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Transport

How to get around, including the London Underground, buses, taxis, minicabs and your own two feet. London is a very big city, and it's good to know the transport options before you arrive.

Walking. To find your way around London's streets, buy an A-Z. In this guide youll be able to find every street, lane, mews, square. The A-Z comes in different sizes: buy one that you can fit into your handbag, but not too small: street names are hard to figure out, and it has a limited coverage.

The Underground or "tube". This is undoubtedly the fastest way to get around. London has a very extensive underground network, that'll take you virtually anywhere in town. The tube system works on concentric areas: Zone 1 through Zone 6. Zone 1 is the central area which contains most of the large law firms. A tube map, which you can get at any underground station, is a good thing to keep with you so you can figure out which line to take where. Every line is colour-coded and given a name. Trains have the "ending stop" on the front of them since not all trains go to the same ending place on the tube line.

TIP: the worst lines are the District, Circle and Hammersmith lines; the best ones: Central, Piccadilly, Victoria and Bakerloo. Have this in mind when you are deciding where to live.

Buses

Cheaper than the tube. Tickets can be bought on the bus (1.20 for 1 way, 3 for all day). If you buy a travelcard for the tube, you can also use this card for bus travel. Buses also operate in zones with varying prices: check with the driver when you get on. Beware on the bus: (1) don't use big bills. (2) don't take the buses at rush hour; they won't stop if they are too crowded. There's a night bus network in London; these buses start with a "N" prefix followed by a number.

Black Taxis

If you have mega money, this is the best way to get around: they're fast (traffic permitting), they know their way around town, and they're safe. Fares start at 1.40, and during the evening/night you are also charge a surcharge. But even if you're on a budget, taxi might still be a good option, if you can share with other people (no more than 5).

Minicabs

These can be dangerous to use; you usually have no safety guarantees, but sometimes you don't really have a choice. The good news is, you can now get a list of the registered minicabs in you area at www.transportforlondon.gov.uk. Never forget to negotiate the price before getting on board. Prices should be the same as a black cab or cheaper for longer trips.