iOS travel guides help Olympic visitors navigate London

23.07.2012
The 2012 Olympics begin this week, and some might be lucky enough to have tickets to one of the many sports being contested by the 205 participating nations. With London hosting the 2012 games, seeing the Olympics in person means a trek to the United Kingdom's capital city.

Stepping off the plane at Heathrow and then navigating the sprawling city can be quite daunting to a weary traveller or newbie. Worry not: There are a number of iOS apps which will not only help you navigate London like a resident, but also ensure you have a good time on vacation.

London is an expansive city, and the best way to get around it conveniently is to use the . Typically, there are multiple tube lines depending on the location and direction in which you are travelling. It's pretty easy to get lost if you don't pay attention to the various maps outlining the city's 14 different routes.

This is where , a $1 iPhone and iPad app from really shines. Not only does app provide you with a map and the status of each line, it also lets you plan a journey, listing times and where you might need to swap lines. You can also search individual maps, check departure boards, and save your favorite journeys and destinations--pretty useful if you're trying to get back to your hotel each night. The app can also use your location to find the nearest station if you're lost.

While London Tube Deluxe is generally easy to use due to a simplistic user interface and each tab clearly stating what it's for, individual line maps could use a little work. Despite being searchable, if you were hoping to count the stops in between entering and leaving the Tube, the map doesn't fit on the screen in an easily readable way. Expect to do a lot of pinching and zooming.

London also provides a wide variety of historical landmarks and museums for you to visit. If you enjoy reading up on all the tourist attractions or just like being prepared, will prove somewhat useful.