Schmap.com supports the following browsers:
PC
 Famous Red Double Decker & Others |
London Transport 24-hour hotline London, London United Kingdom +44 20 7222 1234 |
Buses in London now come in two types: driver-only buses which you board at the front and those with conductors which are boarded at the rear. It's best to have some change ready when boarding a bus, £5 notes are usually okay but many drivers and conductors will balk at anything larger. Bus fares are cheaper than those for the Tube, and are simply 80p for a journey inside of zone 1 (central London) or £1 for a journey outside Zone 1. 'Travelcards' provide unlimited travel on buses, and can be bought at tube stations and most newsagents. You can also get passes which are valid only on buses from the same outlets as sell travelcards, and from tourist centres. UK Senior citizens are entitled to free travel, and children travel at a reduced rate. There is a penalty for being caught without the right ticket. Bus stops are everywhere, and signs indicate which buses will stop at that station. If you are one of the only people waiting, you may want to halt the bus to make sure it stops. Regular bus services end somewhere between 11p and 12.:0a. Night Buses then provide a limited service running between Trafalgar Square and various outlying areas. For details about routes and times ask for the free booklet 'Buses for Night Owls' from the number below. One-day travelcards are not valid on Night Buses, and fares are higher than daytime ones. Stationlink buses (+44 020 7222 1234) stop at every major London train station every hour. Fare is a bit higher than normal buses. For local bus maps, call +44 020 7371 0247. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Hop on, hop off |
48 Buckingham Palace Road London, London SW1W ORN United Kingdom +44 20 7233 9533 http://www.bigbus.co.uk info@bigbus.co.uk |
You've probably seen these buses - along with London double-deckers, tour buses and more tour buses. Regardless of your usual attitude towards guided tours, these hop-on, hop-off tours are a good way to get an overview of the city, and you can make mental notes of where to go for a more thorough visit. The price you pay with The Big Bus Company is for a 24-hour ticket; during this time you can travel anywhere on the tour network, which encompasses stops over just about all of central London. Included in the price is a free walking tour and Thames River cruise, as well as numerous discounts for West End shows. Guide tapes are available in 12 languages, and the company won the London Sightseeing Tour of the Year award. Be careful when choosing the open-air rooftop, because London is notorious for fickle weather. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Lisa Feigenbaum |
 Photo: Wouter kvg  |
 Photo: grumpynick |
 Photo: Lori Woehrle |
 Photo: voiddonothing |
 Photo: Istvanski |
|
Star of the Continent! |
Waterloo Train Station London, London SE1 8SE United Kingdom +44 870 518 6186 http://www.eurostar.com/ new.comments@eurostar.co.uk |
Eurostar is the most practical way to travel the Continent if you are going for the day or weekend with little luggage. The most popular route is the two-and-a-half hour Paris-London route, but other destinations - Brussels, Lille, Disneyland Paris, Ashford, Calais and the French Alps, as well as connections to Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Bruges, Loire Valley and Lyon - are also busy. Prices vary widely, and return fares to Paris and Brussels start at EUR86, but it is sometimes cheaper to take the plane. That being said, you will never travel more scenic train routes than the ones afforded by this network; they are well worth every penny you pay! Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Mathieu Milot |
 Photo: Garry Tan |
 Photo: Andrew Shapiro |
 Photo: mandi2sheds1 |
 Photo: tristanwilson |
 Photo: Bill Rose |
 Photo: Reilly Cheung |
 Photo: Guy Mason |
 Photo: gaz8080 |
 Photo: kenshin0 |
 Photo: Cameron Watson |
 Photo: takaki |
 Photo: Ana FM |
 Photo: Justinas M. |
 Photo: meguropolitan_flickr |
 Photo: Sara Ko |
 Photo: Richard Malpas |
 Photo: Patrick Linsley |
|
to/from north & north-east of England |
Euston Road London, London NW1 2ND United Kingdom +44 20 7222 1234 |
For trains to/from the north and north-west of England. Suburban train to/from Watford. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Andrea Rota |
|
The world's busiest busiest single runway airport |
45 kilometres south of London West Sussex London RH6 0NP United Kingdom +44 (0)870 000 2468 http://www.gatwickairport.com/ gatwickmediacentre@baa.com |
This busy London airport has two terminals and great transport links into the centre of London. Quite futuristic in design, both terminals have bureaux de change, ATMs, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants and bars. The South Terminal also has a post office and an adjacent medical centre that offers vaccinations. The Internet Exchange Internet cafe in the International Departures lounge is a good place to while away some time playing computer games, sending emails or receiving computer training. Gatwick has great rail links to much of the country, and central London is only 30 minutes away on the Gatwick Express. For National Rail enquires call +44 (0)845 748 4950. Coach services operate from dedicated bases at both terminals, although the majority of coach services stop at London Gatwick's coach station on the ground floor of the South Terminal. For coach and bus information call +44 (0)870 608 2608. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Pamela Walker |
