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A Londoner's Guide To Transport In The Centre Of London
Tourists can opt from a selection of transport choices for finding the sights around Westminster, but the mode of transport you decide upon, should to be framed around the amount of time you have available to move around. 1st Time Travellers (with lots of time on their hands): For first-time visitors you'll find a constant stream of buses that operate from Marble Arch through to Holborn (passing close to Covent Garden ) and this is the most panoramic of routes to take. Oxford Street is one of on the principal shopping districts in the metropolis, where all the primary UK brands have their flagship stores. You’ll find HMV, Zara, H&M among others. get off the bus at important points (Bond Street) and you’ll find the swish designer label fashion stores, as well as historic stores (Regent’s Street) such as Liberty and Hamleys Toys (who supply toys to the Royal Family, an absolute must for families…there is no Toy store anything like Hamleys). First Time Visitors (on a tight time schedule): If you’re on a flying visit or have been to the main tourist attractions before, the best form of transport is going to be the Tube. The City of Westminster has a few lines that split up the main zones very efficiently. Due to this Instead of taking a bus from Marble Arch to Holborn, which could take upwards of forty-minutes if there’s traffic, the Underground will provide the same journey in under 10minutes. The London Underground Central line is one of the main arteries in Westminster, cutting over from Queensway/Lancaster Gate through to Holborn. While the Piccadilly line running from Kings Cross (Camden Borough) through to Knightsbridge (where you can find Harrods) takes in Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus (the very famous advertising billboards you see in historic films of London, it’s also where you'll find the statue of Eros). Making it more cost effective: London ain't cheap!, but at least, at the present time the strength of the Euro against the Pound makes it, for the first time in ages a very attractive exchange rate for taking the plunge into this great city. The economics of ticket pricing combined and with the desire by authorities to keep Londoners through the turnstiles, means that, the cost of buying individual tickets makes no sense at all. For example a single stop may cost in excess of of £2.00, but a one-day rover card which can be used across all the buses and tube’s (Londoners more familiar slang name for the Underground) may cost as little a £5.00. Visitors can also find special travel deals for longer trips to the city. Either ask your hotel concierge or directly at an Underground Station. Note, it is now exceptionally rare to be able to buy a ticket for a bus on the bus itself, at most bus stops there are ticket dispensers where you can purchase single or a travel-card directly. Once you have this ticket you can speed around the Underground network to the points of interest you are interested in seeing. What about the famous black cab? Along with the old Routemaster Bus, which is rarely seen in circulation, The London Black Cab is an beacon of hope to Londoners. The examination course that a cabbie (taxi-driver) needs to go through in order to be granted a taxi-licence to drive, comes in the form of a strict course, affectionately known as “The Knowledge”. In order to pass this course, a cab driver must be able to pinpoint every single street in London. If they fail to identify the route they would need to take in order to complete a journey defined by the examiner, they don't pass. Unfortunately traffic is the problem in Westminster, so the only time that a cab journey is really worth it, is when you’ve done all your shopping and are utterly exhausted. At that point tumbling into a cab is the most enjoyable sensation in the World. If you're visiting to the great capital city, Hyde Park is a superb base from which to explore the City of Westminster. According to Trip Advisor, one of London's most exclusive 4 Star Hotels can also be found overlooking Hyde Park itself. But there is no shortage of accommodation in London so however you choose, you're bound to find something appropriate. The fundamental thing to remember when travelling around London, is that if you want to get their quickly, take the Metro, and if you want to enjoy the scenary, take the bus. But choose your transport wisely, and plan your time well, because London is a city first explored fully. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Peter M. James is a travel writer for Hotel Hyde Park based in London. |
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