Londoner here, the move to the side to look for something in your bag is great advice and can be used for london more generally. The most annoying thing is people stopping in a busy street. London operates on people getting A to B quickly as possible. It might sound rude but people are busy
One thing all the transport guides never mention... there is more than just the TUBE. We have DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line and a massive mainline rail network which all operate within London and can be extremely useful to get around. So don't be afraid to look at the whole london rail connections map when you plan your trip!
@@positivevibez73 Elizabeth line Canary Wharf to Tottenham Court rd - Dean street exit, is direct and fast, second option Jubilee line, the DLR is a closed-loop system constructed to serve the 80s regenerated old docklands, city airport and some of East London.
One "don't" I would mention is Don't forget to check if you really need the Tube for your short trip, because although some stops look like they're quite far apart on the map, in reality they close enough to walk. To name but three: -Charing Cross to Embankment -Leicester Square to Covent Garden -Chancery Lane to Farringdon
I don't usually ride the bus when visiting a strange town, but after riding the bus on a visit to Vancouver, BC, I'll probably take a bus in London, just to see the city. If I need to get from one part of the city to another, I'll go by train.
Another Londoner here: up to 4 children age to 10 can travel free with each paying adult - just use the wide gates that are also for luggage and mobility aids. Age 11-15 there is a visitor oyster with discount fares and offers worth queuing to get though. Also, paying by card or phone will still get your daily or weekly caps applied. Also, despite the reputation if you’re struggling with luggage and kids and getting lost not only the staff will help, plenty of local travellers too - but do try to avoid rush hour when people do not have the patience and the trains are very tightly packed!
@@claudiaroque4657 Hi, it does need the Oyster card because you have to prove the age. You can use a normal card for a teenager but it will charge adult fares.
a tip he missed: use the same payment method every time you ride. there is a maximum daily charge, but if you use a different payment method every time, the system can't track how much you've paid. if you use the same payment method every time, when you hit the maximum, THE REST OF THE DAY IS FREE.
Question: I will be traveling with my family to London in a few weeks. We are a group of 3 and with only 1 credit card available. Best way to pay for all of our tube rides? Is it possible to tap in and tap out 3 times in order to pay for each of our rides using a single credit card? Or should we instead get an oyster card? Or 3 of this? It will be a 5 day stay and plan to use the tube a lot. Thanks a bunch for your attention!
Great video ! One thing I'll add about tapping in and out on The Tube - You must tap out as well as in because otherwise the system won't know how much to charge you and will deduct the maximum off your card if you don't tap out. Also, at some stations there are no gates to pass through and there is a separate card reader. It's easy to forget to tap out if there isn't a line of gates.
I am a Ex tube train driver and you have covered all the don’ts. Absolutely fantastic video. Should be a leaflet made for Londoners and not just tourist.
As a Londoner all my life, this video is OFFICIALLY APPROVED. Very well observed, and explained. The only comments I would make is that cell service IS available on most of the Jubilee line, and soon for most of the other lines too [even deep underground]; secondly don't be worried about replacement bus services. That really only happens on some Sundays and Saturdays and is relatively rare. Also, stinky tubes in the summer are not that bad. No worse than any train service in the summer.
Also, London Transport provide instructional signage in American, specifically to assist those unfamiliar with the concepts of public transport or foreign languages. Stop looking at the effing phones and read the clear and elegant signs.
Another couple of don’ts: - If the doors are closing, don’t take that as a sign to wrench them open, and get on the train: it’s not the last helicopter out of Saigon, there’ll be another train in a minute or two. - Don’t take the tube, if it’s impractical: Especially in Central London - not only are the stations around a 5-10 minute walk away from each other - but a lot of the most touristy landmarks are surprisingly walkable distances away; there’s even a ~2 hour walking route, which takes in a lot of the sights you probably came to see. In a lot of instances, it can be quicker, easier, or cheaper, to walk or even take the bus. You might even spot some more landmarks on the way (eg. Piccadilly Circus to Big Ben is ~15mins by tube, ~20 mins walking. If you take the tube, yes you will see those two landmarks. But if you walk, you will see: Jermyn Street, Pall Mall, The Mall, Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Downing Street, and much more)
Excellent tips - found myself nodding along emphatically to most of them! Just one thing I'd add: If you arrive at the platform just as a train is about to leave, don't hold the doors open for the rest of your group. It takes a LOT of force to stop them from closing (don't expect them to be like elevator doors...) and if you do succeed, it'll trigger the rest of the doors to reopen, delaying the train and annoying everyone (including the driver). Just let it go - there'll be another one along in two minutes!
The sliding doors can be very dangerous. A number of people and pets have died over the years by getting clothing or straps caught in them. Once they are within 25 mm of being closed the system considers them as closed. Be very wary of them. Same for national rail trains, which in some cases are even worse.
If you have larger than carryon size luggage, you might want to take the Elizabeth line from Heathrow instead, assuming it goes somewhere near your hotel. It costs more, but there is more room. Also, the stations have lifts from platform level, while some tube stations will require you to climb stairs before getting to the lifts.
And it's quicker. The tube can be really slow to take long distances. Staying near the Elizabeth Line was a godsend just to take it 1 stop in to Paddington, still much quicker than the District Line.
Last time I was in London a couple of months ago, my 8 year old son travelled free on the tube with me, just use the larger barrier to the side to go in and out, using the same card - staff will usually help you and keep it open so you can both go through.
This. Londoner here. You use the wider gates for luggage and travel with children or mobility aids and the staff will help if you’re not sure. No need for separate cards for the children if they’re young enough
I feel like I can apply this to Vancouver too, especially the parts where: - People stop in front of the gate line to look for their card - People crowd the top/bottom of the stairwell - People stand on the left of the escalator - People put their stuff on a seat - People stand in doors - People try to push on when people are getting off
Excellent vid! I’m getting to live here for three months and my best tube tip is that you don’t have to wait for the barrier to close behind the person in front of you before scanning your card. Keep it movin! PS: cell service was a great shoutout, my home is Chicago where you can use your phone on the train anywhere. Not here, so it’s advantageous to download the map
I'd add, don't hold the doors open. This happens a lot with families where dad is ambitious and the last one to board, then looks around and spots his wife and two children on the platform! Maybe split into two groups, maybe wait for the next train. And on that subject, if your party does get split up, have a plan already, don't try to discuss it as the train leaves the station!!
