The tubeAs they say around here, it is the subway system of the English capital, a very fast system that serves the heart of the city and also part of the urban belt around London. It is the oldest metro in the world since it was inaugurated in 1863 and since then it has been expanding more and more until it is the most efficient transport.
However so far the London Underground closed at night: the last happened at 1 in the morning and the first began at 5 although on weekends the hours were even later. The big news, expected by locals and tourists who love London, is that from this month it started working at night.
The London Underground, night service
It must be said that until now London did not need a night subway service since like many European cities it is not a city to stay up late. Here restaurants, theaters and pubs close early and at midnight there is not much action left. What's left open ... well, taxis and buses are enough.
But london it is an expensive city and taking a taxi can ruin a tourist pocket. Alright, always there are night buses but you should know the schedules and you can lose them by complicating an early return to the hostel, flat or hotel. Night buses run after midnight and carry a sign with the letter N right next to the route number.
These buses operate on limited routes so if a tourist uses them it is convenient to have a map at hand and of course, their schedules. It is not comfortable and you have to calculate leaving the pub or the disco or the theater on time. So, although we had to wait a long time, finally there is the Night tube.
But how is? How does it work? In what schedule? Does it stop at all stations? This novel night subway service was announced in 2014 and the great date of beginning of operations was August 2016. A little more time and it is already among us: a 24-hour service on certain London Underground lines and only on Friday and Saturday nights.
This must be taken into account. The night subway service will be exclusive to those days, the ones with the most nightlife. The Night Tube will then work on the Central Line, the line that runs from west to east through London and with the most popular stops such as Liverpool Street, Oxford Circus, Notting Hill, Tootenham Court Road, Bank or Holborn.
It will also work on the Victoria Line that crosses the English capital from south to north and has stops at Oxford Circus as well but adds Victoria, Euston, King's Cross or Brixton, among others. Next month another line will be added, the Jubilee Line: The maiden voyage will be on October 7 and will eventually arrive at span the Northern and Piccadilly lines, in late fall.
Good news is that the Night Tube will not cost more money than the regular service outside peak hours. It's simple: the tickets are valid from the day of purchase until 4:30 am the next day and that is something to keep in mind. You can, of course, make use of the OysterCard.
Let's remember this london transport card: it is very good to save money on public transport in the city. It works like a credit card and its carrier has discounts on Docklands subway, bus and light rail fares. It is a card with a couple of options, although the easiest is to pay as you use it.
If you have a week or a month then the Travelcard is better, but whatever the Oyster it is basic for the tourist. You can buy it online and if not in more than two thousand retail stores in the city. If you buy the pay-as-you-go option you will have to leave a 5 pound deposit. If you are a student and over 18 years old, you have a 30% discount on the seven-day card, the monthly card and the Travelcar for longer periods.
Beyond the obvious benefits of having a night metro service, the one that when the party ends you have efficient, fast and safe transport to move around, the question is whether it suits the pocket of the tourist or not, compared to taxis and buses. Of course! You save time and you save money. Of course, it will be better to the extent that more lines are added but with the two lines that have been released we are on the right track.
There are cheap hotels in Victoria, Holborn and Warren Street, also on Liverpool Street, so if you stay there you now have the subway at your fingertips. And even better: if you arrive in London on a safe low-cost airline flight, you enter through the gatwick airport. Remember that the trains to and from that airport use the Victoria line so the Night Tube has considerably improved the entry and exit of the country.