London Buses
Aug 7th, 2007, 12:20 PM
#1
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London Buses
Hi everyone, I'm a college student leaving this week to backpack through a few countries in Europe for about three weeks. I've spent weeks reading about everything on this site to prepare myself.
I am arriving in London at Heathrow and was planning on buying an oyster card, putting around 20 pounds on it, and going wild with it for three days knowing that the cap was in effect and I would probably end up spending around 30-40 US dollars while there.
Well, today I realized that I could take buses everywhere in London for 3 pounds a day on an oyster card, so I could use unlimited buses for 20 US dollars while there.
I was wondering what bus line I could take from Heathrow to Piccadilly where my hostel is upon arrival. Also, for those who do use the bus (and I appreciate that most people prefer the tube)could anyone give me any advice on using the bus, such as directing me to the "best" map that shows different routes? Thanks so much.
I am arriving in London at Heathrow and was planning on buying an oyster card, putting around 20 pounds on it, and going wild with it for three days knowing that the cap was in effect and I would probably end up spending around 30-40 US dollars while there.
Well, today I realized that I could take buses everywhere in London for 3 pounds a day on an oyster card, so I could use unlimited buses for 20 US dollars while there.
I was wondering what bus line I could take from Heathrow to Piccadilly where my hostel is upon arrival. Also, for those who do use the bus (and I appreciate that most people prefer the tube)could anyone give me any advice on using the bus, such as directing me to the "best" map that shows different routes? Thanks so much.
Aug 7th, 2007, 12:48 PM
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www.tfl.co.uk pr tfl.com Transport for London has all the info - they run the tube and many buses
once there pick up a printed bus map that clearly shows all the routes
buses are often overlooked and i love the view from the top deck - better than the dark walls of the Tube.
once there pick up a printed bus map that clearly shows all the routes
buses are often overlooked and i love the view from the top deck - better than the dark walls of the Tube.
Aug 7th, 2007, 01:21 PM
#4
buses are great for getting around London -- but for getting from LHR to central London, not so much.
A bus trip from heathrow to Piccadilly on a weekend morning will take a looooong time and only save you about £3. Use your oyster, and use the buses - but to get in from LHR, use the tube.
A bus trip from heathrow to Piccadilly on a weekend morning will take a looooong time and only save you about £3. Use your oyster, and use the buses - but to get in from LHR, use the tube.
Aug 7th, 2007, 01:23 PM
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Heathrow to Victoria can be done by bus BUT you'd be looking at 3 hours and several buses.
You can get a National Express coach for £4 but if you have an Oystercard it's cheaper to take the Tube
You can get a National Express coach for £4 but if you have an Oystercard it's cheaper to take the Tube
Aug 7th, 2007, 01:24 PM
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Here is a link to a set of two maps, a tube map and a central London bus map that shows the location of major tourist attractions.
Riding the bus in central London is an excellent way to get an above-ground view of the city--and save a few pounds. However, it's not a good way to get from Heathrow to London. You'll have to change buses three or four times and the trip will take nearly three hours. If you use your Oyster card as a pay-as-you-go card for a Heathrow-London tube journey, you'll only pay £3.50 and the trip will take just under an hour.
Riding the bus in central London is an excellent way to get an above-ground view of the city--and save a few pounds. However, it's not a good way to get from Heathrow to London. You'll have to change buses three or four times and the trip will take nearly three hours. If you use your Oyster card as a pay-as-you-go card for a Heathrow-London tube journey, you'll only pay £3.50 and the trip will take just under an hour.
Aug 7th, 2007, 06:17 PM
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justintime,
I found that the map provided by London Transport was great. One side showed the bus routes and numbers that were color coordinated without the map of the city; the other side showed the routes with the map of the city and clearly showed the tube stations also. You may need to ask for a map at a station - I didn't see them around like the tube map.
Other folks here can probably provide input as to the best routes to take to see the sights. Off the top of my head, I remember only the #9 bus which I think follows almost the same route as the tour buses. This route also uses some of the old double decker buses with attendants.
I found that the map provided by London Transport was great. One side showed the bus routes and numbers that were color coordinated without the map of the city; the other side showed the routes with the map of the city and clearly showed the tube stations also. You may need to ask for a map at a station - I didn't see them around like the tube map.
Other folks here can probably provide input as to the best routes to take to see the sights. Off the top of my head, I remember only the #9 bus which I think follows almost the same route as the tour buses. This route also uses some of the old double decker buses with attendants.
Aug 7th, 2007, 06:29 PM
#8
Aug 7th, 2007, 06:44 PM
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On a weekend on the PAYG oyster card, the trip from Heathrow to central London is only £2....a couple of more bus rides that day will be £1 each until you reach the cap for a zone 1-6 travelcard...forgot exactly how much it is but you can check that on the tfl web site (it will be 50p less than the price of a zone 1-6 off peak paper travelcard)...after that you are quite correct....if you only use the buses the rides will be £1 each till you reach the cap of £3..
A great route is #15 which you can pick up along Oxford Street which turns down Regent Street to Picadilly Circus and from there down the Haymarket to Trafalgar Square, through Trafalgar Square down the Strand through the City of London, by Monument to the Tower of London...on a weekend there isn't too much traffic. During the week, it might take about 45 minutes.....several other routes along Oxford Street turn the other way at Trafalgar Square (off hand I can think of the #12 which starts at Oxford Citcus) down Whitehall past the House Guards, Downing Street to Parliament Square, across Westminster Bridge by the London Eye, right near Waterloo all the way down to Elephant & Castle near the Imperial War Museum.
A great route is #15 which you can pick up along Oxford Street which turns down Regent Street to Picadilly Circus and from there down the Haymarket to Trafalgar Square, through Trafalgar Square down the Strand through the City of London, by Monument to the Tower of London...on a weekend there isn't too much traffic. During the week, it might take about 45 minutes.....several other routes along Oxford Street turn the other way at Trafalgar Square (off hand I can think of the #12 which starts at Oxford Citcus) down Whitehall past the House Guards, Downing Street to Parliament Square, across Westminster Bridge by the London Eye, right near Waterloo all the way down to Elephant & Castle near the Imperial War Museum.
Aug 8th, 2007, 08:22 AM
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The link I forgot to include in my previous post would have given you the bus map that janisj thoughtfully listed plus a tube map. Here is a link to just a tube map: http://tinyurl.com/ystvve.