I’ll second that. You don’t want to be “that guy” that the driver shouts at over the PA for holding the doors….unless you want everyone in the carriage staring daggers at you.
Even locals will be looking at the signs in an unfamiliar station. Many tube stations are like a giant labyrinth inside, and unless you are a regular at that station you will need the signs as much as anyone. Also, if you have a general idea of whether you want northbound or southbound, eastbound or westbound, that will help you a lot.
Nice work! These tips are good manners on any public transport system. When you are a tourist, please remember most people using the train/tram/bus are locals trying to get somewhere as part of their normal lives.
I love the tube. Everything is so well marked ... it's almost like a cartoon that you have some little dude sitting on your shoulder "turn here, go there..." Also, the staff are so helpful but so are many of the passengers. Forgive them if they're in a hurry and many Londoners all say "we're not friendly" but you all are so lovely and helpful if you can be - even if it's just "I know it's that direction, just go that way and keep asking..."
A couple more suggestions Don't forget to take note of which direction you are travelling in, north, east, south or west. It makes picking the right direction much easier Don't feel you have to cram on the first train. Check the board, if the next train is in 2 minutes or less it will probably be emptier.
Extra Tip: If you miss your stop and you have to get out at Finsbury Park, make sure you get the right line. The Victoria and Piccadilly Line platforms are cords platform interchanged so make sure you follow the signs. The Victoria Line is also right hand running near Finsbury Park so always look at the signs.
This applies to the Victoria line in general: nearly every station is an interchange of some kind, and many have cross-platform interchange with other lines in the same direction.
The Piccadilly line was extended to Heathrow airport many years ago specifically as a public transport link to central London, space for luggage in the cars is provided, new tube cars with air cooling are being built.
@@mbrady2329 depends on the destination, if it’s on or near the Piccadilly/ circle/district line/ & you prefer a direct route with no changes the legacy lines are better and more frequent than the Elizabeth line airport frequency.
Don't push in any queues, we Brits think it's very bad manners. When you travel on the Tube in the summer, there are reminders to drink water, so do get a bottle, you can sit down on a platform seat and drink it, so you don't get too hot. ❤️
Very accurate, great work Wolt. I'd recommend to first timers to London to also use the double decker buses as well, and go upstairs for a different view of the city.
One thing youve missed is that you can buy a TFL Vist London day pass for all transport. I travel for weekend breaks and often stay in Zones 5 or 6 as the hotels are so much cheaper. You pay a little extra on the day passes for the further zones but the hotel saving more than offsets that. Also if you live in the UK you can actualy park at the hotels in the further zones so you can drive to London and get tube in and out from your hotel every day.
I teach English in France and in our Tenth Grade textbook there's a whole chapter about transport in London and how to get around. So i shall try to incorprate your advice into my lessons !
Do be aware that the tube lines can be northbound, southbound,eastbound or westbound and some trains have maps of different lines on them which can be confusing. The city mapper app will show delays on individual lines for your planned journey and which direction you need, such as Elizabeth line westbound.
TFL's website is okay but you must ignore the walking directions past the station entrance, their smartphone app however doesn't know about station entrances suggesting suboptimal or nonexistent entrances, presumably sometimes suggesting suboptimal trains as a consequence. Try Kings Cross Inn Hotel to Bank, British Red Cross UK Office to Whitechapel or Microsoft Experience Centre to Whitechapel for some examples.
Just came back from London for the a second time. The easiest best transportation system I ever traveled. Number one tip it is easy to not tap out in stations outside the city. At some stations there are no gates to make up tap out, it is an expensive mistake. The tube is way faster better than the cabs. We took the trains everywhere.
Useful information and very good tips, especially rucksacks and not taking them off is my pet hate, keeping them on also takes up space - Londoner here. But there is more to public transport in London than the underground. These include London Overground, National Rail, DLR, the Elizabeth Line and buses. To get to Heathrow yes the Piccadilly line, but Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line. The jubilee line you can get mobile (cell) network. Just be sensible with mobile phones, wallets and keep them safe, there are pickpockets but just be vigilant and you will be safe. Us Brits pronounce route - root 😅
Kansas Citian here, who has done a LITTLE mass transit in places, but still learning! Very good info to know about the Tube! We'll only be in London about 24 hours (post-cruise) next summer, and OF COURSE we will arrive on a Sunday. At least we know there might be some hiccups because of that day of the week.
Another tip, the tube map isn’t geographically representative. It’s sometimes far quicker to walk, but the map might make you think that’s impractical. You can find tube maps online with walking times shown between stations. One example, never take the tube from Covent Garden to Leicester Square!
You can also buy a “visitors Oyster card” if you don’t have a contactless bank card or Apple Pay. Also if you are jumping on and off the tube within zones 1 and 2 your fare gets capped after £8 I think it is any trip on the tube after that is free
Thanks for the info! I'm headed to London for the info on using The Tube. Most of these tips can easily be applied to most subways including the TTC in Toronto and Washington Metro, especially that one about not standing by the darn doors!
9:31 I was in Toronto a few weeks ago. I had these big suitcases with me, trying get off the bus; but the new passengers were trying to get on at the same time. The bus driver had to intervene, telling them they can't get on until I get off.
5:01 On pickpockets: They know you are most vulnerable during rush hour, when the trains are packed. They know where all the CCTV cameras are. They can spot you from a mile away and instantly pick up that you aren't from around. They are very crafty. That's how my Mom and aunts got pickpocketed, between Westminster and Green Park, during the evening rush hour, and we were all packed in like tinned sardines.
Knowing where North, East, South and West is helps on the Tube because the signs will often note the train direction, i.e., "eastbound". As long as you know the direction you need to go from where you are, you'll find the right platform or direction of the train you want to take.
