London Transporation

Jump to:
•  TfL
•  Maps
•  Student Oyster Cards
•  Lost/Stolen Oyster Cards
•  Cabs
•  Gatwick Airport
•  Luton Airport
•  Stansted Airport
•  Heathrow Airport


TfL

Transport for London (TfL) is the government body responsible for operating most aspects of public transportation throughout Greater London, including the two transport options our students are most likely to use: the London Underground (a.k.a. “the Tube”) and London Buses. 

To enter stations and busses, passengers can purchase paper tickers or use “Oyster cards” – stored-value contactless smart cards. SU London is able to offer student discounts on weekly and monthly Oyster card rates: more information on this is available below. 

Both the Tube and bus networks are extensive and easy to use. While there are some bus routes that operate 24 hours a day, please note that the Tube is normally closed from approximately 1:00am to 5:30am. 

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Maps

Tube maps are available on TfL’s website here. Google Maps also has a London Public Transportation overlay, available here. The closest Tube station to Faraday House is Holborn Station on the Piccadilly and Central lines.

Bus maps are available on TfL’s website here. Faraday House is close to several bus lines: to search for a complete listing, enter Faraday House’s address (48 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AE) into the main search field on the bus page.

You can plan your trip on London’s public transportation lines using TfL’s Journey Planner, available here. 

Some of the Underground's lines are very old & require frequent maintenance. Consequently, there are often planned closures of stations and stretches of lines – mostly during the weekends.  Stay on top of the latest station closures:

•  Visit TfL’s live service update page
•  View TfL’s planned closure schedule
•  Sign up for TfL’s weekly closures email

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Student Discount Oyster Cards

SU London is a member of a scheme which allows our students to apply for a 30% discount on the price of weekly and monthly Oyster travel card plans. You can apply for your student discount Oyster by following these simple steps:

•  Go to www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets
•  Under ‘students and children,’ click on 18+ students and follow the straightforward instructions
•  Please remember to us the British format for dates (day/month/year)

Finally, you will need SU London’s Student Discount registration number. We will email this information to all new SU London students once they arrive.

Your student Oyster will be in the form of a photocard which will give you a 30% discount on weekly or monthly travelcards. Travelcards, which are the alternative to pay-as-you-go top ups, allow for unlimited Tube and bus travel within the specified zones and time-span.

Take a look at TfL’s master guide to student travel fares here. The fare you choose will depend on how often you plan to use TfL services.

Consider:

•  The location of your flat in relation to Faraday House
•  Alternatives to the Tube, such as the bus or walking
•  Any sights or locations you plan to visit outside of Travel Zone 1

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Lost/Stolen Student Oyster Card?  Here’s What You Need To Know:

If your student-discount Oyster Card has been stolen or is otherwise lost, you can apply for a refund from TfL. However, as with most things in life, there is good news and bad news.

The bad news: unfortunately, TfL will not issue refunds onto the credit card that you’ve used to apply for your Oyster. This is a definite and absolute “no.”

Now, the good news: there are a few other options! 

•  You can request that the refund is put onto a debit card
•  You can request that the refund be issued to the card of a third party
•  You can get a refund in the form of a cheque, and you can even have them make the cheque out to SU London and we’ll pay you the cash equivalent.

To exercise these options, you must contact the TfL refund office to apply for your refund and you must talk them through which option you’d like to take and provide the relevant details (card number, etc.). 

Contact TfL:

Student Oyster refund office: 0845 331 9872
TfL general helpline: 0845 330 9876

More information is available online here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14629.aspx

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Cabs

Should you need a taxi service, there are a few things to be aware of and several resources to draw upon to ensure safe, legal travel. 

Taxis

The only cabs that may legally pick up passengers after being hailed on the street are licensed taxis, otherwise known as black cabs. These are the iconic London cabs that say “taxi” above the windshield (here’s a photo). Taking a taxi can sometimes be the fastest and most convenient way of getting home, especially for getting back safely at night. If you share a cab with other people, it is not always more expensive than other types of public transport.

Fares in taxis are metered. You may tip what you wish, but most people round up to the nearest pound. Keep in mind that not all taxi drivers will have exact change. 

Taxis may either be called on the street or found at one of the many dedicated taxi ranks throughout the city. TfL maintains a comprehensive list of taxi rank locations here.  Alternatively, you can book a taxi in advance.  Click here to see a TfL list of taxi companies and numbers. 

Minicabs

Mincabs are private-hire vehicles that from the outside may look like an ordinary unmarked car. These cabs are not allowed to pick people up off of the street. Minicabs must be booked in advance either by phone, online or at the minicab company’s office. 

If someone approaches you and asks if you need a cab or taxi – do not accept their offers under any circumstances. 

CABWISE Text Service

Transport for London operates a text message service, CABWISE, to help you find licensed taxis and minicabs nearest to your location. 

