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For First Timers on the London Underground

© Annie Mole

The Tube Map

This is essential if you're travelling on the London Underground. You can pick up a pocket map from any tube station. Large maps are also dotted around virtually everywhere on the tube itself, including inside the carriages. Here's how to make sense of it:

Get yourself acquainted with the lines/routes. Each one is a different colour. Main lines include District (Green), Jubilee (Silver), Northern (Black), Central (Red), Bakerloo (Brown), Piccadilly (Navy), Victoria (Blue), Circle (Yellow), Hammersmith & City (purple). If you ask for help, try to refer to the lines by name, as most Londoners don't refer to them by the colours but by the name.

Try to remember that the tube map bears no resemblance to how far apart the stations are in reality. Many travellers fall into the trap of getting on at Leicester Square to travel one stop to Piccadilly Circus. Once you have gone up and down all the escalators and gone through barriers with your ticket, it is quicker (and nicer) to walk, as they are only five minutes apart by foot!

This map puts the tube map into perspective (unfortunately the text is tiny, cos the tube covers such a sprawling mass).

Look on the link here for a guide to finding and downloading the standard tube map online.

Getting to the Tube from Airports & Stations

Heathrow Airport is on the Piccadilly Line, and you can get into Central London on it in about 35-40 mins.

Gatwick Airport isn't on the tube line. But you can get the Gatwick Express into Victoria station, which is on the Victoria, District and Circle lines.

Luton Airport also isn't on the tube line. You can take a Thameslink train into King's Cross station, which is on the Piccadilly, Victoria, Hammersmith & City, and Circle lines.

Mainline railway stations are all on the tube line too.

From the Eurostar you'll arrive in Waterloo station, which is on the Northern, Jubilee and Bakerloo lines.

Victoria Coach Station is the major bus terminal for London if you're travelling to or from other parts of the UK by bus. Walking distance from Victoria tube station, which is on the Victoria, District and Circle lines.

Fares & Tickets

If you're staying in London for a few days it definitely makes sense to buy a Travelcard rather than buying your tickets individually for each journey. Not only is it cheaper in the long run, but it means you have to avoid queueing up to buy a ticket for every stap of your journey.

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