The London Underground, also called the Underground or the Tube, is the rapid transit system serving Greater London and parts of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. Managed by Transport for London, it is a core part of public transport and city transport in the capital. The system began in 1863 with the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground passenger railway. Today it has 11 lines, 272 stations and about 250 miles (400 km) of track, carrying up to 5 million passenger journeys a day. Despite the name, only about 45% of the network is actually underground.
| Key | Information |
|---|---|
| System | London Underground, also known as the Tube |
| Operator | Transport for London |
| Opening date | 10 January 1863 |
| Lines | 11 |
| Stations | 272 |
| Network length | About 250 miles (400 km) |
| Daily ridership | Up to 5 million journeys |
| Annual ridership | 1.216 billion journeys in 2024/25 |
| Underground share | About 45% of the network |
| Famous design feature | The Tube map designed by Harry Beck in 1931 |
London Underground Map
Map of London Underground showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the London Underground map in PDF format.
London Underground Lines
The London Underground system has 11 lines and serves 272 stations across Greater London and nearby areas. For trip planning, a stations map or route plan is useful because the network is split into two main groups: sub-surface lines and deep-level tube lines.
The sub-surface lines are the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan. These routes run in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels and share tracks and stations in several places.
The deep-level tube lines are the Bakerloo, Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, and Waterloo & City. They use smaller trains running in circular tunnels, one for each direction.
Some routes overlap with other services. The Piccadilly line shares track with the District and Metropolitan lines in parts of west London, while the Bakerloo line shares its above-ground section north of Queen’s Park with the London Overground Lioness line.
The network is unevenly spread across the city. Most of it lies north of the River Thames, and only 33 Underground stations are south of the river.
- The network covers about 250 miles (400 km) of track.
- Many trains run at more than 40 mph outside central London.
- The Metropolitan line can reach 62 mph.
- The Waterloo & City line is the shortest, at 1.6 miles (2.5 km).
- The Central and Northern lines are among the longest routes.
Tube maps also show other transport services, including the DLR, London Overground, Thameslink, the Elizabeth line, and Tramlink. That makes the map useful not just for the Tube, but for local transport and transportation in London more broadly.
Important Stations
Some London stations stand out for design, history, or how well they connect the city. Blackfriars stretches across the Thames after its rebuild. Canary Wharf on the Jubilee line feels huge and futuristic. Southgate is known for its circular Art Deco form.
Others are memorable for different reasons. Liverpool Street has grand iron train sheds, while Fenchurch Street keeps its 19th-century frontage. Gants Hill is often noted for its vaulted interior. Even disused Crouch End still draws attention, with remains along the Parkland Walk.
For sightseeing, several stops are especially practical. Westminster, South Kensington, Tower Hill, Waterloo, Covent Garden, and London Bridge all place visitors near major attractions.
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Blackfriars | Rebuilt as a station bridge over the Thames |
| Canary Wharf | Large Jubilee line station with a futuristic feel |
| Southgate | Charles Holden design with a distinctive circular form |
| Liverpool Street | Known for vast wrought iron train sheds |
| Fenchurch Street | Notable for its historic frontage |
| Gants Hill | Admired for its vaulted interior and symmetry |
| Crouch End (disused) | Surviving station remains along the Parkland Walk |
These stations show that the Underground is more than a transport system. It is also a showcase of architecture and history.
Timetable & Operating Hours
London Tube operating hours vary by line and station, but the usual timetable runs from around 05:00 to around 00:00 Monday to Saturday, and from around 07:00 to around 23:00 on Sundays. On public and bank holidays, opening hours and service timings may change, often following a Sunday schedule.
Night Tube runs through the night on Fridays and Saturdays on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines. Waterloo & City operates Monday to Friday only.
For exact opening times, timings today, first train, last train, and closing time by station, TfL provides the relevant train schedule and route timetable for each line. Station opening hours can vary depending on the last train and when a station closes for the night.
| Service detail | Timings |
|---|---|
| General service, Monday to Saturday | Around 05:00 to around 00:00 |
| General service, Sunday | Around 07:00 to around 23:00 |
| Public and bank holidays | Modified timetable, often similar to Sunday service |
| Night Tube lines | Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria on Friday and Saturday nights |
| Waterloo & City | Monday to Friday only |
| TfL customer contact opening hours | Monday to Friday, 08:00-20:00; closed weekends and bank holidays |
If you need timetable help or live status information, TfL customer support is available.
