How To Find your way around London - and out of London!

From left to right, tourists walking around London, an open top guided tour bus, the National Express coaches which go inter city. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Walking Around London

A London loop for walkers offers you a short or longer route.

London Loop signpost. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

If you want to stay in the city and want a guide there are several groups offering tours starting from landmarks, usually underground station. You can do tours of historical places, and Jack the Ripper, Shakespeare's London.

Bike Hire

You can hire bikes from the banks of bikes and leave them elsewhere.

Bus to Heathrow

London has buses on a loop going to Heathrow airport. The loop bus goes via Hendon and Harrow.

Night buses run along the most popular routes.

Trains in, round and out of London

Check the times of last trains.

Heathrow airport is on the wonderful new Elizabeth line.  

Driving Off  Around the UK

Get to know your own car's Satnav. If you don't have one, or can't use, use your phone for directions. 

If you are lost, you can use the google maps app on your mobile phone and listen to the voice giving you directions. This works whether you are walking or driving.

You can drive on the M4 to Wales. Be prepared to pay a toll on the Severn Bridge in at least one direction. Check the amount and if you need to pay cash or credit card.

Flights From London's City Airport

London City Airport has flights to Europe and the USA.

To leave London, you can take trains from Paddington west to Wales, and then a ferry over to Ireland.

Hotels near London City Airport

Lots of hotels from Under £100 to over £300. I noted Holiday Inn Express was in the cheaper section.

Driving Out of London

Drive north from London up the M1 to the midlands, Derby, the north, and on to Scotland. (Turning off the motorway on the M6 - check the AA or RAC for routes, or Google Maps or Michelin.)

The AIM goes to Stevenage and Welwyn, the old road predating the MI, which was Motorway one. 

Citymapper

This tells you when the next bus is coming. 

Also how long an uber (hire car) takes and how much money it costs. 

Citymapper is available for London and other cities, such as those in Europe. For example, Dublin, Ireland, which is in the EU (European Union).

 An alternative to TFL

Google Maps

You can ask for a cafe near me. A garage/petrol station (called gas station by Americans) near me.

Skyscanner 

https://www.skyscanner.net/flights-from/lcy/cheap-flights-from-london-city-airport.

Streetview

When I am driving and worried about getting lost, or whether my destination has a driveway or place to park, I use Streetview. This is good for the local area. We can discuss alternative routes, and remember where to turn off into side streets to avoid traffic jams. It is a visual video of streets which you can rewind, and change direction, even check the car park behind a pub, park, cemetery, wedding venue, conference centre or shopping mall, railway station or airport.

TFL and Tube Trains

London's underground is called the tube, because of the underground tunnels. The circle line is easy to identify, going around in a circle. The Northern line goes north. Of course returning you will be coming south back into London. 

You can specify travel times tomorrow or later, get prices of journeys, cheapest option such as walking and bike versus bus, taxi, train, quickest option, and step-free station, or least walking.

Useful Websites For Travel & Route Planning (alphabetically)

AA route planner

https://www.theaa.com/route-planner/route

Citymapper

https://citymapper.com/?lang=en

Google maps

https://www.google.com/maps/

Street View

https://www.instantstreetview.com/

TFL

https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

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