Big London officially consists of 32 districts and the City. The city stands out separately, because it is an administrative entity run by the Lord Mayor of City, while the rest is run by the Mayor of London.

The names of some areas, such as Westminster or Camden, are well known, but the names of other areas, such as Hackney and Tower Hamletts, are virtually unknown to travelers and tourists. For travelers, it is more common to define areas according to cultural, functional or social criteria. On this basis, the following classification can be proposed:

• Central London
  • City
  • Westminster
  • West End: Soho, Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Ridget Street, Bond Street, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square
  • Marilebon
  • Mayfair
  • Saint James
  • South Bank
  • Bloomsbury
  • Holborn
• West London: Paddington, Chelsea, Fulham, Earls Court, Notting Hill, Hammersmith, Shepherd's Bush, Eckton, Chizwick, Ealing, Southall, Wembley, Ken Syngton, Hounslow, Oxbridge.
• Southwest London: Buttersey, Brixton, Clapham, Kingston, Patney, Richmond, Streatham, Tutting, Southfields, Twickenham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon.
• South London: Southwark, Lambeth, Croydon.
• Southeastern London: Greenwich, Bromley, Becksley, Deptford, Dulvic, Louis.
• East and Northeast London: Clerkenwell, Doklands, Shordich, Hackney, Bethnal Green, Bow, Brick Lane, Mail End, Poplar, Stepney, Stratford, Waltemstow and White a chapel.
• North and North West London

By plane

London has five airports - Heathrow (30 km from London), Gatwick (50 km), Luton (55 km), Stansted (60 km) and London City (15 km). From each airport you can reach London by train or bus. EasyBus buses run from all airports except Heathrow and City to central London. Terravision and National Express buses run from all airports except the City. In order to save money, it is better to order tickets in advance on company websites. The Victoria Coach Station bus station in London, where most buses arrive, is 500 meters from the Victoria Station.

Railway and metro lines at various Heathrow airport terminals

• Heathrow is in the west of the city, the most famous and busiest. Heathrow has five terminals. Three of them (1, 2, and 3) are close to each other (terminal 2 is now completely dismantled), and terminals 4 and 5 are separate. The Heathrow Central Bus Station and Heathrow Central train station are near Terminals 1, 2 and 3. All terminals are connected by bus routes. Travel by buses and trains between airport terminals is free.

Heathrow Express to Paddington Station. Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes from 5:10 to 23:30. The journey time is 15 minutes. At Heathrow Airport, the train stops at Terminal 5 and Terminals 1, 2 & 3. A standard one-way ticket costs £20 (in cash/automatic). The conductor's ticket costs £25. Business class ticket costs 28 pounds (in cash/automatic). Tickets can also be purchased on the company's website.

Heathrow Connect train to Paddington station. The Heathrow Connect train runs every 30 minutes from 4:40 to 23:00. The journey time is 30 minutes. At Heathrow Airport, the train stops at Terminal 4 and Terminals 1, 2 & 3. The train follows with stop stops in western London: Hayes & Harlington, Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing and Ealing Broadway. A standard one-way ticket costs £9.50.

Metro (Piccadilly line). Metro trains run from Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Time on the way is about an hour.

EasyBus to Shepherd's Bush and Waterloo. The cost of travel starting with £2 on the company's website.

All buses depart from the Central Bus Station of Heathrow Airport near Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Some buses also go to terminals 4 and 5.

The National Express buses take you to central London, Victoria Coach Station bus station, and many UK cities.

Local buses reach north-west and south-west London.

The X26 express bus runs through all of southern London to Kroydon.

From Heathrow to the city can be reached by taxi (£55 - £60).

• Gatwick is south of town. At the airport two Terminals - North and South, there is a free automatic train between the terminals.

The Gatwick Express train is the fastest way to travel from the airport to central London. Viktoria Train Station is daily, with no stops between 4:35 and 0:35 every 15 minutes. From London from Victoria Station the trains leave at 3:30 till 23:45, also every 15 minutes. The journey time is about 30 minutes. Tickets are worth £29 in first class, £56 in back and forth. In the second class one way - £19.90, back and forth - £34.90. Tickets can be bought on the caravan at the ticket office right before boarding, on the train or on the company's website.

Southern train to East Croydon, Clapham Junction and Victoria stations. Trains run around the clock every 15-30 minutes. The journey time is about 45 minutes. A standard one-way ticket costs £14.40. Tickets starting at £5 are available on the company's website.

Train First Capital Connect to a number of London stations, such as London Bridge, Blackfriars, St. Pancras International. Trains run around the clock every 20-60 minutes, while the journey time to the London Bridge station is about 40 minutes. After London, trains pass by Luton Airport Parkway (for Luton Airport) to Bedford. A standard second-class ticket costs £14.80. Tickets starting at £10 are available on the company's website.

A3 National Express bus to Victoria Coach Station. Buses leave from the North and South terminals every hour. Tickets start at £6.50, travel time - 1 hour 35 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on the company's website.

EasyBus to West Brompton (close to Earl's Court) and Waterloo. The minibuses leave from the Northern and Southern terminals every 20-30 minutes. Travel time - about 60 minutes, the cost of tickets starts with £2 on the company's website.