- Call: 0343 222 1234
- Textphone: 0800 112 3456
- Opening times: Monday to Friday, 08:00-20:00
- Closed: Weekends and bank holidays
Fares, Tickets and Cards
London Tube fare, ticket price and total cost depend on the zones you travel through, the time of day, and how you pay. In most cases, Oyster and contactless are the easiest and cheapest options, while paper single tickets have the highest price.
Peak and off-peak times
Peak fares apply on weekdays, excluding public holidays, from 06:30 to 09:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00. Off-peak fares apply at all other times. If you travel from outside Zone 1 into Zone 1 between 16:00 and 19:00 on weekdays, off-peak fares apply.
All Tube and Elizabeth line journeys to or from Heathrow are charged peak fares if they start, end, or pass through Zone 1.
Night Tube and London Overground Night Service journeys are always charged at off-peak rates.
Tickets, Oyster and contactless
You can buy a paper ticket from station machines, but regular travellers usually save money with an Oyster card or a contactless payment card. Oyster can also hold Travelcards and season tickets. Both Oyster and contactless use pay as you go, with daily caps that limit cost.
Travelcards give unlimited travel within chosen zones. They are available as Anytime Day Travelcards and Off-peak Day Travelcards, as well as longer-duration options. If you are comparing options, TfL’s fare calculator and fare finder tools are the most useful starting point.
Children and discounts
Children under 11 travel free on the Tube and DLR when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Children aged 11 to 15 can get child-rate fares with the correct Oyster photocard or discount. There are also concessions for 16 to 17-year-olds, students aged 18 and over, apprentices, and eligible Jobcentre Plus customers.
Fares and caps
| Zone(s) | Single Journey Ticket – Cash | Oyster / Contactless Peak | Oyster / Contactless Off-peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | £7.00 (about $8.89) | £3.10 (about $3.94) | £3.00 (about $3.81) |
| Zone 1 & 2 | £7.00 (about $8.89) | £3.60 (about $4.57) | £3.10 (about $3.94) |
| Zone 1 to 3 | £7.00 (about $8.89) | £3.90 (about $4.95) | £3.30 (about $4.19) |
| Zone 1 to 4 | £7.00 (about $8.89) | £4.80 (about $6.10) | £3.60 (about $4.57) |
| Zone 1 to 5 | £7.00 (about $8.89) | £5.30 (about $6.73) | £3.80 (about $4.83) |
| Zone 1 to 6 | £7.00 (about $8.89) | £5.90 (about $7.49) | £4.00 (about $5.08) |
| Zone 2 to 6 | £7.00 (about $8.89) | £3.80 (about $4.83) | £2.60 (about $3.30) |
For Oyster and contactless users, daily and weekly caps apply. Travelcard prices rise as you add more zones. If you need a pass or day pass, zone choice matters.
Connections to Other Systems
The London Underground is tightly integrated with other parts of London public transport. It sits within the wider TfL system alongside London Overground, the Docklands Light Railway, buses, Tramlink, River Services, and the Elizabeth line.
Many Underground stations connect with London Overground, and these links appear on the Tube map. The Elizabeth line also connects at major hubs including Paddington, Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, and Canary Wharf.
National Rail connections matter too. Many central stations link directly with the Underground, while the Waterloo & City line gives a direct path train-style shuttle between Bank and Waterloo. Some Underground routes also share track or infrastructure with main line rail services, including parts of the District, Metropolitan, and Bakerloo lines.
Airport links are strongest at Heathrow, served directly by the Piccadilly line and the Elizabeth line. London City Airport connects through the DLR, while Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton depend on other rail services.
Oyster and contactless work across much of the TfL network, so changing between Tube, bus, tramway, and rail services is fairly straightforward.
Airport Connections
Use the TfL Go app or the Tube map to plan your route to and from London airports and rail stations. It is the simplest way to check the best route, train schedule, and schedule today before you travel.
London airports
London has six main airports, all linked by public transport.
Heathrow Airport
The Piccadilly line serves Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, 4 and 5, with a running time to central London of around 50 minutes.
The Elizabeth line also serves Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 and 4 every 15 minutes, and Heathrow T5 every 30 minutes. From Heathrow, journey times are about 28 minutes to Paddington, 39 minutes to Liverpool Street, 43 minutes to Reading, and 45 minutes to Canary Wharf, not including walking and interchange time.
