Every visitor to London is told the same thing: get an Oyster card, or tap your phone, and live on the Tube. It is fast, frequent, and reaches everywhere. But I’ve worked this out over a lot of visits: spend all your time underground and you miss the thing that makes London worth visiting in the first place, which is everything between the stations. So here is my case for coming up for air, and seeing the city at street level instead.

This guide explains why the Tube can work against you, how to use buses and your own feet instead, and when the Underground is still the right call.

The Tube Hides the City

The London Underground is a marvel, but it is also a series of windowless tunnels. Down there, one station looks much like the next, and you surface with no sense of how places actually connect. The classic trap is the short hop: two stops on the Tube map are often a ten-minute walk overground, past shops, squares, parks, and river views you would never otherwise see. Covent Garden to Leicester Square is famously one stop, and famously quicker on foot.

Take the Bus Instead

London’s red double-decker buses are the great underrated way to see the city. They are slower than the Tube, but that is the point: from the front seat of the top deck, the one I still make straight for like a big kid, you watch London roll past for the same flat fare, tapped with the same contactless card. Certain routes work like a sightseeing tour for a fraction of the price:

• Route 11 passes Westminster, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, and St Paul’s.
• Route 24 runs through Westminster, Whitehall, and up to Camden.
• Route 15 (with occasional heritage Routemasters) links Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London.

Transport for London’s journey planner covers buses as well as the Tube, and the bus network reaches corners the Underground never touches.

Walk the Middle

So much of central London is surprisingly compact, and walking joins it all together. Some of the best short strolls include:

• Westminster to the South Bank, across the river past the London Eye.
• Soho to Covent Garden, a five-minute wander between two areas the Tube makes feel separate.
• The City to the Tower, past St Paul’s and along the river.
• The South Bank riverside walk, from the London Eye to Tower Bridge, arguably the best free thing to do in the city.

On foot you stumble on the mews, markets, and pubs that are the real London, the things no station announcement will ever point you to.

When to Still Use the Tube

None of this means abandoning the Underground. It remains the best option for long hops across the city, in bad weather (and in England, let’s be honest, that’s a fair chunk of the time), when you are short on time, or late at night. The smart approach is to mix: Tube the long distances, then walk or bus the neighbourhoods once you are in the right area. Treat the Underground as a tool, not a default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to walk or take the Tube in London? For short distances in the centre, walking is often faster and far more rewarding, since many Tube stops are only minutes apart on foot. Use the Tube for longer journeys and bad weather.

Are London buses good for sightseeing? Yes. From the top deck of a red double-decker you see the city at street level for a flat fare, and routes like the 11 and 24 pass many famous sights, effectively a cheap sightseeing tour.

Do you need an Oyster card in London? Not necessarily. You can now simply tap a contactless bank card or phone on buses, Tubes, and trains, with the same daily fare cap as an Oyster card.

Final Thoughts

I’ll be straight with you: England isn’t my favourite corner of the world, the perpetually grey weather alone tests my patience, but I’m a walker by nature, and getting out at street level is exactly what wins me round to London. The Underground is brilliant for long hops and bad weather, but give the city a chance on foot and it reveals itself in a way no tunnel ever will. Walk the short distances, ride the buses for the views, and save the Tube for when you really need it. And with fast trains from St Pancras, London pairs easily with the rest of Europe, from a few days in Paris to a family trip to Disneyland Paris at Chessy.