Understanding London's transport
Official journey planning, payment choices and station accessibility.
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Plan the actual journey
Use the TfL planner with your exact starting and ending addresses. Compare the walking portions as well as the train or bus times. Check current disruption and engineering work close to departure: an ordinary weekday route may change at the weekend. Save the final destination and a fallback route.
Choose a payment method
Compare Oyster and contactless guidance on TfL before travel. Use the same card or device throughout a rail journey; a phone and the physical card linked to it are different payment tokens. Understand touch-in and touch-out rules and do not assume that a ticket for a mainline train covers every London journey.
Check the whole accessible route
A step-free symbol needs context: street-to-platform and street-to-train access are different. Check lifts, station entrances and interchange routes. If travelling with luggage, a buggy or mobility equipment, prioritise a manageable interchange over a small time saving.
Sources and useful links
tfl.gov.uk — guidance and information ↗Editorial edition: 4 October 2026. Historical research preserves the distinction between evidence, interpretation and folklore. For visits and administrative decisions, check current arrangements with the original organisation.
PARTNER LINKS
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