For shorter distances, I prefer riding buses, which are cheaper and you have a free transfer for the next hour. So if I were to run some errands and make short stops, this would be a more economical option than taking the Tube. At 1.75 pounds a ride, it's cheaper than even the cheapest Tube ride outside the Heathrow freebie zone. The big downside is there is no air-conditioning, although most Tube lines also have the same problem.