Travel Information

Travelling to and from London can be daunting whether you take the train, coach or drive yourself. Our site provides detailed maps pin-pointing the locations for theatres, restaurants and hotels so you should have no trouble finding your destination and you can even save up to 40% on rail travel if you book your rail tickets with Show and Stay^®.
If you do choose to drive to London be aware that parking can be difficult to find and expensive and depending on your destination you will need to pay the congestion charge.

• London Rail Travel
• Driving to London
• London Congestion Charge
• London Underground (the Tube)
• Oyster Card
• London Taxis
• London Buses

By Rail

As with any city, London has an extensive network of mainline stations, connecting the Capital with every area of the UK. When you book standrad return rail travel with a Show and Stay London theatre break you can save up to 40%.

Why Rail?

One of the simplest and quickest ways in and out of London and you don't have to worry about navigating central London streets.

• NO additonal cost for parking or the congestion charge
• Save up to 40% when booked as part of a Show and Stay London theatre break
• Bookable in advance online or by phone

• Transport for London - Rail
• National Rail

By Car

Easily accessible by road, London is simple to find but can be daunting to navigate - for anyone new to London, an A - Z of the City would be an advisable purchase. Additional costs do apply for parking and the congestion charge.

Where Can I Park?

Parking can be incredibly difficult to find in London and extremely expensive. Prices range from £1.50 - £4 per hour when parking on the street and depending on the car park anything from £6 - £15 for just two hours! Inevitably the closer to the centre of the City you are the more expensive parking becomes.
If you choose to park on the street, parking signs and meters will display the correct pricing and time limitation information - please be aware that streets vary so it is always best to check the signs.

What is the Congestion Charge?

The aim of Mayor Ken Livingstone's scheme is to reduce the traffic in central London and encourage the use of public transport by charging drivers for entering particularly congested areas of London. The congestion charge is only applicable to drivers driving in to London Monday - Friday, between 7.00am and 6.00pm.

How Much is it and How Do I Pay?

If you pay the charge in advance or before 6.00pm on the day you enter London the cost is £8, payments made before midnight but after 6.00pm on the day you entered London will cost £10. A penalty charge of £100 will be issued for charges that fail to be paid before midnight on the first day.
Payment is simple, there are a number of outlets across the City from petrol stations to convenience stores where charges can be paid - these stores carry the red and white congestion charge logo. All you will need is the dates of travel you wish to pay for, car registration details and the cash/card to make the payment. Alternatively some major car parks carry self service congestion charge machines or you can pay by post, sms or over the phone.

How Do I Know if I am in the Congestion Zone?

The congestion zone is clearly sign posted, notices state when you are entering and exiting the congestion zone, with road markings and operational information signs appropriately placed throughout the City.

• AA Route Planner
• Transport for London - Congestion
• Highways Agency

By Tube

Synonymous with London public transport, the tube or London Underground serves approximately 3 million people per day. The intricate network has 275 stations and connects central London to the surrounding boroughs.

What Do I Need to Know?

• London Underground is split in to 6 zones - with Zone 1 as central London
• Central London and places of interest cover Zones 1 - 3
• London Underground operates from 5.00am - 12.30am
• Avoid rush hour where possible and stand to the right on the escalators
• Destinations are displayed on the front of the trains and the network line is clearly shown on the platform
• Travel Cards can be purchased at any station and provide the user with access to the London Underground, buses and the DLR
• Prices vary dependent on the ticket and Zones - the staton will be able to help

• London Underground

Oyster Card

The Oyster Card is an electronic smartcard that makes travelling around London simple and easy. The card is valid for buses, the London Underground, trams, DLR and some mainline train services and can hold up to £90 pay as you travel credit. Oyster Cards can be purchased online in advance, by phone, at tube station ticket offices, at a number of London tourist offices and at Oyster ticket shops across the Capital.

What Do I Need to Know?

• Oyster Cards are one of the cheapest ways to travel around London
• No need to remove the card from a wallet/purse, you can simply run the wallet over the electronic reader
• When using the Oyster Card on the Underground remember to pass the card over a reader when you board and exit the train so that you are charged the correct amount.

• Oyster Card Website

By Taxi

Known the world over the London Black Cab is one of the iconic symbols of the Capital, offering a stylish, easy way to get around the busy streets. London taxi drivers are renowned for their candid chatter, useful information and due to the extensive geography exams they have to take their knowledge of London streets is phenomenal. Legal cabbies will always have a reference number and id badge in their vehicles so check if you are unsure.

What Do I Need to Know?

• Taxis can be hailed on the street, found at all stations or pre-booked by telephone
• An illuminated yellow light above the cab indicates the taxi is for hire
• Standard tipping procedure is 10% of the fare
• Fares vary dependent on traffic and the time of day

• Taxis - Transport for London

By Bus

Iconic, reliable and value for money the London red buses have been transporting passengers in and around London for decades. Timetables detailing the routes of each bus can be found at every bus stop and maps are available from tourist offices and even some hotels.

What Do I Need to Know?

• All buses (excluding the Heritage Buses - 9 and 15) are accessible for wheelchair users
• Night buses operate during the hours the London Underground closes (from midnight to 5.00am), some buses operate 24 hours a day
• Night buses are frequent particularly from Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus
• Rail Travel Cards cover bus travel and the DLR
• London buses don't take cash - you can pay using a Travel Card, Oyster Card or by using the machines located next to most bus stops (note you'll need the correct money as they do not give change)
• Single journey in Zone 1 is approximately £2.20, Bus Passes (covering all zones) cost approximately £3.50

• London Buses - Tranpsort for London