Tube, trains and taxis

The best London public transport options

The Elizabeth line and airport trains, the Tube, buses, river boats, black cabs, Uber and trains for day trips: here is how to get around London, with honest advice on which ticket to use, what a taxi or Uber really costs and getting from the airport with bags.

By the Things to Do in London editorial team 6 tours compared Prices checked 24 October 2026

A London Underground train pulling into a curved platform as passengers wait

Short answer

On London public transport, the easiest way around is the Tube, paid by contactless card. Tap the same card in and out, and a daily cap stops you paying more. From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line is the best middle choice of speed and price.

Our 6 picks for river boats and sightseeing buses

Two river tickets, two river and bus passes, a Stansted airport train and a bus with the London Eye. None of them replaces a contactless card for the Tube. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.

from €12 per person Our top pick

1-day ticket 4.0 (1,179) reviews on GetYourGuide

Uber Boat single river ticket

One trip on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river bus. You can board at any pier in the Central and East zones, from Battersea Power Station to Barking Riverside. It has indoor seats and covered outdoor space.

Best for A river ride that is also transport
Check availability: Uber Boat single river ticket on GetYourGuide
from €12 per person

1-day ticket 4.5 (1,011) reviews on GetYourGuide

City Cruises one-day river pass

Hop on and off for a whole day between four piers: Greenwich, Tower, London Eye and Westminster. The captain gives commentary in English, and an app covers 14 languages. Attraction tickets are not included.

Best for Sightseeing from the water
Check availability: City Cruises one-day river pass on GetYourGuide
from €38 per person

1–2 days 4.2 (5,146) reviews on GetYourGuide

Big Bus hop-on hop-off, with an optional cruise

Open-top buses past Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and the London Eye. The 24- and 48-hour tickets add a Thames cruise. The 48-hour ticket adds three guided walks.

Best for A first look at the big sights
Check availability: Big Bus hop-on hop-off, with an optional cruise on GetYourGuide
from €33 per person

1-day ticket 4.1 (272) reviews on GetYourGuide

Uber Boat hop-on hop-off, 1 day

Unlimited Uber Boat rides for one day, in every zone from Putney to Barking Riverside. Use it to reach the Tower, the London Eye and Greenwich. Food and attraction tickets cost extra.

Best for Several river stops in one day
Check availability: Uber Boat hop-on hop-off, 1 day on GetYourGuide
from €26 per person

50–100 minutes 4.3 (87) reviews on GetYourGuide

Stansted Express to or from Stratford

An express train between Stansted Airport and London Stratford, one way or return. Big bags are allowed, and every seat has power and USB. This ticket is non-refundable.

Best for Stansted flights with an east London hotel
Check availability: Stansted Express to or from Stratford on GetYourGuide
from €67 per person

Valid 1–2 days 3.8 (35) reviews on GetYourGuide

Hop-on hop-off bus and the London Eye

A hop-on hop-off bus ticket for 1 to 3 days, plus a 30-minute London Eye ride and one free river boat trip. Its rating is 3.8 from 35 reviews, the lowest here, so read the listing first.

Best for A bus tour with the Eye in one ticket
Check availability: Hop-on hop-off bus and the London Eye on GetYourGuide

River tickets, bus passes and the airport train compared

River tickets, bus passes and the airport train compared
Tour	From	Duration	Free cancellation	Who it suits	Why we picked it
Uber Boat single river ticket 4.0 (1,179)	€12 per person	1-day ticket	Yes	A river ride that is also transport	The cheapest way onto the river here, rated 4.0 from 1,179 reviews.
City Cruises one-day river pass 4.5 (1,011)	€12 per person	1-day ticket	Yes	Sightseeing from the water	A full day on the river with commentary, rated 4.5 from 1,011 reviews.
Big Bus hop-on hop-off, with an optional cruise 4.2 (5,146)	€38 per person	1–2 days	Yes	A first look at the big sights	The most-reviewed pick here, rated 4.2 from 5,146 reviews.
Uber Boat hop-on hop-off, 1 day 4.1 (272)	€33 per person	1-day ticket	Yes	Several river stops in one day	Covers the whole river bus line, rated 4.1 from 272 reviews.
Stansted Express to or from Stratford 4.3 (87)	€26 per person	50–100 minutes	No	Stansted flights with an east London hotel	A booked seat into east London, rated 4.3 from 87 reviews; listed after the refundable picks.
Hop-on hop-off bus and the London Eye 3.8 (35)	€67 per person	Valid 1–2 days	Yes	A bus tour with the Eye in one ticket	The only pick that bundles the London Eye; placed last for its lower rating.

