Getting Into London: The Train is Your Friend

Despite what you might hear from Londoners themselves, the trains are genuinely the best way to navigate the city. Yes, London has one of the oldest train systems in the world, and yes, it has its quirks. But it works.

From London-Heathrow (LHR)

You have three options, listed in order of price and speed; just follow the signs in the airport:

• Heathrow Express to Paddington (fastest, priciest)
• Elizabeth Line (good middle ground)
• Piccadilly Line (cheapest)

If you’re not in a hurry, take the Piccadilly Line and transfer to reach your hotel or wherever you’re headed. There’s a bus option too, but it takes forever.

From London-Gatwick (LGW)

Take the train directly from the South Terminal station to London’s main train stations. The Gatwick Express serves Victoria Station but costs more than Southwestern Railway trains. Unless you’re in a rush, save your money. Note that these costs are separate from city zone charges, but you can still tap your cards on the readers—the system will charge what’s needed for your complete journey.

Landing in London-Gatwick

Mastering the Tap System

Here’s where London gets smart: you can use your phone to tap in and out now, which makes everything easier. The system tracks your trips and stops charging once you reach your daily limit. You’ll save money by avoiding peak hours (though sometimes you have to travel when you have to travel).

London Baker St. Underground Station

For more details, check the TfL website. Google Maps works great for directions, too. Transport for London do have weekly passes available—check the TfL website for current options (they’ve unfortunately reduced human staff, so buying these might require some online navigation).

One more thing: you can always walk everywhere in London with ease. When I visit, I walk, take the bus, and take the train. It’s one of the world’s most walkable cities.

The Hidden Gem: A Thames River Adventure

Now for something most tourists miss entirely: take the Water taxi (now called Uber Boat by Thames Clippers) from Central London down to Woolwich.

Thames Clipper on the Thames

This route takes you along the winding Thames, and you see the city from a completely different angle. You’ll pass the O2 Arena and the Emirates line that takes people across the Thames from the air.

Why Woolwich?

You can stop at Greenwich on your way—there’s a foot tunnel under the Thames there and the historic ship Cutty Sark. But don’t get too distracted, because Woolwich is your real destination.

On your way down, you’ll pass through the Thames Barrier, designed to keep London from flooding. It’s huge, magnificent, and not something every visitor to London gets to see.

The Thames Barrier, United Kingdom

Woolwich is an older town (a little rough around the edges in places) with incredible ethnic diversity in people and food. It used to be a weapons storage barracks or something similar, which gives it a character you won’t find in central London.

The Complete Loop

London City Airport sits across the Thames from where the water taxi drops you off. You can reach it via the underground foot tunnel or the free Woolwich Ferry. It’s a lovely walk where you get to see real local London life, plus you’ll watch planes landing at London City Airport (LCY). Then just take the DLR back into the city from LCY.

Woolwich Ferry, United Kingdom

Or stay on the water taxi and return to London the same way you came.

If you’re feeling adventurous, walk back to London along the Thames Path. This route is incredibly scenic and offers another glimpse into London life—the old, the new, and the new-to-be existing as one. Plus, there are a few pubs along the way in case you get thirsty.

Find route maps and more information at Thames Clippers.

Where to Stay: The Hotel Question

Let’s be honest: it’s London, so be prepared to pay a little more. But you have options.

For First-Timers

I typically stay in Holiday Inns when I’m not staying with friends. They’re clean, everywhere, and mid-range in price. I’ve also stayed at Hiltons and Marriotts—there are many Hiltons around Paddington, Olympia, and Euston, all centrally located with train service within very short walking distance.

For your first visit, I suggest staying with a chain. After you get the lay of the land and see where other accommodations are located and what they look like, you can try different options on your next visit.

Recommended Areas

In no particular order:

• Covent Garden
• Kings Cross
• Euston
• Shoreditch
• Tower Bridge
• Paddington

Budget Options

Premier Inn is on the budget side but has clean rooms. There’s also Travelodge, though I wouldn’t recommend them for your first stay—they’re quite basic. You could try the Accor chains like Ibis and Ibis Styles, where you know what you’re getting.

Guest houses in places like Earl’s Court or Paddington exist, but they don’t offer hotel service—though they are quite quaint and very English.

Location Strategy

Definitely stay in the city on your first visit. You can even consider the Docklands area. The thing about staying too far out of central London is the commute. The trains are good, but getting back and forth takes time, and when you’re tired and pressed for time, it may not be worth it.

Getting to Paris

Here are your options to get to Paris:

The Eurostar

The most expensive but fastest option. It takes you from the Kings Cross area via the Chunnel into Gare du Nord in Paris. I’ll be honest—Gare du Nord is my least favorite Paris station. It’s congested, dark, and too crowded. I love people, but this station overwhelms me. That said, it’s the gateway from London to Paris, so if you use Eurostar, you have to use it.

Flying

You can fly from London City on British Airways (BA) or another carrier, or go from Heathrow to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

The Budget Adventure: Overnight Bus

Take the overnight bus from Victoria Coach Station to the Paris-Bercy bus station. This saves you a hotel night. You can take the bus which goes into the train that goes under the Chunnel, or take the bus to a ferry across the Chunnel—you never know which way you’ll cross until you get there.

Either way, it’s fun, and you might get to see the White Cliffs of Dover at Folkestone, the ferry port. From Bercy, it’s an easy walk to the train station and into Paris.