Best London transport and travel apps for exploring the city

1. Visit London – Best for exploration

Perfect for visitors and locals alike, the Visit London app is packed with ideas for things to do and has plenty of information on getting around the city.

Use the "Travel" category to learn more about modes of transport, as well as payment types. You can also browse bus, Tube, Night Tube and train maps to get your bearings.

I love creating my own personalised itineraries, which are plotted on a map and downloadable for offline use – making it quick and easy to plan days out and navigate between attractions.

Best for: First-time visitors
Good to know: The "Explore" section is full of recommendations from Visit London experts, which is perfect for inspiration – from seasonal roundups to attractions, foodie hangouts and shopping hotspots.

Find more tips for first-time visitors to London and fun-filled London itineraries.

2. TfL Go – Best app for London transport

As the official Transport for London app, TfL Go has all the information I need to travel around the city. It’s my go-to for live status updates on Tube lines, as I can be assured it has the most up-to-date and accurate travel information.

A great benefit of this London public transport app is its live notifications – I've set up these to alert me to any disruptions on Tube lines I use regularly as well as major disruptions across the city. So, I always know what’s happening before I even venture out.

But it’s not just a London Tube app... it covers all public transport options, and it’s also great to keep track of spending. I have my Contactless bank card linked to my TfL account, which makes it simple to track payments for each journey using the app – if you use an Oyster card, you can also check your balance, top up your Oyster account or buy Travelcards on the go, without having to visit stations.

Best for: London regulars
Good to know: Toggle on step-free mode to identify step-free stations and plan the most accessible routes.

3. Citymapper – Best for connecting journeys

I use Citymapper daily to plan my journeys around London – it’s incredibly user-friendly and uses real-time data to ensure I know exactly how long I need to wait and the best way to get to my destination.

It’s especially useful if a journey is disrupted – offering me alternative routes at the click of a button. I also filter suggested journeys based on my preferences – for example, I often prefer taking the bus to the Tube, so I can select the “bus” option to give me alternatives to the typical route. Choose “step-free” for more accessible routes and “walk less” to keep you out of the rain during any downpours.

My favourite feature is its handy “get me home” function, which I set to my home address – but you can easily set it to your accommodation. It plots my route home with one simple click, wherever I am.

I also like that it suggests the best section of the Tube train to board, based on the exits and interchanges at your next stop – this makes changing trains a doddle!

Best for: Regular London travellers
Good to know: You can review how healthy and sustainable your journey options are using its GO Stats. It charts how many calories you've burned, and how much CO2 and money you've saved compared to using a car.

4. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (Thames Clippers Tickets) – Best for river rides

I often treat myself to a morning commute from my home (near Putney Pier) to my work (near Bankside Pier) on one of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ riverboats. It's the perfect start to the day – what's better than grabbing a coffee on board and taking a scenic trip to central London, spotting the likes of the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye along the way…?

But you can enjoy river services throughout the day, spanning 24 piers from east to west – it's an ideal way to see more of the city while avoiding the crowds. Downloading the app ensures you have everything you need easily at hand for your journey.

I use the app to plan my journey with timetables, then track my boat's arrival using the "Where's my Clipper" live feature. If I'm travelling regularly, I can save money by buying Carnet tickets via the app (great for those who want to make four to six journeys over one week). The app also has a handy guide to find out what to do near each pier – perfect for visitors.

Best for: Sightseers
Good to know: The app uses a colour-coded system to alert you to each boat's current capacity – this is especially useful at busy times.

Find out more about riverboat services in London.

5. Santander Cycles – Best for cycling

Travel effortlessly around London on two wheels using the Santander Cycles app. The self-service cycle-hire scheme allows you to pick up bicycles at hundreds of docking stations, enjoy a ride and then dock the bike – from just £3.50 per day.

Just register your bank card, find a docking station with available bikes and select “Hire now”. Then enter the release code sent straight to your app, and the bike is all yours to explore inner London.

See bike availability at docking stations on the handy map, plan journeys and view your recent journeys and payments. For electric bikes, it also shows the battery percentage and the equivalent distance remaining for available e-bikes at docking stations, taking the hassle out of knowing which one to use.

As someone who’s not a regular cyclist, I love the app's feature that gauges how easy the journey is in the "Plan a journey" section. For first-timers, check out the “Safety tips” section to ensure you know the rules and can take precautions.

Best for: Adventurous cyclists
Good to know: You can save favourite docking stations, which can help you plan the nearest dock for attractions, stop-offs and your accommodation.

Learn more about cycling in London.

6. Uber – Best for ad hoc travel

There are many minicab ride-hailing apps out there (I've also used Free Now and Bolt), but while there's not much difference between them, I find Uber the best option mainly due to its coverage in both central and outer London – there are usually pickups within a few minutes.

The app is easy to use, and when planning your journey, you can choose a car type based on your budget and preferences. I usually go with UberX, which is cheaper, but you may prefer more legroom with Uber Comfort or an executive-style experience with Uber Black – opt for UberXL when travelling in a group.

I often use its functionality to reserve a trip in advance – especially for airport transfers, which ensures I don't have to wait for a driver to become available.

Best for: Spontaneous journeys and outer London rides
Good to know: Prices can fluctuate during "surge pricing," so be aware you may pay more at popular times.

7. Trainline – Best for day trips from London

Whenever I take a trip outside of London by rail, I use Trainline's app to buy tickets in advance. It has a Best Price Guarantee on same-day journeys, so prices are often lower than buying at the station, and its Split Save tickets can unlock great savings simply by using multiple tickets for the same journey without even having to change trains.

There's an option to reserve specific seats on some services, from comfier seats to those with a table or a spot by the window – I always prefer a window seat, so I can spot the sights and country views along the way.

For me, the biggest benefit of the app is that it takes any hassle out of the journey. By booking in advance and choosing digital tickets, there's no queuing for tickets at the station, plus there's real-time information on departure times and platforms. I also enable live journey updates, which arrive as push notifications, so it's easy to see the latest status without even opening the app.

Best for: Day trippers
Good to know: Sign up for the app's Ticket Alert to be notified when cheaper Advance tickets go on sale. These tickets are limited and usually released at least 12 weeks in advance, so I recommend booking as early as possible to avoid missing out.

Discover more about trains to and from London.

8. Google Maps – Best for exploring on foot

I recommend using Google Maps when walking around London – its detailed maps are full of things to do and places to visit, from restaurants and shops to attractions and landmarks. Just tap on each place to see details, photos and reviews – for some landmarks, you may see the "immersive view" option, which is a great way to see the attraction in 3D and even step inside in some cases.

I regularly use the journey planner to find the quickest and easiest routes around London on foot, when cycling or using public transport. Just hit the "Directions" button and select your options – it even breaks the journey down into visual steps with Street View 360-degree images, so you won't miss a turn. If you have access needs, use the "Wheelchair accessible" filter to avoid steps.

My favourite thing about the app is the ability to save my favourite places within personalised "lists". As a foodie, I have a whole ream of restaurants I want to try – so I save any new openings I hear about, and these show on the map. For a fun twist, you can even assign different emojis to each list!

Best for: City explorers
Good to know: If you're limited by data, download an offline map of London before you head out. Just search for "London" in the Google Maps app, tap on the place name and scroll to the "Download offline map" button. You can then save this map on your phone to use while offline.

Best London transport and travel apps for visitors

Use these apps to navigate London transport, plan your journey and discover attractions across the city.

Find more tools to help you travel around London with our guide to free London maps and discover more essential information for your visit.