Explore London with Affordable Santander Cycles – Prices, Comfort & Essential Tips for Using the UK’s Cheapest Bike Rentals!

When it comes to London tourism, the historic architecture, rich culture, and beautiful parks are all major attractions, but having an efficient way to get around is essential for visiting tourist spots. While London has an excellent public transportation system, tourists often find the fares on the expensive side. This is where “Santander Cycles,” commonly known as “Boris Bikes,” come into play. Using this service, you can travel around London all day for just £3. In this article, we’ll introduce you to Santander Cycles’ pricing, usage methods, and handy tips!

London’s Public Transportation: Expensive?

London is a very tourist-friendly city with diverse public transportation options including the Underground (Tube), buses, trams, and Overground. However, the fares are not particularly cheap. Even just traveling within Zone 1 on the Underground costs £2.70 one way, and buses charge £1.75 per trip. When touring all day, transportation costs can add up unexpectedly. This is why Santander Cycles have gained attention as a way to enjoy London while saving money.

Revolutionary Transportation: “Santander Cycles”

Santander Cycles (commonly known as Boris Bikes) have actually been used by Londoners for over a decade, but they’ve only become easily accessible to foreign tourists in recent years. With affordable pricing and extensive station placement, this service is extremely convenient for getting around London. Amazingly, you can ride all day for just £3! This is incredibly economical compared to Uber or other bike rental services, making it an excellent transportation option for budget-conscious travelers.

Santander Cycles stations are located throughout London, making them ideal for visiting tourist spots. Compared to buses and the Underground, they offer greater maneuverability, which is particularly beneficial for travelers wanting to visit many places in limited time. For example, when touring from the Tower of London to Tower Bridge, and further to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, you can move more smoothly than by bus.

How to Use Santander Cycles

While Santander Cycles have a system that tourists can easily use, there are some points worth knowing in advance. In particular, it’s smoother to operate the station terminal rather than using the app. Let’s look at the specific steps below.

1. Install the App

Santander Cycles has a dedicated app, so install it on your smartphone in advance. However, use this app only to check station locations and available bicycle counts. While you can technically complete the rental process through the app, it frequently experiences errors and often doesn’t work properly. Therefore, I recommend not using the app for reservations, but instead using the terminal installed at the station.

2. Operate the Station Terminal

To use a bicycle, first go to the terminal at your desired station. Follow the instructions displayed on the terminal and register your credit card. Then select the all-day riding plan (£3) and receive an unlock code. This code is necessary to unlock the bicycle.

3. Unlock the Bicycle

Enter the unlock code on the pad installed on the bicycle. When successful, the lock will be released and the lamp will light up green. Now you’re ready to use the bicycle. Enjoy your ride safely while following traffic rules!

*Note: In the UK, bicycles are generally treated the same as cars. When there is no dedicated bicycle lane, you should generally ride on the road.

4. Return Within 30 Minutes

A feature of Santander Cycles is that you must return the bike within 30 minutes per ride. If you exceed 30 minutes, additional charges apply, but if you return it to a station within 30 minutes, you can use it any number of times for free. It’s very economical to operate by moving to your destination, returning it to a station if available, and then borrowing again for your next move.

When returning, firmly push the bicycle into an empty slot at the station. The lock will automatically engage, and if there are no problems, the light will turn green again. Once you confirm this, the return is complete.

Summary

While London’s public transportation is convenient, the somewhat high fares can be a drawback for tourists. In this context, Santander Cycles offer excellent cost-performance and are a great ally for tourism. With numerous stations, they’re not only efficient for visiting major tourist spots but also incredibly affordable at just £3. The London streetscape you experience while cycling provides a fresh perspective different from the Underground or buses.

Using the methods introduced in this article, why not try utilizing Santander Cycles the next time you visit London, elegantly touring while cutting through the British breeze? In the next article, I’ll report on my actual riding experience and impressions!