London Travel Resources

• Get a contactless card or Oyster card before boarding. You can’t pay cash on the Tube.
• Tap your card on the yellow reader at the entry gate and again at the exit gate. If you forget to tap out, you’ll be charged a maximum fare.
• Find your platform using the line colour and the direction (e.g., “Southbound” or the name of the terminal station).
• Stand on the right on escalators; walk on the left.
• “Mind the gap” means watch the space between the train and the platform edge — it can be significant on curved stations.
• Check the front board on the platform: it shows the destination and next stops. Not all trains on a line go to the same terminus.

Contactless (bank card, Apple Pay, Google Pay) is the simplest option for most visitors. Fares are capped daily and weekly automatically. No deposit required. Works across Tube, bus, Overground, DLR, Elizabeth line, tram, and most National Rail in London zones.

Oyster cards are useful if your bank card doesn’t support contactless or if you’re on a long trip and want to pre-load credit. They require a £7 refundable deposit. Visitor Oyster cards are a special pre-loaded version available online before your trip.

For most visitors in 2026, contactless is the better choice — no queuing, no deposit, daily caps apply automatically.

• Heathrow (LHR): Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 min, ~£25) or Elizabeth line (30–45 min, ~£10–15 with Oyster/contactless).
• Gatwick (LGW): Gatwick Express to Victoria (31 min, ~£20) or Thameslink to multiple city stations (~£12–18).
• Stansted (STN): Stansted Express to Liverpool Street (47 min, ~£18–24). Night coaches from ~£6.
• Luton (LTN): Shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway + Thameslink to St Pancras (40–55 min, ~£18).
• London City (LCY): DLR direct from terminal to Bank / Canary Wharf (~20 min, ~£5–8), or Elizabeth line from Custom House.

• Check the TfL Go app for live status updates and alternative routes.
• Station staff can advise on diversions — look for the information points or ask at the ticket office.
• Buses run parallel to many Tube lines and can be a useful alternative during signal failures.
• During severe disruptions, TfL sometimes allows free travel on bus routes — ask staff or check the app.
• If you’re caught mid-journey, tap out at the nearest working station to avoid a maximum charge being applied.

Step-free access varies significantly across London’s transport network. Here’s how to navigate it:

• Download the TfL Step-Free Tube Guide (official PDF from tfl.gov.uk/maps) before your trip.
• Use the TfL Journey Planner and select “step-free” under accessibility options for a tailored route.
• The Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground, and all buses are fully step-free.
• Many Tube stations have lifts but check the TfL Go app for live lift status before relying on them.
• Call TfL’s accessibility helpline or visit a TfL Visitor Centre for personalised journey planning assistance.