The London Underground, also known as the London Tube, is quite simply the best way to get around London quickly and easily. However, if you’ve never been to London before it can be a bit tricky! Here’s our simple guide to help you get around.

It’s great if you know where you’re going and how to get there – you can simply buy one ticket for your one journey. However, if you want to be spontaneously or are sight seeing and aren’t sure where you might end up, it’s a good idea to buy an all day travel pass. You can also get Oyster Cards, which are like little credit cards that give you a set amount of rides a week. You can also use them on London buses back up at ground level, and some of the National Rail Trains.

The London Tube is divided into 6 Zones. Zone 1 is central London, and the numbers increase the further out from the centre you go – and so do the prices. It’s a good idea to look up which Zone your destinations are in before you buy your tickets – or ask the ticket masters – as where you’re going will affect the p[rice of your ticket.

When you pas through the turnstiles, simply feed your tickets through the slot at your side, or hold your Oyster card on the electronic patch until the light goes green.

All of the stations on the London Underground are connected to one or more of the different tube lines that go to different parts of the city. All the lines are colour coded. On the underground map in Pocket Places, the key for the underground lines is at the bottom of the page.

When you plan your journey, be sure to remember or write down which line you’ll be taking to where, as you’ll need to follow the signs for that line when you’re at the underground stations. Also – have a look at which direction you’ll be traveling in. The platforms in the stations are labeled by which direction the destinations are on the tube map – northbound, southbound, eastbound or westbound.

For example, after you’ve followed the signs for the Victoria Line, you’ll get to the platforms and a have choice of Victoria Line Eastbound, or Victoria Line Westbound.  There are simplified maps of the line you’re getting on at these platforms, listing all the stations the train will be stopping at – so you can always check you’re heading in the right direction before you get on!

When you get to the station, there will be signs telling you where each tube line is, and then signs instructing you which platform you need. On the platform, electronic board will tell you when the next train is. They are labeled according to the train’s final destination.

Stand well back from the platform edge, and mind the gap between the platform and the train when you’re boarding. Don’t try and get on while the doors are closing, as they won’t stop for you to get on and the trains are so often there’s no need to rush.

Once inside the train, if you look up you’ll see small maps of whichever tube line you’re one, showing you the station stops along this line. This is great because it means you don’t have to remember which is the stop before yours, as you can check when you get on the train.

When you get off, follow the signs for the way out, and have your ticket or Oyster card ready again, as you’ll need to go through the turnstiles again to get out. A lot of station have a number of exits which are named by the street they exit on to. So if you’re going to a particular tourist attraction, you can always look up which is the nearest tube stop and which exit you need to use when you arrive. Otherwise, you can always ask station staff.

Try not to bring more luggage than you need on the tube, it’s a crowded enough place as it is and lots of luggage can make it hard to get on and off!

If you’re standing still on the escalators, stand on the right. This leaves a clear path for people in a hurry to walk up the left hand side

If you’ve stopped to look at your map in a walkway or on a platform, try to stand to one side, especially in rush hour. The Underground can be a very busy place as Londoners use it everyday to get to work and back

If you’re new to London or traveling on your own, the tube is generally a safe place but obvious strangers can be vulnerable to pickpockets. Try and keep all your valuables with you

Allow people off the trains before you get on – its not only polite, it actually makes it quicker for everyone involved!

You can learn more about the history of the Tube at the London Transport Museum

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