Uber Boat single river ticket
€12 per person1-day ticket 4.0 (1,179)
Details
Free cancellation
Yes
Who it suits
A river ride that is also transport
Why we picked it
The cheapest way onto the river here, rated 4.0 from 1,179 reviews.
City Cruises one-day river pass
€12 per person1-day ticket 4.5 (1,011)
Details
Free cancellation
Yes
Who it suits
Sightseeing from the water
Why we picked it
A full day on the river with commentary, rated 4.5 from 1,011 reviews.
Big Bus hop-on hop-off, with an optional cruise
€38 per person1–2 days 4.2 (5,146)
Details
Free cancellation
Yes
Who it suits
A first look at the big sights
Why we picked it
The most-reviewed pick here, rated 4.2 from 5,146 reviews.
Uber Boat hop-on hop-off, 1 day
€33 per person1-day ticket 4.1 (272)
Details
Free cancellation
Yes
Who it suits
Several river stops in one day
Why we picked it
Covers the whole river bus line, rated 4.1 from 272 reviews.
Stansted Express to or from Stratford
€26 per person50–100 minutes 4.3 (87)
Details
Free cancellation
No
Who it suits
Stansted flights with an east London hotel
Why we picked it
A booked seat into east London, rated 4.3 from 87 reviews; listed after the refundable picks.
Hop-on hop-off bus and the London Eye
€67 per personValid 1–2 days 3.8 (35)
Details
Free cancellation
Yes
Who it suits
A bus tour with the Eye in one ticket
Why we picked it
The only pick that bundles the London Eye; placed last for its lower rating.

None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.

From each London airport to the city

London City Airport is the quickest ride in: the DLR reaches Bank in 23 minutes. Heathrow comes next, with three train lines into town.

Heathrow: the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line or the Piccadilly line. Gatwick: Gatwick Express, Southern or Thameslink trains. Stansted: the Stansted Express or a coach. Luton: the DART shuttle, then a train to St Pancras. London City: the DLR.

The table below shows each option with its time, price and source.

