It's the run-up to Christmas and that means parties, and with parties comes the inevitable question of how you are going to get home.

We have piled together a few apps from private drivers who can find you wherever you are, to live tube updates in case you fancy that final dash to the station.

Uber


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Uber is a great app when you need a taxi service but you've spent your cash on all those rounds. The app allows you to request a taxi, compare rates for different cars and get a quote so you'll not only know roughly what you are paying but you can opt to travel in style with Uber Lux, or with other people going the same way through Uber Pool.

The app will use your phone's location to pin point where you are or you can set your pick up location on a map and the driver will find you. You'll then see your driver's progress so you know how long you have to say your goodbyes.

When it comes to paying, that bit is nice and easy too. Add a card to your Uber account when you first set it up and you'll be charged automatically at the end of the journey so no need to stop at a cash point. You'll be emailed a receipt and you'll be able to view it in the app too.

Citymapper


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Citymapper is a fantastic app, taking into account all modes of transport in London, Birmingham or Manchester from Uber to national rail and cycle options. You can preset where home is so when you open the app, you can then just tap "Get Me Home" and Citymapper will give you the best options.

It's possible to change your preferences, such as choosing how long you are prepared to walk for and you can also set up notifications so the app will alert you when to get off the train at your stop.

Citymapper will find the best route home from wherever you are using your phone's location. It will show you how much an Uber might cost, how long it will take to walk, as well as provide you with various tube, rail and cycle options.

National Rail


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You might not fancy paying for a taxi to take you home, even if it is your preferred option, in which case you need to get on board with the National Rail app so you don't miss that last train.

Real time train information is available through the app, including any disruptions, and it allows you to re-plan your journey in case there are "leaves on the line".

The My Travel section lets you to save all your favourite journeys and stations enabling you to find out when your next train home is quickly and you can track the progress of any train. One of our favourite features on this app though is wake-up alerts. These make sure you don't miss your stop or get caught at the back end of the train when the front end divides and carries on.

Tube Map Live Underground


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If you happen to have left your party or evening out before the tubes stop, or your party is on a Friday or Saturday when one of the Night Tubes is running, the Tube Map Live Underground app is a great one to have on hand.

It will find your nearest tube station for when you are stuck in the middle of the road wondering where to go, and there is a route planner so you know which one of those coloured lines is the best to get you home.

You will also be able to pick up live departure and station information so you'll know exactly how long you have to sprint down those escalators before the doors slam shut.

London Travel - Bus & Tube


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If you'd prefer to ride home on the classic big red bus, the London Travel - Bus & Tube app is a good one to have as it covers both the bus and the tube. It uses live data from Transport for London and takes the Countdown bus information to make sure you know exactly when your next bus or tube is coming.

You'll have access to live bus departure boards and live arrivals for the tube and DLR service, plus there is journey planner integration so you can plan where you are going, how long it will take to get there, and what time you'll need to leave.

In the full version, you'll also get jam cams information and Santander Cycle Hire docking station statuses in case you suddenly decide that biking it home is the way forward.