The 17 best apps for London (2025)

When I first moved to London, I never left home without my trust London A-Z. This handy, pocket-size map was invaluable in the days before Google maps for getting around the city. And while I sometimes get nostalgic for my map-reading days, getting around London is much more straight forward today.

London is a big city and sometimes even locals need a hand finding their way around. Fortunately, there are dozens of apps that can help you do just that, from navigating the London Underground and hailing a black cab to to finding the best coffee, discovering London’s hidden gems and scoring good deals on theatre tickets. 

If you too are looking for help planning and getting around the city then this list of the best apps for London should help. 

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For more ideas on exploring London with kids, take a look at my London guide which shares my handpicked lists of the best things to do in London including our top attractions (yes, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben are included!), our favourite of London’s many world-class museums, and much more.  

The best apps for London

Most of the following apps are available for iPhone and Android devices and many of them are free but do watch out for any in app purchases.

Best London travel apps

Your most useful app when visiting London will be a travel app. Having a handy travel app to explore London – whether you’re on foot, two wheels, travelling by bus or on the London Underground – is the best way to explore a new city. The following are my personal favourite travel apps. 

Citymapper

If I could only have one app for London it would be Citymapper; this really this really a fantastic app for getting around London on public transportation. 

The Citymapper London app tells you how to get from point A to point B using all transport methods available. Simply put in your departure destination and where you want to go and the handy app will tell you the best way to get there by tube, by bus and even by bike, Zipcar, black cabs and Uber. It now even includes Lime, the electric bike and scooter service.

It tells you the fastest, cheapest and best routes as well as any delays taking place. One of the things I love most about the app is that it shares where you should stand on the tube platform so that you can exit quickly once you’ve arrived at your destination. It also shares the routes for accessible journeys, if you are travelling with a pushchair or wheelchair. 

CityMapper is available free and is also available in the major cities including Paris, Berlin, Seville and many others.

TfL Go app

Another one of the best apps for London is the official app of Transport for London, the TFL Go app.

This is a great for planning your journey around London. Handy features include the live map, which the live status of all TfL lines, including whether there are any disruptions on tube lines or at underground stations. You can also check live arrival times on all bus, Tube, London Overground, DLF, Elizabeth line, tram lines, and even the iFS Cloud Cable Car. 

Another one of its great features is the step-free mode that details which stations have step-free access. It’s invaluable for planning accessible journeys. 

You can also use the app to manage your payments: you can top up the pay-as-you-go credit on your Oyster card and view your journey history for both Oyster and contactless cards.

London & UK Live Bus Countdown

If you’re wondering whether when the next bus will turn up at bus stops, take a look at the London Bus Live Countdown mobile app. This London bus app is linked directly to live Transport for London data and is a great way to get live updates for planning your bus routes and know exactly when your bus is supposed to arrive. The app also gives live status updates on the London Underground lines.

Tube Map – London Underground

Even Londoners sometimes need a little help using the underground which is why you should have Tube Map on your phone. This London underground app includes the official TFL (Transport for London) Tube Map and also provides an offline map for those times when you can’t get good network service. 

It’s a good way to plan your journey using the London Underground although I don’t find it quite as useful as CityMapper. 

London Tube Live

London Tube Live is another one of the best apps for London. It includes up-to-the-minute real time departures information for all tube lines including DLR and London Overground and will let you know if there are any delays or engineering works taking place. 

Other features include the best carriages to board so that you’re at the right exit when you get off the tube and information on station facilities such as parking and lifts.

Station Master

This is not a free app but if you’re spending a significant amount of time in London – or you’re a London Underground geek – then you may want to invest in this. Station Master is not a route planning App, rather it tells you all you need to know about London’s famous tube lines from its history to whether or not a night tube service runs from a particular station. 

There are 3D Maps showing you the facilities and layouts of all 270 tube stations, accessibility information such as step count and elevators and transport links. The app also features travel tips, history and fun facts for every tube station.

