Welcome to London - Visitor guide

1 Welcome TOLONDONSUMMER 2012/13 INFORMATION TO START YOUR VISITI ncludesTube +Bus mapsTR127708_TfL_Welcome_To_London_CR4_L ayout 1 14/06/2012 12:25 Page 1 London has a huge variety of attractions. Historical or contemporary, paidfor or free, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. Here are thetop ten Visitor attractions (according to Visitor numbers in 2010).*Indicates free entry to permanent exhibitions1. British Museum*A fascinating range of objects from around the world from prehistoric tomodern Tate Modern*Britain s national museum of modern art in an iconic former power National Gallery*One of the world s greatest collections of European paintings from 1250 to Natural History Museum*As well as the infamous dinosaurs, the museum has a collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest animals in the EDF Energy London EyeThe world s highest observation wheel with spectacular Science Museum*Over 40 galleries and 2,000 hands-on Victoria and Albert Museum*Celebrating art and design with collections on ceramics, furniture,fashion, sculpture and much Madame TussaudsMeet famous faces from the worlds of showbiz, sport, politics and National Maritime Museum/Royal Observatory*Discover seafaring and stargazing in Greenwich10.

2 Tower of LondonMore than 900 years of history and the Crown 10 book ticketsand for itineraries around LondonBritish MuseumTate ModernTop 10 AttractionsVisitor InformationGetting AroundLondon s RegionsTube and Rail MapBus RoutesUseful Tips1234567As Mayor of London I am delighted to Welcome you to London the best big city on booklet has been designed to help first timevisitors get started in London with useful tips formaking the most of your trip and practical adviceon getting around unique heritage, fantastic culture and iconic attractions, there is always something to see and do whether you arehere for a day, a week or more in-depth information look out for other free guides while you are here including London Planner which is available inTourist Information Centres. Or check out the many other specialistguides to London that you will find in bookshops across the is always packed with events, festivals, activities, exhibitionsand entertainment. For inspiration and the latest tips, including information on bars, restaurants, shops, attractions and more, go to London s official website wish you an enjoyable stay in our Johnson, Mayor of LondonVisitor information is also available by calling 0870 1 566366(in the UK).

3 This service is operated by London & Partners, London s officialpromotional organisation. TR127708_TfL_Welcome_To_London_CR4_Layou t 1 14/06/2012 12:25 Page Information3 Getting AroundTravel Information CentresEuston Railway StationOpposite platform 10 Open: Mon-Thurs , Sun & Public AirportHeathrow Terminals 1,2,3 Tube StationOpen: Daily includingPublic HolidaysKing s Cross Tube StationWestern Ticket Hall near St. PancrasOpen: Mon-Sat & Public Street Tube StationOpen: Mon-Thurs , Sat & Public Holidays Circus Tube Station Open: Daily Railway StationOpposite platform 8 Open: Mon-Sat & Public street informationYou may also meet one of the city's 300 London Ambassadors on thestreets who will be happy to provideyou with on-the-spot information. Tourist & TravelInformation CentresWe know that face-to-face contactis always valued, especially whenyou are in a new city, so you will finda welcoming face, inspiring ideas,and tickets to many attractions atTourist and Travel Information Centres.

4 Travel Centres also selltickets for travel. The nearest Tube,DLR or National Rail station is InformationCentres (TICs)City of London TICSt Paul s Churchyard, London EC4M 8 BXSt. Paul s/Mansion HouseOpen: Mon-Sat TICP epys House,2 Cutty Sark Gardens, London SE10 9 LWDLR Cutty SarkDLR GreenwichOpen: Daily Visitor Information KioskKingsway, London WC2B 6 BGHolbornOpen: Mon-Fri & Sun closed Additional TICs in Bexley, Harrow,Lewisham, Swanley, Twickenham; all the information you need to plan your trip, go to , whichprovides the tools to easily plan yourjourney on public transport in advance,and is available in 15 can also telephone +44 (0)843 222 1234*(24 hours)Alternatively visit one of the Travel Information Centres or any Tube Station.*You pay no more than 5p per minute if callingfrom a BT landline. There may be a connectioncharge. Charges from mobiles or other landlineproviders may UndergroundThere are 11 colour-codedUnderground or Tube lines. Servicesrun regularly from around (Sun to ) on mostroutes.

5 The network is divided intonine zones, with Zone 1 being themost central area. See page 8 for the Tube and Rail Map. TO TRAVELL ondon BusesBuses generally run from to Night Buses operate onmany major routes from around midnight to , and some routes operate a 24-hour fares are not available for buspassengers in Zone 1, thereforepassengers must obtain a validticket or Oyster card before routes are especially good forsightseeing including routes 9 and15 which use heritage Routemasterbuses during the cardsThe Oyster card is generally the easiest and cheapest way to pay to travel around London whether you are using Tube, bus, tram, DLR, London Overground or NationalRail services. Ticket TypesOyster can store season tickets (Travelcards) as well as credit for single journeys (pay as you go), and your card is fully re-usable. When your Travelcard expires or your pay as you go credit is getting low, you can add another Travelcard or add morecredit at over 3,900 Oyster retailers, at station touchscreen ticket machines and atTravel Information Centres in London .

