London
Underground - the best way to travel around London
THE UNDERGROUND
The London
Underground is the most used method of transport in London. It is the
cheapest and quickest way to get around town. It can however be complicated,
here we try to give you the information you need to be able to travel easily
on this comprehensive system.
The system is divided into zones (1 thru 6).
If staying in London there is no doubt you will be within a few minutes of a
local station. Most London hotels and attractions are located in Zone 1.
Heathrow Airport is located in Zone 6. You can buy your ticket from a ticket
machine or ticket office at any Underground station. The Underground system
is divided into six fare zones. The city centre is in Zone 1, where many of
the attractions of London are found. The price of your ticket depends on how
many zones you travel through.
To give an idea of the costs involved, here follows a listing of the current fares.
Local Underground fares: as from 07-01-01
| ZONES | ADULT PRICES | CHILD PRICES | ||
| SINGLE | RETURN | SINGLE | RETURN | |
| 1 | £1.50 | £3.00 | £0.60 | £1.20 |
| 1-2 | £1.90 | £3.80 | £0.80 | £1.60 |
| 1-3 | £2.20 | £4.40 | £1.00 | £2.00 |
| 1-4 | £2.70 | £5.40 | £1.20 | £2.40 |
| 1-5 | £3.30 | £6.60 | £1.40 | £2.80 |
| 1-6 | £3.60 | £7.20 | £1.50 | £3.00 |
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 a £10 penalty fare.
A Carnet ticket cannot be used as a Ticket Extension in Zone 1.
| ZONES | ADULT | CHILD |
| 1 | £11.50 | £5.00 |
One Day-Weekend-Family Travelcards
*A group using the Family Travelcard must consist of one or two adults traveling with between one and four children.
| ZONES | ADULT PRICES | CHILD PRICES | ||||
| 1-DAY | W-END | FAMILY | 1-DAY | W-END | FAMILY | |
| 1-2 | £4.00 | £6.00 | £2.60 | N/A | N/A | £0.80 |
| 1-4 | £4.30 | £6.40 | £2.80 | N/A | N/A | £0.80 |
| 1-6 | £4.90 | £7.30 | £3.20 | £2.00 | £3.00 | £0.80 |
Tips and advice
Each Underground line has a
different name and colour. This makes it easy for you to follow your route on
the map. When you arrive at a station, look for the colour-coded signs which
will direct you to the line you need Travelcards offer the best value
for money.
Trains run for 20 hours every day. Try to avoid the busiest
times between 08.00 and 09.30 and 17.00 to 18.30, Mondays to
Fridays.
You must buy the right ticket for your destination before you
begin your journey or you will be liable to a £10 Penalty
Fare.
Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Underground. Always
check on the nearest station to you, plan your route in advance.
The
Underground runs until approximately 00.30. After this time you can use the
Night Buses.
The Tube is divided into six fare zones. Zone 1 covers
central London. Ticket halls display a list of fares.
If you know
what you want why not use the ticket machines- they can save you time. Just
follow the instructions.
They usually give change, but please try to use the
correct money if you can It helps to keep change for customers who really
need it.
Magnetic interference caused by some handbag clasps, security
passes and keys may damage your tickets. Avoid delays by keeping them separately.
All children under 5 travel free on the Underground.
5 to
15 year olds can travel at a reduced rate but 14 and 15 year olds need
a Child Rate Photocard.
Adults and children need a photocard to buy a Travelcard for seven days or longer.
To obtain your photocard
take a passport-size photo of yourself to any ticket office.
Central
London stations have ticket gates. You pass through them to enter and to
leave the system.
To pass through the gates simply insert your ticket (face
upwards) into the slot on the front of the machine.
Your ticket will pass
through the machine and appear from a slot at the top. Take your ticket from
the slot and the gates will open to let you through.
If you have completed
your journey (and your ticket is used up) the gates will open but the machine
will retain your ticket.
If you are entering or leaving the Underground
with a pushchair, buggy, folding bicycle or other bulky items, special wide
gates are available for you to go through. The staff will be happy to open
them for you.