I was just in London back in June and all of what you said is pretty much spot on Mark, the people that work in the stations are very helpful, I was told all I had to do is tap my credit card going into the station and tap on the way out, for example I had to get to hostel which was in Whitechapel and so I took the tube from Bakers station all the way to Aldgate East, but I realized that I actually was going to Aldgate so I had to get off at one point so I could take a different train which on your other point of reading the maps I ended up looking at the map which shows the line and which stationss they go too so I figured out which line I had to take to actually get to the first mentioned station....After all was said and done it was easier then I realized to take the tube to places... I am always aware of the possibilities of pickpockets and so I always try to position myself when it is a little busier in a spot that then can't do their dirty deeds, or I try to not take much with me while I am out and about. It drives me crazy when people stand in front of places that they shouldn't be, like in front of the payment area of the tube, or in front of the bathroom entry, etc. or the worse is as you mention digging through their bag or purse trying to find a card or a payment, I always say get it out before it comes, like seriously for you wait for a while to take the bus or train but you can not take a minute to get your payment out and ready to use before it comes.
With regards to airport luggage, I would say, don't get on the Piccadilly line with luggage. Instead, opt for the Elizabeth line (Crossrail). Even during rush hour, Elizabeth Line trains have room. The Heathrow Express would also be a superior choice
Depends on your end destination, Heathrow Express is premium priced and only takes you to Paddington station, which might place you far out of the way, with more connections to find, Heathrow Piccadilly line has higher frequency than the Elizabeth line and stops at popular west London tube stations and neighbourhoods.
Excellent advice! Especially about the lack of cell service. Was just in London a few weeks ago and every time I plotted a trip on the Tube, I made a screenshot of the route. Sometimes an optional route, just in case. Comes in very handy!
Great video with lots of useful advice. One thing I will say is, its sometimes unavoidable having to use the Tube with luggage, as the main line stations in London tend have an Underground station under the same building or a stone's throw away, and its the perfect way to get to your hotel. We travel down to London a few times a year, and we generally have two suitcases, and as busy and packed as the Tube trains are, its easy enough to stand holding your suitcase and it doesn't take that much room up this way. There's certainly no overhead luggage storage on the Tube trains like there is on the mainline trains.
Around 2016 there was badges you could wear to show you were up for a chat on the tube. If two badges meet hey have a chat. It was a complete failure and swiftly withdrawn as nobody wanted to chat. Probably only people from Northern England ever wanted to use them ha!
Also don’t worry about getting the train in the wrong direction. It happens. Switch at the next station. There is no extra charge. Be extra careful with Northern (black) line trains directions 🔀 and stops. It’s a sneaky one
Visiting London on family vacation twice in the 1980’s one tip I can offer that’s still true today as it was then, there’s a lot less crowded on the subsurface lines Circle, District, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines than there’s is on the deep level lines (Central, Northern, Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria lines) because the trains and station platforms are larger on the subsurface lines.
In central London it's often quicker to walk between stations, than it is to get the train. Also, if there's no seats available, don't stand near anyone who's reading, as they're in it for the long-haul. +1 for Citymapper!
great tips for sure. as a londoner i do remeber a time before contactless payment was accepted. it was a true game changer for sure. and now with capping it is same as oyster.
One thing to note is that the video mentions that families need individual travel cards (one per person). This is true, but if you are traveling with Children under 11, they are free on the tube and busses. Also most tube stations have a larger gate for families that also stay open for longer, so I suggest using those if needed. 😄
Don't wait until you get to the barriers before getting out your card/phone etc. I find this really annoying...you're just about to through, and then run into someone *at* the barrier faffing around with their phone. A real no-no, and it's not just tourists! Also, not leaving space to let people off first...I had exactly this yesterday, with a large woman standing right in the middle, with no room to get past. After staring intensely at her for five seconds, she was still standing there like a big rock, so I had no choice but to barge by her. Some people are just dim.
The usual good stuff from Wolter's World- thank you. The only point I'd make is that the problems mentioned (e.g. replacement bus services on Sundays; paying to get in) aren't as frequent or complicated as it might seem. Good to flag them up; but, really, the system's not as problematic as it might seem, esp. if this is your first visit to London. It's a great service... oh, and compared with what I hear about subways in the USA... its is CLEAN and it is SAFE, 24/7!
Im trying to do more train tips donts too. Have a donts of british trains and a european trains in general video comjng out soon. Thanks for the suggestion!
A couple things I would add to this, as a Londoner: - Paper tickets are being phased out, and the paper Travelcard will be disappearing very soon. So tourists should definitely look into options for paying with contactless, especially in Pounds Sterling, such as Revolut or Wise, before coming to London. - Eating and drinking are not as big a taboo on the tube as they are in other European countries. But of course, London’s population is very international, with a lot of people from foreign cultures who may be less than impressed with you scoffing food on a tube journey. Certainly at quieter times, you can get away with it, and there are no by-laws against conventional eating and drinking. HOWEVER, you can potentially get fined for drinking alcohol on any London Underground, Overground, DLR, bus or tram service. - Information about what stop you’re at can vary between different lines, and the lines with less up-to-date trains usually won’t tell you the station until just before and/or at the station. There are no LED displays on the line maps! That’s quite a unique case, with London. So make sure to rely on knowing the station that’s BEFORE the one you’re getting off at, and listen out for it. Everyone at some point has to pay a lot of attention, on such journeys - just last night I almost missed a change at Warren Street station. Not a huge deal, as I could’ve also boarded the Victoria line at the next station, with the way I was travelling, but it reminded me that I ought to pay more attention. So it’s something you do need to look out for.
Thank you for letting people know each person needs to use a card for the tubes because I'm taking my niece and I would've tried using the same card for us both lol... You saved me a headache
If you are prepared to travel in then staying in an outer zone is a better option, just research your journey before you head to the station, and you will often find there are trains every few minutes, and buses are also a good option.
Thanks for the Sunday tip. I was just messing around with the apps looking at the stations, transfers I was going to take. A few of them are not in service or there's a bus replacement... :D
One that has caught me out a few times in London: don't assume that transferring between tube lines is quick and simple. Sometimes you need to navigate what feels like miles of corridors and staircases to get to the connecting line. This is where Citymapper is such a great tool - its timing calculations account for the actual required navigation through stations, whether entering, exiting or transferring.
Stay away from the Central (red) line between 7.30 and 9 AM on week days, it is the time locals go to work and you will be crushed like a tinned sardine!
Never forget to refill oyster card and dont litter (with paper or noise) Forgot what i had last time i was in london (had not used in years) yet in the end it worked and there was enough...