Santander Cycles

If you feel like exploring London on two wheels then download the free Santander Cycles app from Transport for London. Originally called Boris Bikes after former London Mayor Boris Johnson, this popular app is the official app for Santander Cycles, the self-service, bike-sharing scheme for short journeys in central London. 

The App receives bike release codes straight to your smartphone so that you don’t have to deal with the docking station terminal when you want to borrow a bike. The app includes information about finding your nearest docking station and which docking stations have bikes available. A map is included for planning your journey.

E-Scooter and E-Bike Rentals

In early June 2021 electric scooters became available to rent in a handful of London boroughs. Currently, this is the only way to legally ride an e-scooter on public roads or in other public places in London. They are limited to a speed of 12.5mph.

Riders must be 18 or over and have a full or provisional driving licence to rent an e-scooter.

The three different operators offering e-scooter rentals are Lime, Dott and Tier.

Uber boat by Thames Clipper

One of the best ways to see London’s most famous landmarks is on board one of the Thames Clippers that sail up and down the River Thames. The Terrible Thames and Thames Rockets are both fun ways to enjoy the river but for something a little cheaper there’s the Uber boat by Thames Clipper. 

The app is the same as you use for the Uber ride-hailing service; download the official app and you can skip lines, add tickets to your phone and have access to the best deals.

Ride-hailing Apps

You’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to taxi hailing apps in London. The big one is Uber but there are other ride hailing apps out there. 

These include Bolt, which promises lower fares for passengers and better pay for drivers. They also offer an in-app “panic” button for passengers and drivers, which contacts the Metropolitan Police directly when activated. Free Now is another cab hailing app. 

There are a handful of black cab-hailing apps such as Gett UK and TaxiApp UK. Addison Lee is one of the most established taxi brands in the city and has its own app.

The best London apps for food and drink

The best food delivery apps are Deliveroo and UberEats.

OpenTable

OpenTable is one of the best apps for London if you want to make restaurant recommendations. Although not every London restaurant is listed, the free app has a comprehensive collection of places to eat and allows you to search by location, cuisine type and budget. You can also see menus and reviews.

Best Coffee

Coffee can make or break a family holiday so if you are a coffee lover then I recommend that you download the Best Coffee app to your smart phone sharpish! There is an excellent London coffee network and that’s what this app focuses on, good independent coffee shops. 

Each coffee shop listed comes with a detailed review as well as the type of coffee offered whether that’s cold brew, decaf or just regular filter coffee. The listings also offer handy details such as whether or not there’s a baby change space and seating available.

If tea is more your things, take a look at the best afternoon teas in London for kids.

Best London apps for information, events and tickets

Visit London 

The Visit London’s official app is a good app for planning your London experience.

It includes must key London sights such as the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. It also lists seasonal events and some great deals. There are shopping ideas, theatre reviews, restaurant recommendations and ideas on free things to do. It’s a very handy app to have on your phone when you visit.

Fever: Local Tickets and Events

Fever is not a London-specific app but it’s one that I use all the time to find out what’s going on in the city. Filter by interest (including #family) and discover everything from exhibitions and theatre to stadium tours and interactive game experiences. You can often find great deals on experiences too. 

Stagedoor

If you’re planning to see a show when you’re in London then take a look at the Stagedoor app. This app offers detailed reviews from both critics and visitors, shows current offers and allows you to book tickets as well.

TodayTix

We often used the TodayTix app to find the best theatre deals. It allows you to purchase tickets in-app, including last-minute tickets, and you can even choose the best seats.

The London Pass by Go City

The London Pass by Go City is an “interactive guidebook” that works in tandem with the London Pass itself. The London Pass allows you to visit a number of attractions and tours around the city, often with fast track access. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 days and can save you up to 50% on attractions.

The app includes an interactive map that locates attractions closes to you and includes passholder offers. You can also use the app to scan your digital ticket at each attractions.

What I find this app more useful for, however, is its guidebook-like information. Even if you don’t purchase a London Pass, you can use the app to discover information on public holidays, ideas for days out and more.