Transport & travel
Transport in London
One of the biggest integrated transport networks in the world — the Tube, buses, the Elizabeth line, trams, the DLR, river services, cycling and the roads. Most of it is run by Transport for London. Here is how to plan a journey, pay the right fare, and handle the driving charges.
Ref · LDN-TRANSPORT · Updated 2026-07-19
Getting around London is easier once you know which service does what. Transport for London (TfL) runs the Tube, the buses, the Elizabeth line, trams, the Docklands Light Railway, river services and the main roads. National Rail train companies run the suburban and mainline services that reach further out. This page brings the common tasks together and links you straight to the official source.
Plan a journey
The fastest way to work out a route is the TfL Journey Planner. Enter where you are and where you want to be, and it combines every mode — walking, bus, Tube, rail and cycle hire — into a single set of options with live service status. You can filter for fewer changes, less walking, or step-free access. For trains that run beyond London, or to buy longer-distance tickets, use National Rail. Both are free to use and available on the web and as apps.
Oyster and contactless — how to pay
Almost all public transport in London uses pay as you go. You tap a contactless bank card, phone or smartwatch — or an Oyster card — on the yellow reader when you start and, on rail, when you finish. The system charges the cheapest fare for your journey and caps your spending so you never pay more than the equivalent Travelcard for the day or week. Contactless and Oyster charge exactly the same fares. Choose Oyster if you would rather not use a bank card, if you want to load a discount such as a railcard, or if you are adding a child's Zip card. Full fares, caps and ways to pay are on the TfL fares pages.
- A contactless bank card, phone or watch — or an Oyster card
- Enough balance or credit for the journey
- The same card tapped in and out on rail journeys
Buses and the Superloop
London's buses run around the clock on many routes, and every bus is pay as you go — you cannot pay with cash. The Superloop is a network of limited-stop express bus routes that ring outer London, linking town centres, stations, hospitals and transport hubs with fewer stops than a standard route. It uses the ordinary bus fare and is covered by the daily bus and tram cap, so a Superloop trip costs no more than any other bus ride. The Hopper fare lets you make unlimited bus and tram journeys within an hour for a single fare, which is useful when a trip needs more than one bus.
Cycling and Santander Cycles
Cycling is often the quickest way across central London. Santander Cycles — the docked hire bikes stationed across central and inner London — let you pick up a bike at one docking station and drop it at another. You pay a small access fee and the first 30 minutes of each ride are included, which suits short hops. TfL also maintains Cycleways, the growing network of protected and quieter cycle routes, and publishes free cycle maps to help you plan a calmer route.
Step-free and accessible travel
A growing number of stations offer step-free access from the street to the platform, and from the platform to the train. Turn on the step-free option in the Journey Planner, or use TfL's step-free Tube guide, to plan a route that avoids stairs and escalators. All London buses are low-floor with a wheelchair ramp and a dedicated space. Staff can help with boarding — ask at the station or speak to the driver.
Daily and weekly caps
Keep using the same card and TfL automatically caps what you pay. Once you hit the cap, the rest of your travel that day — or week, on contactless — is free.
Driving and charges
If you drive in London, two charges may apply. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covers all London boroughs and charges the most polluting vehicles a daily fee to drive anywhere inside it. The Congestion Charge applies to most vehicles driving in central London during its hours of operation. They are separate, and both can apply on the same day. Check your vehicle and pay on the official TfL service — we link the guides below.
Note: This portal links to official services. government.london does not sell tickets, take payments or hold your card details.
Common questions
Do I need an Oyster card, or can I just tap my bank card?
You can tap a contactless bank card, phone or smartwatch on the Tube, buses, trams, DLR, the Elizabeth line and most rail in London. It charges the same pay as you go fares as Oyster and applies the same daily and weekly caps. An Oyster card is useful if you prefer not to use a bank card or need to add a discount such as a railcard.
What is the Superloop?
The Superloop is a network of limited-stop express bus routes that circle outer London and link town centres, stations and hospitals with fewer stops than a normal bus. You pay the standard bus fare and it is covered by the daily bus and tram cap.
How do I find step-free routes on the Tube?
Use the TfL Journey Planner and turn on the step-free option, or check the step-free Tube guide on the TfL website. It shows which stations have level access from street to platform and from platform to train, so you can plan a route that avoids stairs and escalators.
Do I pay ULEZ and the Congestion Charge on the same day?
They are separate charges and can both apply on the same day. ULEZ applies to non-compliant vehicles across all London boroughs, 24 hours a day. The Congestion Charge applies to most vehicles driving in central London during its hours of operation. If you drive a non-compliant vehicle into central London during those hours, you may owe both.
This is an information page. Journey planning, fares, cycle hire and driving charges all happen on the official Transport for London service.
Continue to TfL →Most-used transport tasks
The things Londoners handle most often. Each one opens the official service.