Londoner here, welcome back! ^^ Stand on the RIGHT - including your luggage, keep it vertically behind or in front of you.// Don't stand on the LEFT, that's the best way to piss everyone else off. You may be on your holiday, but many others are commuting to and from work. // Walk with briskness when on the Underground, no slowing to a stop in a busy thoroughfare. When you leave the turnstiles and don't know where to go - MOVE ASIDE, please please please don't just stop right there.// Best not to start convos with strangers on the tube, use discretion. You don't get to choose who sits next to you. If you're uncomfortable - stand or sit somewhere else // TAKE. YOUR. BIG-ASS BACKPACK OFF, stop the whole main character syndrome, and be considerate of others around you. // If the tube is packed and someone asks that everyone move down a bit more and bunch up, please don't ignore, give it a go. // Aside from that, enjoy your visit XDDD We are generally quite friendly. Many times, I've helped people out who were unsure, had a brief chat with them. [Typed on a PC, hence all the slashes].
There are apps that will tell you which carriage to board to be closest to the exit at your alighting stop. Depending on what station you are arriving at and what time you alight, it can easily save you up to 5 minutes. Also if arriving from Heathrow, tap in there, come out at Hatton Cross and tap out. That trip is free. Hatton Cross to Central London is in a different zone and this top tip will save you lots of pounds!
With the luggage thing it is kinda accepted on the Elizabeth line and Piccadilly and both spaces more or less designed for luggage and other bulky items
This is one of the best videos I have seen about using the tube. Yes it is very true we do run down the escalators, please stand on the correct side. Do ask if you are lost and looking at those traveling from to the UK for the first time (especially if you are coming for a certain sports teams in September) I understand back home its manners to talk to people but here please do not speak to us in a friendly manner 'just because' on the tube it is quiet time.
Some tube stations are very deep, for example at Covent Garden. Do NOT take the stairs, the lifts there move pretty quickly. There are a few of them so move along the passageway, don’t stop at the first one. Once on the lift move to the opposite door and fill up the space, you walk out the other side. Have tickets ready the station is small. The locals will hustle you forward if you move in and stop!
Another thing, if you tap in with a credit card, make sure you tap out *with the same card*. If you use a different one you will be charged max trip cost for both cards as both will register as incomplete journeys.
A few tube sections DO have mobile ("cell") phone coverage provided by the train - I think the Victoria line has for the newest (southern) part of it. (It might be the Jubilee line actually - I can't remember for sure.
The victoria line hasn't been extended since it was built in the late 1960s, some parts of the tube are above ground of course, but the northern line was extended 2 years ago and the Jubilee line had its long extension in 1999
@@grassytramtracks yes what I was thinking of is the Jubilee line extension to Stratford. When I've used it from Canada Water I've been able to get a network signal as far as Westminster.
My wife just had her phone stolen in London while she was alone and distracted looking after our baby. Apparently it happens every 6 minutes in London and women are being targeted as 'easier prey' so don't underestimate the risk. We are both seasoned travelers. Be very careful in crowded (touristy) areas. The police didn't do anything even though we had the exact location of the theft and where the thief reactivated the phone to wipe it, so get insurance.
The Police tend to have street crime teams to try to identify and take out the organised gangs. They do not have the resources to look for individual phones. They don’t even do it with cars. You should maybe try to report it to get a crime number for insurance though. If you are using the phone for directions quite a good idea to use an earbud to listen to them rather than be holding and looking at your phone.
Londoner here, the move to the side to look for something in your bag is great advice and can be used for london more generally. The most annoying thing is people stopping in a busy street. London operates on people getting A to B quickly as possible. It might sound rude but people are busy
I am a wheelchair user and even before I was, I always looked for a non busy spot to stop and reorient... safer for everyone.
Londoners do everything at pace - especially on the Tube, and even more so during the rush hour!
This rules can be applied to many cities
@@mykellacarter7322 True
It's great advice for anywhere. Be situationally aware and don't block egress. Some people get immense satisfaction from blocking the way.
One thing all the transport guides never mention... there is more than just the TUBE. We have DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line and a massive mainline rail network which all operate within London and can be extremely useful to get around. So don't be afraid to look at the whole london rail connections map when you plan your trip!
I agree. I used The DLR to connect to the West End when I was staying at Canary Wharf last August. The DLR is a really handy connection.
@@positivevibez73 Elizabeth line Canary Wharf to Tottenham Court rd - Dean street exit, is direct and fast, second option Jubilee line, the DLR is a closed-loop system constructed to serve the 80s regenerated old docklands, city airport and some of East London.
@@markylon but perhaps not as scenic. Always fun to sit in the front seat and pretend to drive the DLR train
One "don't" I would mention is Don't forget to check if you really need the Tube for your short trip, because although some stops look like they're quite far apart on the map, in reality they close enough to walk. To name but three:
-Charing Cross to Embankment
-Leicester Square to Covent Garden
-Chancery Lane to Farringdon
Marylebone to Baker Street
I found that out. Really helpful.
I was thinking the same thing. Great tip
I’ve found Google Maps to be pretty useful in most cities to calculate the best method of public transport. Would you rely on it in London too?
@lautrufend Yeah it would be really helpful
Also, if you're a tourist and you're not in a desperate rush, take the bus, sit at the top and see more of London that way.
Sych great views
Yes...but do not go to Crouch End....
Or walk, it's amazing city to walk around
I don't usually ride the bus when visiting a strange town, but after riding the bus on a visit to Vancouver, BC, I'll probably take a bus in London, just to see the city. If I need to get from one part of the city to another, I'll go by train.
@@hassanalihusseini1717 Why?
As a member of London Underground staff I wish more people knew all of these tips! It makes your life easier not to mention everyone else's
Another Londoner here: up to 4 children age to 10 can travel free with each paying adult - just use the wide gates that are also for luggage and mobility aids. Age 11-15 there is a visitor oyster with discount fares and offers worth queuing to get though.
Also, paying by card or phone will still get your daily or weekly caps applied.
Also, despite the reputation if you’re struggling with luggage and kids and getting lost not only the staff will help, plenty of local travellers too - but do try to avoid rush hour when people do not have the patience and the trains are very tightly packed!
Hello Cristina! If children aged 11 to 15 pay by card or phone, will the discounted rates still apply? Or do they need to have an oyster card?
