6.2. Walking 

6.3. Cycling

Cycling is one of the cheapest ways to get around London but also quite dangerous. You can visit www.lcc.org.uk to find out all you like to know about cycling in London. You can hire a bike for around £12 a day from www.londonbicycle.com. They also organise cycle tours.

You can order free cycling guides from www.tfl.gov.uk/cycles. These guides complement the London Cycle Network Map, which show signed routes across the whole of London and are useful for planning longer cycle trips. You can download the map from www.londoncyclenetwork.org.uk.

6.4. Driving

Owning a car in Central London is not essential, however when you live in Surrey it is hard to get around without your own car. Start by purchasing the latest Highway Code, which outlines the British driving regulations. This booklet as well as the AtoZ map can be purchased from most bookstores or visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm for a full content.

6.4.1. Purchasing

Purchasing a car is expensive but there is a good market for second-hand cars. Evening papers, Sunday papers and specialised car magazines like the monthly magazine Motorist’s Guide to New and Used Car Prices are all good sources.

National motoring organisations like the Automobile Association (AA) www.theaa.com and the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) www.rac.co.uk have 'car buying advice' sites.  There are also websites such as www.gumtree.co.uk that you can use to both purchase and sell your vehicle.

If purchasing a used car, the AA and RAC will inspect it for a fee, whether or not you are a member.

Furthermore, on the first and fifteenth of each month, Outpost London sends an items for sale email. Shell employees and partners can put their car or other item they would like to sell on this email that is distributed to our expat community.

6.4.2. Driving requirements

To drive your own car in the UK you need:

• A valid driving licence

• Automobile insurance

• Automobile registration

• Tax discs, which show you have paid the annual road tax

• A neighbourhood parking permit (if applicable)

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Driving Licence

Holders of a valid EU/EEA driving licence may drive on their valid licence until aged 70 or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period. After this period, you must apply for a British licence (no driving test is required). Alternatively, you can apply to exchange your licence for a British one at any time.

Holders of a valid driving licence from Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Zimbabwe, Malta, New Zealand, Rep. of Cyprus, Singapore, South Africa, and Switzerland can drive vehicles for twelve months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a GB licence must be obtained before this period elapses, by exchanging your licence for a GB one.

Holders of valid licence from other countries may drive vehicles for twelve months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test passed before the 12-month period elapses.

For more information on how to apply or exchange your driving licence, visit www.dvla.gov.uk 

Driving lessons can be organised through the AA –tel. 0870 600 0371- or the British School of Motoring (BSM), tel. 08457 276 276 www.bsm.co.uk

The driving test consists of a written theory test on The Highway Code and The Complete Theory Test for Cars and Motorcycles (available in bookstores), an eye test, a hazard perception test and a forty minutes driving test.

Automobile Insurance

Three types of automobile insurance are available in the UK:

1. Third party, the British law requires this cover for all vehicles entering the country. In addition to the legal minimum, it covers injury to other people caused by you or your passengers.

2. Third party, fire and theft (TPF&T) includes third party cover and loss or damage caused to your car by fire and theft or attempted theft.

3. Comprehensive, covers all the risks listed under the two categories above plus damage to your own car, thefts of contents (with a limit), medical expenses (with a limit) and usually legal assistance, natural hazards damage and other coverage depending on the insurance policy.

If you travel outside Britain, for certain countries you need to get and pay for the green card that extends the cover abroad for a maximum period of three months.

Royal Sun Alliance is the insurer of the Shell Staff Insurance Services scheme, who offers discounts on car insurance and car breakdown cover. To contact them email: shellscheme@swib.co.ukb (tel 0845 077 2772)

It is difficult to find insurance for left-hand-drive cars. Lloyds TSB -tel.: 0800 092 1093; www.insurance.co.uk confirm that they will provide coverage, with no increase in premium, provided the left-hand-drive car has been registered.

Other websites that might be used to find the best rates are:

www.find.co.uk/insurance

Automobile registration

Register your vehicle to get permission to drive in the UK, visit www.dvla.gov.uk for more information.

