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London Underground

London Underground


London Underground is the quickest and most used way of getting around London. Although it may seem complicated at first, you will soon know your way around and especially once you have read our helpful tips. The trains run Monday to Saturday every few minutes between 5:30 until 24:00-00:30 and between 7:30 - 23:30 on Sundays. Maps for the entire Underground system are free of charge and are available at all train station offices. No smoking is allowed anywhere within London underground or on the buses. You will notice on the Underground map that there are zones, 1 to 6. Central London is in Zone 1 and this is where most of the London hotels and attractions are located. It is likely that if you are staying in London you will be near a local tube station and will be able to travel into central London relatively easily. Heathrow Airport is located in Zone 6. When you buy a ticket from the ticket machine or office, you will be charged a rate depending on the zones that you are traveling through. Each of the six zones has a set price. A number of ticket options are available depending on the number of days you are staying in London and how often you plan to use the tube. They range from a single one-way ticket to an 'LT Card' to a 'Travel Card'. A travel card gives you unlimited use of the tube, bus and local train services for the duration of the ticket. If you are staying less than a week, it is advisable to purchase a travel card each day. Usually a travel card for zones 1 and 2 will be plenty. You can also purchase one week or one month travel cards if you are staying longer. You will need two passport sized photos for these passes.

Visit London Underground's official website for full details.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2004/index.shtml

Carnet Tickets :

If you are making several journeys on the tube you can purchase a Carnet. A Carnet is a booklet of ten single Underground tickets for Zone 1 only, which can be bought in advance of your journey. They are valid for 12 months and they can be used by you or by anyone you wish to give them to. Each ticket is for a journey starting and finishing in Zone 1 only. It has to be validated for use on the day of travel at the Zone 1 station where you start your journey. If you travel with a ticket which is not made valid you will be liable to pay penalty fare. A Carnet ticket cannot be used as a Ticket Extension in Zone 1.

One Day/Weekend/Family Travelcards

These can be bought from any station (after 09:30am on weekdays) and allow you to travel in the zones selected for one-day or one weekend and also as a family at a special rate. They are all valid not only on the underground, but on most London Buses/Night Buses as well. The Weekend/Family* Travelcards are especially worthwhile as they are sold at a special price and you can travel over any 2 days of the weekend or public holidays. *A group using the Family Travelcard must consist of one or two adults traveling with between one and four children.

Tips and advice

The London Underground map has a series of different lines that are colour coded, making it easy to identify the line you need. The signs within the stations are also colour coded so you can negotiate your way around the various stations.

The best value for money is travel cards.

The busiest times are 08:00 to 9:30 and 17:00 to 18:30 on Mondays to Friday. Try to avoid these times if you can.

You will be liable for a penalty of £10 if you do not buy the right ticket for your destination, before you begin your journey.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere on London Underground or on the buses.

Always plan your route in advance and check on the nearest station to you.

If you miss the last train usually after 00:30, you can always catch a Night Bus.

To avoid the line ups at ticket stations, use the ticket machines. They have straight forward instructions on the screen and can save you a lot of time. If you can, try to use the correct money, although if you do not have it, the machines do provide change.

Your tickets could be damaged by magnetic interference from handbag clasps, security passes and keys, so try to keep your ticket separate.

Children under 5 travel for free.

5 to 15 year olds receive a reduced rate, however a Child Rate Photo card is required for all 14 and 15 year olds.

A photo card is also required by adults and children buying a Travel Card for 7 days or longer.

You can obtain your photo card at any ticket office - just bring a passport size photo with you. The photo can be taken at photo booths at train stations.

Most Central London stations have ticket gates which you need to pass through to enter and exit the station. Simply insert your ticket (face up) and pick it up from the slot at the top of the machine and this will let you through.

If your ticket is used up the gates will open but the machine may retain your ticket.

Special wide gates are available to go through if you are carrying luggage, a pushchair buggy or other bulky items. The underground staff will be happy to help you out.

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