App Tips for Travelling Around London
Already one of the world’s most visited cities, London is warming up for the Olympic Games with even greater efforts to charm and entertain tourists and natives alike. Navigating the city can be a challenge if you don’t have the right tools, but there are some handy apps out there to make sure you never feel lost in London again.  Tackle the Tube like a seasoned Londoner, master the bus system, and make friends with a London cabbie – all with the help of a few well-chosen apps!
London Tube Map
London’s Underground system can be daunting, but you don’t need to worry about looking like a tourist with this app. It features maps of the Tube plus service updates, as well as a route planner and a Google map indicating your location and proximity to adjacent stations.
Don’t worry about getting lost because the GPS locator will provide instructions on the trains to take to reach your desired destination.
This is arguably the best transport guide to Greater London. Packed with features and easy to use, it is consulted over 50,000 times a day by locals, tourists, and even Tube drivers. Simply input the details of where you are and where you need to go, and it will get you there. It even informs you in advance of delays and weekend line closures. It also includes a map and list view of over 750 bus routes, as well as bus route location tracking.
Bring London to life with the London City Slicker app. Wherever you are in London, you can access information, maps, images and audio about the surrounding area. Plug in your headphones and enjoy your own guided audio tour of London with celebrated historian Adam Heart Davis, who takes you through celebrated London sites on themed walks.
Integrated Google Maps means following the walking-tours is a breeze.
If you’re not familiar with London’s streets, taking a taxi can be a challenging prospect, but this app makes the process a whole lot easier. It calculates your taxi fare, taking traffic congestion into account, and it also helps you work out a route.
Download BusMapper and you’ll feel like you have a magic wand for the London Bus system. With the new Live Routing feature you can view four options for your destination and choose the one that’s leaving first. The simplest and quickest bus app you’ll find, it is certainly the most useful.
Aoife o Carroll is a travel writer for Nova Car Hire which offers car hire in London and in over 26,000 locations worldwide.
