An Oyster Card is a pay-as-you-go card for all forms of London transport, and it is a permanent card that you can use as and when you need it. If you are planning your relocation to London and going to be a regular commuter then you can load your pre-paid Oyster card with cash amounts or with Travelcards for the tube and bus or train fares to take advantage of the cheaper rates
If there is anything that needs doing as soon as possible after your relocation to London, it is figuring out how the tube works.
The biggest aspect of moving to London is learning about how the transport system works. Many Americans moving to London assume they will be able to get a car, but you don’t need it, you definitely don’t want the hassle and you’ll be using public transport for the most part after your relocation to London.
Yes, indeed, there’s a lot to be said for the London Underground, a.k.a. the tube. And on relocating to London from the States a few years ago, I initially made it my sole mode of transport—likely because, also to its credit, it has an extensive number of stops, so can deliver you essentially anywhere from anywhere in London. But after a while you start to pine for the light of day. The bus can then become a preferable mode of transport that keeps you above-ground, though the arrival times can be hit-or-miss. I did after a couple years finally start taking the bus to work for a change, and it cost me less to do so, maybe half a pound less per trip.
And it’s after three years living in London that I’m finally coming to appreciate the London Overground…[read more]
If you’re moving to London, it may surprise you to find out that the London Underground is not a political movement (thanks to ‘A Fish called Wanda’ for that one). What it is, is a very convenient way of making your way around the city. The London Underground (just call it the Tube or the Underground like everyone else), is the second longest metro system in the world, it has about 402 kilometres of railway track and is used by about 3 million people every day.