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:london calling With the London Olympics now underway travel writer, Victoria Ugarte offers some helpful tips in avoiding traffic congestion and the unpredictable weather the nation is infamous for YOU'VE BEEN SAVING FOR months or maybe even years for this moment. To be in the throng of the 2012 Olympic Games; supporting your country and experiencing the finest London has to offer. However, if you're not prepared you're likely to encounter a mountain of stress as hundreds of thousands of people descend on the city's transportation services. Add to that the unpredictable weather the area is famous for, and you've got a recipe for chaos. Visitors and locals alike are cautioned to seriously reconsider driving in central London, around the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and Games venues. However, while London roads and public transport will experience extreme levels of congestion, there are ways to make travel in London less stressful. Record numbers from all over the world continue to pour into London's Heathrow, Europe's largest airport. As athletes, coaches, officials, and members of the media touch down in London the airport will handle some 236,955 passengers, breaking the previous daily record of 233,562 set in July 2011. As some 1,000 volunteers, dressed in bright pink attire, enthusiastically greet arrivals, hundreds of immigration agents are hard at work, ensuring that the lines at customs flow smoothly. With an increased police and sniffer dog presence, London's Heathrow appears to be coping well with its first influx of Olympic passengers. However, travelling on public transport will be a different story during the 2012 Olympics. London is a thriving metropolis that boasts the largest urban area in the European Union. To service the needs of the local population, and indeed the thousands of travellers who descend upon its shores every year, it has developed a very extensive and efficient public and private transport network over the years. However, there will be an extra four million visitors descending upon London all throughout the period of the 2012 Games. That's an extra 50% on top of its 7.5 million population. Travelling on public transport in London during the Games will be far from a pleasant experience. The best thing that anyone can do at this busy time is to be smart and get creative in finding ways to go against the flow of bodies. Work out when the peak times are in London's public transport system and avoid them. Go sightseeing or enjoy a drink and dinner after hours instead of fighting the crowds in the Tube between 5.00-7.00 p.m. 14 | www.hermagazine.co.nz Here are more handy hints for avoiding London public transport stress: - Don't even think of driving. You'll spend hours sitting in traffic as congested London roads turn into virtual car parks. - Walk to your destination instead of catching the Tube if the distances are not great. London is a city made for walking, and you get to enjoy fresh air and the sights while you're at it. Maps that feature easy walking distances between destinations are now being handed out at mainline stations. - Take advantage of the best London transport apps around to help you navigate London. 'Tube Map Pro' is the best Tube app for an overview of the entire transport network, and your best option for getting from one point to the other. 'London Bus Checker' by FatAttitude lets you see what bus you need to catch in real time, and will even alert you when your stop is approaching after you've gotten on. 'Citymapper - London Transport' will show you a list of all your transport options, including cost and how long your journey will take, after you enter the start and end location of your journey. London Calling