@@claudiaroque4657 Hi, it does need the Oyster card because you have to prove the age. You can use a normal card for a teenager but it will charge adult fares.
a tip he missed: use the same payment method every time you ride. there is a maximum daily charge, but if you use a different payment method every time, the system can't track how much you've paid. if you use the same payment method every time, when you hit the maximum, THE REST OF THE DAY IS FREE.
Great add! Thanks!
ita called caps not maxs
@Farleigh1050 you do know maximum is a technical term and not a brand name, right?
@@kenbrown2808 you thought i was dumb?
Question: I will be traveling with my family to London in a few weeks. We are a group of 3 and with only 1 credit card available. Best way to pay for all of our tube rides? Is it possible to tap in and tap out 3 times in order to pay for each of our rides using a single credit card? Or should we instead get an oyster card? Or 3 of this? It will be a 5 day stay and plan to use the tube a lot. Thanks a bunch for your attention!
Even if barrier is open (sometimes they are) still tap out
That’s important. If you don’t tap out, the tube folks assume you took the longest, most expensive trip possible and charge you for that.
Yes!!!!
Even if there is no barrier tap out before entering the street.
Great video !
One thing I'll add about tapping in and out on The Tube - You must tap out as well as in because otherwise the system won't know how much to charge you and will deduct the maximum off your card if you don't tap out. Also, at some stations there are no gates to pass through and there is a separate card reader. It's easy to forget to tap out if there isn't a line of gates.
And remember not to tap a second time on the bus. You don't want to pay twice the fare, do you ?!
I am a Ex tube train driver and you have covered all the don’ts. Absolutely fantastic video. Should be a leaflet made for Londoners and not just tourist.
As a Londoner all my life, this video is OFFICIALLY APPROVED. Very well observed, and explained. The only comments I would make is that cell service IS available on most of the Jubilee line, and soon for most of the other lines too [even deep underground]; secondly don't be worried about replacement bus services. That really only happens on some Sundays and Saturdays and is relatively rare. Also, stinky tubes in the summer are not that bad. No worse than any train service in the summer.
Also, London Transport provide instructional signage in American, specifically to assist those unfamiliar with the concepts of public transport or foreign languages. Stop looking at the effing phones and read the clear and elegant signs.
Another couple of don’ts:
- If the doors are closing, don’t take that as a sign to wrench them open, and get on the train: it’s not the last helicopter out of Saigon, there’ll be another train in a minute or two.
- Don’t take the tube, if it’s impractical: Especially in Central London - not only are the stations around a 5-10 minute walk away from each other - but a lot of the most touristy landmarks are surprisingly walkable distances away; there’s even a ~2 hour walking route, which takes in a lot of the sights you probably came to see. In a lot of instances, it can be quicker, easier, or cheaper, to walk or even take the bus. You might even spot some more landmarks on the way
(eg. Piccadilly Circus to Big Ben is ~15mins by tube, ~20 mins walking. If you take the tube, yes you will see those two landmarks. But if you walk, you will see: Jermyn Street, Pall Mall, The Mall, Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Downing Street, and much more)
But try not to walk or take the tube during rush hour if possible
Excellent tips - found myself nodding along emphatically to most of them! Just one thing I'd add: If you arrive at the platform just as a train is about to leave, don't hold the doors open for the rest of your group. It takes a LOT of force to stop them from closing (don't expect them to be like elevator doors...) and if you do succeed, it'll trigger the rest of the doors to reopen, delaying the train and annoying everyone (including the driver). Just let it go - there'll be another one along in two minutes!
The sliding doors can be very dangerous. A number of people and pets have died over the years by getting clothing or straps caught in them. Once they are within 25 mm of being closed the system considers them as closed. Be very wary of them. Same for national rail trains, which in some cases are even worse.
Dogs on leads are especially vulnerable, not that overseas visitors would be traveling with dogs.
@@jeffeloso that’s why I tucked my winter scarf in my coat, just in case it got loose and caught in the door.
If you have larger than carryon size luggage, you might want to take the Elizabeth line from Heathrow instead, assuming it goes somewhere near your hotel. It costs more, but there is more room. Also, the stations have lifts from platform level, while some tube stations will require you to climb stairs before getting to the lifts.
And it's quicker. The tube can be really slow to take long distances. Staying near the Elizabeth Line was a godsend just to take it 1 stop in to Paddington, still much quicker than the District Line.
Good to know. We'll be staying in the Paddington area partly for this reason.
Last time I was in London a couple of months ago, my 8 year old son travelled free on the tube with me, just use the larger barrier to the side to go in and out, using the same card - staff will usually help you and keep it open so you can both go through.
This. Londoner here. You use the wider gates for luggage and travel with children or mobility aids and the staff will help if you’re not sure. No need for separate cards for the children if they’re young enough
I feel like I can apply this to Vancouver too, especially the parts where:
- People stop in front of the gate line to look for their card
- People crowd the top/bottom of the stairwell
- People stand on the left of the escalator
- People put their stuff on a seat
- People stand in doors
- People try to push on when people are getting off
This is, unfortunately, anywhere that there are people.
Same as New York
Excellent vid! I’m getting to live here for three months and my best tube tip is that you don’t have to wait for the barrier to close behind the person in front of you before scanning your card. Keep it movin!
PS: cell service was a great shoutout, my home is Chicago where you can use your phone on the train anywhere. Not here, so it’s advantageous to download the map
I'd add, don't hold the doors open. This happens a lot with families where dad is ambitious and the last one to board, then looks around and spots his wife and two children on the platform! Maybe split into two groups, maybe wait for the next train. And on that subject, if your party does get split up, have a plan already, don't try to discuss it as the train leaves the station!!
I’ll second that. You don’t want to be “that guy” that the driver shouts at over the PA for holding the doors….unless you want everyone in the carriage staring daggers at you.
Even locals will be looking at the signs in an unfamiliar station. Many tube stations are like a giant labyrinth inside, and unless you are a regular at that station you will need the signs as much as anyone. Also, if you have a general idea of whether you want northbound or southbound, eastbound or westbound, that will help you a lot.
Nice work! These tips are good manners on any public transport system. When you are a tourist, please remember most people using the train/tram/bus are locals trying to get somewhere as part of their normal lives.
