Travelling Like a Local

An Insider’s Guide to Living in London

This London relocation guide has been designed with the explicit intention to provide expats and travellers with all they need to know about moving to London.

This exciting chapter covers: Travel & Transport.

Within this chapter, we will be covering the many forms of transport in London, along with the best ways of how you can travel like a local. Travelling can often be a daunting and sometimes stressful experience, especially in a new country. This guide and chapter will help to alleviate any anxieties

Breathe a sigh of relief as we explain the wonders of the underground, cash-less bus-rides, how to read a Tube Map and where the best places are to ride your ‘Boris Bike’.

Being one of the world’s most visited cities, London has built a reputation of not only offering something for everyone; but also for being one of the most practical places to visit. So you’ve arrived, unpacked and need to get out and about - but how?

Well grab your map and hop on board as we show you a snapshot of travelling in London.

5.1 Oyster Card

An Oyster Card is a plastic smartcard on which you can store fare money, Travelcards and Bus and Tram Passes. You can use an Oyster card to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, River Bus services and most National Rail services in London.

It is incredibly popular with commuters and travellers due to its convenience of being a “contactless” way of paying for your journey, as well as being cheaper too.

Your travel card will allow unlimited travel within the period of time you have purchased it for, arguably the most cost-effective way of getting around London.

Alternatively, you are able to use your contactless payment card (typically Visa, MasterCard or American Express cards that are used for everyday expenditure), however, due to ever-changing currency exchange charges, your fares will be converted from Pound Sterling to your local currency and may prove to be more expensive in the long-run.

If you possess a UK contactless bank card, you can use it to in the same manner as an Oyster Card and the charge is exactly the same - so tap away!

Where to get an Oyster Card

You can pick up an Oyster card from Visitor Centres (offering advice on tickets and a range of services), and hundreds of designated Ticket Stops in the form on newsagents and shops that are located all over London. Most main station hubs will have an Oyster machine from which you can purchase an Oyster card too.

Get around London with ease!