If you’re planning a trip to London and wondering how best to get around, you’re not alone. The Tube map looks intimidating, taxis are expensive and the buses seem like a mystery.
The good news: getting around London is easier than it looks. At over 600 square miles, the city is big, but its best attractions are clustered together, and there is no shortage of ways to reach them. Some options will even show you the city as you go.
This guide covers every transport option available to tourists, from the Tube to river buses to black cabs.
Walking in London: the city is smaller than it looks
The Tube is the fastest way to travel in London. But if most of your journeys across the city are underground, you’ll miss a lot of it.
And that would be a shame, because London is an especially walkable city: the world’s seventh-most pedestrian-friendly, in fact, according to one recent study.(1)
It has an abundance of green spaces, relatively mild temperatures, and one often-overlooked feature is the flatness of its popular areas.
Sitting at the lowest point of the region, central London is particularly free of hills. It’s also where you’ll find many major attractions clustered together. The London Eye is only a 10-minute walk from Big Ben, itself a 15-minute stroll to Buckingham Palace.
Walking tours of London
Guided walking tours are a great way to explore London’s history and culture while covering the sights. Our pick is the London’s Palaces and Parliament Tour, which takes in over 15 landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square, in three hours. Tickets start from £25.00 for adults and children, with infants (0-2) going free.
Other options range from unguided historical tours to themed experiences including Harry Potter tours, with prices starting from £2.57. Explore options on Get Your Guide.
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⛴️ Getting around London by boat
River cruises prove the scenic route doesn’t always have to be slower. With less traffic and so many major landmarks lining the river banks, the Thames is effectively a tourist-friendly fast lane.
The Uber-run Thames Clippers can take you from Westminster to Greenwich in under an hour, passing the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London on the way. A full day of travel costs from £28.00 for adults (16+) and £14.00 for children (5-15), with infants under 5 travelling free.
There’s also City Cruises’ 24-hour hop-on, hop-off sightseeing pass, a good option for families as kids go free.
Beyond the commuter service, there is a wide range of Thames tour options available, from afternoon tea on the water to dinner cruises and sightseeing packages.
London bus tours and how to use them
London’s iconic red buses cover the entire city and are one of the most economical ways to get around. TfL offers a bus journey planner to help you plan your days out.
That said, routes can sometimes be confusing if you don’t know the city, there’s no guide on board and not every bus has a top deck. If you’re after a proper sightseeing experience, the hop-on hop-off tours below are a better bet.
Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses
The City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour is a looping 2.5-hour journey that passes St Paul’s, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and more. The main advantage of using it to get around London is the freedom to spend as much time as you like at each stop.
You’ll see most of the major attractions on your list, but the tour also allows for impulsive sightseeing, as you can hop off to explore any areas that catch your eye, whether a gas-lit cobblestone alley in Temple or a sunny picnic spot in Hyde Park.
Once you’ve finished, you can jump on the next bus along, usually at 20 to 30-minute intervals. They even have packages that combine these tours with river cruises.
Tickets start from £25 for children (5-15) and £39 for adults (16+), with infants under 5 going free.
Getting around London by Tube
The London Underground, or Tube, is the fastest way to get around the city. Its 11 lines cover both central and suburban areas, making it ideal for reaching major attractions quickly.
London was named the best European city for public transport by Time Out in 2025.(2) If speed is the priority, it is hard to beat. You can view the official Tube map here.
Both Oyster cards and contactless bank cards or mobile apps are accepted. Overseas transaction fees may apply to contactless payments, so if that is a concern it is worth picking up a pre-loaded Visitor Oyster card before you arrive. TfL recommends £25 as a good starting amount for a three-day visit.(3)
Travelling with kids on the Tube
Zip Oyster photocards are worth looking at if you are travelling with children:
- Children under 5 always travel free with a fare-paying adult.
- Children under 10 travel free on buses, and on the Tube with a Zip Oyster photocard.
- Children aged 11 to 15 travel free on buses with a Zip Oyster photocard and pay child rates on the Tube, DLR and London Overground.
Step-free access
Not every station is wheelchair or buggy-friendly, but 90 have step-free access. The TfL Go app has a step-free journey planning mode for those travelling with luggage, buggies or mobility needs. It also shows the gap between trains and platforms at each stop.
Getting around London by taxi
Black cabs
London’s black cabs are more practical than most visitors realise. Every driver has passed The Knowledge: a rigorous test requiring them to memorise thousands of streets and landmarks across the city. A good black cab driver will take you the right way, not just the long way.
You can hail a black cab on the street whenever the yellow roof light is lit, find one at a rank outside major stations, hotels and attractions, or book in advance through the Gett or TfL taxi apps. They carry up to five passengers, fit a buggy without folding it, and are fully wheelchair accessible.
Fares are metered and regulated by TfL, so there are no surprises. The minimum fare is currently £4.20, and a typical 2-mile journey through central London will cost around £12 to £19 in the daytime. Evening and weekend rates are higher.
For a group of four or five splitting the cost, it can be a reasonable option, but for solo travellers or couples, Uber or the Tube will usually work out cheaper.
Private black taxi tours of London
For a more tailored experience, private black taxi tours cover the major sights over roughly two hours, typically including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge.
Prices start at around £318 for a group of up to six. Your driver will share insights, take questions and stop if something catches your eye.
Other options include longer six-hour tours, themed taxi tours and nighttime taxi tours. See all options on Get Your Guide.
Uber and other ride-hailing apps
Uber works in London much as it does elsewhere, with pricing generally lower than black cabs for shorter journeys. One thing worth knowing: private hire vehicles in London cannot legally pick up street hails, so you must book through the app. Surge pricing applies at busy times.
Bolt and FREE NOW are also available and worth comparing at peak times. Uber also runs Thames Clippers, so you can book the river bus service through the same app.
Other ways to get around London
By tram
South London is served by a tram network on top of the bus network, making it straightforward to get around areas south of the river.
By bike
Santander Cycles, London’s public bike-sharing scheme, offers an affordable and eco-friendly way to explore the city. Docking stations are scattered across central London, making it easy to pick up and drop off. Note that the bikes are designed for riders aged 14 and over.
By train
National Rail services are useful for reaching attractions in the outskirts or suburbs not covered by the Tube, such as Hampton Court or Kew Gardens.
Tickets can be booked at discounted rates on Trainline, and Oyster cards and contactless payment are also accepted on most services.
Money-saving tips for getting around London
London is not the cheapest city to visit, but there are ways to keep costs down.
The GoCity London Pass gives access to over 80 popular attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and The Shard, along with a discount on hop-on hop-off bus tours and the option to skip queues at selected venues. Passes are available for one to ten days.
The London Eye also offers attraction ticket bundles that combine entry with access to Madame Tussauds and Sea Life, typically saving around 50% compared to buying tickets separately.
Which is the best way to get around London as a tourist?
There is no single best option. It depends on your budget, how long you are staying and how you like to explore.
- For speed: the Tube is unbeatable for getting across the city quickly.
- For sightseeing: a hop-on, hop-off bus tour gives you flexibility and covers the most ground.
- For families with young children: buses avoid the stress of busy Underground stations and buggies.
- For a scenic day out: the Thames Clippers combine travel with great views of the city.
- For a special occasion: a private black taxi tour offers a personalised experience, particularly for older children or teenagers.
Whatever your plans in London, the city has transport options to suit every group and budget.
Struggling to plan your London trip?
Between the queues, the prices and the sheer number of things to see, planning a trip to London can feel overwhelming.
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