The London Underground (tube), black cabs, Uber, numerous street maps and Google maps all make Central London surprisingly easy to navigate.
You will be issued with an Oyster card which allows you to travel on both the Underground and London buses. When using the Underground simply tap the reader at both the entrance and exit barriers. Whilst on the Underground system you can freely switch between trains. On the buses you simply tap as you get on and fares are a flat rate of £1.75 with a daily cap of £5.25. Don’t panic of you lose your Oyster card, most credit, debit cards and banking apps or ApplePay will work as well.
There are Underground maps in all stations to help you plan your route. The lines are all coloured to help navigation and at the entrance to the platform will be a list of stations to ensure you are heading in the right direction. Most attractions will have information on the closest tube station and we will include this for all visits. You may have to be a little creative in route planning, especially if there is service disruption. The ‘Rome2Rio’ app is very useful for helping reach your destination efficiently.
The Underground can be very busy during rush hour or near tourist and shopping destinations at the weekends. Please take care to stand behind the yellow lines painted on the platform edge. Stand on the right hand side of the escalators and hold on to the handrail. Please be vigilant of pickpockets, it is best to have bags with sturdy fastenings, cross body bags which sit to your front rather than on your back are easier to monitor. Mobile phones should be used discreetly; don’t use them near the closing doors of tube trains, openly when walking the street or place them on cafe tables as they risk getting snatched!
Having said all this, like all cities, London very safe and friendly if you take sensible precautions.
Stitch UK Retreats 