Movement across London is shaped by distance, class, and infrastructure. While the city is physically connected, access is uneven. The River Thames acts as a major divider, with crossings limited to bridges and ferries. Travel is constant, but not equal—those with wealth move freely, while others are restricted by cost, safety, and social barriers.
Most common form of movement
Free, but limited by distance, safety, and class boundaries
Primary method for lower and working classes
Faster and more flexible
Typically hired or owned
Used by middle class and above
Cost
Short trip → 2s–5s
Longer movement → 5s–10s
Fastest land movement
Associated with status
Either hired or privately owned
Cost
Hire → 10s–£1 per journey
Private → owned (with ongoing staff cost)
Used to bypass land congestion
Common for working class and trade
Cost
Ferry crossing → 1p–6p
Private boat → 2s–10s
Connects: Royal Grounds / Belgravia → Southwark
Controlled, quieter, cleaner
Used by elite and officials
Connects: City of London → Bankside
Most active crossing point
Heavy daily traffic
Connects: East End → South Docks / East Southwark
Rougher, less controlled
Used by workers and trade
Spread along river
Less safe but more flexible
Heavily used by lower classes
Royal Grounds ↔ Kensington → 10–20 min
Kensington ↔ Mayfair → 15–25 min
Mayfair ↔ Soho → 10–15 min
Soho ↔ City → 15–20 min
City ↔ East End → 20–30 min
City ↔ Bankside → 10–15 min
Westminster ↔ Southwark → 15–20 min
East End ↔ South Docks → 20–30 min
Southwark ↔ South London → 20–30 min
South London ↔ Slums → 30–45 min
Southwark ↔ New Works → 15–25 min
Southwark ↔ East Southwark → 10–15 min
City ↔ North Docks → 15–25 min
East End ↔ North Docks → 10–20 min
South Docks ↔ East Southwark → 10–15 min
Royal Grounds ↔ Westminster Estates → 30–60 min
Mayfair ↔ Estates → 45–75 min
(~50% of walking time)
Mayfair ↔ City → 10–15 min
City ↔ East End → 10–15 min
Southwark ↔ Slums → 15–20 min
Mayfair ↔ Estates → 20–30 min
(~30–40% of walking time)
Mayfair ↔ City → ~10 min
City ↔ Docks → 10–15 min
Mayfair ↔ Kensington → 10–15 min
Central ↔ South London → 15–25 min
West ↔ East Thames → 15–25 min
City ↔ Docks → 10–15 min
South ↔ North crossings → 5–10 min
Slums
Walking only
Ferry occasionally (1p–2p)
Working Districts
Walking primary
Horse rare (2s–5s)
Ferry common
Southwark / East / Docks
Walking + ferry
Horse occasionally
City
Horse standard
Carriage common
Kensington / Belgravia
Horse + carriage normal
Mayfair / Royal
Private carriage expected
Travel cost irrelevant
Lower classes avoid elite districts
Elite rarely enter lower districts
Some crossings monitored or controlled
Safety varies heavily by area
Same district → 5–10 minutes
Adjacent districts → 10–20 minutes
Cross city → 20–40 minutes
Edge to edge → 45–90 minutes