I'm planning a trip to visit my aunt and uncle in Cambridge. We were talking about a day trip to London and the prices of travel were shocking. The train fare was bad enough, but I learned that the fare on the tube is four pounds. That's a shocking amount (even when the exchange rate was much much better it would still be over $5). I can buy a monthly transit pass in Atlanta for $60 (about 30 pounds). I think if you don't have a pass the fare is $2. I realize London has a much larger transit system, but are salaries in London that high? How do the people who live there afford it? Doesn't the government subsidize public transportation? I know they have some system to limit the number of drivers in the city, but the best way to keep people from driving their cars in London is to make public transport (trains and tubes and buses) a much cheaper alternative. But my question is, how do Londoners afford transportation?
2007-02-01 15:09:00 · 6 answers · asked by Corinnique 3 in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ London
How can they afford not to?
Most jobs in London attract "London Weighting" allowance which is supposed to cover some of the transport costs.
If you buy a travelcard for £6.30 you can travel on all tubes, buses, etc in London all day.
When you buy your ticket in Cambridge ask for the best option, you might be able to get one ticket that does it all.
2007-02-01 21:37:13 · answer #1 · answered by Haydn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
London is one of the most expensive cities in the world so working and maitaining a good standard of living can be difficult. Having said that the salaries are probably higher than in Atlanta.
My advice is to buy an Oyster card (deposit of 3 pounds, which you can claim back when you hand it back in). This halves the prices of all cash fairs and you will never be charged more than the cost of a travel card. It costs £8 a day to drive your car into central london so public transport (not to mention parking) is a lot cheaper by comparison!
You will have a wonderful time, there is a reason London is an expensive place!
2007-02-01 23:54:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The Mayor of London introduced a prepay system, known as an "Oyster Card" which I use on a daily basis; if I travel into the centre of London on the weekend (I live in the suburbs) and move around using a combination of buses and tubes the MAXIMUM I will pay will be around £6 per day.
I have an uncle coming over from Canada in March. TFL have set up websites to make it very easy for tourists to purchase an Oyster Card before they leave their own country.
2007-02-02 00:33:19 · answer #3 · answered by AndyG45 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Central zone (zone 1) in London is about the size of Atlanta, for 4 pounds you are talking about a journey in from the suburbs, if you are coming from Cambridge you will arrive at Kings Cross which is in zone 1. Buy a Travelcard, good for all the tubes and buses.
And yes the salaries in London are much higher in USD terms than in Atlanta.
2007-02-01 23:46:44 · answer #4 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I live in England in the north east, I would travel on public transport much more than I do exept for the price as you have pointed out it is through the roof you will be pleased to know all prices have just had an increase, ( Boo Hoo ) what people do more and more is car share. I hope you have a pleasent say.
2007-02-01 16:26:32 · answer #5 · answered by kenagain1948 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I could afford a big house with a garden in central London, like Cate Blanchett, I'd want to stay in London. As it is, I can't, so I'm planning to emigrate. Why would anyone want to live in Australia - it's full of Australians ;o)
2016-05-24 04:08:42 · answer #6 · answered by Wendy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