Travel in London
You'll find all you need to know about travelling into and around London in this section, as well as how to save money on travel while you're here.
For information on Travelcards and Oystercards - please visit the Student Funding Office pages for information on how to apply for Student Oyster Cards which entitle you to a 30% discount on travel.
And to help ensure you travel safe at night - please take a look at our Local Area Guides for more information on the area you will be living in
Transport for London
Everything you need to know about public transport in London: maps, guides, London Journey Planner, schedules, route information and online tickets.
Free Maps and Guides are available at all tube stations as well.
London Underground (The Tube)
The London Underground, or ‘Tube’ as it is universally known, is the quickest and easiest way of travelling round London. Learn to love it!
Remember that the tube doesn’t run 24 hours a day and that times of your last train home will vary between around midnight-1.00am daily, except on Sundays when they finish 30 minutes to an hour earlier.
Buses
Bus routes cover the entire city and are cheaper and can be less crowded than the Underground. Use your Oyster card (see below) or buy a ticket from the machines at bus stops before you board. You can also buy one-day (£3.50) and weekly bus passes from most newsagents. Many buses run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - so use Journey Planner to find out your Night Bus home.
Travelcards and Oyster cards
The smartest way to travel through London for your first week at King's is with a one week travelcard for the central zones 1&2 (out of 6). You can buy this at any underground station and it will allow you unlimited access to ride the tube or buses in those zones. All of King's residences and campuses are in zones 1&2.
Once you have enrolled at King's, you can apply for a Student Oyster card, which will give you a 30% discount on travel.
Oyster is the reusable travel smartcard for London. You can put your travelcard or buss pass on it, add cash for the pay as you go system, or have a combination of both, which will allow you to travel outside of the zone(s) covered by your travelcard or cover you in case your travelcard runs out.
Travel safely at night
Always use a licensed taxi or take a night bus. Never enter a private hire taxi that you have not booked in advance. Call 0871 871 871 0 (to book a taxi 24/7) or text ‘HOME’ to 60835 to get the numbers of licensed taxi firms in the area you are texting from.
For information on getting between King's campuses, see our travelling between campuses page.