Simply text CAB to 60835 and you’ll receive two nearest minicab numbers and one taxi number.

Click here to read TfL’s online resources for Taxis and Minicabs. 

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Airport Transportation

When making travel plans, be mindful that it can take several hours to get to London’s airports, and you should check-in around 2 hours early.  That 6am flight may be cheaper, but it will be incredibly hard to get to your flight on time. 

View TfL’s summary of airport transportation options here. 

Options to GATWICK Airport

Gatwick Express Train - http://www.gatwickexpress.com/
•  Departs from: Victoria Station
•  Runs from: 3:30am – 12:30am
•  Frequency: every 15 minutes
•  Journey length: 30 minutes
•  Anytime single ticket: £17.90, or £15.95 online
•  Anytime return ticket: £30.80, or £25.90 online
•  Notes: From 3:30am – 5:00am and from midnight – 12:30am trains run every half hour. Discounts: 50% on tickets for groups of 4. See their website for details.

EasyBus - http://www.easybus.co.uk/london-gatwick
Travel on EasyBus from Victoria Station.

Cabs
This method would be good for those flights which leave very early or late before public transportation is running. If you hail a taxi from central London the total fare should be about £95. They can take up to 5 passengers, so cost per person would then be £19. To reduce the price, the best option is to arrange a fixed rate taxi. Dial-a-Cab is a reliable, safe resource.

Licensed car service: The Keen Group

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Options to LUTON Airport

Rail services
There is no express train service for Luton but the airport can be reached by regular rail services to Luton Airport Parkway Station. Travel on First Capital Connect to reach this location. For more information, contact National Rail on 0845 748 4950. Once onsite, a free shuttle bus runs to the airport 1.8 km down the road.

Buses
EasyBus and Greenline Coaches both run directly to the airport itself

Cabs
Another option is to take a black cab. If hailed in central London, it should cost about £80. Otherwise, book ahead with Dial-a-Cab. Or again a LICENSED car service The Keen Group.

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Options to STANSTED Airport

Stansted Express Rail - https://www.stanstedexpress.com/
•  Departs from: Liverpool Street Station
•  Runs from: 4:10am – 11:25pm
•  Frequency: every 15 minutes
•  Journey length: 45 - 50 minutes
•  Express class open single ticket: online £20, from the counter/ticket machine £21
•  Express class open return ticket: online £27.30, from a counter/ticket machine £29.30
•  Notes: Monday-Saturday, the train runs ever half hour between 4:10am – 5:10am. Same frequency on Sundays between 4:10am – 6:10am.

Buses
Use Terravision Buses. The A50 leaves from Victoria Station and takes roughly 75 minutes. The A51 leaves from Liverpool Station and transit is about 55 minutes. £8 for a single ticket or £14 for a return trip.

Take EasyBus from Victoria Station (100 minutes) or Baker Street Station (80 minutes). £2 or more for a single ticket, £13 for a return trip.

Coaches
Travel on the National Express Coach leaving from Elizabeth St. near Victoria Station (100 minutes) via Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Baker Street, St. John’s Wood, Finchley Road and Golders Green Underground station. £10 for a single ticket, £17 for a return trip

Cabs
You can also take a cab to the airport. If hailed from central London, it should cost about £120. Or book with Dial-a-Cab. Or again a LICENSED car service The Keen Group

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Options to HEATHROW Airport

Tube
Want to save some cash? Take the tube to Heathrow Airport! Take the Piccadilly line westbound until you reach the airport terminals. As a guide, it takes about 50 minutes from Holborn Station. Before you go, make sure you know which terminal you fly out of as the train makes 3 stops at the airport. Use your Oyster Card or purchase a one-way zone 6 ticket. It costs £4, which is a steal of a deal!

Heathrow Express - http://www.heathrowexpress.com/ 
•  Departs from: Paddington Station
•  Runs from: 5:10am – 11:10pm, Monday through Saturday; 5:10am – 11:30pm on Sundays
•  Frequency: every 15 minutes
•  Journey length: 15 minutes
•  Express class single ticket: online £16.50, from a ticket machine £18.00, on board the train £23.00
•  Express class return ticket: online £32.00, from a ticket machine £32.00, on board the train £37.00
•  Notes: As this is an express train, it does not make any stops along the journey between Paddington and Heathrow.

Heathrow Connect - http://www.heathrowconnect.com/
•  Departs from: Paddington Station
•  Runs from: 4:42am – 11:03pm
•  Frequency: every 30 minutes
•  Journey length: 25 minutes
•  Single fare: £8.50
•  Open return: £16.50
•  Notes: This is not an express train, and thus it stops at Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall, Hayes & Harlington before arriving at Heathrow.

National Express
National Express offers bus service to central London.

Cabs
You can also take a cab to the airport. If hailed from central London, it should cost about £60. Or book with Dial-a-Cab. Or again a LICENSED car service The Keen Group

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