underground lines and bus routes operate between about 05:00hours and 24:00hours.  There may be some exceptions to this and you will be well advised to check these variances locally.  Usually these comprise of all-night buses.

I trust you now have a basic understanding of London Transport fares in anticipation of your visit to the Capital.