London airports to the centre: every option compared
Route	Option	Time	Cost	How often	Hassle	Source
Heathrow airport (LHR) to central London	Heathrow Express	15 min Terminals 2 & 3 → Paddington (6 min more from Terminal 5)	from £10.00 single booked 30+ days ahead; £26.00 on the day; £42.00 return; under-16s free with a paying adult	every 15 min	Low: Heathrow Express, fastest, non-stop to Paddington, then Tube or taxi onward; not covered by daily caps	Heathrow Express: tickets and journey times
	Elizabeth line	32–33 min Terminals 2 & 3 → Tottenham Court Road	£15.50 pay as you go to central London (£14.60 to Paddington)	several trains an hour (TfL planner: 11:06, 11:21, 11:25 on a weekday)	Low: Elizabeth line, no change to Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon or Liverpool Street; tap contactless or Oyster	TfL fare finder: Heathrow T2&3 to Tottenham Court Road
	Tube	48 min Terminals 2 & 3 → Piccadilly Circus	£5.90 pay as you go (£7.00 paper single)	about every 10–13 min from Terminals 2 & 3 mid-morning	Low on cost, medium with big bags: Piccadilly line, no change to King's Cross, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus; counts toward the daily cap	TfL fare finder: Heathrow T2&3 to Piccadilly Circus
	Bus	about 40 min to Victoria Coach Station (fastest to Earl's Court 25 min)	from £11.20 one way	up to 77 coaches a day	Low: National Express coach from the terminals, 1 large case (or 2 medium) plus 1 soft bag; traffic sets the time	National Express: Heathrow to London
	Taxi	30–60 min	£70–£120 metered, plus £1.60 from a Heathrow rank	on demand at the ranks outside each terminal	Low: door to door, every cab takes contactless and has wheelchair access	TfL: taxi fares (from 25 April 2026)
	Car	not stated by TfL	£18 Congestion Charge (07:00–18:00 weekdays, 12:00–18:00 weekends) plus £12.50 ULEZ for non-compliant cars; £7 each time you use a Heathrow drop-off zone	any time	High: charges stack up and central parking is scarce; only worth it if you are leaving London	TfL: Congestion Charge
Gatwick airport (LGW) to central London	Gatwick Express	30 min to Victoria	£24.00 pay as you go; 10% off booking online with Gatwick Express	twice an hour	Low: Gatwick Express, non-stop from the South Terminal; not covered by caps	Gatwick Airport: trains
	Southern / Thameslink	32–34 min to Victoria (Southern); 29 min to London Bridge (Thameslink)	£10.70 off-peak, £19.20 peak pay as you go	several an hour (Gatwick: a train on average every four minutes across all routes)	Low: same speed as the express for less than half the off-peak fare; Thameslink also serves Blackfriars, Farringdon, St Pancras	TfL fare finder: Gatwick to Victoria
	Bus	about 1 h 5 min to Victoria Coach Station	from £6 one way	up to 21 coaches a day; first 01:00 from the South Terminal	Medium: cheapest, guaranteed seat, slower than the train	National Express: Gatwick to London
	Taxi	about 1 h 45 min to King's Cross	not stated by the airport (pre-booked fare from its approved provider)	pre-book or ranks	Medium: door to door but long and traffic-dependent	Gatwick Airport: taxis and transfers
Stansted airport (STN) to central London	Stansted Express	about 48 min to Liverpool Street (36 min to Tottenham Hale)	from about £9.90 single, £19.80 return booked ahead; £21.00 off-peak / £23.00 peak pay as you go	every 15 min through the day	Low: Stansted Express from the station under the terminal, 2-minute step-free walk	London Stansted: Stansted Express
Stansted airport (STN) to central London	Bus	from 45 min to Tottenham Hale; longer to central stops	from £7 one way	24/7, up to every 9 min	Low: National Express, three routes, 20+ drop-off points across London, change to any similar coach within 3 hours	National Express: Stansted to London
Luton airport (LTN) to central London	Train	32 min to St Pancras, plus the 4-min DART shuttle to the station	£12.30 off-peak / £16.60 peak pay as you go (Thameslink) plus £4.90 DART	DART every 5–15 min, 24/7; Thameslink and EMR trains to St Pancras	Medium: one change (DART to Luton Airport Parkway); Thameslink also runs on to Farringdon, Blackfriars, London Bridge	London Luton Airport: trains
Luton airport (LTN) to central London	Bus	from 40 min to Golders Green; about 1 h 25 min to Victoria (night timing)	from £7 one way	up to 47 coaches a day, round the clock	Low: no shuttle needed, stops at Baker Street, Marble Arch, Victoria (A2 also Paddington)	National Express: Luton Airport to London
London City airport (LCY) to central London	DLR	23 min to Bank	£3.30 off-peak, £3.90 peak pay as you go	every 10 min mid-morning (TfL planner)	Low: DLR from the airport's own station, no change to Bank	TfL fare finder: London City Airport to Bank (DLR)

Read from the operators' own pages on 24 October 2026. Fares and timetables change; check before you travel.

Which airport route to pick: cheapest, fastest, easiest with bags

From Heathrow, the Piccadilly line is the cheapest train, the Heathrow Express is the fastest, and the Elizabeth line sits in between. Heathrow calls the Piccadilly line "the most budget-friendly option".

The Piccadilly line costs £5.90 pay as you go to Piccadilly Circus and takes 48 minutes. The Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in 15 minutes, from £10.00 booked 30 days ahead or £26.00 on the day.

The Elizabeth line costs £15.50 to central London on TfL’s fare data (£14.60 to Paddington). Some older pages still show £13.90, which was the fare before March 2026.

From Gatwick, Southern and Thameslink trains take about as long as the Gatwick Express. They cost £10.70 off-peak, against £24.00 for the express. From Stansted, the coach costs from £7 and the Stansted Express takes about 48 minutes.

From Luton, take the DART shuttle to the station (under 4 minutes), then a train to St Pancras (32 minutes). With heavy bags, a black cab or a booked car takes you door to door.

No Piccadilly line on Sat 31 Oct and Sun 1 Nov 2026. Use the Elizabeth line to Heathrow.
No Piccadilly line Hammersmith–Heathrow on 21–22 Nov 2026. Use the Elizabeth line.
Paddington is closed on Sat 28 and Sun 29 Nov 2026. No Heathrow Express and no Elizabeth line between Heathrow and central London. Use the Piccadilly line.

