Crossing London

Introduction

With 12 major stations around the capital, London is well served by trains to and from all parts of the UK. With the exception of Fenchurch Street (where the nearest Underground station is Tower Hill), all are served by their own stations on the London Underground (also known as The Tube). All are served by buses and taxis.

For more information, including downloadable network maps, a journey planner and live travel news, visit the Transport for London website or call 020 7222 1234 (24 hours). Minicom users can call 020 7918 3015 (24 hours).

Crossing London

London Underground

The quickest way to travel around London is by the London Underground. Frequent services operate from approximately 0530 to 0015 (0700 to 2330 on Sundays).

Regularly updated recorded information on how services are running can be obtained by phoning 020 7222 1234 (24 hours).

The London Connections map (PDF) shows the alternative options for crossing London by London Underground.

Buses

Buses link many of London's main terminal stations. London also has an extensive network of Night bus services. Most major National Rail station are served by bus services - full details are available from Transport for London website, or by telephone on 020 7222 1234 (24 hour). Minicom users can call 020 7918 3015 (24 hours).

First Capital Connect's Thameslink Route

First Capital Connect's Thameslink route operates fast, direct services from Bedford, Luton and St Albans via Central London to East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton and stopping trains between Luton, St Albans, North London, the City, Streatham, Wimbledon and Sutton. There are nine Central London Thameslink stations with Underground connections. Thameslink connects with East Midlands Trains at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and Bedford.

Accessible Transport around London

Wheelchair users are able to travel across London by bus. Wheelchair users travel free, but anyone travelling with them will need a valid ticket or pass. The buses used for transfer between stations will have low floors and a ramp located at the centre doors for easy access.

Transport for London (TfL) have a dedicated webpage giving information about travelling around London on public transport. They have also produced the "Getting around London guide" which describes all the accessibility features on the Tube, bus, DLR and tram. They have created a guide which describes all the accessibility features on the Tube, bus, DLR and tram.

London's Major National Rail stations

The main London National Rail stations are:

• London Paddington, serving the area to the west of London including Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth. Paddington also offers fast direct services to Heathrow Airport on Heathrow Express. It also serves commuters from Ealing Broadway, Acton Main Line, Slough, Maidenhead and stations further west. Paddington is also the London terminus for the sleeper train to Devon and Cornwall.
• London Marylebone, serving an area to the north-west of London. One branch serves suburban stations including Wembley Stadium then towns like High Wycombe, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham. The other takes a more northerly route along the Metropolitan line via Harrow-on-the-Hill to Amersham and then on to Aylesbury.
• London Euston, serving central and north-west England and western Scotland, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Carlisle, Chester and Glasgow, and rail and ferry services to/from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland from Holyhead. Also available are local services to Watford Junction, with regional services to Northamton and Birmingham.  Euston is also the London terminus for the sleeper train to Scotland.
• St Pancras International, serving the East Midlands, including Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. From 9 December 2007, First Capital Connect’s Thameslink route to St Albans, Luton Airport Luton and Bedford to the north and Gatwick Airport and Brighton to the south. High-speed trains operated by Eurostar offer fast journey times to Paris, Brussels and beyond.
• London King's Cross, serving north-eastern England and eastern Scotland, Doncaster, Leeds, Kingston Upon Hull, York, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Regional services including Cambridge, Stevenage, Hitchin and Peterborough also operate from King's Cross.
• London Moorgate, serving regional commuter stations along the King’s Cross line north east of London, duplicating many of the services out of King’s Cross.
• London Liverpool Street, serving East Anglia (including Ipswich and Norwich). Liverpool Street is also the downtown terminus of the Stansted Airport Express service (see above).
• London Fenchurch Street, serving largely commuter towns on the north side of the Thames estuary, including Southend.
• London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross, all serving the area south and south east of London, including Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Dover and Ramsgate.
• London Blackfriars A small intermediate station serving the cross London Brighton- Bedford line with some commuter services from South East London terminating here.
• London Waterloo, serving the area south west of London, including Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury and Exeter. South west London is also most quickly reached from Waterloo, although some areas like Richmond and Wimbledon are also served by the western reaches of the District Line.
• London Victoria, serving the area south and south east of London, including Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Dover and Ramsgate, and serves some of south London's commuter belt. Victoria is also the terminus of the Gatwick Express service to Gatwick Airport.
• Kensington Olympia, to the west of the City Centre. Trains running between East Croydon via Clapham Junction and Watford Junction call here, as well as the Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction service.

Fares

Travelling 'via' London

Rail tickets for journeys via London can be used on London Underground or First Capital Connect's Thameslink route between London terminals at no additional cost. For example, a Brighton to Leeds ticket is valid on London Underground between Victoria and Kings Cross.

You can 'break your journey' and leave the Underground service en route. However, you'll need to buy another ticket in order to continue your journey.

Travelling to a station within London

Single and return tickets are also available for through journeys to London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway.

Travel tickets in London

The London area rail and bus network is divided into six Travelcard zones, and fares are based on the number of zones entered or crossed. London Travelcard allow unlimited travel on the London Bus Network, irrespective of zonal availability.

A range of one-day and longer period Travelcards are available, providing unlimited travel on National Rail, London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink and most bus services within the zones for which they are issued.