I love the tube. Everything is so well marked ... it's almost like a cartoon that you have some little dude sitting on your shoulder "turn here, go there..." Also, the staff are so helpful but so are many of the passengers. Forgive them if they're in a hurry and many Londoners all say "we're not friendly" but you all are so lovely and helpful if you can be - even if it's just "I know it's that direction, just go that way and keep asking..."
Yep, we Brits are friendly - we've been known to apologise to the furniture in our homes when we bump into them! 🙂
Thanks for clarifying a very important point I was looking for i.e. we need separate cards for each individual of the family.
These are great tips, and ultimately true for any subway system anywhere in the world!
As a Londoner myself, this was a really good guide for those visiting. Well done!
A couple more suggestions
Don't forget to take note of which direction you are travelling in, north, east, south or west. It makes picking the right direction much easier
Don't feel you have to cram on the first train. Check the board, if the next train is in 2 minutes or less it will probably be emptier.
Extra Tip: If you miss your stop and you have to get out at Finsbury Park, make sure you get the right line. The Victoria and Piccadilly Line platforms are cords platform interchanged so make sure you follow the signs. The Victoria Line is also right hand running near Finsbury Park so always look at the signs.
This applies to the Victoria line in general: nearly every station is an interchange of some kind, and many have cross-platform interchange with other lines in the same direction.
The Piccadilly line was extended to Heathrow airport many years ago specifically as a public transport link to central London, space for luggage in the cars is provided, new tube cars with air cooling are being built.
Whilst that's true, the Elizabeth line is a better bet in terms of luggage space, as the carriages are considerably larger.
@@mbrady2329 depends on the destination, if it’s on or near the Piccadilly/ circle/district line/ & you prefer a direct route with no changes the legacy lines are better and more frequent than the Elizabeth line airport frequency.
Don't push in any queues, we Brits think it's very bad manners.
When you travel on the Tube in the summer, there are reminders to drink water, so do get a bottle, you can sit down on a platform seat and drink it, so you don't get too hot. ❤️
Very accurate, great work Wolt. I'd recommend to first timers to London to also use the double decker buses as well, and go upstairs for a different view of the city.
One thing youve missed is that you can buy a TFL Vist London day pass for all transport. I travel for weekend breaks and often stay in Zones 5 or 6 as the hotels are so much cheaper. You pay a little extra on the day passes for the further zones but the hotel saving more than offsets that. Also if you live in the UK you can actualy park at the hotels in the further zones so you can drive to London and get tube in and out from your hotel every day.
I teach English in France and in our Tenth Grade textbook there's a whole chapter about transport in London and how to get around. So i shall try to incorprate your advice into my lessons !
Do be aware that the tube lines can be northbound, southbound,eastbound or westbound and some trains have maps of different lines on them which can be confusing. The city mapper app will show delays on individual lines for your planned journey and which direction you need, such as Elizabeth line westbound.
I work for Elizabeth line. I recommend TFL not citymapper it's not precisely accurate in disruption. Great video👍🏿
TFL's website is okay but you must ignore the walking directions past the station entrance, their smartphone app however doesn't know about station entrances suggesting suboptimal or nonexistent entrances, presumably sometimes suggesting suboptimal trains as a consequence. Try Kings Cross Inn Hotel to Bank, British Red Cross UK Office to Whitechapel or Microsoft Experience Centre to Whitechapel for some examples.
Just came back from London for the a second time. The easiest best transportation system I ever traveled. Number one tip it is easy to not tap out in stations outside the city. At some stations there are no gates to make up tap out, it is an expensive mistake. The tube is way faster better than the cabs. We took the trains everywhere.
Useful information and very good tips, especially rucksacks and not taking them off is my pet hate, keeping them on also takes up space - Londoner here. But there is more to public transport in London than the underground. These include London Overground, National Rail, DLR, the Elizabeth Line and buses. To get to Heathrow yes the Piccadilly line, but Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line. The jubilee line you can get mobile (cell) network. Just be sensible with mobile phones, wallets and keep them safe, there are pickpockets but just be vigilant and you will be safe. Us Brits pronounce route - root 😅
So glad you mentioned the 'Only one person per credit card' its shocking how few 'U-tube advisors' mention that.
Yes the credit card thing is awesome ! I was so surprised that they had it in the UK. It's a great thing in fact !
As a former Londoner I say all the advice are spot on!
Thank you!
Kansas Citian here, who has done a LITTLE mass transit in places, but still learning! Very good info to know about the Tube! We'll only be in London about 24 hours (post-cruise) next summer, and OF COURSE we will arrive on a Sunday. At least we know there might be some hiccups because of that day of the week.
Make sure to visit Mornington Crescent. Those who know, know 😉
I haven't a clue what you're talking about! ;)
Humphrey say's... "Call into the Lyttelton Arms for a pint!" 😋
Another tip, the tube map isn’t geographically representative. It’s sometimes far quicker to walk, but the map might make you think that’s impractical. You can find tube maps online with walking times shown between stations. One example, never take the tube from Covent Garden to Leicester Square!
Things like never go to Bank to change to the district line. Get out and walk on the street to Monument!!
@@Leo31291 dont dp that if you come off the northern line
Yes, it should be named the Tube Diagram, the word 'map' distorts things a little
You can also buy a “visitors Oyster card” if you don’t have a contactless bank card or Apple Pay. Also if you are jumping on and off the tube within zones 1 and 2 your fare gets capped after £8 I think it is any trip on the tube after that is free
Thanks for the info! I'm headed to London for the info on using The Tube. Most of these tips can easily be applied to most subways including the TTC in Toronto and Washington Metro, especially that one about not standing by the darn doors!
9:31 I was in Toronto a few weeks ago. I had these big suitcases with me, trying get off the bus; but the new passengers were trying to get on at the same time. The bus driver had to intervene, telling them they can't get on until I get off.
5:01 On pickpockets:
They know you are most vulnerable during rush hour, when the trains are packed. They know where all the CCTV cameras are. They can spot you from a mile away and instantly pick up that you aren't from around. They are very crafty. That's how my Mom and aunts got pickpocketed, between Westminster and Green Park, during the evening rush hour, and we were all packed in like tinned sardines.
Knowing where North, East, South and West is helps on the Tube because the signs will often note the train direction, i.e., "eastbound". As long as you know the direction you need to go from where you are, you'll find the right platform or direction of the train you want to take.
