Good news if you’re coming to the UK for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and are baulking at the cost of data roaming.
Transport for London with Virgin Media have activated the first WiFi hotspots at London Underground stations, connecting from station level to platform level.
The first stations that will have WiFi are:
- Oxford Circus
- Stratford,
- Liverpool Street
- Leicester Square
- King’s Cross
In the initial period through the Olympic Games, access to the hotspots will be free. Beyond the games, travel information will be free, but access to other services will cost.
Due to the sheer engineering challenge and cost, WiFi on moving Underground isn’t possible. Therefore to get your WiFi fix, you’ll need to browse at the station
Towards the end of July, the following stations are line for WiFi to be installed. Note that the majority are within the Zone 1 area, with odd areas selected in London 2012 critical area.
- Aldgate East
- Elephant & Castle
- London Bridge
- St Paul’s
- Angel
- Embankment
- Manor House
- Stepney Green
- Archway
- Euston
- Mansion House
- Stockwell
- Arsenal
- Euston Square
- Marble Arch
- Stratford
- Barbican
- Finsbury Park
- Marylebone
- Swiss Cottage
- Bayswater
- Goodge Street
- Mile End
- Temple
- Bermondsey
- Green Park
- North Greenwich
- Tottenham Hale
- Bethnal Green
- Hammersmith (District/Piccadilly Line)
- Old Street
- Tower Hill
- Blackhorse Road
- Heathrow T1-3
- Oval
- Tufnell Park
- Borough
- Heathrow T4
- Oxford Circus
- Vauxhall
- Brixton
- High Street Kensington
- Paddington (Main Line)
- Victoria
- Caledonian Road
- Highbury & Islington
- Piccadilly Circus
- Walthamstow Central
- Camden Town
- Holborn
- Pimlico
- Warren Street
- Canada Water
- Holland Park
- Queensway
- Warwick Avenue
- Canary Wharf
- Hyde Park Corner
- Regents Park
- Waterloo
- Canning Town
- Kentish Town
- Seven Sisters
- Wembley Central
- Chancery Lane
- Kings Cross/St Pancras
- Southfields
- Wembley Park
- Charing Cross
- Lambeth North
- Southwark
- West Ham
- Clapham North
- Lancaster Gate
- St James Park
- Wimbledon Park
- Covent Garden
- Leicester Square
- St Johns Wood
- Westminster
- Edgware Road (Circle Line)
- Liverpool Street
Interestingly, Heathrow T1/T3 and Heathrow T4 will have WiFi installed by not Heathrow T5.
The BBC also has coverage on the first rollouts at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18282417