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inner London:
1. know where you need to go on a regular basis and assess your travel needs accordingly - buy an oystercard (yes it really is the cheapest method) and if you can avoid the tube, do so at all costs - it must be the most expensive, non-service orientated travel arrangement in London
(great idea if it ever ran on time, without signal failures etc and up to £3.50 a single journey?!? for the 'comfort' of being 40feet underground in a smelly, dirty carriage with people close to you that you would never normally choose to come near to?!? sorry, off the point..)

2. busses actually do get you where you need to be in almost the same time in inner London, if you account for all the tube failures that occur on a regular basis (I've been happily living off a bus pass for 3 years now, and used the tube in emergencies or for longer distance, i.e. zones 4-6 travel only). make sure to download (yes, i know the site is unbearable, but it does help) bus maps from transport for london, so you know what your alternatives are if other busses take ages, don't turn up etc. most important: BE VERSATILE, and always have a plan B! (and don't get too stressed if neither works, it's London, you're gonna be late at some point).
4. also, walking, strangely enough, considering the traffic volume in this lovely city (it is!), actually gets you to most places in INNER london quicker than anything else - make sure you have an A-Z or a streetmap with you if you don't know the area though..

UK: depending on where you're going, check plane fares even if it seems ridiculous, you'll be surprised how much you can save with easyjet and ryanair compared to National Rail (another case of the above criticism!). also check car share availability and car rental (if you're a driver - easycar are usually quite affordable, just make sure you've got adequate insurance). if you have to do the rail thing regularly, even inside greater london (until oystercard takes over that part of rail travel), get a railcard, so at least you're eligible for discounts. also, booking long-distance travel as early as possible helps a lot.

anyway, ALWAYS check out the websites and compare prices, it makes such a difference!

(some of the ones mentioned are: www.easyjet.com; www.ryanair.com; www.tfl.gov.uk; www.nationalrail.co.uk and local train operators sites).

good luck!

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