Portal:London transport

The London transport portal

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London transport

The London transport system is one of the oldest and largest public transport systems in the world. Many components of its transport system, such as the double-decker bus, the Hackney Carriage black taxi and the London Underground, are internationally recognised symbols of London.

Most transport services in London are controlled by Transport for London (TfL), an executive agency of the Greater London Authority. TfL-controlled services include the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the London Overground, Buses and Trams, most of which accept payment by the Oyster card. TfL also administers the congestion charge zone and the low emission zone.

London has a comprehensive rail network with several major railway stations linking to the rest of the country. International travel is possible from St Pancras International which connects to mainland Europe through the Eurostar service, or from one of six international airports, including Heathrow or Gatwick.

The M25 is an orbital motorway which enables vehicles to avoid travelling through central London and is one of the busiest motorways in Europe.

More about transport in London


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Selected article
The London low emission zone (LEZ) is a charging scheme that aims to reduce the pollution emissions of diesel-fuelled commercial vehicles in London. Vehicles whose emissions exceed pre-determined levels are charged to enter Greater London. Operation of the low emission zone started operating on 4 February 2008 followed by a phased introduction of an stricter emission standard up to 2012. The scheme is administered by Transport for London (TfL) for the Greater London Authority. The scheme applies to diesel engine vehicles over 1.205 tonnes, which must be registered with TfL. The scheme does not affect cars or motorcycles. Owners of vehicles that do not meet these requirements must pay a fee of up to £200 with failure to pay resulting in a fine. A limited range of vehicles are exempted or able to obtain a discount from the charge. Payment of the LEZ charge is in addition to any congestion charge required. Like the congestion charge, the zone is monitored using Automatic Number Plate Reading Cameras to record number plates. Vehicles entering or moving within the zone are checked against the records of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to enable TfL to pursue vehicles that have not paid. (Full article...) All selected articles
Selected biography
George Shillibeer (11 August 1797–21 August 1866) was an English coachbuilder and operator of the first omnibus service in London from 1829. Shillibeer was born in St Marylebone, London, the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Shillibeer. Christened in St Marys Church, St Marylebone on 22 October 1797, Shillibeer worked for the coach company Hatchetts in Long Acre, the coach-building district of the capital. In the 1820s he was offered work in Paris, France where he was commissioned to build some unusually large horse-drawn coaches of "novel design". The aim was to design a coach capable of transporting a whole group of people, perhaps two dozen, at a time. Shillibeer's design worked, and was very stable. It was introduced into the streets of Paris in 1827 and Shillibeer concluded that operating similar vehicles in London, but for the fare-paying public with multiple stops, would be a paying enterprise, so he returned to his native city. His first London "Omnibus" began service on 4 July 1829 on a route between Paddington (The Yorkshire Stingo) and "Bank" (Bank of England) via the "New Road" (now Marylebone Rd), Somers Town and City Rd. Four services were provided in each direction daily. (Full article...) All Selected biographies
Did you know...
...that the ticket hall at Bank station is partly built in the crypt of Nicholas Hawksmoor's church, St Mary Woolnoth? ...that the first version of the Underground roundel was introduced in 1908, as a solid red disk and blue bar? ...that the River Thames froze 24 times between 1400 and 1814 and that Frost Fairs were often held on the ice? ...that the Kingsway tramway subway, the only underground tram route in the United Kingdom, operated under Kingsway from 1906 to 1952 with two underground tram stations at Holborn and Aldwych? Part of the route is still in use as the Strand Underpass. ...that the longest continuous tunnel on the London Underground is 27.8 km (17.25 miles) long, between Morden and East Finchley stations? More Did you know...
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Selected pictures

