Getting Around London: Transport Apps & Your First 48 Hours
London is one of the easiest big cities to navigate: you tap a contactless bank card or phone and go, with no local ticket app to learn. The traps are small, and mostly about paying the smart way.
The short version
- The Tube is the best way to get around, and contactless is the best way to pay. The Underground, buses, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line all run on one tap-to-ride system from Transport for London (TfL).
- Tap a contactless bank card or phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay) — same fares and daily/weekly caps as Oyster, with no card fee.
- Caps protect you: once your taps hit the daily cap, the rest of the day is free.
- Buses are a flat fare (around £1.75), cashless, with a Hopper fare for transfers within an hour.
- Airports: the Elizabeth line (Heathrow), trains and the DLR (London City) all take the same tap.
Do you need an Oyster card?
For most visitors, no. A contactless bank card or phone gives you the exact same pay-as-you-go fares and the same daily and weekly caps — without the non-refundable Oyster card fee or any topping up. Get an Oyster only if your card isn't contactless or charges high foreign-transaction fees per tap, you need a child/Railcard concession (these load onto Oyster, not contactless), or you simply prefer a travel card kept separate from your bank account.
Two rules that save money
Tap in and out on the Tube and rail (buses are tap-in only). And don't switch between your physical card and your phone mid-week — the system reads them as two cards and breaks your weekly cap.
Getting around: the basics
London's network is dense and layered: the Tube (the backbone), plus buses, the DLR, the Overground, the high-speed Elizabeth line, trams and river boats. One tap covers all of them.
Fares work on pay as you go with capping. Each journey is charged at the single fare, but once your daily total hits the cap, everything else that day is free; a weekly cap (Monday to Sunday) does the same across the week. You never need to work out which ticket to buy — the system charges the cheapest option automatically.
- Buses are a single flat fare however far you go, and the Hopper fare lets you change buses or trams free within an hour of your first tap.
- Tube fares vary by zone and time (peak vs off-peak), but the caps keep a heavy day affordable.
- Each traveller needs their own card — you can't tap two people through on one.
The cheapest reliable option
Contactless pay as you go, with capping, is the cheapest reliable way to get around — it can't overcharge you beyond the daily and weekly caps. Add a few habits: ride the bus for flat-fare journeys and sightseeing (routes 11 and 24 are scenic), walk the centre since many landmarks are closer than they look, and pack travel into capped days. For bikes, Santander Cycles is cheap with a day pass, and dockless e-bikes (Lime, Forest) are everywhere.
The apps worth installing
Here's the London surprise: for tickets, you barely need an app at all — your bank card or phone is the ticket. What's worth installing is a journey planner.
| App | What it does |
|---|---|
| TfL Go (official) | Live Tube/bus status, step-free routing, journey planning |
| Citymapper | Popular planner with clear door-to-door options |
| TfL Oyster & Contactless | Manage an Oyster or check contactless journey history |
| Uber / Bolt / FreeNow | Ride-hailing and licensed minicabs |
One journey planner (TfL Go or Citymapper) plus your contactless card is genuinely all most people need. Add one ride app for late nights and you're set.
Arrived launches soon. Get the right transport setup the moment you land.
Join the waitlistFrom the airport
London has five major airports. The right route depends on which one you land at — and contactless works at all of them except Stansted.
| Airport | Best value option | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | Elizabeth line | ~30–45 min | Piccadilly line is cheapest (~50 min); Heathrow Express fastest (15 min, pricier) |
| Gatwick | Thameslink / Southern | ~30–45 min | Cheaper than Gatwick Express; all rail takes contactless |
| Stansted | Stansted Express | ~50 min | To Liverpool Street; buy a ticket — contactless isn't valid here |
| Luton | DART + Thameslink | ~35–40 min | DART shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway, then train to St Pancras |
| London City | DLR | ~20–25 min | The most central airport; cheap and quick to Bank |
The honest picks: at Heathrow, the Elizabeth line is the sweet spot on speed and price. At Gatwick, take Thameslink or Southern over the pricier Gatwick Express. London City is the easiest of all — just hop on the DLR. Stansted is the one exception where you can't simply tap in: buy a Stansted Express ticket, or take a coach (National Express, FlixBus) — the cheapest option from the outer airports if you have time.
Taxis and ride apps
Easy, but rarely the cheapest. Black cabs can be hailed on the street or taken from a rank, are metered, and can use bus lanes — handy but pricier. Uber, Bolt and FreeNow are licensed private hire (minicabs): often cheaper off-peak, but they must be booked through the app and can't be hailed at the kerb. From 2026, ride-hailing fares include VAT, so the gap with black cabs has narrowed. Add your payment details before you travel so you're not fumbling on arrival.
What to skip in your first 48 hours
- Mixing your card and phone mid-week — it breaks your weekly cap. Pick one and stick with it.
- Anyone offering a "taxi" or "minicab" without a booking — at stations and airports that's illegal touting. Use a black cab from the rank or book a ride in an app.
- Assuming contactless works to Stansted — it doesn't; buy a ticket there.
- Buying paper single tickets — they cost far more than a contactless tap.
- Standing on the left of an escalator — stand right, walk left.
- Downloading five apps — a journey planner plus one ride app is plenty.
Best option by travel style
| You are… | Default option | App | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget traveller | Tube and bus on contactless; Santander Cycles | TfL Go | Capping guarantees the cheapest daily fare automatically |
| First-time visitor | Tube for distance, walking and buses in the centre | TfL Go / Citymapper | Simple tap-to-ride, and sights cluster close together |
| Traveller with luggage | Train or Elizabeth line from the airport, then a short ride | Uber / FreeNow | Fast, cheap airport run plus an easy final hop to the door |
| Late-night arrival | Night Tube (Fri/Sat), night buses, or a booked ride | Uber / Bolt | 24-hour buses and weekend Night Tube fill the gap |
| Mobile-first | Tap in with your phone; plan in an app | TfL Go + one ride app | Your phone is the ticket; capping works on contactless |
| Wants the easiest option | Ride apps door to door | Uber / FreeNow | Tap, ride, arrive — no tickets to think about |
| Frequent / longer stay | Contactless with the weekly cap | TfL Go | The Monday–Sunday cap rewards heavy use without a season ticket |
| Wants few apps | Contactless card plus one planner | TfL Go only | No ticket app needed — your bank card does the work |
Fares, caps and routes change — confirm current details on the official TfL and airport websites before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need an Oyster card in London?
- For most visitors, no. A contactless bank card or phone gives the same fares and the same daily and weekly caps, with no card fee. Get an Oyster only if your card isn't contactless or you need a concession discount.
- What's the cheapest way to get around London?
- Contactless pay as you go with capping. It charges single fares but never more than the daily or weekly cap, so it can't overcharge you. Buses are a cheap flat fare with free transfers within an hour.
- Does Uber work in London?
- Yes. Uber, Bolt and FreeNow all operate as licensed minicabs, so rides must be booked in the app — they can't be hailed. Black cabs can be hailed on the street and often cost a bit more.
- How do I get from Heathrow to central London?
- The Elizabeth line is the best value (about 30–45 minutes), the Piccadilly line is cheapest, and the Heathrow Express is fastest but pricier unless booked ahead. All take contactless except the Express, which needs its own ticket.
- Can I use contactless at all the London airports?
- At Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton (to Luton Airport Parkway) and London City, yes. Stansted is the exception — buy a Stansted Express ticket or take a coach.
- Does London transport run at night?
- Yes. Night buses run 24 hours on many routes, and the Night Tube and Night Overground run on Friday and Saturday nights. Otherwise use a booked ride.