For the most objective view of transport in London we should turn to TripAdvisor. Its userbase has been rating modes of transport in the capital for several years, so their ranking should be pretty definitive by now. Of course the vast majority of the 583 services in TripAdvisor's Transportation ratings are taxi companies, airport transfer services and tour operators, but once you strip those out the true order becomes clear. I've included a totally negative review of each.
#1 of 583:London Underground
We bought weekly passes. Rode the tube once and NEVER AGAIN. The Central line is TOO TOO far down below the surface of the earth. Three very long, steep escalators to get there. And the cars are like tubes. SO we walked and took taxis everywhere. The underground is not for me!
#14 of 583:Emirates Air Line Cable Car - Royal Docks
We have done a lot of cable car rides across the world. But this has to be the most boring yet. What exactly was we looking at. We spent more time talking to passengers than looking out of the window.
#15 of 583:Docklands Light Railway
We used the DLR to travel this last weekend. Everything was going well until we travelled from Woolwich Arsenal accross the Thames. The trip to the first stop has got to without a doubt the worst stretch I have ever been on. The carriage shook violently, the effect of this was nauseating by the time it came to a stop. The stretch needs replacing. Avoid if you can, take a vomit bag if you can't!
#21 of 583:Emirates Air Line Cable Car - Greenwich Peninsula
I went on a night trip of the Cable Car, and as I have been on several times before so I am aware of how beautiful the 02 Arena looks at night all lit up as I have photographs from 4 years ago. Now this trip for me was ruined because since I was last up on the Cable Car the "stunning views" have now been ruined because of the Regeneration Project that's happening around the area there is now a large building that's blocked a very large part of the view of the 02, completely taking away the full view of the Arena. No matter where you are on the journey you cannot see the whole building. When tourists come to London two of the biggest things they do is spend money and take photographs, and they will want good photographs not ones that have a building blocking the view. When I got of the trip I pulled up a member of staff I explained to him, he was full of smiles and said "London is changing" And I said to him "Yes I know its changing, but don't take away the things tourists want to see". I won't be going back up there and I would not recommend it to anyone else either.
#24 of 583:London Buses
London bus service is the worst I've ever used. Drivers have NO idea where anything is, absolutely hopeless to try and get around. We were told so many WRONG buses to take we used £50 in 4 days getting on and off wrong buses. Would not recommend at all.
#31 of 583:Thames Clippers
Don’t bother. Most people are not renewing their season tickets as it’s absolute chaos in the summer. Huge queues, toss up if you get on 1st, 2nd, 3rd boat. It would be better to copy Venice’s lead and have commuter ferries of priority lanes.
#34 of 583:King's Cross Station
I thought this station was meant to be architecturally beautiful and It is if you can get a clear view of the outside. Maybe from a helicopter you would get the best view‼️ However the inside was disappointing but the blue ceiling was great.
#43 of 583:Liverpool Street Station
wow, when you see paddington or euston then you come here, it is just a horrible place to be. the huge glass room does not look like it has been cleaned in 50 years there is pigeon poo every where. the whole place smells of urine. There is a lack of information screens but loads of screens with adverts on them the staff are just pigs, they are so rude, especially the ones on the train side. the only seats are cold and metal and there are not enough so people have to sit on floor. needs to be tore down and rebuild with different staff and a little cafe that sells a cup of tea for a quid
#47 of 583:Heathrow Express
Almost 3x the cost of the London Underground which takes an hour and goes into central London. The Heathrow Express takes 20 minutes but trains are 15 minutes apart then you have to buy another ticket for the underground to central London which is a further 7 stops! Complete waste of bloody time and money. No wonder its empty.
#69 of 583:Gatwick Express
The Gatwick express is nothing but a money making tourist rip-off of travellers not aware of the much cheaper alternative. The savvy traveller uses an OYSTER CARD or a CONTACTLESS payment card or device and travelles on SOUTHERN services. Southern and GX are the SAME company, the trains run at the same speed along the same line and delayed by the same problems. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DON'T GET RIPPED OFF!