• Stansted is in northeast London. There is one terminal at the airport, from which you can get to London by train or by bus. The train station is right under the airport.

Stansted Express train to Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street stations, the journey time is about 45 minutes. Trains leave every 15 minutes from 5:30 am to 1:30 am. The price of a second-class ticket one way £23.40 or back-to-back is £32.80. First class tickets cost £37.50 and £54.10, respectively. Tickets for the train can be purchased on the company's website.

Cross Country Trains go to Cambridge, Bormuth and Birmingham.

Bus 767 National Express to Golders Green, Finchley Road, Baker Street, Marble Arch and Victoria Coach Station. Buses leave around the clock every 20-30 minutes.

A5 National Express bus to Golders Green, Finchley Road, Baker Street, Paddington and Marble Arch. Buses leave around the clock every 20-30 minutes.

A7 National Express bus to Waterloo and Victoria Coach Station. Buses leave around the clock every 20-30 minutes.

Bus A8 National Express to Bow Church, Mile End, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch and Liverpool Street. Buses leave around the clock every 20-30 minutes.

Bus A9 National Express to Stratford. Buses leave around the clock every 30 minutes. Tickets start at £6.50.

Bus A50 Terravision to Victoria Coach Station. Buses leave every 30 minutes. Tickets start at £9. Travel time - 1 hour 15 minutes.

Bus A51 Terravision to Liverpool Street. Buses leave every 30 minutes. Tickets start at £8. Travel time is 55 minutes.

Bus A52 Terravision to Redbridge and Stratford. Buses leave every 30 minutes. Tickets start at £6. The journey time is 40 minutes.

EasyBus to Baker Street or Old Street. The minibuses are sent every 20-30 minutes, the cost of travel starting with £2 on the company's website.

• Luton is in the north. There's one terminal at the airport. This airport is mainly used by budget airlines for flights to Europe, is a hub for budget airlines EasyJet, Ryanair, ThomsonFly, WizzAir.

By bus shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway station (5 minutes), then abus 757 Greenline to Brent Cross, Finchley Road, Baker Street, Marble Arch London Victoria and Green Line Coach Station. Tickets from £8. Tickets can be bought on the company's website or from the driver. Travel time - 1 hour 45 minutes. Buses run around the clock, and the interval between flights is 10-30 minutes.

EasyBus to Liverpool Street. The minibuses are sent every 20-30 minutes, the cost of travel starting with £2 on the company's website.

A1 National Express bus (jointly with EasyBus) to Golders Green, Marble Arch and Victoria Coach Station. Buses leave around the clock every 10-30 minutes. Tickets start at £15.

The National Express buses connect Luton Airport to cities such as Northampton, High Wycombe, Oxford, Leicester, Nottingham, Coventry, Birmingham, Cambridge and Milton Keynes .

By train. There is no train station at the airport itself, to Luton Airport Parkway station from the stop 1 (Bay 1), located near the terminal, runs a shuttle bus. The driving interval is from 05:00 to 24:00 - every 10 minutes, the travel time is 5 minutes. Railway tickets purchased at the airport are valid for the shuttle bus. When buying a ticket from London to the airport, you must indicate that the ticket is needed to the airport, not to the Luton Airport Parkway station, then it will be valid on the shuttle bus. The First Capital Connect train from Luton Airport Parkway takes you to the stations: St. Pancras International, Blackfriars, London Bridge, etc. or continue your journey to Gatwick Airport and further to Brighton.

• London City - located in the east of the city, serves both private airplanes and regular European flights. The daily flight to New York is the only regular intercontinental flight from City Airport.

The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) trains provide a convenient way to get to eastern London, as well as to the financial centers City (Bank) and Canary Wharf. Canning Town and Bank stations, where you can catch the London metro, are reached every 10 minutes. Travel time is about 25 minutes.

Eastern London can also be reached by bus routes 473 and 474.

Airlines such as Aeroflot and British Airways regularly fly to London from Moscow. They all land at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways also flies between St. Petersburg and London (Heathrow).

By train

London is the hub of the British Railways. London can be reached by train from any of Britain's more or less important cities, as well as from many provincial stations.

• From London Paddington station you can reach South England and Wales including Ealing Broadway, Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth, Cardiff and Swansea . The Heathrow airport trains leave from London Paddington.
• From London Marylebone you can reach Amersham, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Wembley Stadium as well as Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmin gham. From Marylebone to Birmingham by train will be cheaper than from London Euston, though a little longer.
• From London Euston you can reach Northwest England and Western Scotland including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Oxenholme Lake District, Carlisle, Glasgow and Holyhead for ferry to Ireland and Ireland Northern Ireland. Sleeping trains to Scotland leave from London Euston.
• From St. Pancras International can be reached from Paris, Brussels and Lille, as well as Luton (Luton Airport Parkway station), Bedford, Brighton, Gatwick, Catford, Kent and East Midlands including Leic ester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
• From London King's Cross you can reach eastern, northeastern England and eastern Scotland including Cambridge, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
• From London Moorgate you can reach the northern suburbs of London.
• The London Liverpool Street provides access to Stansted Airport and East England including Ipswich and Norwich.
• The London Fenchurch Street offers access to the eastern suburbs of London and Southend.
• From London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross stations you can reach the southern and southeastern suburbs of London and further to Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ramsgate.
• From London Blackfriars you can reach Bedford, Brighton, Gatwick airport and Luton airport (Luton Airport Parkway station).
• From London Waterloo you can reach the southwestern regions of London and England including Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury and Exeter.
• From London Victoria you can reach the southeastern areas of London and England including Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings, Canterbury and Ramsgate, as well as Gatwick Airport.