Going to London in 2024. Video was very helpful.
I was just in London back in June and all of what you said is pretty much spot on Mark, the people that work in the stations are very helpful, I was told all I had to do is tap my credit card going into the station and tap on the way out, for example I had to get to hostel which was in Whitechapel and so I took the tube from Bakers station all the way to Aldgate East, but I realized that I actually was going to Aldgate so I had to get off at one point so I could take a different train which on your other point of reading the maps I ended up looking at the map which shows the line and which stationss they go too so I figured out which line I had to take to actually get to the first mentioned station....After all was said and done it was easier then I realized to take the tube to places...
I am always aware of the possibilities of pickpockets and so I always try to position myself when it is a little busier in a spot that then can't do their dirty deeds, or I try to not take much with me while I am out and about.
It drives me crazy when people stand in front of places that they shouldn't be, like in front of the payment area of the tube, or in front of the bathroom entry, etc. or the worse is as you mention digging through their bag or purse trying to find a card or a payment, I always say get it out before it comes, like seriously for you wait for a while to take the bus or train but you can not take a minute to get your payment out and ready to use before it comes.
I must say TFL go not citymapper it's much more localised and you can even select stepfree routes and cycle routes (Santander cycles)
With regards to airport luggage, I would say, don't get on the Piccadilly line with luggage. Instead, opt for the Elizabeth line (Crossrail). Even during rush hour, Elizabeth Line trains have room. The Heathrow Express would also be a superior choice
Depends on your end destination, Heathrow Express is premium priced and only takes you to Paddington station, which might place you far out of the way, with more connections to find, Heathrow Piccadilly line has higher frequency than the Elizabeth line and stops at popular west London tube stations and neighbourhoods.
Excellent advice! Especially about the lack of cell service. Was just in London a few weeks ago and every time I plotted a trip on the Tube, I made a screenshot of the route. Sometimes an optional route, just in case. Comes in very handy!
Congratulations on 1M!
Thank you!
Great video with lots of useful advice. One thing I will say is, its sometimes unavoidable having to use the Tube with luggage, as the main line stations in London tend have an Underground station under the same building or a stone's throw away, and its the perfect way to get to your hotel. We travel down to London a few times a year, and we generally have two suitcases, and as busy and packed as the Tube trains are, its easy enough to stand holding your suitcase and it doesn't take that much room up this way. There's certainly no overhead luggage storage on the Tube trains like there is on the mainline trains.
8:30 - Even if you miss your stop, consecutive stations (especially in Zone 1) could quite be an easily walkable distance apart.
Yes always stand on the right, coming from a Londoner xx
I've discovered citymapper and love playing with it!
Around 2016 there was badges you could wear to show you were up for a chat on the tube. If two badges meet hey have a chat. It was a complete failure and swiftly withdrawn as nobody wanted to chat. Probably only people from Northern England ever wanted to use them ha!
As a person who lives in London, these advices are very usefull
@markylon thank you very much. It's very useful for a poor emigrant like myself who still tries to learn the local language.
@@markylonan immigrant is also an emigrant, it just depends on perspective
@@markylonthat tone of correction makes it sound like your correction is more for your self satisfaction of feeling right than to actually educate
Also don’t worry about getting the train in the wrong direction. It happens. Switch at the next station. There is no extra charge.
Be extra careful with Northern (black) line trains directions 🔀 and stops. It’s a sneaky one
Love your channel and that’s some great tips 👍🏼
Thanks, I am new here. Great video from Finland. Just finished watching that. 🤗👍🌞
Thanks!
The Piccadilly line to Heathrow has extra space next to the doors for luggage if necessary.
as a brit, i am actually impressed in your knowledge. you explained mind the gap better than most of us can
Visiting London on family vacation twice in the 1980’s one tip I can offer that’s still true today as it was then, there’s a lot less crowded on the subsurface lines Circle, District, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines than there’s is on the deep level lines (Central, Northern, Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria lines) because the trains and station platforms are larger on the subsurface lines.
London is my favorite city ❤
In central London it's often quicker to walk between stations, than it is to get the train.
Also, if there's no seats available, don't stand near anyone who's reading, as they're in it for the long-haul.
+1 for Citymapper!
great tips for sure. as a londoner i do remeber a time before contactless payment was accepted. it was a true game changer for sure. and now with capping it is same as oyster.
Great advices. London tube is the easiest. You get the hang of it very fast.
As an obnoxious lifelong londoner, you are doing gods work educating these annoying tourists on travel etiquette
One thing to note is that the video mentions that families need individual travel cards (one per person). This is true, but if you are traveling with Children under 11, they are free on the tube and busses. Also most tube stations have a larger gate for families that also stay open for longer, so I suggest using those if needed. 😄
Don't wait until you get to the barriers before getting out your card/phone etc. I find this really annoying...you're just about to through, and then run into someone *at* the barrier faffing around with their phone. A real no-no, and it's not just tourists!
Also, not leaving space to let people off first...I had exactly this yesterday, with a large woman standing right in the middle, with no room to get past. After staring intensely at her for five seconds, she was still standing there like a big rock, so I had no choice but to barge by her. Some people are just dim.
The same card should be used to take advantage of fare capping on the tube... It's tied to the plastic used
And that also means not mixing your card and any phones or smartwatches with the same card linked to them
The usual good stuff from Wolter's World- thank you. The only point I'd make is that the problems mentioned (e.g. replacement bus services on Sundays; paying to get in) aren't as frequent or complicated as it might seem. Good to flag them up; but, really, the system's not as problematic as it might seem, esp. if this is your first visit to London. It's a great service... oh, and compared with what I hear about subways in the USA... its is CLEAN and it is SAFE, 24/7!
Mark can you please do a video on the Chunnel from England to Paris
Great idea. In fact, I'd include a few more of the rail stations for folks traveling outside of London.
Im trying to do more train tips donts too. Have a donts of british trains and a european trains in general video comjng out soon. Thanks for the suggestion!
No one really calls it the Chunnel.
Great advice for any subway situation!
Love the tube everything about it ❤
As a local I would recommend people walk more in central London.
Hope you have a good weekend Professor Wolters!
