9 best London transport and travel apps

Using your smartphone in London may incur data charges, so check your data allowance with your phone provider. You can cut costs by downloading apps on wifi before you travel and by using London's many wifi hotspots when you're out and about.

Alternatively, download these free London maps and guides in advance.

1. Visit London app – official city guide and offline maps

Get an insider's guide to the city with the Visit London app. © Visit London.

The official London city app helps you make the most of your time in the capital. Features include offline maps, hand-picked lists of the best things to see and do, hidden gems and area guides, great deals and offers, and directions to help you navigate the city.

2. TfL Oyster app and TfL Go

Navigate around the city with the TfL Go app. Image courtesy of Transport for London.

Download the TfL Oyster and contactless app on your smartphone to top up your pay-as-you-go credit, buy travelcards and check your balance. Plan ahead and get around London with the TfL Go app, which helps you find the best routes to reach your destination.

3. AccessAble app

Use the AccessAble app to find accessible travel tips for London. Image courtesy of AccessAble.

Travel around the city with confidence or plan a trip to a new London area using the AccessAble app. Ensure that your specific needs are met by using detailed guides for accessible attractions, venues and areas around the capital.

4. Citymapper London app

Navigate London transport with Citymapper. Image courtesy of Citymapper.

The Citymapper app simplifies public transport in London by providing live, up-to-the-minute information and multiple route options. Features include disruption notifications, offline maps, transport ticket prices, taxi fares and even calorie burn counts!

5. Santander Cycles app

Use the Santander Cycles app to receive bike unlock codes. Image courtesy of Transport for London.

Explore London with Santander Cycles' free app that shows you bike availability and routes to the nearest docking station. With this app, you can receive a bike release code to your phone and hire a cycle without using the docking station terminal.

6. London Architecture Guide app

Get to know London's landmark buildings with the London Architecture Guide app. Image courtesy of The Architecture Foundation.

Learn more about the capital's amazing buildings with the London Architecture Guide app. Use the interactive map to discover more than 1,100 of the city's fascinating structures, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems in London.

7. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers app

Take a boat on the Thames with the Thames Clippers Ticket app. Image courtesy of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

You can buy tickets wherever you are for the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers using the Uber app or Thames Clippers Tickets app, meaning no queuing or printing before you travel. Activate your ticket as you board and show it to the crew. You can also check live departure times.

8. Raise Tower Bridge app

Get up-close views of London's most iconic bridge with the Raise Tower Bridge app. Image courtesy of Tower Bridge.

Download this free Tower Bridge augmented reality app and take your smartphone up to the walkways during your visit to see the bridge being raised in a 360-degree panoramic video.

9. Walking Plays

Take an immersive self-guided walking tour of London's streets with the Walking Plays app. Image courtesy of Walking Plays.

Listen to the stories of London's streets with the Walking Plays app, which adds an immersive layer of audio to a walk around the capital. Hear stories of crime, drama and romance while exploring London's hidden secrets and back streets.

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