By car

By bus

Most of the international buses and coaches leave from the Victoria Coach Station or from the Green Line Coach Station, which is across the road from the Victoria Coach Station. Both bus stations are 500 meters from Victoria Metro and Train Station.

• The National Express buses have the largest and most branched network in the UK, and only leave from the Victoria Coach Station.
• The Megabus buses take you to most of the UK cities, as well as to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Buses are only available from the Victoria Coach Station.
• Buses Eurolines run on the lines connecting London to Northern Ireland and continental Europe. Buses are only available from the Victoria Coach Station.
• The Greenline buses connect London to the northern and western suburbs, as well as to Luton Airport. Buses are only available from the Green Line Coach Station.
• The iD Bus connects London to Paris, Lyon and Lille. Buses leave from Victoria Coach Station.
• The X90 and Oxford Tube buses provide 24-hour access to Oxford. The X90s depart from the Victoria Coach Station and Oxford Tube from the Green Line Coach Station.
• Buses for the rest of the operators can be departed from Victoria Coach Station and from Green Line Coach Station.

On the ship

London's transport system [1] is very large and quite varied. London's urban transport is London Underground, London Overground, Dockland Light Metro (DLR), Tramlink, National Rail, Buses, River Transport and Taxi. Tickets can be one-time (most expensive), on the day, on the week, on the month and on the year.

London Ticket System

Oyster is a convenient way to pay for travel around London. On this card you can buy a Travelcard for some number of zones and/or put a certain amount (Pay As You Go) for rare or irregular trips. Travel on Oyster is always cheaper than regular paper tickets (unless, of course, you have a free trip through London, which is sometimes included in a railway ticket), so it is worth buying a card if you are traveling more than one or two times.

Travelcard offers unlimited number of trips in the following modes:

Map of Oyster

• All city buses (day, night and express) - regardless of the zones;
• Tram (Travelcard must be in zone 3, 4, 5, or 6);
• Metro - within paid zones;
• London Overground - within paid zones;
• TFL Rail - within paid zones;
• The Doklend Light Metro (DLR) - within the paid zones;
• Railway trains - within paid zones;
• Discounts on river transport on ships Thames Clippers.

Travelcard does not apply to:

• By buses and coaches, even if they have stops across London;
• Tourist buses;
• Stansted Express, Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express, Heathrow Connect, Heathrow Airport and Hayes & Harlington, and Southeastern Highspeed.

Oyster Card Holders at Canary Wharf Tournist Station

Pay As You Go - can be used without Travelcard, then the money will be written off when entering the bus/tram or when leaving the metro/railway/DLR, or in conjunction with Travelcard. Pay As You Go is conveniently combined with Travelcard. For example, Travelcard is purchased for zones 1-2, and the trip ends in zone 4, the payment for 3-4 zones will be written off with Pay As You Go money. This is convenient for trips, for example to Heathrow airport (located in zone 6) on the Piccadilly metro line.

Some metro/train/DLR stations have no turnstiles, in this case it is necessary to mark the Oyster card on the validator, otherwise the maximum amount for the one-time ticket will be written off.

Single tickets, paper tickets or Pay As You Go are divided into two types: peak and off-peak. "Peak" ticket is required for trips from 6:30 to 9:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Friday. In the rest of the time the ticket "off-peak" is valid. Time is counted from the moment of entry to the station. "Peak" Travelcard is valid for one day until 4:29 am the following day. From Monday to Friday "off-peak" Travelcard is valid for one day from 9:30 to 4:29 am of the following day. On Saturday and Sunday "off-peak" Travelcard is valid for one day all day and until 4:29 am the following day. Weekly, monthly and annual Travelcard operate regardless of periods "peak" and "off-peak".

If you use Pay As You Go as your travel payment, the money will be charged only to a certain amount (price cap). For example, today we only ride city buses. For the first, second and third trips will be charged at £1.50. The "Price cap" for the bus is £4.50, so there will be nothing more to charge for bus trips today - you can skate as long as you like until midnight. Oyster must still be applied to the validator. For tomorrow we will make two metro trips in zones 1-2 (per hour peak). "Price cap" would then be £6.60. Two trips will fall at £2.90, then take the bus 2 times (£2.90 + £2.90 + £0.80 + £0.00 = £6.60). With the first bus trip we already exceed the "price cap", so it costs £0.80 instead of £1.50 and so the second one is free. Everything, more today nothing will be written off - it is possible to ride free of charge on any red buses, as well as on the metro on zones 1 and 2. But if we decide to go to zone 3, the "price cap" will automatically rise to £7.70.

It can happen that the Oyster card goes down to minus, i.e. more money is spent than was originally loaded. In this case, the card will cease to work until the account is replenished, even if a valid Travelcard is purchased.

There are two main types of Oyster cards: standard and Visitor Oyster.