A couple things I would add to this, as a Londoner:
- Paper tickets are being phased out, and the paper Travelcard will be disappearing very soon. So tourists should definitely look into options for paying with contactless, especially in Pounds Sterling, such as Revolut or Wise, before coming to London.
- Eating and drinking are not as big a taboo on the tube as they are in other European countries. But of course, London’s population is very international, with a lot of people from foreign cultures who may be less than impressed with you scoffing food on a tube journey. Certainly at quieter times, you can get away with it, and there are no by-laws against conventional eating and drinking. HOWEVER, you can potentially get fined for drinking alcohol on any London Underground, Overground, DLR, bus or tram service.
- Information about what stop you’re at can vary between different lines, and the lines with less up-to-date trains usually won’t tell you the station until just before and/or at the station. There are no LED displays on the line maps! That’s quite a unique case, with London. So make sure to rely on knowing the station that’s BEFORE the one you’re getting off at, and listen out for it. Everyone at some point has to pay a lot of attention, on such journeys - just last night I almost missed a change at Warren Street station. Not a huge deal, as I could’ve also boarded the Victoria line at the next station, with the way I was travelling, but it reminded me that I ought to pay more attention. So it’s something you do need to look out for.
The travelcard is staying, was announced recently.
@@tootalltom My bad! Hadn’t heard that news! Though of course, contactless payment caps will still be cheaper than a paper Travelcard.
Thank you for letting people know each person needs to use a card for the tubes because I'm taking my niece and I would've tried using the same card for us both lol... You saved me a headache
If you are prepared to travel in then staying in an outer zone is a better option, just research your journey before you head to the station, and you will often find there are trains every few minutes, and buses are also a good option.
Hey Mark, great video
Thanks for the Sunday tip. I was just messing around with the apps looking at the stations, transfers I was going to take. A few of them are not in service or there's a bus replacement... :D
One that has caught me out a few times in London: don't assume that transferring between tube lines is quick and simple. Sometimes you need to navigate what feels like miles of corridors and staircases to get to the connecting line. This is where Citymapper is such a great tool - its timing calculations account for the actual required navigation through stations, whether entering, exiting or transferring.
Stay away from the Central (red) line between 7.30 and 9 AM on week days, it is the time locals go to work and you will be crushed like a tinned sardine!
This made me chuckle as its soooo true.
What’s the “toob?”
Never forget to refill oyster card and dont litter (with paper or noise)
Forgot what i had last time i was in london (had not used in years) yet in the end it worked and there was enough...
Londoner here, welcome back! ^^ Stand on the RIGHT - including your luggage, keep it vertically behind or in front of you.// Don't stand on the LEFT, that's the best way to piss everyone else off. You may be on your holiday, but many others are commuting to and from work. // Walk with briskness when on the Underground, no slowing to a stop in a busy thoroughfare. When you leave the turnstiles and don't know where to go - MOVE ASIDE, please please please don't just stop right there.// Best not to start convos with strangers on the tube, use discretion. You don't get to choose who sits next to you. If you're uncomfortable - stand or sit somewhere else // TAKE. YOUR. BIG-ASS BACKPACK OFF, stop the whole main character syndrome, and be considerate of others around you. // If the tube is packed and someone asks that everyone move down a bit more and bunch up, please don't ignore, give it a go. // Aside from that, enjoy your visit XDDD We are generally quite friendly. Many times, I've helped people out who were unsure, had a brief chat with them. [Typed on a PC, hence all the slashes].
There are apps that will tell you which carriage to board to be closest to the exit at your alighting stop. Depending on what station you are arriving at and what time you alight, it can easily save you up to 5 minutes. Also if arriving from Heathrow, tap in there, come out at Hatton Cross and tap out. That trip is free. Hatton Cross to Central London is in a different zone and this top tip will save you lots of pounds!
With the luggage thing it is kinda accepted on the Elizabeth line and Piccadilly and both spaces more or less designed for luggage and other bulky items
This is one of the best videos I have seen about using the tube. Yes it is very true we do run down the escalators, please stand on the correct side. Do ask if you are lost and looking at those traveling from to the UK for the first time (especially if you are coming for a certain sports teams in September) I understand back home its manners to talk to people but here please do not speak to us in a friendly manner 'just because' on the tube it is quiet time.
Some tube stations are very deep, for example at Covent Garden. Do NOT take the stairs, the lifts there move pretty quickly. There are a few of them so move along the passageway, don’t stop at the first one. Once on the lift move to the opposite door and fill up the space, you walk out the other side. Have tickets ready the station is small. The locals will hustle you forward if you move in and stop!
Another thing, if you tap in with a credit card, make sure you tap out *with the same card*. If you use a different one you will be charged max trip cost for both cards as both will register as incomplete journeys.
What is the verdict on Travelcards? Is it worth it or is the daily cap better? I cannot figure out the daily cap at all to be honest.
A few tube sections DO have mobile ("cell") phone coverage provided by the train - I think the Victoria line has for the newest (southern) part of it. (It might be the Jubilee line actually - I can't remember for sure.
The victoria line hasn't been extended since it was built in the late 1960s, some parts of the tube are above ground of course, but the northern line was extended 2 years ago and the Jubilee line had its long extension in 1999
@@grassytramtracks yes what I was thinking of is the Jubilee line extension to Stratford. When I've used it from Canada Water I've been able to get a network signal as far as Westminster.
Great advice!
If you use your own card, and it is a US card, don’t you pay a conversion fee each time?
My wife just had her phone stolen in London while she was alone and distracted looking after our baby. Apparently it happens every 6 minutes in London and women are being targeted as 'easier prey' so don't underestimate the risk. We are both seasoned travelers. Be very careful in crowded (touristy) areas. The police didn't do anything even though we had the exact location of the theft and where the thief reactivated the phone to wipe it, so get insurance.
The Police tend to have street crime teams to try to identify and take out the organised gangs. They do not have the resources to look for individual phones. They don’t even do it with cars. You should maybe try to report it to get a crime number for insurance though. If you are using the phone for directions quite a good idea to use an earbud to listen to them rather than be holding and looking at your phone.
These tips are true for any subway and not just relevant for london.
Most of these are the same for any subway. Kind of hard to manspread on the Tube though because there are usually armrests between the seats.
Fun fact in Newcastle-upon-Tyne & Sunderland they have their own metro system