 Photo: mydyingdreams |
 Photo: Shane Robinson |
 Photo: Daniel Kutzarov |
 Photo: Kara Hayes |
 Photo: Robert Bouma |
 Photo: Eric Fu |
 Photo: Raul Arantes |
 Photo: Paul Adams |
 Photo: Michael Osborne |
 Photo: jazz peach |
 Photo: irishflyguy |
 Photo: © DM Parody |
 Photo: ciukes |
 Photo: smartphu |
 Photo: noutoo |
 Photo: Conal Jones |
 Photo: Guido Luijten |
 Photo: Simon Law |
 Photo: Alan Denney |
 Photo: Tony K Lau |
 Photo: James Lewis. |
 Photo: drakoniukas |
 Photo: mikilak |
 Photo: Lorraine Godley |
 Photo: Michi1308 |
 Photo: germalene2007 |
 Photo: damaris |
 Photo: Dik Whibley |
 Photo: PB&J-Texas |
|
Every 15 minutes to Gatwick Airport |
Victoria Station London, London SW1 United Kingdom +44 845 850 1530 / +44 121 410 5015 http://www.gatwickexpress.co.uk/ |
By far the easiest way to get to Gatwick Airport. The Gatwick Express offers trains every 15 minutes 24 hours a day that take you from/to Victoria Station to/from Gatwick in half-an-hour. Express Class (standard) and First class available, and if traveling with either British Airways or American Airlines, you can check in at Victoria station. Customer Services: Gatwick Express, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W OAU. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Phil Chatfield |
 Photo: Jim Lau |
 Photo: James Kendal |
 Photo: Steven Newler |
 Photo: MartianMarvin |
 Photo: James Scolari |
 Photo: stephanie ho |
 Photo: susan100250 |
|
Bus Service to London & Home Counties |
21 Croydon Road London, Surrey RH2 0LY United Kingdom +44 20 866 7261 http://www.greenline.co.uk/ enquire@greenline.co.uk |
Green Line's routes cover the Greater London and Home Counties areas, practical for both commutes and day trips. Local pick up points include Deptford Bridge, Luton Airport and Victoria Station, where you can catch a National Express or Euroline. Destinations include Windsor Castle, Legoland, Heathrow and Luton Airport. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Clive A Brown |
 Photo: crymy |
|
15 minutes to Heathrow |
Paddington Station (in front of platforms 6 & 7) London, London W2 United Kingdom +44 845 600 1515 http://www.heathrowexpress.co.uk/ refund.hex@airexp.co.uk |
Thank heavens for the Heathrow Express! No more spending a fortune on cabs or lugging bags on the tube to get to Heathrow. The train ride takes 15 minutes and it's smooth and comfortable. BBC World plays on the TV screens so you can get a quick dose of news. If you prefer total silence (no mobile phones!), there are noise-free carriages. Depending on the airline you are flying with, you may be able to check in your luggage at Paddington station. Star Alliance member carriers such as United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and British Midlands have check-in desks here. It's worth investigating if you can do this. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Sebastian Vandrey |
 Photo: Aki Rautio |
 Photo: Suzy Pym |
 Photo: Juan C Nuno |
 Photo: Onrej Zaoral |
 Photo: Alex J P Vargas |
|
To/from north & north-east of England and Scotland |
Pentonville Road London, London N1 9NL United Kingdom +44 845 330 6333 http://www.thameslink.co.uk/ |
Extremely busy station, with trains serving the north and north-east of England and Scotland. The scenic 4-hour train ride to Edinburgh is popular. Also suburban trains to north London and Hertfordshire. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Val |
|
Gateway to the East - and airports |
Liverpool Street London, London EC2M 3 United Kingdom +44 8457 48 4950 (National Rail Enquiries) http://www.networkrail.co.uk/S... |
This fantastic cast iron and glass structure was recently restored in the style of the Victorian original. Liverpool Street is the place to catch trains to and from the east coast of England and Stansted Airport. A bus to City Airport also leaves from the station, as well as suburban lines to north and north-east London. There are plenty of shops and cafes on the station's upper level and the surrounding arcades mean this is always buzzing with City commuters. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Darshan Dhirasekara |
 Photo: David Norman |
 Photo: Richard Parmiter |
 Photo: lorenzo baroni |
|
to/from South-east England |
The Strand Main Concourse London, London WC2N 5BR United Kingdom +44 20 7930 5444 |
For trains to/from south-east England (e.g. Dover). Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Barry |
 Photo: Anton Piatek |
 Photo: Robert Stokes |
 Photo: Katharina Schäbel |
 Photo: jjpof |
 Photo: Magnific |
 Photo: Ayano Kimura |
 Photo: Derek Milliner |
 Photo: James Deane |
 Photo: Peter Truscott |
 Photo: comrade_fomin |
 Photo: msiew |
 Photo: Stephen Garton |
 Photo: Ali K |
 Photo: Edwin Halliday |
 Photo: Rory O'Sullivan |
 Photo: Jane Ring |
 Photo: tom meyer |