The standard Oyster card can be found at London metro or railway station ticket offices (some stations have no ticket offices) or at some subway stations. The Oyster card is paid a deposit of £5, which cannot be used for travel, but can be returned later when the card is returned. The card is ready for use after it is replenished with some amount of Pay As You Go (minimum £5) and/or purchased with Travelcard. The Oyster card is recommended to register because if you lose a registered card it will be possible to restore the balance and/or valid Travelcard. Also, the card must be registered to purchase a monthly or annual Travelcard. You do not have to register an Oyster card to purchase a week-long Travelcard.

Visitor Oyster is distributed outside the UK or some agents in the UK (for example, at Gatwick Express at Gatwick airport or on Eurostar train). Such a map is not available at subway stations. Visitor Oyster costs £3, which is not refunded. Visitor Oyster card can only be used for one-time Pay As You Go trips and cannot be purchased with Travelcard. Visitor Oyster is not eligible for registration.

Each passenger must have his or her own Oyster card.

You can check in the Oyster card at any metro station. In this case, the deposit (£5) and the balance will be returned. If the money was paid in cash, it will be returned in cash. If Oyster was paid with a bank card, then he's returned to the bank card. If Travelcard was purchased and there are still unused days, the remainder of Travelcard "days" will not be returned. In some circumstances, the Oyster card may not be accepted at the metro ticket office. If so, it should be sent to: Oyster Refunds, 4th Floor, 14 Pier Walk, North Greenwich, London, SE10 0ES. Then there'll be a check to the home address. If Oyster was replenished by various means (cash and bank cards), the cash box will not give money - it is necessary to send by mail to Oyster Refunds.

In London you can use contactless bank cards to pay for travel. Contactless bank cards are accepted in all modes of transport where Oyster is accepted: in the metro, DLR, London Overground, TFL Rail, tram and rail. When you sign in, attach your contactless bank card to the yellow validator (like an Oyster card). No need to enter a PIN. A green indicator and one beep signal means that the card has been accepted for payment - you can pass. The following contactless cards are accepted: Visa, MasterCard and American Express. One-time travel and price cap are the same as for the Oyster card. Travelcard and Bus Pass on contactless bank card cannot be purchased at this time. Only one person can pay for the trip on the bank card. Foreign contactless cards (not all) can also be accepted for payment. However, it should be noted that foreign banks can add fees for using the card.

Drivers of London city buses do not sell tickets for cash. Use Oyster cards, contactless bank cards or pre-purchased paper Travelcard to pay for bus travel.

One-time paper tram tickets are purchased at automatic stations. Tram tickets are worth £2.40. If you choose the option "Addington + bus" when purchasing a ticket, you will be able to transfer from the tram to the bus 64, 130, 314, 353, 359, 433 or 464 for free. Just show the ticket to the bus driver.

Subway/Dokland LRT/London Skytrain/Railway tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices or at the station. One-time tickets, return tickets and one-day Travelcard are available. The seven-day Travelcard can be bought at the railway ticket offices. To purchase a seven-day Travelcard you will need a photo. The cost of paper one-time tickets starts at £4.70.

A child aged 5-10 needs to have an Oyster with a photo of free travel on the metro, DLR, London skyline and some lines of the railroad without adult escort. Oyster with photography is necessary if the child looks over 10 years old.

Oyster with photography is not needed:

• for bus and tram trips;
• for purchase of "to", "to-back" and one-day Travelcard tickets at the children's rate;
• for free adult travel with valid ticket (up to 4 children per adult).

A child aged 11-15 needs to have an Oyster with a photo for:

• Free bus and tram travel (without Oyster with photo - pay for travel as an adult passenger or form Young Visitor Discount);
• use of children's pay as You Go tariff on metro, DLR, London overland and some railway lines;
• purchase of weekly and monthly tickets for children's fare.

Oyster with photography is not needed for:

• purchase of children's tickets (by metro, DLR, London skyline and some railway lines) and one-day Travelcard in the cash register/automatic.

To make a map, you must fill in the form on the Transport for London website. The card will be issued at the Travel Information Center.

A child of 11-15 years can be executed Young Visitor Discount instead of an Oyster card with a photo. Decorated by:

• In the offices of metro stations in zone 1;
• In the ticket offices of the Heathrow metro stations;
• At the DLR office of City Airport;
• Travel Information Center.

For decoration:

• Personal presence of the child and parent;
• A standard Oyster card registered in the parent's name.
• You may need a document confirming the child's age.

One adult can draw an Oyster card for a maximum of 4 children. Card with Young Visitor Discount gives the right to 50% discount when paying for travel Pay As You Go on buses, metro, DLR, London Overground and on certain lines of railway. The discount is valid for 14 days. The discount does not apply to the purchase of a week-long Travelcard and does not allow free travel. After 14 days, the Oyster card becomes the standard [adult].

Metro

The 11 metro lines cover the entire center of London and its surroundings. Some metro lines go far beyond Greater London. The metro can be very crowded, especially during peak hours. Passengers with wheelchairs and baby-wheelchairs cannot use many metro stations. In this case it is more convenient to continue the trip by bus.