Heathrow Express runs several non-stop trains each hour to and from Paddington. By road, National Express runs a regular service to and from Victoria Coach Station.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Express and Southern Railway run several trains each hour to and from London Victoria. Thameslink also runs several trains each hour to and from London Bridge, City Thameslink, Farringdon, and King’s Cross & St Pancras International.
Stansted Airport
Stansted Express runs several trains each hour to and from Liverpool Street. You can also connect with the Tube at Tottenham Hale. Abellio Greater Anglia also runs services to Liverpool Street and Stratford.
Luton Airport
A regular shuttle bus links Luton Airport with Luton Airport Parkway station. Thameslink and East Midlands Railway run frequent services to King’s Cross & St Pancras International, and Thameslink also serves London Bridge, Farringdon, City Thameslink, and Blackfriars several times an hour.
By road, Arriva runs Green Line route 757 to and from central London. National Express and Easybus run coach and bus services to and from Baker Street, while National Express also serves Golders Green, Finchley Road, Marble Arch, and Victoria.
London City Airport
The DLR runs to London City Airport every 10 minutes from Canary Wharf, with a journey time of 18 minutes, and from Bank, with a journey time of 22 minutes.
Southend Airport
Abellio Greater Anglia runs train services to Liverpool Street and Stratford.
Rail connections
You can reach several major rail stations in London from the UK and abroad. The eight main central London stations are Paddington, Euston, King’s Cross & St Pancras International, Charing Cross, Liverpool Street, Waterloo, London Bridge, and Victoria.
Best ways to pay
You can use contactless, Oyster, or a Visitor Oyster card to pay as you go to and from Heathrow on the Tube and Elizabeth line, Gatwick on Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink, and London City Airport on the DLR. Daily capping also applies when using pay as you go.
London Underground Parking
All-day station parking is available at Tube station car parks, and Blue Badge parking is free. Most car parks have CCTV and are managed by Saba UK.
A stations list of car park locations is available through Saba. Payment, including season tickets, is handled through PayByPhone via the app or by calling 0330 060 4252.
Parcel lockers are also available at more than 50 locations, mostly at station car parks, so passengers can collect orders during their journey.
Parking charges and parking charges per day are not listed in the draft, so check the operator before travel if station parking is part of your plan.
Rules and Tips
The Tube is easy to use once you know a few basics. Start with payment: Oyster and contactless are usually the cheapest options, and you should always tap in and tap out to avoid the maximum fare.
For route planning, TfL’s Journey Planner, TfL Go, and Citymapper can help you check the best route, station interchanges, and service updates.
On the network, keep to the usual etiquette. Stand on the right on escalators, let passengers off before boarding, and move down inside the carriage instead of blocking the doors. Stay behind the yellow line and listen for announcements.
If you can, avoid the busiest weekday rush periods. Trains are frequent, so there is rarely much point in running for one. If you have luggage, keep it close and use raised platform areas where available.
It also helps to know the basic working hours. Services generally start around 5am and run until about midnight, with reduced Sunday hours. Night Tube runs on selected lines on Friday and Saturday nights, so check the timetable in advance if you are travelling late.
For safe and more comfortable travel, check accessibility details before setting out, as not all stations are step-free. Free maps and guides from TfL can make the system much easier to navigate.
History
The history of the London Underground starts in the 19th century with the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground railway. It opened in 1863 with gas-lit wooden carriages hauled by steam locomotives. Later, it worked with the District Railway to complete the Circle line in 1884.
Both railways expanded widely. The Metropolitan line eventually reached Verney Junction in Buckinghamshire, more than 50 miles (80.5 km) from Baker Street. The first deep-level line, the City and South London Railway, opened in 1890 with electric trains. It was followed by the Waterloo & City Railway in 1898, the Central London Railway in 1900, and the Great Northern and City Railway in 1904.
In 1902, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London was formed to fund electrification and operate several tube lines. By 1907, the District and Metropolitan railways had electrified their underground sections. Joint marketing in the early 20th century helped create a single network identity, with UNDERGROUND signs outside central stations.
The First World War delayed expansion, and by 1915 stations were being used as shelters during Zeppelin raids. In 1933, the underground railways, trams, tramway services, and bus operators were merged into the London Passenger Transport Board. The 1930s New Works Programme then planned further upgrades and extensions. The Second World War interrupted part of that work, and stations again served as shelters.
After nationalisation in 1948, attention shifted toward the mainline railways. Later decades still brought major changes: the Victoria line opened between 1968 and 1971, the Northern City Line transferred to British Rail in 1976, and the Jubilee line opened in 1979 before its Docklands extension to Stratford in 1999.
