Transport Options#

You’re lucky to be living right in the centre of London. Many of the city’s delights and probably your university, too, are within easy walking distance. Do take time to walk around and get to know this part of the city. For travelling further distances, you’ll probably want to take a bus or the Underground (known as ’the Tube’).

The Underground#

The Underground is a quick and easy way of getting around London, especially for longer distances. The Transport for London website (tfl.gov.uk) and the tfl app include a useful journey planner to help you work out your route. Maps of the local area are just inside the entry door in every Tube station.

You can pay for a journey on the London transport network by swiping your debit card over the card reader at the entry barriers in any station (the Underground) or over the card reader near the entry door (on any bus). You’ll need to swipe the same card on the exit barrier when you leave the station at your destination. There is no need to swipe your card when leaving the bus.

An alternative to using your debit card is the Oyster Card. This is a smartcard you load with pay-as-you-go credit (you can top up your credit at the ticket machines in any Tube station) and swipe on the card readers when you enter and leave the Tube network or get on a bus (or the tram or Overground railway system).

Bicycles#

A bicycle is a good way to get around London: there are plenty of cycle lanes and bikes are easily available for hire. But in a city where traffic can be very dense, cyclists need to take care. Always wear a cycle helmet when travelling around on a bicycle, and also brightly coloured clothing. Make sure that your front and rear lights work, and are always illuminated after dark. Use cycle lanes wherever possible. Be courteous to other road users and to pedestrians.

Camden Cycle Skills teaches essential free bike riding skills for all ages and abilities, from beginner and intermediate group courses and open community cycling, to individual training on busy roads and bike maintenance.

Bicycles kept at the College must be registered and tagged. Bicycle registration forms are available to download on The Square or you can pick up a paper form at Reception. Once registered, you will be issued with a registration tag that must be attached to a visible part of your bike. The tag must remain on your bike until you leave the College. Registration is annual, and must be renewed at the start of each academic year. As the College uses the registration tags to ensure that bicycles are not abandoned, it is essential that the Member details associated with each bicycle are kept up to date. You will need to re-register for a new tag if you move rooms within College, if you give or sell the bicycle to another Member, or if your current tag becomes damaged or unreadable.

Bicycles should be kept in the bike racks in the Quad at LH, and in the Garden Quad at WGH. They must not be chained to railings outside the College or College houses or (for fire safety reasons) left on staircases or in corridors or halls. Bicycles must not be kept in rooms or flats.

At the beginning of each academic year, the College will make a note of all bicycles without tags, with unreadable tags or with out-of-date registrations or contact details. Bikes whose owners cannot be identified will be considered abandoned and given away or destroyed.

Ensure that your bike is not stolen, by:

• never leaving your bike unlocked, even if you are nearby and can see it;
• using the best lock you can afford, such as a good quality D-lock (a poor quality lock may be sawn through or bolt-cropped in seconds);
• locking your bike to something immovable and solid;
• making it as difficult as possible to attack the lock with tools by turning the lock face towards a wall or the ground;
• avoiding bikes with removeable wheels or seats; and taking any easily removable accessories with you.

Take out specific insurance to cover the bike against theft, loss or damage. Note the bike’s frame number and any modifications, marks or scratches, and take photographs. Keep this information in a safe place. For more information, check out the excellent cycle security advice offered on the following web sites: bikeoff.org.uk; LCC.org.uk; nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk

There are many bike hire schemes in London including the one run by Transport for London.

Cars#

Cars are expensive to maintain in central London and, since there is much within easy walking distance of the College and ample public transport day and night, largely unnecessary. They also contribute to an unacceptable level of urban pollution. Please do not bring a car to Goodenough College unless you have a compelling reason.

There is no parking space on the College estate. If you do need to have a car in London, you will need to rent space in a parking garage or park the car in a residents’ parking bay (there are lots in Mecklenburgh Square). You will need to purchase permits to use residents’ parking bays. Application forms can be obtained from the Camden Council website (camden.gov.uk). You can download a ‘proof of residence’ letter from the Portal where you pay your rent. The area around the Square is designated for Resident Permit Holders Only (CA-D Permits) during the hours of 07:00am to 18:00pm Monday to Friday and 12:00 (noon) to 18:00pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. At other times, parking is free on the Square. Please note that parking regulations are stringently enforced by traffic wardens.

If you have a visitor who needs to park, or you yourself are using a car temporarily and need short-term parking, you can also buy visitors’ parking permits from Camden Council. You will need to set up an account in advance, show a proof of residence such as a mobile phone bill or bank statement, in addition to your ‘proof of residence’ letter. Otherwise, the nearest car park is the NCP near the Brunswick Centre.

Don’t forget that the College is in the central London congestion zone. If you are driving in the congestion zone between 7am and 10pm (every day of the year except Christmas Day) you are required to pay a congestion charge (tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging). The College is also in the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ): if your car doesn’t meet new environmental standards, you will need to pay a daily charge to drive in London.

Coaches and Minibuses#

The Dean’s team can book coach or minibus transport. Clubs and Societies using this transport will be subsidised by the College. Members are strongly advised against booking coaches or mini-buses independently. The companies used by the College have had their credentials and insurance cover checked.

Taxis#

Black cabs: London has the world’s oldest regulated taxi service, with a great tradition of quality, value and safety. Taxi drivers must pass the world-famous ‘Knowledge’, which means that they know their way to any destination in the whole of London. And all taxi and private-hire drivers must pass Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, as well as medical fitness checks. If a black taxi has its orange light lit up, it is available for hire and you just wave at it to stop - or you can pick up one if it’s parked in a taxi rank (you must go to the taxi at the front of the rank). These taxis are metered, so there is a fixed payment, which you can read from the meter during the journey. It’s normal to add about 10% tip when you pay. Black cabs are best for short journeys only as they can work out expensive for long journeys. Most black cabs are suitable for wheelchair users.

Other Private hire vehicles: London also offers mini-cabs and private-hire services like Uber or Bolt. All private-hire drivers in the UK must have a special licence. Do not take taxis which are unlicensed. See this website to know what to look out for to make sure you are using a licensed driver. Uber and Bolt operate in our local area (it’s worth downloading their apps onto your phone) and you can also pre-book mini-cabs, which are especially useful for airport journeys. A long-established reliable company is Addison Lee.