The London Underground, also called the tube, is the largest metro system in Europe and America. It is also the world's oldest metro, as the first line between Paddington and Farringdon Street was opened on 10 January 1863. At that time, the trains were working on a steam engine. It was only by 1933 that the metro was fully electrified. The London Underground system currently consists of 275 stations and 408 kilometers of tracks. The metro in London carries three million passengers a day.

London metro line network.

The metro schemes are displayed at prominent places at all stations. In trains there are maps of a specific metro line and the diagrams of the central part of the city. Full charts can also be found in the back of many daily books and tourist booklets. Pocket metro circuits can be taken free of charge at the stations. Each metro line has its own standard color, which is marked on all diagrams and indicators. This greatly facilitates the planning of a trip to the London subway. The metro scheme does not reflect the actual distance between the stations. Sometimes it is much faster to travel between two stations on the ground by bus than to descend to the ground. The standard metro scheme includes 11 underground lines, DLR train network and London Overground line. Some schemes also include National Rail, Tramlink and Emirates cable car lines. Bus routes on the metro schemes are not marked.

London's metro, like the rest of London's railways, is divided into 6 concentric zones. The additional three zones, from 7 to 9, cover the western ends of the Metropolitan line, as well as the stations to Broxbourne and Shenfield northeast of London, served by the Greater Anglia trains. When purchasing a ticket, you must take into account all the zones you need to pass through. For example, if you want to sit in zone 3 in West London and exit in zone 2 in the east, you need to take the ticket to zones 1, 2 and 3, since the trip will also take place through the first zone. The Oyster system automatically counts the first zone. There are several routes that can be traveled both through the first (most expensive) zone and around it (the second zone). In order for the system to calculate everything correctly and take into account that the passenger didn't come to the first zone, at the transfer stations it is necessary to mark the Oyster card on a pink validator. If this mark is not made, the trip is automatically considered to have passed through the first zone.

Metro trains run from about 05:30 to 01:00. It's a pretty fast way of moving around London. During peak hours, trains can be crowded, and in summer days under the ground can be very hot. It is recommended to carry water with you in summer.

Every weekend and holiday some metro lines and stations can be closed for repairs. In such cases, buses are provided outside central London to replace trains at closed stations. For detailed information on the operation of the metro lines, as well as planned closures, please visit the Transport for London website. Information boards or screens are also located at the entrance to the stations.

All metro lines have their own names (Bakerloo, Central, Metropolitan, etc.). Many metro lines are bloated and spent at the ends. Moreover, specific trains may end earlier than the last station on the line. The final station of each train is marked on the indicators on the platforms, on the front of the train and is written and announced in the wagons. The Northern line has two branches in central London: one goes through Charing Cross and Waterloo, and the other goes through King’s Cross, Bank, and London Bridge.

Many metro trains have door opening buttons. However, it is not necessary to press them - the doors will open on each station automatically. It should be noted that, because of the size of some stations, the last door of the last wagon may remain closed. When approaching such a station, a special announcement is made, in which passengers are invited to pass to the middle of the last car to reach the platform.

Almost all metro stations have entrance and weekend turnstiles. Most of the turnstiles are designed for one person, but each station has broader turnstiles for passengers with luggage, baby cot and bicycles. Bicycle transportation in the London metro is allowed only on land stations outside the rush hour. When passing through the turnstile, attach the Oyster card to the yellow validator or insert a paper ticket. The paper ticket will have to be taken back later. When leaving the station, you should attach the Oyster card to the yellow validator or pass the paper ticket through the turnstile. One trip paper tickets will not be returned when leaving the station.

Tickets on the metro can be bought in automatic stations. There are several types of ticket vending machines. Most of them accept coins (£0.10, £0.20, £0.50, £1 and £2) and banknotes (£5, £10 and £20), as well as chipped bank cards of international payment systems. To buy tickets on a card without a chip, you need to contact the ticket office. You should also apply to the cash register if you want to pay with a note of £50 or Scottish/Northern Ireland notes. There are automatic machines that accept, for example, only bank cards. In paper version, the machines sell one-time tickets and round-trip tickets, as well as one-day Travelcard. To purchase a seven-day or monthly Travelcard you will need an Oyster card. It can also be used to pay some amount of Pay As You Go (money will be charged for each trip). Some vending machines also sell Oyster cards.

The London metro can be very expensive in some cases. One-time paper tickets start at £4.70, while the Oyster card will be much cheaper. One-time travel charged to Oyster starts at £2.20. The Oyster system is designed in such a way that the card will not be more than the price of a one-day Travelcard per day. For a longer visit to London, it may be more profitable to purchase a week-long Travelcard. Contactless bank cards in the metro are in effect.

An unspoken etiquette in the London metro:

• Get the ticket to the turnstiles approach, not directly in front of them.
• In the transitions, follow the signs. They are made in such a way as to divide the human flows as much as possible.
• On the escalators stand on the right, go on the left.
• If you have to go through a transition, for example, to check the diagram, do so in such a way that you do not block the entire passage.
• On the platform, wait for the train where you do not interfere with the arrival/departure passengers.
• When waiting for the train, stand behind the yellow line (for your own safety).
• When you board the train, get side by side of the door and first release the passengers leaving.
• If you drive only one or two stations, consider whether you need to run through the legs of sitting passengers to take a place in the middle of the train car, and in a minute or two, also back to the exit.
• Save the ticket until the end of the trip. It'll be needed when you leave the station.
• If you use Oyster, don't forget to attach it to the validator at the entrance and exit from the station.

