Planning a trip to London and wondering how to get around?
With the Underground, iconic red buses, black cabs, trains, walking routes, and even river services, London offers more transport options than almost any other city in the world.
The challenge isn’t finding transport. It’s choosing the right one.
The best way to get around London depends on what you want from your trip. If your goal is simply getting from A to B, one option might work best. If you want to see London’s famous landmarks while you travel, the answer could be completely different.
Here’s a practical guide to London’s main transport options and when to use them.
The London Underground: Fast but You Miss the City
For many visitors, the Tube is the default choice.
It is often the fastest way to travel between different parts of London and provides easy access to most major attractions.
Pros
- Fast for longer journeys
- Extensive network across London
- Frequent services
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- Crowded during peak times
- Limited mobile signal in some areas
- Little to see during the journey
- Can be confusing for first-time visitors
The biggest downside is simple: you’re underground.
You might travel from Westminster to Tower Hill in minutes but see absolutely nothing between the two locations.
London’s Buses: Great Views but Slower
London’s red buses are famous around the world.
For sightseeing, they offer a much better experience than the Underground because you can watch the city pass by.
Pros
- Excellent street-level views
- Affordable fares
- Useful for short distances
- Easy way to experience London’s atmosphere
Cons
- Traffic can cause delays
- Longer journey times
- Can become crowded
If you have time and enjoy watching city life, buses are often underrated.
Walking: Perfect for Central London
Many visitors are surprised by how walkable central London can be.
Popular attractions are often closer together than they appear on a map.
For example:
- Big Ben to the London Eye
- Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden
- Tower Bridge to Borough Market
are all easy walking routes.
Pros
- Free
- Flexible
- Best way to discover hidden streets
- Great for photography
Cons
- Distances add up quickly
- Weather can be unpredictable
- Less practical for longer journeys
Walking works best when you’re exploring a specific area rather than trying to cover the entire city.
Black Cabs and Ride-Hailing Apps
Taxis offer convenience but come at a premium.
Pros
- Door-to-door travel
- Comfortable
- Ideal with luggage
Cons
- Usually the most expensive option
- Journey times affected by traffic
For most tourists, taxis are best reserved for specific situations rather than everyday sightseeing.
Why More Visitors Are Choosing the River Thames
Many first-time visitors overlook one of London’s most enjoyable transport options: the River Thames.
Historically, the Thames was London’s original highway long before roads, railways and the Underground existed.
Today, travelling by river offers something none of the other options can match.
It combines transportation and sightseeing in a single journey.
Rather than travelling beneath the city or sitting in traffic, you glide past some of London’s most famous landmarks.
Along the route you’ll enjoy views of:
- Big Ben
- The Houses of Parliament
- The London Eye
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Shakespeare’s Globe
- Tower Bridge
- The Tower of London
- Canary Wharf
- Greenwich
For many visitors, the journey itself becomes one of the highlights of their trip.
Which Transport Option Is Best for Tourists?
The truth is that most visitors use a combination of transport methods.
For speed
Choose the Tube.
For local atmosphere
Choose the bus.
For exploring neighbourhoods
Walk whenever possible.
For convenience
Use taxis or ride-hailing apps.
For sightseeing while travelling
Choose the Thames.
The most memorable London itineraries usually combine all of these options.
A Smarter Way to See London
One mistake many tourists make is treating transport and sightseeing as two separate activities.
They take the Tube to a landmark, visit it, then take the Tube to the next landmark.
But some forms of transport are attractions in their own right.
The Thames offers one of the best examples.
Instead of spending time underground, visitors can travel between Westminster, Tower Bridge and Greenwich while enjoying some of London’s most spectacular views.
From this perspective, you’re not simply moving around the city. You’re experiencing it.
Final Verdict: What’s the Best Way to Get Around London?
If speed is your priority, the London Underground remains hard to beat.
If you enjoy exploring, walking and buses provide a more immersive experience.
But if you want to combine transport, sightseeing and relaxation, travelling by river is one of the most rewarding ways to see London.
It’s a perspective of the city that millions of visitors miss, despite the River Thames being at the heart of London’s story for nearly two thousand years.
For first-time visitors especially, a Thames River Sightseeing cruise offers a unique opportunity to spend less time travelling and more time enjoying London’s most famous landmarks
