3.1 The Underground and Trains
Public transportation is very good. Trains or buses link most communities. The Underground (also called Tube), commonly known to some of us as the subway (not to be confused with the subway in England, which is an under-the-road-passage for pedestrians), is very quick and convenient especially for travel within London. If you reside outside the underground system, the British Rail runs trains into railway stations that are linked with the underground (i.e. London Waterloo). Tickets can be purchased at a machine or from a ticket booth. Children under 5 ride free and children from 6-16 qualify for reduced rates. Special travel cards for off-peak, weekend, weekly or quarterly travel can save money. Get details from the ticket counter. Keep your ticket to exit your destination.
London Transportation (02072 221 234, www.tfl.gov.uk)
Contact London Transportation for train services, bus or tube maps, and general information including queries about the most economical ticket plan and time efficient routes. Tube and bus maps can also be obtained at ticket offices of London Transport.
Tube/Underground (0845 330 9880, www.thetube.com)
This is a fast and generally safe way of traveling in London. Routes are color coded as well as named. Routes of the same color are divided into South-/Northbound or East-/ Westbound. Look for your respective station on the information boards as you walk onto the platform of a certain colored line. Maps are posted in the stations together with a list of fares by destination. Brochures of ticket plans are available at most tube stations.
Trains (British Rail Enquiries 08457 484 950)
You can travel just about anywhere in Great Britain with British Rail. The nearest tube stations with British Rail are Wimbledon (District Line) and Richmond (District Line). Fast train connections from our area into London Waterloo, are for example available from Woking, Guildford or Surbiton. Other stations might only have 1-2 trains per hour into London.
Trains run generally from around 5:00 am to shortly after midnight. Reduced services apply on weekends and public holidays.
A One Day Travel Card, a cheap combined Train Return/Underground Zone 1 ticket is available after the rush hour, after 9:30am. In addition, the One Day Travel Cards to London are also accepted on all London Transport buses, the Docklands Light Railway and Chiltern Railways.
If you have children traveling with you, apply for the Family Rail card (£ 20/year). This card gives a further discount (1/3 on adult’s fares and 60% on children’s fares) as long as a child (aged 5-15) is traveling with you. You can take up to 2 other adults and 4 children with you on the same discount card.
Also ask about the Network Card and the Young Persons Rail card (16-25 years).
If the ticket office at your train station is not serviced and the ticket machine would not accept your e.g. £ 20 bill, obtain a “permit to travel” with a few coins from a different machine at the station. You can pay for the difference on the train or at the end when you exit.
Parking is available at the British Rail Stations for a small cost per day (coin operated ticket machines).
3.2 Eurostar
Eurostar offers fast train links to Belgium and France. For tickets sales and enquiries visit www.eurostar.com.
3.3 Buses
In London (www.tfl.gov.uk/buses)
Buses are a pleasant, though sometimes slow method of traveling in London. Most bus stops have notices indicating the bus route and time schedules and bus drivers will often tell you the correct bus for your destination. Exact change is not required but most drivers/conductors prefer not to change bills. Underground and bus tickets are not interchangeable unless using a travel card. Keep your tickets in case you are asked to show that you have paid. For Greater London Bus maps see also www.busmap.co.uk.
Around London (National Traveline 0870 608 2608)
Buses provide local travel within and between many villages and towns. You can call the bus service to get a free travel guide with bus route maps and timetables. For information on all buses in Surrey call the National Traveline number.
3.4 Lost and Found
London Buses, Underground and Taxis
Any item lost on London Underground and Buses will be sent to the bus garage or the underground station first. Items not claimed within 48 hours are forwarded to:
London Transport Lost Property Office (Underground, Buses, Taxis)
200 Baker Street, NW1 5RT, tel. 0207 918 2000
www.tube.tfl.gov.uk/content/faq/lost.asp
When property is left in a taxi, the driver will usually hand it in at a police station within 24 hours. He is given a receipt and the police then send the items to the lost property office. This could take a few days or more. If you think you have left property in a taxi the address and telephone number to contact, is the one above. See also www.londonblackcabs.co.uk
Because of the large volume of property lost on tubes and buses every day, the office might be overwhelmed with telephone enquiries. There is a fax number on their website or you can download a form as an alternative.
Main Line Trains
Call the company which operates the train service on which you lost the property, or the station from which you began your journey, www.nationalrail.co.uk/info/fs_info.htm
3.5 Taxis
Taxis are more expensive than other methods of transportation, but the easiest. Taxis are available for hire for local and long distance runs. Black Cabs operate in the London area. Taxi Service and Car Hire is available in some of our areas, check www.yell.com. Taxis can also be hired from most train stations. Taxi fares are metered during certain times of the day, but under certain conditions (e.g. with baggage etc.), the fare will be increased (the additional charge is shown on the meter). It is common to tip10-15%.
Black Cabs
The traditionally called “Black Cabs” (though they nowadays come in many different colors) operate in the London area and are well monitored and reliable. They can be hailed from the streets or at taxi ranks. The cab is available for hire when the light on the roof is on. For longer or scheduled drives (i.e. to the airport) the Mini Cabs will be less expensive. See also www.londonblackcabs.co.uk.
Mini Cabs
Minicabs are usually less expensive than the black cabs but they are unlicensed. They are booked by phone. It is wise to use a recommended mini-cab company and ask the price when you phone. Mini-cabs cannot be hailed in the street and it is illegal for mini-cabs to pick up unsolicited fares.