Dokland Luggage Subway

Network of lines of the Dockland Lumbo Metro.

The Docklands Light Railway (Docklands Light Railway or DLR) is an automatic light rail system in East London that extends between Stratford/Stratford International, Bank, Tower Gateway, Lewisham, Beckton and Wool stations wich Arsenal and passing through Canary Wharf financial district and London City airport.

At present, the DLR system has 45 stations and 40 kilometers of tracks. Although all DLR lines on circuits are identified in the same color, trains run along the following routes:

• From Stratford to Lewisham (at the morning rush hour from Monday to Friday)
• Stratford to Canary Wharf
• From Bank to Lewisham (not stopping at West India Quay)
• From Bank to Woolwich Arsenal
• From Tower Gateway to Beckton
• Stratford International to Woolwich Arsenal (Monday to Friday morning and evening peak hour)
• Stratford International to Beckton (outside the rush hour and on weekends)

Extra trains are available when exhibitions and events take place at the ExCeL exhibition center.

Most of the metro stations in Dokland are above ground level, some are underground or slightly below ground level. Most platforms can be reached by stairs or by elevators, which are equipped with all stations of the system. All platforms are at the same level as the floor of train wagons, which gives another convenience in the use of DLR trains.

The Dokland Log metro is part of the London metro area system. Passengers can use their Travelcard to travel, which covers the required number of zones. There are only DLR trains, called "Rover", and tickets for DLR and City Cruises, called "Rail and River Rover". The Oyster cards are also accepted for use by the Dockland light metro. Passengers with the Oyster card should mark their card on the validator at the beginning and at the end of the trip. This is especially important to remember, as most stations of the system do not have any turnstiles.

The Dockland LRT trains are made up of two or three steam cars and can travel in both directions. They don't have a driver's cabin, as under normal conditions the movement is automatic. At each end of the train there is a small hidden control panel. A Passenger Helping Agent, who is on board each train, can resort to manual train control in case of an emergency.

London Land

The network of London overhead lines.

London Overground is a London suburban railway. Opened in 2007, it spans London in zone two and enters Hartfordshire County. It is part of the UK's National Rail system, but is subject to London's Transport for London system.

Most of the London above-ground lines go over the earth. The system currently has 83 stations and 86 kilometers of tracks. Although all the lines in the schemes are marked with the same color, the trains follow the following routes:

• From Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction.
• From Highbury & Islington to Crystal Palace.
• From Highbury & Islington to West Croydon.
• From Highbury & Islington to New Cross.
• From Gospel Oak to Barking.
• From Stratford to Richmond.
• Stratford to Clapham Junction.
• From Watford Junction to Euston.
• From Liverpool Street to Enfield Town.
• From Liverpool Street to Cheshunt.
• From Romford to Upminster.

Paper tickets to the London skyline are sold on railway forms, although their rates are harmonized with London subway zones. Travelcard to the respective zones and Oyster cards via Pay As You Go system are valid.

Railway

Railways, which initially link London to the cities of the United Kingdom, are also an integral part of London's transport. They are particularly important in southern London, where there are historically few subway lines.

Use of railway trains is as easy as the metro/DLR/London Overground trains. Oyster (Pay As You Go and Travelcard) operate within London zones except:

• Heathrow Express
• Gatwick Express
• Stansted Express
• Heathrow Connect (between Heathrow and Hayes & Harlington stations)
• Virgin Trains
• Southeastern Highspeed

Pay As You Go's railway rates are exactly the same as the metro rates on most lines north of the River Thames. Special Pay As You Go rates (different from metro rates) can be applied on the following lines:

• south of the River Thames;
• west of Chiswick, Richmond, and Kingston;
• between West Hampstead and Elstree & Borehamwood stations;
• between Finsbury Park and Hadley Wood / Crews Hill stations;
• Between Seven Sisters and Enfield Town / Broxbourne stations;
• between Tottenham Hale and Broxbourne stations;
• between Walthamstow Central and Chingford stations;
• between Stratford and Shenfield stations;
• between Romford and Upminster stations.

Outside the Greater London Oyster (and Travelcard), the railway is no longer operational.

Tram

The London Tramlink was opened in 2000. It is located in southern London and intersects with seven National Rail stations, one subway station - Wimbledon and one London overhead station - West Croydon.

The tram system has 39 stations and 28 kilometers of tracks. There are four tram routes in London:

• 1 - from Elmers End to Croydon.
• 2 - from Beckenham Junction to Croydon.
• 3 - from Wimbledon to New Addington.
• 4 - from Elmers End to Therapia Lane.

All stations have kolyas ramps, external surveillance cameras, information screens and ticket machines.

Tram tickets are valid for seven-day, monthly or annual bus tickets (Bus Pass) and Travelcard for zones 3, 4, 5 or 6. One-time paper ticket costs £2.40. The driving capacity written off the Oyster card is the same as in the bus - £1.50. Trams and buses 130, 314, T31, T32 or T33 with the Oyster card will cost only one trip.

