London Underground

The London Underground - "the tube" - is one of the oldest, most famous mass transit systems in the world. Mostly, it works very well, but there are things that you should bear in mind when using it.

The first is that decades of underinvestment, and then a new mayor, have combined to make the lines subject to huge engineering works on weekends. This means that stations, whole lines, and connective services shut, and if you're a tourist you might not have notice. The trick is to check on the TFL website in advance, where possible. It is very navigable and will suggest bus routes for alternatives. The buses also work on travel cards and Oystercards, and you get to see the city, so it's not all bad. If not, the staff will help you.

The tube map is a masterpiece of design, but in order to fit the stations on, it is nowhere near to scale. Two stations that look close on the map may be miles apart, particularly south of the river, and others that look miles away on different lines might be very close, making it worth coming above ground to walk. This means that, for example, you can save line changes by coming up at Euston Square rather than changing for Euston station. TFL's website can suggest that too.

People sometimes worry about personal safety on the tube - my father used to give me cab money if he thought I was crossing the city after dark, which of course, I pocketed and took the tube anyway. I have never seen real trouble, although I have been stuck in a tunnel whilst London Transport Police arrested two guys on the train in front. The tube is as safe, but probably not much safer, than any other underground system. If you feel uncomfortable then pick a busy carriage.

In rush hour, on weekdays, people will be very grumpy if you come on with a rucksack. They'll just have to live with that! But please don't do it if you don't have to - at 8.30 on a weekday, it's as close as makes no odds to the third circle of purgatory.

And once you get off, if you want to get a cab, get one with a license. It is totally illegal for a minicab to pick you up - you have to book them - you need a black cab. Black cabs have one of the toughest professional exams in the world, for any profession, and if one messes with you they'll have their license taken off them. Unlicensed minicabs have no such restrictions and I know several people who've been severely ripped off and one who was almost assaulted. Oh - not all Black Cabs are Black, but they all have a hackney cab license on the back. Some are even properly wheelchair adapted.

SEASONAL PS - Carry water in summer. I neqarly fainted today, and felt really silly not to have remembered.

We took the London underground a few times the last years, it's always fun to go on the London tube. A train will stop almost every 4 minutes at almost every station. For a day ticket you pay almost 5 pounds, but than you can travel whole of inner London. Some famous stops are:

(Lines)
Bakerlooline : Paddington station, Regent park, Embankment
Central : Oxford circus, Notting Hill Gate, Bond street
Circle : St James park, High street Kensington
District : Tower Hill, Monument, ravenscourt Park.
Jubilee : North Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Waterloo
Northern : London Bridge, Old street, Kings cross, Camden Town
Piccadilly : Knightsbridge (harrods), Piccadilly circus, Green park.

I agree... its so easy and work(dont considerated that for Northern line)!!!
I just have to desagree about the price... haha its the most expensive transport in Europe, much more!!!

It is so wonderful and easy