Getting around London doesn’t have to be expensive – and finding the cheapest way to travel in London is easier than you might think. With options like buses, daily fare caps and simple payment methods such as Oyster and contactless, it’s possible to explore the city without overspending.
This guide breaks down the most affordable ways to get around, including insider tips from locals as well as a quick comparison of transport options, so you can choose the cheapest and most convenient way to travel in London.
Cheap travel in London – key facts
Cheapest public transport: Buses and trams (£1.75 per journey, unlimited transfers within one hour, £5.25 daily cap).
Daily Tube travel cap (Zones 1-2): £8.90 with Oyster or contactless payment card.
Best payment method: Oyster and contactless (daily spend automatically capped).
Cheapest time to travel: Off-peak (midday, evenings, weekends).
Peak travel times: Weekdays from 6.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm.
Cheapest option for multiple journeys: Daily cap with Oyster and contactless.
Free travel options: Walking between central attractions.
Best for short journeys: Buses or Santander Cycles bikes.
Your guide to cheap travel in London
Cheapest ways to travel in London
Explore the cheapest ways to get around London with our comparison table and tips specific to each cheap transport option.
| Transport option | Cost per journey | Best for | Top tip for cheaper travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | £1.75 | Short journeys, budget travel | Make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour for £1.75 using the Hopper fare |
| Tube (London Underground) | £3.10 (Oyster/contactless, off-peak), £3.60 (Oyster/contactless, peak) or £7 (cash, anytime) | Fast cross-city travel | Use an Oyster or contactless card, travel off-peak and take advantage of daily caps to avoid higher fares |
| Santander Cycles | From £1.65 (per 30 minutes) | Short distances, sightseeing | Keep journeys under 30 minutes to avoid extra charges |
| Walking | Free | Central London, sightseeing | Many major attractions are closer than they appear – walking can often be the quickest and cheapest option |
| Riverboat (Uber Boat by Thames Clippers) | From £6.20 (Oyster/contactless, off-peak), £7.40 (Oyster/contactless, peak), £7.20 (online/app, anytime) or £9.40 (at the pier, anytime) | Scenic travel along the Thames | Use an Oyster or contactless card for cheaper fares than buying tickets at the pier |
| National Rail (within London) | Various | Longer distances, outer zones | Use an Oyster or contactless card where possible to cap costs or book in advance and travel off-peak if possible |
Walking: the easiest (and free) way to explore central London
Many landmarks are closer to each other than you might think, so walking around London can often save time.
- If you love shopping, it's easy to walk around many of the key shopping areas in London's West End, such as Bond Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby, Mayfair, St James's, Covent Garden and Seven Dials. You can also walk between Knightsbridge (the home of Harrods) and fashionable Sloane Square in around 10 minutes – much simpler than swapping lines at South Kensington Tube Station.
- Don’t fall into the trap of taking the Piccadilly line between Covent Garden and Leicester Square. It takes just four minutes to walk and avoids the queue for the lifts at Covent Garden.
- Instead of hopping on the Northern or Bakerloo lines for one stop from Charing Cross to Embankment, enjoy the 300-metre stroll from Trafalgar Square to the top things to do on the river Thames.
Find out more about walking in London, including the best routes, walking tours and resources for walkers.
Buses: the cheapest public transport option
Buses not only offer a scenic way of getting around London, but they're also easy on the wallet!
- A single bus fare in London costs just £1.75, and unlimited bus travel using an Oyster card or contactless payment card costs £5.25 for the whole day.
- Make the most of the Hopper fare, which allows you to make unlimited bus or tram journeys for free within an hour of when you first tap your payment card.
Find out more about buses in London and use Transport for London's Journey Planner to plan the quickest and easiest route.
Cycling: a flexible and affordable way to get around
Cycling around London is a great way to save money on transport and explore the capital at your own pace.
- Santander Cycles, London's public bicycle hire scheme, is a top option to get around London for less. It costs £1.65 to hire a bike for 30 minutes, an extra £1.65 for each additional 30 minutes, and day passes are available from £3.50, so grab a bike and get riding.
Find out more about the Santander Cycles scheme, cycling in London and the best cycling routes.
How to save money on London transport
Find more London travel tips to save money on public transport, from the best travel times to saving on multiple journeys.
Choose the right payment option
Whether you're travelling solo, in a group, for a day or a week, choose the right payment option to save money on your London travels. See below for all the cheapest travel options, including Oyster cards and contactless payment.
Stick to off-peak travel
Journeys outside of Zone 1 in London are cheaper during off-peak travel times. Save money by avoiding travel during the morning and evening rush hours. Peak prices are in effect from 6.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm Monday to Friday.
Don't forget to tap in and out
Use the same payment card for every trip to save the most when making multiple journeys around London. And don't forget to touch in and out on the yellow card reader at the beginning and end of every Tube, DLR and London Overground ride to pay the correct fare.
Best payment options for cheap travel
There are various ways to pay for public transport in London. However, buying single journeys with cash or purchasing paper travelcards can be very costly. Here are the cheapest and most convenient payment options, whether you're travelling solo or as a group and no matter how long you're travelling for.
Go contactless for the cheapest fare
Get an Oyster card or use a contactless payment card to travel around London. Pay-as-you-go fares are cheaper than buying a paper single ticket or Day Travelcard, and Oyster and contactless card users automatically benefit from both a daily and weekly price cap. You can also use your card to save on riverboat journeys and the London Cable Car.
Visiting from abroad? Get a Visitor Oyster card
Buy a Visitor Oyster card (£10.50 plus postage) before arriving in London and save money on your journeys around the capital. You can pre-load it with pay as you go credit so it's ready for you to use on London's transport network as soon as you arrive in the capital, meaning no queuing on arrival!
Travelling with a group? Save on your ticket
If you are visiting London with a group of 10 or more people, get a Group Day London Travelcard to enjoy unlimited travel in Zones 1-6 on London's public transport, including on the Tube, buses, Overground and National Rail services.
Cheap ways to travel to and from London
Browse our top tips for cheaper travel to London, including coaches, cheap flights and airport transfers.
Coaches: a good option for budget travel
Coaches are a good option for cheap travel to London from almost anywhere in the UK or Europe. Journey times tend to be longer than the equivalent train service but you'll find today's coaches are modern, comfortable and reliable. Find out more about coach travel to and from London, including travel times and cheap coach operators.
Cheap flights: shop around for the best deals
You can find cheap flights to London by booking in advance, avoiding peak times and keeping an eye out for the best deals. Budget airlines flying in and out of London include easyJet, Ryanair, Eurowings, WizzAir and Aer Lingus. Some of the larger airlines, such as British Airways, can also offer great deals on flights into London, so it's worth shopping around.
Flying in? Pick the right airport transfer
London has six major airports, each offering a range of airport transfer options to suit different budgets, from dedicated express train services to great-value coach transfers. Find out about the best and cheapest ways to travel from London's airports to the city centre with our guide to London airport transfers.
Find more money-saving tips for visiting London, plus explore our top picks of free attractions and free things to do in London right now.