Passengers using the Oyster card must mark it on the validator before boarding the tram.

Bus

There are currently about 700 bus routes in London, the Transport for London system. They serve the entire Greater London and some of its surroundings. All routes can be divided into several categories:

• Daily - working from about 5-6 am until midnight. Numbers between 1 and 603 or letters, such as A10, RV1, EL2, etc.
• Round the clock - open 24 hours a day. And day and night, the route number and the traffic pattern are the same.
• Night - work only at night. Can be significantly or even completely different from daytime analogs. These route numbers start with "N".
• Express - there are only three in London: 607, X26 and X68.
• School - all routes of the 600-series, excluding 603 and 607. They work on school days. This is designed to take the schoolchildren to the place of study in the morning and then pick them up in the afternoon.
• Auxiliary - all routes of the 900th series. They make several flights a week.

The speed of buses varies greatly. Some routes, like 38 or 521, run every 2-3 minutes. Most buses run every 7-12 minutes. Some rare routes run every 20-30 minutes. At night, buses usually run every half an hour in central London and a little less frequently on the outskirts of the city.

There are about 100 night and 24-hour routes in London. Most of them leave from the center from Trafalgar Square, although there are some that don't come to the center. They link the large district centers to each other, as well as the western areas to Heathrow Airport.

London's bus network covers not only the whole of Greater London, but also extends beyond the city. With an Oyster card or Travelcard/Bus Pass, which are no longer valid on the railway outside London, you can reach:

• Slough - 81;
• Denham - 331;
• Watford Junction - 142 and 258;
• Potters Bar - 298 and 313;
• Borehamwood - 107 and 292;
• Waltham Cross - 217, 279, 317, 327, 491 and N279;
• Loughton/Debden - 20, 167, 397 and 549
• Brentwood - 498;
• Lakeside - 370 and 372;
• Dartford/Bluewater - 96, 428 and 492;
• Swanlea - 233;
• Knockholt - R5 and R10;
• Caterham - 404, 407, 434 and 466;
• Redhill - 405;
• Banstead - 166 and S1;
• Epsom - 166, 293, 406, 418, 467 and 470;
• Leatherhead/Dorking - 465;
• Esher - K3;
• Molesey - 411;
• Staines - 117, 203, 216 and 290.

There were times when London buses were mostly green. In the 1990s of the 20th century, bus companies were allowed to paint buses in any color. But since the early 2000s the number of multicolored buses has been rapidly decreasing. At the moment, almost all London buses are red. The small exceptions are buses operating on EL1 and EL2 routes (they have red-orange coloring) and several buses on 8 and 38 routes in black and gray.

Two-thirds of London buses are two-story. All buses except a few Routemaster's are low-floor and can be used by passengers with disabilities.

The traditional London Routemaster (1962-1966) buses with open rear and conductor remained only on route e 15 (on the truncated version).

"New Bus for London"

Many of the central routes are operated by so-called "New Bus for London". They, like the traditional Rutmaster, have an open backyard, which makes this bus convenient for entering and leaving not only at marked stops, but also on light-flies. These buses fully meet modern public transport and London needs. They are designed for passengers with limited mobility, including wheelchairs. During the daytime, such a bus can be entered either through the open rear area or through both standard doors. The Oyster card should be attached to the validator located at each entrance. In the evening and at night, when the rear area is closed, enter the first door.

The vast majority of London's buses are diesel, although more than 1,000 cars already run on a hybrid engine. There are also 7 buses with hydrogen engines on the RV1 route. This is the second series of hydrogen buses in London. The first few machines were tested in 2003-2007 on routes 25 and RV1. At the moment several fully electric buses are tested on 312, 507, 521 and H98 routes. Several more two-story and one-story electric buses are expected soon on routes 69 and 98.

Bus stop sign

The bus stops are arranged so that from any point of London to the nearest stop there is no more than 400 meters.

At each stop there is a map of the bus routes of the nearby area and a schedule of buses leaving the stop. Not all buses that pass a particular stop will stop there. If there are too many bus routes on a particular street, they are grouped so that the next bus stops in the same direction at the same stops. Buses going in the other direction will stop at the next stop a few meters away. Such nearby stops are marked with white letters on red circles: A, B, C, etc. These indexes are necessarily marked on local schemas.

Information screens have been installed at major bus stops, which show how long the nearest buses will arrive. Real-time information about any stop in the city can be found on Countdown's website or by sending a stop code from your mobile phone to 87287. A unique code is written at each stop. Text message paid: £0.12 + standard message cost.

Some buses operate in the sparsely populated streets in Hail & Ride mode. That is, there are no fixed stops there and the bus stops in [any] place where the passenger can get out or go. Such plots are marked on schemes and are announced in advance on the bus: "Hail & Ride section starts here" and "Hail & Ride section ends here".

If there is road work in the area of the bus stop and buses can prevent other traffic, the bus stop is closed ("Bus stop not in use") or carried forward or backward.

A passenger at a bus stop needs to wave at an approaching bus to stop. If the passenger didn't signal to the bus driver, he will drive by with a clear conscience, thinking that the first needs another bus. When the bus stops, the bus can also pass if the number of passengers in the bus has reached the permitted maximum.

