When I buy a single ticket for the London Underground, does this include transfers? I am traveling from Victoria Station to Lambeth North, and I need to switch lines at Embankment Station - do I need a new ticket, or can I only pay once and transfer??
Thanks!
Yes, your ticket will include transfers. When you purchase your ticket make sure it covers the appropriate number of zones. Just to be on the safe side, if you use the automated machines, you have the option of entering the exact station you are traveling to; thus, this type of ticket will always have the correct zones/fare.
Thanks so much for the info!
In addition, make sure that you keep your ticket. You will need it to exit the Tube station at your destination (insert it into the slot in the turnstile machine). To be honest, I don't know what happens if you don't have it, but you will definitely need to speak to an attendant at that point. My understanding is that upon exit, your ticket is proof that you have previously paid the correct fair for the zones you have travelled.
The nice thing is, the instructions are in English.
I went with some feint of heart travelers that were barely able to trust we wouldn't get lost. I found the ticket vending machines to be very self explanatory and the maps of the system easy to read and follow.
On one ride a car had about a half-dozen people in Chelsea (football) colors. A bobby stood in front of the car door and suggested riding in a different car. I noticed there was a bobby at each station keeping an eye on the potential hooligans.
Mind the gap.
If you're going to be in London for more than a few days, buying a multi-day pass helps you save a lot of money. The only slightly inconvenient requirement is that you must provide a passport-sized photo of yourself.
One caveat- I last traveled on the tube in 1998, so things may have changed since then...
Transport for London wants to cut the cost of paper tickets. To do so they introduced the Oyster card a year ago. It's a rechargeable card that gives you a big discount on single tickets and has a cap each day slightly less than what a one-day travelcard would cost. If you pay cash, a single ride now costs £4, even if you only go one stop! You can also load a seven-day travelcard on Oyster. You can use your Oystercard as a pay-as-you-go card, with discounts. Or you can put both a seven-day travelcard and PAYG on the same Oyster card. The Oyster computer will calculate the best deal for you automatically.
There's an update on the details about Oyster on this site, see
http://www.ricksteves.com/books/update/bk-rs-lon.htm
