Top 5 Quirky Ways to Travel London

…during this summer’s Olympic congestion

Travelling to London for the world’s greatest sporting event? So is everyone else! Traditional transport in and around London will be jam packed with over-eager sports fans complaining of over-crowding in a thousand different languages – translated pandemonium! Avoid having your face squished against Tube windows with nothing to look out at but your own uncomfortable reflection. You’ve either flown in from abroad or you’re without a car after parking it with Airport Parking Quote. You may think you’re now at the mercy of trains, tubes and buses, but fear not, there are alternatives. Here are our Top 5 alternative London transport options.

Cycle Hire

Over 6000 bicycles for hire were added to London’s budding cycle community with the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme. There are over 400 so-called docking stations around the city where you can pay (with a debit or credit card) and go. Cycle around at your leisure or get directly to where you’re going then simply return the bike to the same or any other docking station when you’re done with it. An efficient service that makes taking the scenic route the quickest option.

Skate Rental

Glide through the streets and parks of London with wheels beneath your feet. The well-established London Skate Centre can be found in Bayswater. Here you can hire a pair of Inline Skates – commonly known as Rollerblades. They offer these knee-scrapers at a very reasonable 2-hourly, daily or overnight rate and they even throw in wrist and knee pads (just as well). A cool and athletic way to get around.

River Bus

The River Thames offers a handy alternative for London travel. River buses run regularly from morning ‘til evening from stops all along the river that winds its way through the city. Some river bus lines have refreshment shops and wi-fi on board. A Travelcard gets you a discount on your fare. Buy tickets from the pier ticket offices or on board. Get from far out South, West, East and North right into the heart of Central London on gentle tides and enjoy spectacular scenery.

Rickshaw

Themed Rickshaw tours aplenty, but these pedal wagons are also to be found roaming London roads ready for the spontaneous ride. They are people-powered bicycle-type carriages that seem to congregate around London’s West End. Pedicabs, as they’re also known, are available at reasonable rates and you can flag them down from the roadside. They’re described as “Green, clean, fun machines!”

Motorbike Taxi

For the fastest taxi service in town, think bike! However bizarre the thought of wrapping your legs around a complete stranger and zooming through the streets of London may seem, you will get there on time, and feeling exhilarated. Passenger bikes operate as any other taxi service – call for a pick up and the fare ticks over on a metre. They assure you that the service costs the same as a car service, but takes half the time – a carbon-efficient motorised road transport option for the adventurous.

Aaron Bradford has written 386 articles. +Aaron Bradford is the leader, mentor and chief geek of HappyTimeblog. He put together the crack team of writers known by codename “The Firm“. He's a permanent traveller and a lifestyle hacker. Wanna know more? Check out my Bucket List or my About page... I'm here to show you how to live a Life Less Ordinary