Buses in London necessarily indicate the route number and destination, even if it is not the last stop on the route. This information is announced and duplicated on the screen in the bus cabin. The next stop is also announced and written on the screen.

Oyster Card Val in Bus

The bus should enter the first door and mark the e-ticket with a yellow validator or show the paper ticket to the driver. Buses of routes 507 and 521, as well as the "new bus for London", can enter both doors. On Routemaster buses tickets are checked and sold by the conductor.

In the bus, the first few seats are reserved for passengers who have difficulty standing. It is not allowed to stand on the stairs and on the second floor.

Press the "STOP" button before stopping to signal the driver to stop. Exit the bus through the middle door. All London two-story buses and most single-story buses have a middle door.

Drivers of London city buses do not sell tickets for cash. Use Oyster cards, contactless bank cards or pre-purchased paper Travelcard to pay for bus travel. If you use an Oyster card, it charges £1.50 for each trip, but not more than £4.40 per day. You can also buy a seven-day bus ticket (Bus Pass) for £21.00 on the Oyster card. Travelcard (in paper or electronic form) is valid on all city buses, regardless of paid zones.

Each time you use a card, it will be charged the same amount (£1.50) as when you use Oyster Pay As You Go. When using the card, the same maximum amounts are written off as the Oyster card. In addition to the one-day maximum amount, a week-long maximum amount is applied. The weekly amount can be equal to or even less than the cost of a week-long Travelcard. Everything depends on the trips. The system will analyze your trips and automatically choose the most naive option. The weekly maximum amount to be written off is calculated strictly from Monday to Sunday. Once you have reached the weekly amount, all other trips (until 4:29 a.m. Monday) will be free. The card should still be applied to the validators. Travelcard and Bus Pass on contactless bank card cannot be purchased at this time. A bank card can pay for a trip for only one person.

The following contactless cards are accepted: Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Foreign contactless cards (not all) can also be accepted for payment. However, it should be noted that foreign banks can add a fee for using the card. It has been proven that the maps released in North America and the Netherlands do not work.

Taxi

In London, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, two types of taxi are available: Black cab and Minikeb. Black cabs are the only ones who have the right to take passengers on the street. Under the license, mini-cabs are private hire vehicles and must be ordered in advance.

The famous London Black Cabs, not necessarily black, can be taken directly on the street or in special taxi parking. Such parking is usually located near large stations and shopping centers. They can also be ordered by phone in advance.

Before driving a black London taxi, drivers must pass the "The Knowledge" comprehensive test. Successful passing of the exam means that the taxi driver will not only get a license to drive the black cab, but will be able to deliver his passengers anywhere in London without access to the city map.

The yellow "TAXI" sign, illuminated, means that the car is ready to take passengers. A taxi ride can cost a group of 5 people very little. All passengers get into the back of the car. The front to the left of the driver is the luggage area. Smoking in the car is not allowed.

Black cabs pay for a kilometer and a minute at a time. The minimum payment is £2.20. Tips are not mandatory, although many passengers round the bill to pounds. Some drivers accept payments by bank cards. It is necessary to ask the driver in advance if you can pay for the journey with a card. For trips outside Greater London, it is necessary to agree with the driver in advance on payment of the fare.

Minicab (minicab) are ordinary cars that can accept advance passenger orders under the license. Usually they take a fixed amount for the passage. This amount must be agreed in advance when ordering a taxi. The mini-cab fare is usually less than the black-cab fare. Taxi can be ordered by phone, Internet or company offices.

Licensed mini cabinets usually have a blue sign on the front or rear window. If the car is not licensed or it has not been ordered in advance, it is not a mini-cab and it is not strictly recommended to get into such a car. Mini-cab drivers are not allowed to offer their services to passengers.

Transport for London on its website, Cabwise offers to identify your location and sends three phone numbers of local mini-cabs to your mobile phone. Local mini-cabs can also be found in hotels, major train stations, airports and major shopping centers.

River transport

London is extremely rich in sights. Key among them are:

• To ride the London Eye Ferris Wheel. The VIP capsule is available to order a specialty London tea.

There are several shopping streets in London that are busy with shops - Oxford Street (cheaper) and RidgentStreet (cheaper), and Bond Street with stores for the rich.

The following outstanding shops are also worth mentioning:

London is one of the world's largest cities, with any kitchen. Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Italian, and traditional English are the most common. Of course, the largest concentration of national cuisine is found in diaspora-populated areas, and traditional pubs are widespread. There are some traditional unwritten rules when visiting pubs: 1. When you come to the pub, take the table, remember its number, and go to the stand, the waiter will hardly come to you; 2. When you get to the counter, wait for the bartender to come to you, you don't have to wave your hands, scream or attract its attention in any other way. 3. Order and pay immediately. The bartender can offer to keep the account open in case you want to order something else. If you order food, please name your table number. 4. Tip. In principle, it is not accepted to tip a bartender, but it is welcome if you order three or four pints of beer to tell the bartender: "And one for you." He'll thank you for knowing and honoring the tradition, and he'll include another pint that he'll "pour himself."

Cheshevo

London is a very low crime rate, but one should be afraid anyway. It is not uncommon to steal personal belongings from hotel rooms, and it is not necessary to worry about safety during a walk. Your belongings will be safe.