🌍 Must-Have Transport Apps for Tourists in the UK (2025)
⭐️ Citymapper
• What it does: Real-time journey planning across London (and other UK cities); includes buses, Tube, walking, cycling, e‑scooters, ride‑hail options, fares & disruptions .
• Why it’s great for tourists: Clear interface, multimodal choices, even shows calorie count & quirky transport suggestions ().
🚇 TfL Go / Official TfL App
• What it does: Live Tube, bus, tram status and route planner for London .
• Why get it: Most trusted source for London transport info—bus arrivals, line updates, contactless fare support via CPAY (similar to Oyster) .
🚊 National Rail Enquiries / Trainline
• What they do: UK-wide train timetables, ticket booking, platform info.
• Why they’re useful: Essential for planning inter-city rail journeys—flash sales, split-ticket savings.
🚙 Uber, Bolt, Free Now, Gett, Ola, Addison Lee, Wheely
• What they do: Ride-hailing and private hire taxi services across UK cities .
• Why tourists use them: Airport transfers, night-time rides, and for when public transport isn’t running—Gett also offers black cab booking .
🚲 Nextbike by TIER / Santander Cycles
• What they do: Bike-sharing services available in major UK cities ().
• Why they’re great: Eco-friendly, healthy, and ideal for short urban rides.
🚃 Moovit / Transit App
• What they do: Multi-city, real-time public transport planning across Europe, including UK ().
• Why handy: Useful outside major metro areas; includes buses, ferries, trains & crowd‑sourced live updates.
📱 Google Maps / Apple Maps
• What they do: Navigation with transit and walking directions; Apple Maps supports public transport in the UK .
• Why essential: Ubiquitous backup; Apple Maps includes bike-share station locations in London.
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🧭 Bonus: On-Demand Public Transit Trials
• ArrivaClick: Mini-bus on-demand in Liverpool and parts of England—book via app for flexible, shared rides .
• Edinburgh’s Smart Tap System: Soon you’ll be able to tap contactless cards on buses & trams with daily caps (£5/day, £24.50/week) .
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✅ Tips for Tourists
• London: Combine Citymapper + TfL Go + Contactless (CPAY/Oyster) for seamless travel.
• Outside London: Use Trainline/National Rail + Moovit/Transit to navigate regional networks.
• Ride-hailing: Compare Uber, Bolt, Gett—Gett is often best for airport-to-city transfers.
• Cycling: Try Santander Cycles in London or Nextbike elsewhere.

