London Tube Etiquette
- Stand on the Right – When riding escalators and otherwise, if you are standing or moving slowly, stay to the right.
- Move Down the Platform – When you arrive on the platform, move down.
- Stay Behind the Yellow Line – While waiting for the train, stay behind the yellow line.
London Tube Tips to Help Navigate the City’s Underground Transportation
- Buy an Oyster Card.
- Only Smart Cards Work at the Ticket Machine.
- Watch Out for Oncoming Traffic.
- Have Your Card/Ticket Ready.
- Check the Underground Line Map.
- Stand to the Right.
- Check that You are on the Right Side of the Tracks.
- Mind the Gap.
Made up of over 270 stations, connected through 11 lines, figuring out your route can be an arduous task. Even seasoned travellers can be flummoxed by tube maps, with overlapping train and bus lines in a rainbow of colours, it can feel like you’re reading spaghetti.
The London underground is easy enough to navigate if you’re familiar with mass transit in another city. Here’s a simple idea of how your trip should go: 1. Enter the station and follow the signs towards the correct line.
How do you know which way to go on the tube?
Before going through the ticket barriers, or just after the barriers at some stations, look at the destinations list signs to find the tube station you’re travelling to. Your destination will be listed on a sign that gives you the direction (eastbound, westbound etc.) at the top.
What does Code 5 mean on the tube?
Broken glass
Code 5: Broken glass
Broken glass is a tube code, so it must happen.
What happens if I tap in and out at the same station?
You can get a refund if you have been charged for touching in and out at the same station without making a journey.
What happens if you dont tap into the tube?
Charges if you don’t touch in and out
If you don’t touch in and out, we can’t tell where you’ve travelled from or to, so your journey will be incomplete. Maximum fares don’t count towards capping. If you don’t touch in, you may be charged a penalty fare.
Do tube lines go both ways?
Yes, the Circle Line goes round both directions. Clockwise and anti-clockwise. The other lines go in both directions as well. All the lines have two sets of tracks – one to go one way and the other to go the other way so they don’t crash by using the same line.
What is the easiest way to get around London?
The London Underground (Tube) is the easiest way to get around London. The London Underground (or Tube) as it is affectionately known, makes it easy to get around London. The Tube is a series of 11 underground rail lines that move you quickly and easily around the city.
What is the cheapest way to use the Underground?
Go contactless for the cheapest fare
Oyster card and contactless card users benefit from both a daily and weekly price cap. Don’t forget to touch in and out on the yellow card reader at the beginning and end of every Tube, DLR and London Overground ride to pay the correct fare.
How much does it cost to get an Oyster card?
How much does an Oyster card cost? The Oyster card costs £7. You then add money to the card to pay for your travel. The £7 fee is not a deposit.
Do I need an Oyster card in London?
Yes, each person travelling needs their own Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card. If you are coming to London in a group of 10 or more people who plan to travel around the capital together, you can buy a Group Day Travelcard*.
What is a code 3 on the Tube?
Code 3: Vomit
After a big night, there are always those tube passengers who have overdone it on the Aperol Spritz and simply can’t keep it down. If you catch a Code 3 it means there’s vomit somewhere it shouldn’t be, i.e. outside of someone’s body rather than in.
What side do you stand on London Underground?
right
Standing on the right is the most common convention, following early escalator design in London. In the 21st century, there have been campaigns for standing on both sides for reasons of safety or to increase capacity.
What does Code 4 mean on the Tube?
Spillage
Code 1 – Blood. Code 2 – Urine/Faeces. Code 3 – Vomit. Code 4 – Spillage. Code 5 – Broken glass.
What is a code 7 underground?
Code 3 – Vomit. Code 4 – Spillage. Code 5 – Broken glass. Code 6 – Litter. Code 7 – Anything not fitting these categories.
What does Inspector Sands mean on the tube?
a fire alarm
“Inspector Sands” is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the United Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff to a fire alarm without needing to evacuate the station. The exact wording depends on the station and the nature of the incident.
What is a code 8 on the tube?
code 8 is apparently the same as inspector sands!
How many times can you tap a card in a day?
There is no limit to the number of times you can use a contactless payment card in a day via the contactless method, but there is a caveat to this. Intermittently, your bank may ask for you to enter your PIN to ensure it’s you – and not anyone else – that is using your card.
How many times a day can you tap contactless?
Card issuers only allow five consecutive contactless transactions that can be made before a PIN is requested in order to prevent fraud.