Get around in london

London has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite Londoners' constant, and often justified, grumbling about it breaking down on a regular basis, public transport is often the best option for getting anywhere in London for visitors and residents alike. Indeed, more than a third of London households do not feel the need to own a car. Transport for London (TfL) (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/) is the body responsible for London's transport network, predominantly made up of the Underground, buses, rail and trams.
You can use Transport for London's nifty Journeyplanner (http://www.journeyplanner.org) to help you plan your journeys around London on public transport. They also offer a free travel information line: tel +44 (0)20 7222 1234 for suggestions on getting from A to B, and for up to the minute information on how services are running.
By foot
For travelling shorter distances in London there is no better way. Walking forces you to slow down and look around, and in a city like London there's always something interesting to look at if you take the time. Walking can also be the quickest way to get somewhere: check your map, central London is surprisingly compact.
By Tube / Underground
The London Underground (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/) - also known popularly as "The Tube" - has trains that criss-cross London in the largest underground rail network anywhere in the world (it was also the first, starting in the 1860s). This mode of transport is usually the fastest way to get from one part of London to the another, the only problem being the relative expense (go for a Travelcard, if you can), and the fact that it can get quite crowded during "rush hours" (7.30am-9.30am and 4.30pm-7pm). Take a bottle of water with you on warm days. Trains run from around 5.30am to about 1am at night. Tube maps are freely available from any station, most tourist offices and are prominently displayed throughout stations.The Tube is made up of twelve lines, each bearing a traditional name and a standard colour on the Tube Map [28] (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/tube_map.shtml). To plan your trip on The Tube, work out first which station is closest to your starting point and which closest to your destination. Use the Tube Map to determine which line(s) you will take. You are able to change freely between lines at interchange stations (providing you stay within the zones shown on your ticket, or via any reasonable route for single-destination tickets). Since the Tube Map is well designed it is very easy to work out how to get between any two stations, and since each station is clearly signed and announced it is easy to work out when to get off your train. The Tube is therefore an easy method of transport even for new visitors to London. Visitors should be aware, however, that the Tube map is actually a diagram and not a scaled map, making it misleading for determining the relative distance between stations as it makes central stations appear further apart and somewhat out of place.
By bus
London's iconic red buses are recognised the world over, and are a major part of London life. Over 5 million bus trips are made each weekday; with over 700 different bus routes you are never far from a bus in London
Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for short trips (less than a couple of stops on the Tube), and out of central London you're likely to be closer to a bus stop than a tube station. The difficulty with buses over the tube is knowing when to get off; while tube stations are clearly marked it is sometimes more difficult to work out where to get off a bus. Your best bet is to ask fellow passengers and/or to trace your route on a map. Bus drivers are sometimes helpful and sometimes not, but they're usually too busy to be able to tell you when you've reached your destination.
Bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters, for example the 73 runs between Seven Sisters and Victoria. Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side, and rear of the bus. Each bus stop has a sign listing the routes that will stop there. Standard bus services run from around 6am in the morning to 12.30am at night. Around midnight the bus network changes to the Night Bus network. Bus routes, numbers and timetable all change with most of the buses radiating out from around the Trafalgar Square area to most outlying parts of Greater London. Night buses are identified by an 'N' at the start of the route number, for example the N73 runs between Walthamstow Central and Victoria. The night bus service is a reliable and often interesting way to get home at night
Bus journeys are cheaper than taking the Tube, at £1.20 per trip (children 40p). However, unlike The Tube single tickets do not allow you to transfer to different buses. Consider purchasing a Travelcard (adult, one day, £3.00) or an Oystercard if you will be making several trips a day, or a Bus Saver booklet of six tickets for £6.00 (£1.00 each), available at rail stations, tube stations and news agents. Fares are the same for night buses as for regular services. A one day bus pass can be purchased from local rail and tube stations, and also selected newsagents for the bargain price of £3.00 (children £1), allowing unlimited bus journeys for an entire day (and night - up till 4.30am the next day on the night bus network) across the whole of Greater London. Travelcards and Oystercards also work on bus services.
A recent innovation in central London buses means that you must buy your ticket in advance before travelling. If the route sign at your bus stop has a yellow background instead of white, which will be the case for most of zone 1, you must purchase your ticket before you board. This means you must either have a Travelcard, a Bus Pass, a Bus Saver ticket, a Pre-Pay Oystercard, or have bought single ticket from a machine at the bus stop. Note that these machines don't provide change (all the more reason to use one of the other options).
The 29 bus is most popular bus (day or night) in London.
During the Friday/Saturday late nights between Central London & Wood Green, the N29 runs every 6 mins.
The N25 holds the title of 'Longest bus route in London'.
It goes a whopping 20 miles from Oxford Circus to Harold Hill... Fascinating(!)
London Transport Webring (http://www.busweb.co.uk/ealingbuses/ltwebring/)
By DLR
Docklands Light Rail (DLR) is a dedicated light rail network operating in east London, connecting with the Underground network at Bank and Tower Gateway. Apart from the trains looking slightly different and running slightly less frequently than the Tube, visitors may as well treat the two systems as the same. The DLR uses the same system of Zones as the Tube, and travelcards are valid on DLR services. As the trains often operate without a driver, it can be quite exciting - especially for children - to sit in front and look at through the window, whilst feeling as though one is driving the train one's self.