London Tube

The London Underground, or the Tube, is the oldest underground railway system in the world. The Tube is an easy and very popular way of getting around in London. It is used over 1 billion times a year, which makes it the third busiest European metro system. Both citizens and visitors prefer to travel via the Tube when they need to get somewhere in the city fast.

The Underground consists of 12 lines and 270 stations. It’s pretty big, so it’s not impossible to get lost. Fortunately, there are free Tube maps available at any station. Tourist Information Centres also provide Tube maps for city visitors. Additionally, you can download the map here (ссылка на карту на london.travel).

There are 6 different zones in the Tube. Zone 1 is located in Central London, while Zone 6 covers the city’s outskirts. Traveling through central zones is more expensive, mainly because this is the most frequently used route. Passengers can buy single tickets or use travelcards, which are available in daily, seven-day, monthly and annual types. There is also the Oyster Card – a proximity smart card used not only in the Underground, but in other London transport systems as well. The fares for Oyster Card users are significantly reduced. It is not recommended to try and evade fares as there is a heavy penalty for traveling without a valid ticket. Those who manage to illegally enter ticket gates can still be caught by ticket inspectors.

Please be aware that The Tube is often overcrowded, especially during rush hours. In the summer it sometimes leads to overheating, and in combination with poor air quality can be dangerous for health.

london.travel 2012