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Travelling around
Public transport
Public transport is one of the best ways to get around our wonderful borough and the rest of London.
Check information at stations and online.
Many London transport services are available for 24 hours. If you need help, ask a friendly member of staff at one of the stations.
The London public transport system includes:
- Buses,
- Underground trains, also known as the Tube,
- London Overground,
- Docklands Light Railway (DLR),
- TfL rail trains
- and Trams.
The Transport for London (TFL) website can help you decide which transport ticket is best for you.
Paying for your journey
There are a many different ways to pay for your travel. If you don't touch in and out correctly using contactless (card or device) or an Oyster card, or you don't have a valid ticket, you may be charged a penalty fare.
Children, students and adults over 60 years old may be able to travel for free or get a discount.
If you use the public transport system the payment options are:
If you travel very often, great ways to save money are:
- Pay as you go Oyster cards. These have a price caps which limits the amount you pay each day or week.
- Travelcard season tickets. You can buy a 7 Day, Monthly, 3 month, 6 month, odd period or an Annual Travelcard season ticket.
Touch in and out
When using Oyster cards, contactless payment cards or mobile payments make sure to Touch in and out at the stations. If you don’t do this, you may be charged more money for your journey or receive a fine.
You do not need to touch out on the bus.
Using buses
Bus drivers do not accept cash.
To travel by bus you can use:
- An Oyster card
- Or a paper travelcard
- Or a bank or credit card that has a contactless symbol
- Or by using a mobile payment
Night travel
The Night Tube runs on Fridays and Saturdays. It runs along all of the Victoria and Jubilee line. It runs on most of the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
Many buses also run for 24 hours or late at night. You can find out if any buses you need run at night on the TFL website.
Planning your journey
There are many ways you can plan your journey. There are maps across all stations and bus stops. The Transport for London website allows you to plan your journey and has a range of maps. You can also find out if there are any bus, Overground, Tube, rail or Tram service delays.
There are also many free mobile apps you can download that will help you plan your journey. These include:
Parking
If you drive a car, motorbike or other vehicle, you can apply for a parking permit or renew one online.
You can also pay or challenge a parking fine and check parking zones around the borough.
The congestion charge is not implemented by the Council. Check the boundaries before travelling.
Using a bicycle
There are cycle routes in Tower Hamlets that make it safer for cyclists. If you do not own a bicycle, you can easily hire a bike from Santander Cycles. You simply find a docking station, pay with your debit or credit card and use the printed release code to access a bike.
Free bike riding lessons
Anyone who lives, works or studies in Tower Hamlets is entitled to up to 4 hours free adult cycle training.
To register for a session please:
Email: cycling@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Or call: 0207 364 6940
Walking
A great way to get to know the borough is to walk. There are many scenic routes where you can see the Tower of London, the famous Brick Lane or walk slowly along the river.
There are a range of walks available in Tower Hamlets, from shorter health walks to cultural walks and guided walks.