A red double decker bus, magnanimous in its appearance and historical significance, is one of the most iconic images of London, and rightly so. Sitting in the front seat of the upper deck of a double-decker bus is a highly underrated experience in this city. It is a great way to get to know the city and also a quite efficient way to get around it. Especially, in the months leading up to Christmas, when all the lights are up throughout the city, the bus gives you unparalleled views. If you happen to be in London when they have the streets lighted up for Christmas, I would implore you to take a trip down Oxford Street in the upper deck of a bus.
It is also quite an efficient way to travel, and personally the most preferred means. The bus network is very well spread out and connected, and quite minimizes your walking given the high frequency and density of the bus stops. Most of the bus stops tell you a waiting time that’s quite accurate and so it all becomes convenient. Nonetheless, during peak hours you cannot really tell how long you’ll get stuck in traffic and at that point I prefer taking the tube.
The London tube is incredibly well connected and will take you almost everywhere in the city. It’s something that’s so ingrained in the culture of the city that a lot of tube stops are itself tourist spots, especially King’s Cross. The tube can get very busy in peak hours and there is intense pushing and tugging then. Nonetheless, it is the most reliable means to get anywhere, not hindered by traffic in London, which is unpredictable and which can get fierce.
I’d say London is a very public transport-friendly city and that most of its population relies on walking and public transport on getting around. The transport can get quite expensive sometimes, with one-way tube rides costing almost $5 for long distances. Buses are cheaper than tubes but not too cheap, with each bus ride costing ~$2. Either ways, it is a pretty walk able city and also offers extremely pleasant sights to walk through, throughout its area. Walking is definitely the best way to get to know the city, in fact there are lists and lists of walks that you “must take” in London that make it to all of the tour guides. There are also bicycles that you can rent and ride on, with parking stands at minimal distances across the city. If everything else fails, there are also ferries that run on the Thames River that can take you places. Clearly, London is not short on means of getting around, and so that should be the last concern for anybody living or planning to live in this city!
