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| City Guide - London - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport The underground and bus network is run by London Transport (tel: (020) 7222 1234 (24-hour enquiries); e-mail: travinfo@londontransport.co.uk; web site: www.londontransport.co.uk). Interested visitors can trace the history and development of the city's transport system at the London Transport Museum in the Piazza at Covent Garden (tel: (020) 7379 6344). The London Underground, commonly referred to as the 'Tube', is the oldest and most extensive underground system in the world and permeates the life and layout of London. An on-going programme is replacing decrepit rolling stock, modernising stations and improving efficiency, but escalator and station closures are still a regular problem. Twelve underground lines, each with a different name and colour, are supplemented by the privately operated Docklands Light Railway connecting the City of London and the Docklands (tel: (020) 7363 9700). The entire network is divided into six concentric zones, which determine the price of tickets. In the city centre (zone one) a single ticket costs £1.50, otherwise single fares are £0.90 (one zone) up to £2.20 (four zones). Carnets of ten zone-one tickets cost £11. Tickets must be passed through the barrier ticket gates in order for the passenger to enter and leave the system, and avoid a £10 penalty fare. The underground runs 0530-2430 but should be avoided where possible during rush hour - 0800-0930 and 1700-1830 Monday to Friday. London's famous red 'Routemaster' double-decker buses are slowly being superseded by more modern single and double deckers. There are now only two fare zones: any journey that includes the city centre zone is £1; any journey outside this zone is 70p. Tickets are bought from the driver or bus conductor on boarding and there is a £5 fine for travelling without a valid ticket. Night buses, prefixed by the letter 'N', replace the standard services after midnight. Some travelcards are not valid on these services. Nearly all night buses stop at Trafalgar Square. Regional and commuter rail services run between numerous stations in the capital and often cover routes not served by the underground system. Passes: Visitor Travelcards are available to visitors from overseas, for one to seven consecutive days' travel. Each card is supplemented by a discount booklet for major attractions. Visitor Travelcards cannot be bought in the UK; details of handling agents and prices are available from the British Tourist Authority (see the Making Contact section) in the visitor's home country. Once in London, there are a number of passes available including: One-day Travelcard (£3.90), valid after 0930 Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday; LT Card (£5), offering unrestricted travel within 24 hours; and the Weekend Travelcard (£5.80), valid on Saturday and Sunday (or public holidays). Prices quoted are for zones one and two only. The all-zone One-day Bus Pass (not valid on night buses) costs £3. Weekly, monthly and annual passes must be accompanied by a photocard. River Transport White Horse Central London Fast Ferries (tel: (020) 7231 9221) run from Canary Wharf to Embankment and Festival piers Monday to Friday, and from London Bridge to Embankment Saturday and Sunday. From the beginning of 2000, the ferries will also dock at the BA London Eye, Blackfriars, the Tower of London, and, for 2000 only, some will also extend to the Millennium Dome. City Cruises (tel: (020) 7930 9033) also run from central London to the Millennium Dome. Taxis London's distinctive black cabs are a pleasant - if pricey - way of getting around the city as well as meeting the legendary 'cabbies'. Fares start at £1.40 and increase by 20p per minute up to £8.60, then by 20p every 30 seconds; a tip of 10-15% to 'round up' the bill is usual. Each taxi has a licence number and badged drivers must comply with official regulations. London cabbies have undergone intensive training, known as the 'Knowledge', which involves riding around London on a moped learning all the street names, followed by a gruelling examination. Black cabs can be booked through Dial-a-Cab (tel: (020) 7251 0581; web site: www.dialacab.co.uk) and Radio Taxis (tel: (020) 7272 0272; web site: www.radiotaxis.co.uk). London taxi drivers' unsurpassed understanding of the city has now been tapped by a tour company, who offer black cab tours (tel: (020) 7289 4371). Any complaints about black cabs should be directed to the Public Carriage Office, 15 Penton Street, London N1 9PU (tel: (020) 7230 1631). Mini-cabs (usually standard saloon cars) can be booked over the telephone or direct from offices throughout London. Although generally cheaper than black cabs, there are numerous illegal and/or unscrupulous operators, so it is always wise to check that the company is registered. In particular, offers of lifts by unlicensed drivers off the street, late at night in the West End, should not be accepted. Limousines Chauffeur-driven luxury cars can be hired from several companies, including Carey Camelot Chauffeur Drive (tel: (020) 7235 0234), Hugh Damien Executive Chauffeur Drive (tel: (020) 8897 0555) and London Chauffeur Drive (tel: (020) 7633 9410). On average, limousines cost about £40 per hour or £2.50 per mile. Driving in the City New London mayor Ken Livingstone has vowed to ease traffic congestion but, for now, this still makes driving one of the city's least appealing features. The M25 ring motorway and major routes into the city are often at a standstill, particularly on Friday and Sunday evenings. Heavy traffic within the city has made many drivers bullish, with aggressive driving techniques increasingly common. Off-road parking is available 24 hours at NCP garages (tel: (020) 7404 3777). Street parking is limited and expensive, and is illegal within any area marked with a zigzag or double yellow line; on a red line even stopping is forbidden. The minimum penalty for illegal parking is a £30 fine; wheel-clamping and impounding vehicles, both of which incur additional fines, are not uncommon. For further information, visitors can contact the 24-hour clamping hotline (tel: (020) 7747 4747). Many residential areas require residents' permits to park. Car Hire Regulations vary from company to company. A foreign national driving licence is valid in Britain for one year, although an International Driving Permit may be preferred if the licence is not in English. A credit card is essential. It is important to check what level of insurance is included in the price of car hire. All major car firms have locations all over the city; some examples are Avis (tel: (0870) 606 0100; web site: www.avis.com); Budget (tel: (0800) 626 063; web site: www.budgetrentacar.com) and Hertz (tel: (0870) 599 6699; web site: www.hertz.com). Hiring a car is expensive in London, with rates from the major companies averaging about £50 a day. However, there has been a recent growth in budget/internet car hire companies, spearheaded by easyRentacar (web site: www.easyrentacar.com), the first internet-only car hire company, whose prices start from £9 per day. Bicycle/Scooter Hire The London Bicycle Tour Company, 1A Gabriel's Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, SE1 (tel: (020) 7928 6838; web site: www.londonbicycle.com), hires out bicycles for £12 per day and £36 per week. Scooters are increasingly popular and can be hired from Scootabout, 1-3 Leek Street, WC1 (tel: (020) 7833 4607). Drivers must be at least 21 years old and hold an International Driving Permit. Rates for a day's hire range between £19.50 and £85, depending on model, style and engine size. There is a minimum two-day hire period. |
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