3.6 Airports
For airport information see the summary sheet with the respective telephone numbers in chapter 11 of this booklet or see BAA (British Airport Authority) on www.baa.co.uk.
For flight information, contact the airline or the teletext service on your TV, which provides up-to-date arrival and departure times. You need to know the flight number.
3.7 Cars
In some areas you have only private transportation available. You will find information on used cars in car dealer’s web pages. Decide what you are looking for and then ask them to find it for you. Prices are only slightly negotiable. The American Women’s Clubs and Cobham Connection are also good sources for used cars from the families who are leaving the country.
The Car Giant www.cargiant.co.uk -used car warehouse/ they have over 2000 cars on the lot. Can search on line, and then go see it. Worth checking out if buying your own car.44-45 Hythe Road, White City, London, NW10 6RJ
Vehicle Registration
If you import your car to England and need to register it here, you need to have proof of insurance coverage by an insurer (see below), the MOT-Certificate (see below), the car license and your driving license. Get those documents copied upfront and bring the originals and copies to your nearest “Vehicle Registration and Licensing Office”. For information on the registration or about the nearest office from you, call 0870 240 0010 or check www.dvla.gov.uk. Check also there within which timeframe you need to register your imported car. There are limits depending on the country where you import it from.
Car Licence and MOT-Certificate (Ministry (department) of Transport-Certificate)
Cars are licensed for six or twelve months, and must have a current Tax Disc displayed on the windscreen. Most cars, depending on the age of the car, also have a yearly inspection called an MOT. A car can only be licensed if it has an MOT that is current. Any garage will do an MOT for you. With the MOT certificate and proof of insurance you can go to the Post Office to get a new Tax Disc. The new Tax Disc goes on the lower left corner of the windscreen.
Driving License
All drivers must comply with British minimum age requirements; generally, these are 17 years for cars and motorcycles, 18 years for medium sized vehicles and 21 years for large lorries and buses.
Drivers from other countries are allowed to drive in the UK using their own current license for some time. Check with the DVLA (Driving Licensing Agency) tel. 0870 240 0009 or www.dvla.gov.uk for how long you can drive in the UK without exchanging your existing license from your home country, or retesting. For example, after one year, some nationalities, including Americans and Canadians, must take a written and practical driving test. If you need to take a written and practical test, look for booklets of the rules of the road, which are available through the Automobile Association (AA). Look in the phone book for the shop nearest you. It does help to take driving lessons. Just a couple of lessons can help you pass the driving test. Do not be discouraged if you do not pass the first time. You can still drive using your home license until you pass, but for insurance purposes, do it within the first year. Be sure to ask other ex-pats to recommend specific driving instructors.
DVLA Information Leaflet D100 provides further information on GB driving licenses and Leaflet INF38 covers driving in GB as a visitor or a new resident, how to obtain or exchange driving licenses etc; both these leaflets are available at Post Offices or check www.dvla.gov.uk.
If you have exchanged the driving license from your home country for a British driving license, you can change it back once you leave the UK.
Car Insurance in England
Your previous insurer might provide worldwide coverage for your private car. However, if you need to get new car insurance coverage in England, obtain from your previous insurer a (no-) claim certificate written in English. If you can prove with this certificate from your previous insurer that you had no/few claims made, you might be able to get a discount with your new English insurer (up to max 60%). For insurance companies, check the yellow pages/internet and check the market well, as the differences in prices are huge. You can get quick quotes on the internet. The insurance company will discuss with you how many people and who exactly is going to drive the car. Accordingly the premium will be higher or less. Young drivers must be seventeen years old. Make sure you have car insurance even for learner drivers. Along with the British car insurance companies, there are also some US insurance companies that will insure overseas. Geico is one of these companies that has an overseas policy specifically for expatriates.
Parking
There are Pay & Display parking lots available in each village. Have small coins available at all times. Different rates might apply for different times of the day or week. Buy the ticket using a machine in the parking lot and then display on the inside of your windscreen.
Note the following restrictions on parking:
- White zigzag line before pedestrian crossing (no parking)
- Double white line (no parking/ok for pick up and drop off)
- Double yellow line (no parking/stopping)
- One yellow line (no parking for some hours per day, check signs)
- Red line (under no circumstances to park or stop)
- Resident Parking: you need to have a resident sticker issued by the local Council to park in such an area
- Clamping: If you park incorrectly (see above, incl. resident parking) or your parking ticket has expired.
- If your vehicle has been removed (by any council, the police or the DVLA in the London area) for illegal parking, call
TRACE. They have a 24h helpline (0207 747 4747 or www.alg.gov.uk – search for TRACE) to locate your car again. TRACE will advise which pound the vehicle has been moved to and provide information on the procedure for release.
Breakdown Insurance
There are several companies that provide insurance in case of a breakdown while you are driving. You might like to check with one of the following.
Highway Code
To know more about traffic rules and regulations, get a copy of the Highway Code and/or “know your traffic signs” e.g. at your local newsagent or the AA. You can also check the following website: www.highwaycode.gov.uk. Some of the rules:
Speed limits:
- Built-up areas - 30mph
- Elsewhere (single carriageways/country roads) - 60mph
- Elsewhere (dual carriageways) - 70mph
- Motorways - 70mph