6 With pay as you go, you can travel as manytimes as you like in a day and the daily price cap means that you will never pay morethan the price of an equivalent One Day to BuyYou can save time by purchasing an Oyster card before you arrive in London allow up to 14 days for delivery. Using your OysterTo ensure you pay the correct fare on Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services you must always touch in on the yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end. On buses and trams you only need to touch in at thestart of your further information about Oyster including fares, travelling with children and usingOyster on River Services and National Rail, go to 1 14/06/2012 12:25 Page one of London s famous black cabs (some are multicoloured!)when the yellow Taxi sign is note fares increase Private hire/minicabs must bebooked in advance. We advise you against getting into any vehiclethat approaches you in the street purporting to be a minicab.

7 Details oflocal licensed minicabs, or useCabwise - text CABto 60835to get one taxi and two local licensedminicab numbers sent to your mobilephone (cost may vary depending on your mobile provider). Overseas networks can access this service bytexting the street name and partialpostcode eg Victoria St SW1 to +44 (0)7797 800 000. Texts will be charged at your standard roaming rate per Light RailwayDocklands Light Railway (DLR)driverless trains run from Monday to Saturdayand on Sunday. There are trains every 4-10 minutesrunning on routes from Bank andTower Gateway to Docklands, Eastand South East London . Take the DLR to visit Canary Wharf, Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich, ExCelLondon, London City Airport orWoolwich Arsenal. The Emirates Air Lineopens thissummer and provides a new cable carriver crossing connecting The O2 andExcel exhibition centres via terminalsat Emirates Greenwich Peninsula andEmirates Royal Docks. It is accessible for all and you canalso take bikes along at any time.

8 For more information Cycle Hire is a public bicyclesharing scheme in central are 570 docking stations and8,000 bicycles for hire. For further information go to general information on cycling inLondon visit in London is a great way to get around. For more informationon walking routes ServicesTravelling on the river can be a relaxing way to travel whilst taking inthe sights, and Oyster cards can nowbe used on Thames Clippers to pick up the River Services leaflet from Tube RailThere are 13 National Rail termini in London for connections to allparts of the UK, plus Eurostar services from St. Pancras further information go to call 08457 484 950 (UK only) or +44 (0)20 7278 5240. London OvergroundLondon Overground has four routeswhich run from Richmond/ClaphamJunction to Stratford, WatfordJunction to Euston, Gospel Oak toBarking and Highbury & Islington to West Croydon. Trains runapproximately every 7-15 minutesduring peak hours on most available at stations andonline, more informationDrivingIf you are driving in London youneed to pay the central LondonCongestion Charge, which is in operation Monday-Friday excluding bank and public holidays.

9 For a map ofthe charging zone or to pay the 10 daily charge s main coach services useVictoria Coach Station, SW1020 7222 5600 include:National Express: 08717 81 81 Oxford London : 01865 785 Tube: 01865 772 : Line Coaches:0844 801 7261 : 09001 600 s RegionsCentral LondonLondon s heart is made up of many districts from the iconic City of Westminster to the City of London , the main financial area ofthe capital. This central area has adense concentration of landmarks,theatres, museums, nightspots andfamous shopping areas like CoventGarden, Carnaby Street and Oxford LondonOver 120 languages are spoken inthis multicultural and vibrant region,which is steeped in history andrenowned for its culture. Areas of interest include Hampstead Heathand Primrose Hill with their hugegreen spaces, fabulous views andvillage feel, characterful Camdenwith its eclectic market and livemusic scene, and Green Lanes,where you can enjoy Turkish, Greek and Kurdish food. South LondonThe South is appreciated for its array of open spaces such as Clapham Common, the World Heritage Site at Greenwich and riverside s popular forsporting attractions such as theWimbledon Lawn Tennis Museumand cricket at The Kia Oval.

10 It offerswonderful opportunities to escapefrom the hustle and bustle, from thevillage atmosphere of Barnes to historicstately homes and palaces such asHam House and Hampton Court. East LondonThe East now claims its place in the limelight and is set to play a huge part in the London 2012 Olympic Games and ParalympicGames. The area is home to aunique arts scene and popular markets like Spitalfields, while thenightlife here in Hoxton and Shoreditch rivals that of the WestEnd. Further east, Lee Valley Regional Park is one of London s biggest open space. West LondonWest London is remarkable for itsleafy squares, fascinating museumsand vibrant street markets. Here youwill find upmarket Kensington andChelsea, the peaceful streets andcanals of Maida Vale, Hammersmith,which is home to some great riversidepubs, and the vibrant, multiculturalcommunities of Shepherd s Bushand buzzes night and day with an unforgettable energy, andeach area of the city has its owndistinct atmosphere.