How to navigate London public transport like a local
Ditch the paper tickets and use your contactless bank card or phone (Apple/Google Pay) for every journey. Tap in and out on the yellow readers at Tube stations, and only tap in (never out) on buses and trams.
- Use Contactless or Oyster. Don't bother buying an Oyster card unless you are staying for more than a week or have a specific railcard discount. Simply tap your contactless debit/credit card or phone at the yellow gate readers. The system automatically calculates the cheapest fare.
- Master the Tube 'Tap' Rules. Always tap your card on the yellow reader at the start AND the end of your journey on the Underground (Tube) and Overground. If you don't tap out, you will be charged the maximum daily fare.
- Understand Bus Payment. London buses are cashless. Tap your card or phone once on the reader near the driver as you board. You do not need to tap out when you leave the bus. A single fare is £1.75 regardless of distance.
- Navigate with Citymapper. Download the Citymapper app. It is significantly more accurate than Google Maps for London, providing real-time bus arrival times, which carriage to board for the fastest exit, and alerts for line delays.
- Can I use the same card for two people?
- No. Each person must have their own contactless card or device. You cannot use one card to pay for two passengers.
- Is the Tube open all night?
- Most lines close between midnight and 5:00 AM. However, the 'Night Tube' operates on the Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Northern, and Piccadilly lines on Friday and Saturday nights.
- What happens if I forget to tap out?
- You will be charged a 'maximum fare' for that journey. If it happens occasionally, you can log into your account on the TfL website to request a refund.