 Photo: Libby Albert |
|
Aviation Hub |
264 Bath Road Middlesex London, Middlesex UB3 5AP United Kingdom +44 870 000 0123 http://www.baa.co.uk |
This massive airport is the world's busiest international airport, and is regarded as the hub of the aviation world; over 90 airlines have made Heathrow their base. Vast and sprawling, it can take some time to get between the different terminals so be sure to know exactly where you're going before you get there. There are cash machines, bureau de change facilities and post offices throughout. Valets, car rental stalls, taxis and buses all operate out of the many terminals. There's also a vast array of food outlets, ranging from burger bars and coffee houses to sandwich shops and sit-down restaurants. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Nikolai Drjuchin |
 Photo: Jake Xu |
 Photo: Richard Lee |
 Photo: Ash Kapila |
 Photo: Ayush Bhandari |
 Photo: Arunan Manamohan |
 Photo: princejaffa |
|
Luxury Everywhere |
Bassingbourne Road, Uttlesford, Essex Enterprise House London, Essex CM24 1QW United Kingdom +44 870 000 0303 http://www.baa.com |
Situated 48km northwest of central London, Stansted is the airport of choice for the surfeit of low-budget airlines that run to Europe, although it also serves destinations worldwide. This can mean the departure hall is overrun with customers queuing to check in, and it's always worth getting there with plenty of time to spare. With both arrivals and departures in one building, it's nothing like the size of Heathrow and Gatwick, although it still has a reasonable array of shops and eateries, especially since the completion of the departure lounge extension at the end of 2001. There is a dedicated pick up area in Zone D of the short-stay car park where customers can wait for free for 10 minutes. Stansted has short, medium and long-stay car parks. The short-stay parking is very close to the terminal building while the long-stay parking is a short bus ride away and the medium-stay parking is in the middle. The airport runs regular shuttle buses between the long-stay car parks and the terminal although travellers should add an extra 30 minutes to their journey to account for this. Pre-book on the website for parking discounts and details on the AirportsPLUS VIP service - a priority reserved car parking facility. The airport railway station and ticket office is below the terminal building. All trains have facilities for special needs passengers but note that you cannot take bikes on the Stansted Express, although they can be taken on the local train service into London. Trains run from 5a-11p every day. Buses run from the terminal forecourt and serve London and the rest of the country. For taxis, Stansted Airport Cars have a desk on the international arrivals concourse. Call +44 1279 662444 to prebook. Wheelchair accessible cars are available on request. There's a wide variety of snack bars and restaurants from coffee houses to seafood restaurants. Standsted has tried to ensure high standards by bringing Egon Ronay and his team of restaurant inspectors on board and it's worth looking out for the units that have Egon Ronay ratings. Restaurants and bars that belong to national chains have been price-fixed in line with high street prices so you should not pay a penny more than you would on the UK high street. There can be long queuing times for check-in and you need to allow time for getting to and from the long-stay car park. If you want your journey to go really smoothly, it's worth investigating the AirportsPLUS VIP service which includes fast track security clearance, entry to the VIP lounge, commission-free currency and special shopping and eating offers. Air 2000, Air Malta, Air Stord, Aurigny Air Services, British Airways, Cyprus Airways, Czech Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, Intourtrans, KLM UK, KLM exel, KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, Kibris Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair, Northwest Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair, bmi british midland are all the possile airlines served. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Krzysztof Tomczak |
 Photo: bjaglin |
 Photo: Angus Nicholson |
 Photo: Luc Vermeijden |
 Photo: Lorenzo Osti |
 Photo: Conal Thomson |
 Photo: J. Wayne Higgs |
|
Better known as the Tube |
Victoria Station Victoria London SW1 United Kingdom +44 (0)20 7222 1234 |
The London Underground system, or 'the Tube', is the mainstay of travelling commuting within the capital, with an amazing 2.5 million journeys made every day. The map of the London Underground makes it very easy to negotiate - just don't be fooled into thinking it is an accurate representation of the layout of the city! You can pick up the Tube map from most stations. The network is divided into six zones, and fare prices are determined by which zone you start your journey in, the zones you travel through, and the zone you finish your journey in. Zone 1 covers most of the City and the West End and at £1.50 for an adult single, is the cheapest adult fare (a carnet of 10 single zone 1 tickets can be purchased for £11). Children travel at reduced rates, but there are no reductions on the Tube for students or Senior Citizens. You can buy tickets from automated ticket machines or ticket booths in the stations. A £10 on-the-spot fine applies if you are caught without a valid ticket. One day travelcards (valid after 9:30 a.m. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday) and weekend travelcards give you freedom to use the Tube, bus and rail in specified zones. For weekly, monthly and annual passes you will require a passport size photograph for a photocard. Travelcards can be bought from all Tube stations and also from newsagents which have a 'pass agent' sign. One-day, Weekend, Children's and Family travelcards are also available. Don't forget to hang on to your ticket after you pass the turnstiles as you will need it to leave the station! If you opt for the one-day travel card (recommended for visitors), keep it for the rest of the day. You can call this hotline 24 hours a day for information on London's bus and underground network. Information for the disabled is also available. You can also visit the office at Victoria Station, various other tube stations and Heathrow Airport. Call for exact locations. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Tony Darbyshire |
 Photo: lauren e. gallagher |
 Photo: Paul Burpitt |
 Photo: Marcus B Byrne |
 Photo: Bill Pytlovany |
 Photo: Daniel Stockill |
 Photo: John Perivolaris |
 Photo: Rui M. Leal |
 Photo: Mike van Raaij |
 Photo: Chris Lee |
 Photo: Matt Seymour |
 Photo: Russell Bloor |
|
Best Known National Bus Company |
Victoria Coach Station Buckingham Palace Road (next to Victoria Station) London, London SW1 United Kingdom +44 20 7730 3499 http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk/ |
This is the country's best known bus company, with routes to most parts of the UK. Travel within Europe is serviced by Eurolines. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Kim Rennie |
 Photo: James Ekema |
 Photo: Kenny Wong |
 Photo: Martin Alford |
 Photo: David A. Smith |
 Photo: Ingy The Wingy |
 Special double-deckers |
Jews Row London, London SW18 1TB United Kingdom +44 20 8877 1722 http://www.theoriginaltour.com info@theoriginaltour.com |
You have probably seen these hop-on, hop-off open air, double-decker buses zooming around London. Now celebrating 50 years of toting tourists around the capital, you can jump on and off the tour whenever you see something you'd like to explore further. Lasting approximately two hours, the tours are a great introduction to the city. The majority of the tours are offered in several languages - some offer live commentary, while others are pre-recorded. On sunny days, you can get a great tan from the top of the bus, but watch out for London's temperamental weather. Call for information on stops and the different tours. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
|
London tour buses |
Jews Row London, London SW18 1TB United Kingdom +44 20 8877 1722 http://www.theoriginaltour.com/ info@theoriginaltour.com |
This London sightseeing tour used to be run by London Pride, but so popular is their Original Tour that they've changed their name. The complete tour covers all popular sights - i.e. Buckingham Palace, the Natural History Museum, Parliament etc., and includes a free walking and boat tour. This company does offer the advantage of being able to join part of a tour without having to pay for the whole lot - fares range from 80p upwards. There are over 90 stops at which you can join, and buses are very frequent (every six minutes in summer), though do call to check details of bus stops and times. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Ryo Hirosawa |
 Photo: JOY T. SAMSON |
|
To/from west, south-west, Midlands |
Station Manager: 1st Floor, Tournament House Paddington Station London, London W2 1HQ United Kingdom +44 845 748 4950 http://www.networkrail.co.uk/S... |
Opened in 1854, this station has recently undergone renovation. There is a customer information system, in order to aid the commuters. There is also a new shopping area for people pick up things last minute. Eating spots and a waiting room will help make the time pass faster. Trains to/from south and south-west of England, including Wales, and the Midlands. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Flexible tour service for London and the UK |
88-94 Kingsway Holburn Station London WC2B 6AA United Kingdom +44 20 7385 3853 http://www.tourways.com info@tourways.com |
Tourways organises group tours of London, the countryside, Scotland and 'Castles and Gardens', and also has tours originating from airports. Altogether, they offer a more flexible guided tour service than most London tour guides, and they also operate over a greater area. Private cars, buses and coaches are available for the tours, which are available in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Dutch and German). The newest guided tour of the Millennium Mile will take you from Westminster to Southwark with commentary on the history of the River Thames, the Palace of Westminster, the British Airways London Eye, Royal Festival Hall, Hungerford Bridge, The Globe Theatre, the Tate Gallery and Southwark Cathedral. Discounts are available through online booking. Review © 2007, Wcities |