Tax Disk/MOT

Each year you must pay tax on your vehicle and receive a “tax disk” that must be displayed on your vehicle. If your road vehicle is over three years old it must pass an MOT test to receive your tax disk. The MOT is the examination of a motor vehicle's safety-related systems components to ensure that they have not worn to an excessive level, which would otherwise render the vehicle unsafe for use on the road. To find a MOT testing centre near to you see www.ukmot.com.  For more information regarding a tax disk go to www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

Neighbourhood parking permit

A neighbourhood parking permit is required if you live in London and do not have off-street parking. These are available from your local council. In many boroughs you are entitled to purchase a Residents’ Parking Permit (check with your council for eligibility). The parking times vary from borough to borough and within the borough. Traffic wardens patrol residents’ areas regularly and fines are given if you are in a restricted area without the proper parking permit.

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6.4.3. Congestion Charge

To reduce traffic congestion an £8 daily charge for each car driving and parking in Central London is in place. It applies from 7.00-18.30 Monday to Friday, excluding Public Holidays.  Residents can apply for a 90% discount. You can pay either in advance or on the day of travel, before, during or after the journey by telephone, mobile phone text message, post, Internet or in person at a retail outlet.  You are able to purchase daily, weekly, monthly or annual passes. Penalties are severe.  For more information, recent rates and congestion charge boundaries please visit www.cclondon.com  or call 0845 9001234.

6.4.4. Car Hire

The following companies have special rates for Shell employees:

Avis, Discount No.: E502194. Phone for rates quoting discount number; need Shell ID card for identification. Tel  0870 606 0100.

Eurocar, Corporate Reference No.: 80281596
Phone for rates quoting corporate reference number; need Shell ID card for identification. Tel: 0870 607 5000.

Another recommended company for Central London that will deliver the car to your door for a fee is: Express Rent a Car,  www.expressrentacar.co.uk,  0207 387 5028

 

Car Clubs

A new phenomenon is taking London by storm: Car Clubbing.

You can own the service of a car without having to own one, so no more worries about depreciation, road tax, parking permits or finding a parking space.

Car clubs are different from car rental agencies. Car clubs are parked near you, they charge by the hour, there is no paperwork to fill in, just a monthly bill to pay online. Most car clubs charge around £4.95 per hour or £45 per day. Membership includes payment for the congestion charge, petrol and fully comprehensive insurance.

Please compare the following car clubs:

www.Zipcar.co.uk 

www.Citycarclub.co.uk

www.Whizzgo.co.uk

www.Streetcar.co.uk

6.4.5. Knowing some Road Rules

Drive on the left
All traffic drives on the left. Streets are narrow and cars are often parked on both sides of the road.

Seat belts
Seat belts are required for all occupants of the car, both front and back seat.

“L” and “P” signs
A red “L” sign attached to the outside of a car tells you that the driver is learning to drive and cannot drive on the motorways. A green “L” or “P” signifies a newly licensed driver.

Drinking and driving
Drinking and driving penalties are severe. If you fail the breath test, you then have the option of taking a blood test. If you fail that, you lose your licence for up to one year. Getting insurance after that can be very difficult.

Roundabouts
Be prepared to stop and give way to cars from the right as you approach a roundabout. Signal to indicate where you intend to exit the roundabout.

Speed cameras
Near the black and white signs depicting a camera is a grey box that may or may not contain a loaded speed camera. A picture of your licence plate may be taken when you “speed” by after which you may receive a ticket by mail. In addition to a fine, you will receive 3 points on your licence.

Pay and Display
In a Pay and Display car park you will often have to pay for your parking time in advance at a nearby ticket machine and stick the ticket on the inside of your windscreen. Other car parks issue you a ticket at a barrier on arrival and you have to pay at a machine before departing.

6.5 Public Transport

Transport for London is a service that manages London's buses, the Underground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London Trams. It also runs London River Services, Victoria Coach Station and London's Transport Museum.  TfL also regulates taxis and the private hire trade. They operate a hotline 020 7222 1234 to plan your journey and answer questions. For more information and to view maps visit www.tfl.gov.uk

Free maps of the underground (Tube) and bus routes are available at all ticket offices of Transport for London.

