Make sure you get a travelcard that covers the whole of the journey you want to do. The Underground is split into six zones. Zone 1 is Central London, going out to zone 6, which isn't really London at all but covers Greater London areas like Heathrow Airport (Middlesex), and Essex.
Look at the link here for the price of tickets and travel cards. And don't get fooled into buying a Travelcard from the guys that hang around outside tube stations trying to sell them. It's illegal!
If you're buying a ticket from a shop or travelagent, make sure you're really clear that it will cover all the areas you want to go to. You could pay a £10 penalty fare if the ticket doesn't cover the zone you're in. The tube officials stick to this policy pretty rigidly, and saying that you're a tourist doesn't work!
Tube Etiquette
Finally, a few little tips to behaving correctly on the tube. Some serious, some not so... you decide!
1. Stand on the right on escalators. There are signs all over the place saying this, but you'd be amazed how many travellers stand on the left and get disgruntled regular commuters crashing into them when they're running down or up escaltors on the left.
2. Carry your rucksack or bag in front of you on the escalator. It stops people nicking things!
3. Try not to travel during rush hour (8.30-10am and 5-6.30pm). The tube's a whole lot nicer when it hasn't got miserable rushed commuters in it!
4. Try not to look too much like a tourist! This means don't smile, don't talk and don't laugh. Such things simply aren't done on the London Underground!
5. Stand clear of the closing doors. They can give you a massive whack if they hit you.
6. Mind The Gap! You will hear this famous announcement a lot on the tube, and it refers to the gap between the train and the platform. This varies from a few inches to a foot at some stations!
For more on life on the London Underground try Goingunderground.net
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