Getting around London is easy once you know how...
Goldsmiths is well connected by public transport and getting around London is easy once you know how...
"Siri, Play I Get Around by The Beach Boys"
London has an extensive public transport network. It’s made up of the Underground (Tube), Overground train network, TfL Rail, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London Buses. Transport for London (TfL) manages all of these services. There is also a large suburban railway network across London which is managed by individual rail companies.
Goldsmiths is located very close to both New Cross and New Cross Gate railway stations. The city is split into nine fare zones (1-9) – most of central London is in zone 1, and Goldsmiths is in zone 2. London Heathrow Airport is in zone 6.
London Overground runs a 24-hour rail service to and from New Cross Gate from Friday evenings to Sunday mornings.
If you prefer walking, Lewisham, Greenwich, Peckham, Brockley and Deptford are all a short distance of campus.
To help plan your way around London use the official TfL journey planner on TFL or the CityMapper app on your mobile or online. Google Maps can help you plan from outside of London.
Paying for travel
Oyster cards
When you arrive in London you should buy an Oyster card – a smartcard that can hold pay-as-you-go/pre-pay credit and season tickets for travel around London, as well as any student railcard you may choose to purchase.
Oyster cards can be purchased from major airports, tube stations, and major railway stations, as well as in many local shops. You will be charged a £5 deposit for the Oyster card – that is the official price and you should not pay more than that. You must then add pre-pay credit or a season ticket to your Oyster card as required before you can travel.
You can use your Oyster card to travel on most public transport in London, including buses, the Underground (Tube), the Overground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and most National Rail services.
You should register your Oyster card using the website printed on the reverse of your card. Doing this means you will be able to easily replace any lost cards and season tickets at a minimal cost.
Contactless payment cards
If your UK bank account issues you with a contactless credit or debit card it can also be used to pay for travel in London if you register it with TfL. This is often the cheapest payment method if you do not want to purchase a season ticket.
Buses in London do not accept cash for travel – you must use either an Oyster or a contactless payment card.
Travel discounts
As a full-time student you can apply for discounted travel with a student Oyster card or a 19-25 Railcard.
Taxis and minicabs
London’s black cabs (taxis) are iconic but are VERY expensive to use. They are easy to spot – if the orange light on top of the car is illuminated, they’re available to hail. It’s easy to pick up a black cab in central London but less so in New Cross. These are the only taxis you should take in London without pre-booking.
You can also use minicabs, but these must be booked in advance, either via an app, on the phone or at a minicab office. Never use a non-booked minicab – they are illegal and unsafe.
Good luck!