Guides on getting around London

Getting around the city: Tube, buses and DLR

The Tube, Elizabeth line, buses, Overground and DLR all take the same contactless card or Oyster. Touch in and out on the yellow readers on trains. On buses, you only touch in.

The Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights. It covers the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria and Windrush lines.

Not every station has step-free access. If you use a wheelchair or carry heavy bags, check the station on TfL’s journey planner first. TfL’s status page shows live closures.

If you hold football tickets in London, leave early on match days and plan your Tube trip ahead.

London Bridge station is the stop for Borough Market. Prices, stalls and tours are in our Borough Market London food prices guide.

Bus prices in London

A bus or tram ride costs £1.75 now. From 1 November 2026, it costs £1.85, and the daily bus cap rises from £5.25 to £5.55.

With the Hopper fare, all bus and tram rides within one hour of your first tap cost one fare. Buses do not take cash: TfL says "You can't use cash to pay for your bus fare."

Paying for it: contactless, Oyster, visitor passes and daily caps

Use a contactless bank card or phone: it pays the same fares as Oyster, and you need nothing else. Daily and Monday-to-Sunday caps work on both.

Tap the same card or device every time. A phone at the start and a watch at the end count as two cards, and you pay more. In the 2026 London Travel Cost Study, the daily cap for pay-as-you-go on the Tube and rail in zones 1–2 was £8.90, from TfL's March 2026 fares, read on 24 October 2026.

Peak fares apply Monday to Friday, 06:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 19:00. Two people cannot share one card on the same trip, so each person taps their own.

A Visitor Oyster card costs £10.50 plus postage, and the fee is not refunded. It only makes sense if you have no contactless card. Cards from outside the UK may add bank fees, so check with your bank.

A paper Day Travelcard for zones 1–4 costs £16.60. The Heathrow Express is not covered by the caps or by Travelcards.

River boats: transport and sightseeing in one

Yes, the river bus is real public transport. The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at 24 piers from Putney to Barking Riverside.

A single in the Central zone costs £9.90 off-peak with contactless or Oyster. It costs £11.70 online and £16.40 at the pier, per Thames Clippers. A one-day hop-on hop-off pass costs £29.30 online.

Tower Pier sits next to the Tower: see our Tower of London guide. London Eye Pier is at the foot of the wheel: see our London Eye guide.

London taxis: black cabs and Uber

Hail a black cab when its yellow TAXI light is on, find one at a rank, or book one. Every licensed taxi must take contactless, with no card fee.

Fares run on the meter. The minimum fare is £4.40 from 25 April 2026. On a weekday daytime, 2 miles costs £12.60 to £20.20, per TfL.

Evenings, weekends and nights cost more. Booking by phone or app adds up to £2. From Heathrow to central London, TfL says £70 to £120.

Taxis beat the Tube at night, for three or four people with bags, and for short hops off the Tube map.

Uber in London

App-booked cars are minicabs, which TfL calls private hire. A minicab must always be booked ahead: TfL says "Stay safe – always book your minicab." An app booking counts.

Never get into a minicab that offers you a ride on the street. TfL’s licence checker shows whether a driver, car or operator is licensed.

Hop-on hop-off buses: sightseeing with transport built in

A hop-on hop-off bus is a sightseeing tour, not cheap transport. A day on the Tube costs a fraction of the ticket. What the bus buys is commentary and a seat with a view.

Buses do not always come as often as you hope. Check the listed frequency on the tour page before you plan your day around it.

You can compare every route on our hop-on hop-off bus tours page.

Day trips on your own: train, coach or car

Most day trips are easy by train. Oxford and Bath leave from Paddington, Windsor from Paddington with a change at Slough, and Cambridge from King’s Cross.

Brighton trains leave from Victoria, and Canterbury has high-speed trains from St Pancras. Stonehenge has no station: take a train from Waterloo to Salisbury, then the Stonehenge Tour bus.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is near Watford. Trains from Euston reach Watford Junction in about 20 minutes. Then a shuttle bus takes about 15 minutes to the studio.

Tours that combine two or three places are on our day trips from London page.