Oyster Card

An Oyster card is a plastic card that can be pre-loaded with funds for tickets and then used to pay for transport on the Underground and the DLR. It can be recharged with funds online or at tube stations. Even if you rarely use public transport, we highly recommend you get an Oyster Card soon after you arrive in London. On those occasions you do use public transport it will make your life much easier and most of the time you will be saving on fares.

For more information visit www.oystercard.com or the Helpline on 0845 330 9876 open from 08.00am till 08.00pm.

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Underground

London is divided into six travel zones for tube fares. The more zones you cross, the higher the fare.

If you’re travelling several times in one day or through a couple of zones, you should consider an Oyster Card, a travel card or some other discounted fare.

You can buy Travel cards on the day or from stations several days ahead. They can be bought from tube station ticket offices, most National Rail stations, and (not always the full range) from self-service ticket machines at tube stations. There are also weekend, family, weekly, monthly and annual Travel cards available.

Children and adults over 60 are entitled to reduced or free fares, see www.tfl.gov.uk or any underground station for more information..

The first tube train operates at around 5.00am Monday to Saturday and around 7am Sunday; the last train leaves between 11.30pm and 12.30am depending on the day, the station and the line.

For more information on the Tube route and fares visit www.tfl.gov.uk or call 020 7222 1234.

Buses

The bus network is divided into four zones although this only affects holders of passes valid for a week or longer.

Oyster card users will pay a lower bus fare and bus passes can be purchased at discounted rates. Children and adults over 60 are entitled to reduced or free fares, see www.tfl.gov.uk for more information. Please note, on most Central London bus lines you MUST purchase your tickets in advance (or you can use your Oyster card). Most Central London bus stops will have ticket machines allowing you to purchase your ticket before boarding.

Some bus stops are ‘request’ stops; you must signal the driver to stop the bus. For general information on London buses call 020 7222 1234 or visit www.londontransport.co.uk

Taxis

There are two kinds of taxicabs in the greater London area: black cabs and minicabs.  Black cabs licensed to drive in London are not necessarily licensed to drive in the suburbs, and vice versa.  They are regulated and have published, metered, uniform fares. You recognise them immediately by their famous shape. Not all are black, though - many are covered with colourful advertising.

Cabs are available for hire when the yellow sign above the windscreen is lit; just stick your arm out to signal one. Fees start at approximately £3.00, and are metered thereafter. Night time, weekend, and holiday travelling is more expensive.  There are additional charges for extra passengers, front-seat baggage and late-night trips. You can tip taxi drivers up to 10% but most people round up to the nearest pound.  To order a cab by phone try Radio Taxis on 020 7272 0272; they charge what it costs to get to you, up to £3.80, as well as your actual fare.

Minicabs do not have meters, and passengers usually negotiate a fee up front. Minicabs tend to be less expensive than black cabs but drivers might not know their way around and sometimes not licensed and uninsured. Minicabs cannot legally be hailed on the street – they must be hired by phone or directly from one of the minicab offices.  They drive regular passenger cars. Check Yellow Pages for your local mini cab operator under ‘Mini Cabs’; also look for a flashing yellow light outside their premises.

Zingo Taxi is an innovative new scheme that uses GPS to connect your mobile phone to that of the nearest free black-cab driver. This service costs £1.40, added to the price of the cab itself. It’s perhaps a good idea late at night, when it’s notoriously difficult to find a free cab. Dial 08700 700 700.

Suburban Trains

Several rail companies operate passenger trains in London:

·        Silverlink or North London line, 0845 601 4867

·        Thameslink  0845 748 4950

·        South Eastern Trains 0845 748 4950

·        South West Trains 0845 748 4950

Most lines connect with the Underground system, and Travel cards can be used on them.

For more information www.londontransport.co.uk click on ‘Rail’.

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Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Outpost London cannot assume responsibility for errors in the information included in this guide.

All rights reserved, including the right to translate or to reproduce this guide or any part of it in any form or by any techniques, without the written permission of Outpost London.