I lived in London for 3 years while I was studying and the London underground was a life saver over this period. I find the underground easy and relatively cheap to use and gets you to just about anywhere in London. I have driven around London and absolutely hate it, you really have to be pushy and aggressive which I don't like and you spend so much time sitting in traffic, where at least on the tube you're going somewhere. The only disadvantage I would say is that it gets very busy (especially during rush hour) but that's because it's the easiest way to travel around London.

The stations are clearly marked around London with the underground logo seen in the picture above. In each station you can get maps, tickets and information at the information/ticket booth although sometimes at some tube stations the queues can get very long so alternatively you can get your tickets from the machine dispensers which is usually much quicker. There are maps displayed on the walls and in the train itself to plan your journey and usually before you go through the gates after you have your tickets there is a board to show any delays and services on each line.

Ticket prices are reasonable, if you only visit London a few times a year then it is best to buy a ticket on the day and would probably be easiest to buy a day travel card which costs around £5.70 (last time I was there) and this can be used all day on the tubes and buses. Children under 11 travel free. There are also single and return tickets available if you are only making the one trip.

If you live in London or visit a lot then it is worth while getting an oyster card which you can store up to £90 credit on it and is used as a pay as you go but once you have reached the price of a day travel card then it doesn't charge you anymore (very cleaver). These are much easier to carry and use quickly as you just swipe them over the yellow pad and the gates open. All tickets can be used on tubes and buses.

There are many different lines to choose from to get you all around London and as you get closer into central London the stops start to overlap with other stations so you can easily switch lines to take you to another destination. The lines include - Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, East London, Hammersmith and city, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoia, Waterloo and city and the Docklands light railway. These all have colour codes so it is easy to read on a map.

Overall, the London tube is a great way to get around London, it's great for commuters and for visitors getting you to just about any destination in London. The only disadvantage is that the tubes do get very busy so you can be packed in like sardines, it also gets very hot (especially during the summer periods) and can be unbearable but even with this, it's much easier than sitting and pushing through traffic. For more information visit Transport of London website at www.tfl.gov.uk