London voted best public transport system.
By Darren Cronian on Saturday, September 2nd, 2006

According to a survey undertaken by Trip Advisor, London has the best public transport in the World – a great boost for the 2012 Olympic Games. One-quarter of international travellers picked London as the easiest city to get around, ahead of New York (16%) and Paris (12%). Los Angeles came bottom.

London voted best public transport system.

I’ve visited London, for both business and pleasure, and was impressed with the London Tube system, where you could get around the main attractions in London within a day, by jumping on and offer the underground – I was never waiting more than 5 minutes for a train.

The advantage of the bus service in London over other UK cities is that you have an estimated arrival time which is displayed on Central London bus shelters – it’s a shame this hasn’t been introduced in cities like Leeds whose public transport system is very poor.

Well done London!


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8 responses to “London voted best public transport system.”

mikeyboy | 2 September, 2006 at 7:15 am

Might be OK for tourists who use it for a day but it’s not great if you have to use it for work - 5 days a week! That said, it has improved but is stupidly expensive.

As someone who has lived in London all my life, and lived in a few countries on and off, I would say the Tokyo public transport system takes some beating.

Darren Cronian | 2 September, 2006 at 9:23 am

That’s a good point - I’ve been on courses for a week, and had to travel to near Heathrow airport from myhotel, and it was a nightmare - why do you Londoners rush everywhere, there’s me all chilled out and northern! ;)

Kevin May | 2 September, 2006 at 10:49 am

“when you’re tired of life, you’re tired of london…”, an old saying goes. hmmm.

perhaps the modern adage should be: when you’re tired of london’s transport system, work from home!

the internet revolution [or is that travolution?!?! - apols, Darren. blatant plug there] is changing the way people work, too, enabling them to carry out many functions of their jobs from the comfort of the their own home.

this is no more so than in the travel industry, where home-working is becoming increasingly popular for agents. Travel Counsellors (http://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk) is a fine example of the home-working phenomenon. and it’s growing…

KM, ed, travo

Steve | 3 September, 2006 at 7:51 pm

London’s got a lot going for it. I just hope that it lives up to what it can be in 2012. Seems a superb opportunity for the city.

Darren Cronian | 3 September, 2006 at 11:24 pm

Welcome Steve :) Yep with the Olympics, London and the UK really has an opportunity to show the world what we can do - I think already though they are behind with the building of the Olympic village, and let’s keep our fingers crossed that its not going to be another Wembley experience.

Sandy | 17 September, 2006 at 2:49 pm

Having worked in London for some years during my youth, and commuted there from the south, I rather took the excellent transport system for granted.

The Paris metro is pretty good - but is subject to frequent strikes. Hong Kong is amazing, but I imagine similar to Tokyo in that the sheer numbers of bodies that can be crammed into the tube or onto the buses and trams far exceeds the numbers they were designed to hold. Worst city to get around I’ve experienced is Bangkok.

Incidentally the estimated arrival time is displayed on bus stops in Derby too.

Damien | 27 October, 2006 at 10:47 am

Very good for people but traveling with lugage and kids in prams?? When I traveled there were lots of stairs and little escalators or lifts.

When Sydney had the Olympics these were fitted to many stations even tho they already had ramps. this made it a lot easyer to get around. i think to be voted the best should it not be for everyone?

Gjoo | 26 May, 2008 at 3:03 am

I doubt if many of the people that voted have ever been to Hong Kong. I’ve been to London many times and Hong Kong’s public transportation, which includes subways, trams, buses, ferries, cheap taxis, jetfoils and more is more extensive and much cheaper than what London has to offer.

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