Image 1Original stations on the Metropolitan Railway from The Illustrated London News, 27 December 1862.
Image 2Sailing ships at West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs in 1810. The docks opened in 1802 and closed in 1980 and have since been redeveloped as the Canary Wharf development.
Image 3Tram 2548 calls at Arena tram stop. This is one of the trams on the Tramlink network centred on Croydon in south London.
Image 4Archer statue by Eric Aumonier at East Finchley Underground station.
Image 5Rail, road and river traffic, seen from the London Eye.
Image 6A tram of the London United Tramways at Boston Road, Hanwell, circa 1910.
Image 7Clapham Common Underground station north and south-bound platforms on the Northern line.
Image 8Camden Lock or Hampstead Road Lock in Camden Town, north London is the only twin lock on the Regents Canal.
Image 9The western departures concourse of King's Cross railway station.
Image 10London Underground A60 Stock (left) and 1938 Stock (right) trains showing the difference in the sizes of the two types of rolling stock operated on the system. A60 stock trains operated on the surface and sub-surface sections of the Metropolitan line from 1961 to 2012 and 1938 Stock operated on various deep level tube lines from 1938 to 1988.
Image 11The south façade of King's Cross railway station London terminus of the East Coast Main Line.
Image 12Thames Clippers service catamaran on the River Thames.
Image 13Planes waiting at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4.
Image 14The Circle routes of Victorian London, comprising the Inner Circle, Middle Circle, Outer Circle and Super Outer Circle.
Image 15The multi-level junction between the M23 and M25 motorways near Merstham in Surrey. The M23 passes over the M25 with bridges carrying interchange slip roads for the two motorways in between.
Image 16Tower bridge; a bascule bridge across the River Thames.
Image 17Preserved AEC Routemaster coaches in London Transport Green Line livery.
Image 18Hornsey Lane Bridge, Archway, more commonly known as "Suicide Bridge".
Image 19Stockwell bus garage, Stockwell, a Grade II* listed building.
Image 20London Underground Battery-electric locomotive L16 designed to operate over tracks where the traction current is turned off for maintenance work.
Image 21Hammersmith Bridge, opened in 1887, crosses the River Thames in west London.
Image 22Early style tube roundel in mosaic at Maida Vale Underground station.
Image 23Gondolas of the Emirates Air Line cable car cross the River Thames from Greenwich Peninsula to Royal Docks.
Image 24"Boris Bikes" from the Santander Cycles hire scheme waiting for use at a docking station in Victoria.
Image 25Central London Railway poster, published in 1905.
Image 26Duck tour converted DUKW amphibious vehicle exiting the River Thames.
Image 2755 Broadway, headquarters of the UERL and its successors, is a Grade I listed building in Westminster designed by Charles Holden.
Image 28Arguably the best-preserved disused station building in London, this is the former Alexandra Palace station on the GNR Highgate branch (closed in 1954). It is now in use as a community centre (CUFOS).
Image 29Day (left) and Night (right) sculptures by Sir Jacob Epstein on the London Underground's headquarters at 55 Broadway.
Image 30London General Omnibus Company B-type bus B340 built in 1911 by AEC. One of a number of London buses purchased by the British military during World War I, this vehicle was operated on the Western Front.
Image 31Southern approach to the Rotherhithe Tunnel that runs under the River Thames in east London between Rotherhithe and Limehouse.
Image 32A Hansom cab at Somerset House.
Image 33The original Hampton Court Bridge in 1753, the first of four on the site.
Image 34Shaftesbury Avenue from Piccadilly Circus, in the West End of London, 1949.
Image 35Woolwich Ferry boats "John Burns" and "James Newman" on the River Thames, 2012.
Image 36Escalators at Westminster Underground station descend between beams and columns of the station box to reach the deep-level Jubilee line platforms.
Image 37Helicopter landing at London Heliport, a jetty constructed in the River Thames in Battersea.
Image 38Eurostar Class 373 trains at St Pancras station.
Image 39Albert Bridge, opened in 1873, crosses the River Thames between Chelsea and Battersea.
Image 40The New Routemaster built by Wrightbus has three entrances, two staircases and is designed to be reminiscent of the Routemaster.
Image 41Victoria line 2009 Stock train at Euston.
Image 42Ruislip Lido Railway's 12-inch (300 mm) gauge locomotive "Mad Bess" hauling a passenger train.
Image 43View of Old London Bridge, circa 1632 by Claude de Jongh.
Image 44Qantas Boeing 747-400 about to land at Heathrow Airport, seen beyond the roofs of Myrtle Avenue, Hounslow.
Image 45Vauxhall Bridge across the River Thames opened in 1906 and features sculptures by F. W. Pomeroy.
Image 46TX4 London Taxi at Heathrow Airport.
Image 47An air raid shelter in a London Underground station during The Blitz.
Image 48London Overground Class 378 train on the East London Line in Hoxton.
Image 49The newly constructed junction of the Westway (A40) and the West Cross Route (A3220) at White City, circa 1970. Continuation of the West Cross Route northwards under the roundabout was cancelled leaving two short unused stubs for the slip roads that would have been provided for traffic joining or leaving the northern section.