Day trips by train from London (read 24 October 2026). A dash means the fare changes by train: check it when you book.
Day trip	Train from	Time	Cost from	Source
Paris (Eurostar)	St Pancras	most trains about 2 h 16 min (up to 2 h 37)	from £39	Eurostar: London to Paris
Windsor	Paddington	28 min Paddington → Windsor & Eton Central, change at Slough	£7.90 off-peak, £12.40 peak pay as you go	TfL fare finder: Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central
Oxford	Paddington	56 min Paddington → Oxford direct	—	TfL journey planner: Paddington to Oxford
Bath	Paddington	75–82 min Paddington → Bath Spa direct	—	TfL journey planner: Paddington to Bath Spa
Cambridge	King's Cross	49 min King's Cross → Cambridge direct	—	TfL journey planner: King's Cross to Cambridge
Stonehenge	Waterloo	about 1 h 30 Waterloo → Salisbury, then 30 min by tour bus	—	English Heritage: getting to Stonehenge
Brighton	Victoria	58 min Victoria → Brighton direct (73 min with a change at Three Bridges)	—	TfL journey planner: Victoria to Brighton

Cheap train tickets into and out of London

Book advance tickets on the train company’s own site: they are usually the cheapest. Rail fares change by train and time, so check the fare when you book.

A Railcard costs £35 a year and takes a third off most fares. There are cards for ages 16–25 and 26–30, seniors, Two Together and Family & Friends.

The Two Together Railcard is for two named people who travel together. It works after 09:30 on weekdays, or any time at weekends and on public holidays.

When a rental car makes sense, and when it does not

No, you do not need a car in London. Driving into the centre costs the £18 Congestion Charge on weekdays from 07:00 to 18:00, and from 12:00 to 18:00 at weekends.

Older cars that fail the emissions rules also pay £12.50 a day for the ULEZ, across all of London. Parking is hard to find.

A car does make sense outside the city. It helps for the Cotswold villages, which are far apart, or for Stonehenge and Bath on your own timetable.

For the Cotswolds villages or Stonehenge with Bath on your own schedule:

Compare Heathrow rental cars

Tips for getting around London

Same card every time
Tap in and out with the same card, phone or watch. Only then do the daily caps work.
One card each
Two people cannot share one card on the same trip. Each adult taps their own.
No cash on buses
London buses only take contactless or Oyster. Have a card ready before you board.
Bags and steps
Check step-free access on TfL’s journey planner before you travel with a case. At Stansted, the station is a 2-minute step-free walk from the terminal.
Book your minicab
At night, hail a black cab with its light on, or book a minicab in an app. Never take a minicab offered on the street.
Check works before you fly
Look at TfL’s status page a few days ahead. Paddington is closed on 28–29 November 2026.

Real questions about getting around London

How do I get a taxi in London?

Hail a black cab when its yellow TAXI light is on, or go to a taxi rank. You can also book one by phone or app, which adds up to £2. A minicab must always be booked in advance.

How much does a taxi in London cost?

Black cabs use a meter, and the minimum fare is £4.40. On a weekday daytime, TfL says 2 miles costs £12.60 to £20.20, and 4 miles costs £21 to £31. From Heathrow to central London, it is £70 to £120.

Is there Uber in London?

Cars booked in a ride app count as minicabs, which TfL calls private hire. A minicab must always be booked, and an app booking counts. We could not confirm Uber’s licence on a TfL page when we checked, so use TfL’s licence checker if you are unsure.

Should I use Oyster or contactless in London?

Use contactless if you have a card or phone that works abroad. It pays the same fares and caps as Oyster. A Visitor Oyster card costs £10.50 plus postage, and the fee is not refunded.

Do London buses take cash?

No. London buses do not take cash. Pay with a contactless card, phone or Oyster. A ride costs £1.75, or £1.85 from 1 November 2026.

What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to central London?

The Piccadilly line is the cheapest train. It costs £5.90 pay as you go to Piccadilly Circus and takes 48 minutes. The National Express coach to Victoria costs from £11.20.

Do I need a car in London?

No. The Tube, buses and trains cover the city, and driving into the centre costs £18 a day in Congestion Charge. A car only helps for trips like the Cotswold villages.

More London river boats and bus tours, live

More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.

See all of these with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.

Browse all on GetYourGuide

Browse all of them on GetYourGuide

Sources (39), facts checked on 24 October 2026

Written by the Things to Do in London editorial team.