LondonTransit Guide
Navigate the London Underground, buses, Elizabeth Line, and trains as a tourist — without overpaying, getting caught in the peak fare trap, or falling for a scam.
The One Thing You Need to Know
Use your contactless bank card or phone directly on TfL readers. Do not buy a paper ticket. TfL applies an automatic daily cap so you can never overpay beyond a set amount in a single day.
A Zone 1–2 paper single costs £6.70. The same journey with contactless costs £2.80. That is more than double the price for identical service. Paper tickets are never the right choice for tourists.
Oyster Card vs Contactless
This is the most-asked question about London transit — and the clearest answer is: use your contactless card unless you have a specific reason not to.
Visiting from outside the UK? Wise gives you a contactless Mastercard that works on all London transit at the real exchange rate — no hidden fees, no foreign transaction charges.
| Feature | Contactless Card | Oyster Card |
|---|---|---|
| Same fares as Oyster | Yes | Yes |
| Daily cap | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly cap (Mon–Sun) | Yes — £40.70 | No |
| Deposit required | None | £10 non-refundable |
| Children's discount | No | Yes (ages 11–15) |
Heathrow to Central London
Every tourist arriving at Heathrow faces the same choice. Here is the honest answer.
The Heathrow Express (£25) is jointly owned by Heathrow Airport, which is why it is prominently signed throughout arrivals. It saves 15 minutes compared to the Elizabeth Line. For most tourists carrying luggage, paying an extra £9.50 to save 15 minutes makes no sense.
| Option | Cost | Time | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Line ✅ | £15.50 | 28–45 min | Best value |
| Piccadilly Line | £5.90 | 50–70 min | Cheapest |
| National Express Coach | £6–10 | 45–60 min | Budget option |
| Heathrow Express | £25 | 15 min | Rarely worth it |
| N9 Night Bus (midnight–5AM) | £1.75 | Variable | Only overnight option |
London Tube Zones — What Tourists Actually Need to Know
London has 9 zones. Here is what matters for tourists: every major attraction — Big Ben, British Museum, Tate Modern, Covent Garden, Tower of London — is in Zone 1 or Zone 2. The daily cap for Zones 1–2 is £8.90 off-peak. That is all you need to know.
Avoid the Underground Monday–Friday between 6:30–9:30 AM and 4:00–7:00 PM. Travelling just outside these windows charges off-peak rates automatically — no action needed, it is calculated from your tap time.
London Bus Network
London buses are significantly cheaper than the Underground for short journeys. A single bus fare is £1.75 regardless of distance. The Bus Hopper allows unlimited bus journeys within 60 minutes for the same £1.75. London buses have been completely cashless since 2014 — contactless or Oyster only. Tap IN only on buses. Never tap out — tapping out triggers a double charge.
Night Tube
The Night Tube runs only on Friday and Saturday nights on five lines: Central, Jubilee, Northern (Charing Cross branch), Piccadilly, and Victoria. Night Tube fares are charged at off-peak rates. For other nights, 24-hour night buses provide coverage across the entire network.
London Scams to Avoid
- Pedicab overcharging — decimal manipulation turns £9.40 into £94.00. One tourist was charged $1,700 for a 1km ride. Always agree total price before boarding and pay cash only.
- Pickpockets on the Tube — record 7,899 thefts on the Underground in 2022. Worst stations: King's Cross, Leicester Square, Oxford Circus, Stratford. Never use your phone openly on crowded carriages.
- Shell game gangs — organised groups run cup-and-ball tricks near Westminster Bridge and tourist areas. Never stop to watch.
- Unlicensed minicabs at airports — always use the official black cab rank or pre-booked licensed minicab. Never accept unsolicited offers inside the terminal.
What Happens If You Don't Tap Out
TfL charges the maximum possible fare for incomplete journeys — often £7.70–£9.40. This is not a fine, it is how the system calculates when it cannot determine your destination. Always tap out at every station. If you forget, you can apply for a refund through the TfL website within 8 weeks.