London is one of my favorite cities to visit and one of few that I can see myself living in. I have had some brief stints there but hope to come back to fully enjoy the bustling atmosphere. I remember the first time coming to London, I was standing confused in the middle of a tube station. Here are some general tips navigating transportation in London:

• Look both ways before crossing: Since people drive on the left, make sure you look the right direction before crossing. Luckily the city kindly marks which way you should look on the road.
• Underground / Tube: The London Underground or Tube (their public transit system) can be very pricey and there are various ways to pay. You can pay via single fare (which is more expensive than Oyster), Oyster (5£ to get the actual card), or Contactless Payment (via your credit card). Plan ahead since a daily, weekly, or monthly pass could be a cheaper option (great site here). Pricing is based on zones and hours (off-peak hours are cheaper).
  • Getting around: I would download the app so you have the Underground map offline to make trip planning easier. In general, it is pretty easy to navigate the Underground and the stations. One thing is that certain stations are more spread apart than others for transfers so get ready to walk.
  • Warning for travelers: Not all stations are treated equal and some are a pain when traveling since there are only stairs (get ready to lift that suitcase everywhere). Also during peak hours, it is mayhem to get through the crowds and to get on trains so plan ahead.
  • Library voices and Etiquette: Don’t be that tourist that is super loud since everyone tends to be super quiet while traveling. Also, wait for people to exit the trains before boarding.
  • No AC on the tube: I mention this since during the rare times when it is warm out in London, the Tube can get extremely hot. I remember being in one and thinking it was broken because it felt like an oven…no, everyone just sweats it out. The overground is a bit better though!
  • No late trains: The tube tends to stop running around midnight-ish so you will have to take an Uber or the night bus after the pubs / clubs.
  • Reference: People tend to use the tube stations to describe where to meet or where they live.

• DLR: The DLR connects with the tube and is the main transport for East London and to the London City Airport. I prefer the DLR since it tends to be more spacious and is above ground (meaning it doesn’t overheat as the tube does during the summer).
• Buses: This can be a better option getting around the city if there isn’t a tube station nearby and especially for the evenings since there are late night buses
• Airports: London has a variety of airports below. Uber / taxies are options getting to and from the airport, but just beware of city traffic that can make your trip longer and and more expensive than anticipated.
  • Heathrow (the larger, busier airport but is convenient to get to via bus or underground)
  • Gatwick (most convenient / fastest to get to/from via the Gatwick Express via Victoria station)
  • Stansted (prob best option is via Stansted Express via Liverpool Express)
  • London City Airport (via DLR)
  • Luton (prob least convenient to get to).