In the early 1980s, fare zones were introduced, followed by Travelcard and Capitalcard. In the 21st century, the Underground was reorganised through a public-private partnership, and control passed to TfL in 2003. After the infrastructure companies failed financially, TfL took full responsibility by 2010.
More recently, the network has continued to modernise with new trains, upgraded stations, better accessibility, and major projects including the rebuilding of key stations and the opening of the Elizabeth line in 2022.
Future Extensions
London’s transport network keeps evolving, and Tube expansion remains part of that picture. The main proposal currently highlighted is the Bakerloo line extension.
Bakerloo line extension
The planned route would extend the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham via the Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate. A second phase beyond Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction is also under consideration, involving conversion of the National Rail line via Catford to Hayes into Underground operation.
If built, the extension would bring a frequent Tube service to southeast London, cut journey times, and improve links to central London. Plans include a new Bakerloo line ticket hall at Elephant and Castle, two proposed stations on the Old Kent Road, a new station at New Cross Gate, and improvements at Lewisham for easier interchange with National Rail, DLR and buses.
Consultation and safeguarding
TfL consulted on the project in 2014, 2017 and autumn 2019. The 2019 consultation gave more detail on the tunnel route, tunnelling worksites, and the possible further extension to Hayes and Beckenham Junction. Just under 9,000 responses were received, and most were positive or supportive.
The Secretary of State for Transport has issued directions to safeguard land needed for the extension. Safeguarding protects land from conflicting development, but it does not itself approve construction.
Next steps
A viable funding package is still needed before work can begin. TfL says it will continue discussions with the Government while staying realistic about what London can contribute.
Services
For live departures, route maps, timetable information and train status, TfL provides online tools and service updates across the Tube, DLR and Elizabeth line.
Contact us
Call 0343 222 1234 (charges may apply)
Textphone 0800 112 3456
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 08:00-20:00
Closed: Weekends and bank holidays
Live service updates
Check current Tube, DLR and Elizabeth line status for good service, delays, part closures and reduced service. Updates are refreshed regularly from TfL.
Frequently asked questions
- How often is London Tube status updated? Status data is fetched directly from the Transport for London API and refreshed every 60 seconds.
- What should I do if my tube line is suspended? Check disruption details for alternative routes. TfL usually provides replacement bus services or suggests nearby lines.
- Which London tube lines have the most delays? Historically, the District, Northern and Central lines tend to experience the most disruptions because of their length and age.
- What do the different status types mean? Good Service means trains are running normally. Minor Delays means short wait times. Severe Delays means major disruption. Part Suspended or Part Closure means sections are not running. Planned Closure means scheduled engineering work.
Nearby Attractions
The Tube is one of the easiest ways to reach London’s best-known sights. Many attractions sit in Zone 1, so one stop can often put you within walking distance of several landmarks, museums, shops, and riverside spots.
Popular attractions by Tube stop
- Victoria – Buckingham Palace
- Charing Cross – Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
- Leicester Square – film premieres, nightlife, and Chinatown access
- Covent Garden – theatre land, the Royal Opera House, and the London Transport Museum
- Tower Hill – the Tower of London, the Crown Jewels, and Yeoman Warder tours
- Westminster – Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
- Bank – the Bank of England and the Bank of England Museum
- London Bridge – the oldest crossing point on the River Thames on record
- Borough – one of London’s best-known food and drink markets
- King’s Cross St. Pancras – Platform 9¾ and the Harry Potter shop
- Bond Street – Oxford Street shopping and luxury boutiques
- Oxford Circus – Oxford Street shopping and Hamleys
- Hyde Park Corner – Hyde Park and nearby afternoon tea at The Dorchester
- Knightsbridge – Harrods
- St Paul’s – St Paul’s Cathedral
- Liverpool Street – Spitalfields Market
- Aldgate East – Brick Lane restaurants, bars, and coffee spots
- Baker Street – the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Madame Tussauds
- Barbican – the Barbican Centre
More central London highlights
- Westminster Station is a strong choice for Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament.
- South Kensington Station is the key stop for the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
- Embankment and Waterloo both work well for the London Eye and the South Bank.
- Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Covent Garden are close together and handy for the West End.
- Green Park is useful for Buckingham Palace and Green Park.
- London Bridge Station gives access to Borough Market, the Shard, and the south bank of the Thames.
If you are short on time, these stations make it easy to combine several attractions in one day, especially around Westminster, Trafalgar Square, South Kensington, and the Thames.