London Underground

The London Underground, colloquially known as the Tube, is an excellent way to get around and explore the city. Although cheaper than taxis, it may not be the most economical mode of transport. Here are some tips on how to save money if you plan to use it frequently.

The London Metro, also known as the Underground, is operated by Transporte para Londres. The Underground serves approximately 2,990,000 passengers per day. It operates from 5am to 1.30am and the Thameslink service is available every night, providing a 24-hour service.

The London Underground includes the Docklands Light Rail (DLR), which has operated driverless trains since 1987. The DLR also allows passengers to walk between platforms. The Jubilee Line extension also has screen doors.

Unfortunately, the trains do not have air conditioning. The fare for the London Metro starts at 4.90 British Pounds (£).

Map of London Underground

Map of London Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the London Metro map in PDF format.

The London Underground, The Tube

London Underground’s extensive network covers almost the entire city, ensuring that a station is usually close to where you are or where you want to go. According to Wikipedia, it is the largest underground system in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, surpassed only by the colossal Asian metro systems in Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing. The Tube is also the oldest underground system in the world, having opened on 18 January 1863.

As well as Greater London, the London Underground also covers parts of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The Underground’s fare zone is made up of nine concentric zones starting from the historic city centre. Zones 1 and 2 cover the city centre and major tourist attractions, while Zone 6 covers the outskirts of the city, including Heathrow Airport. The 9-zone system includes the Underground, Overground and National Rail, while other public transport services only operate within Zones 1-6.

The London Underground consists of 13 lines (including the Docklands Light Railway, DLR) and 275 stations. Some lines, such as the Metropolitan, District, Circle and Hammersmith & City, run on the surface, while others, such as the Bakerloo, Central, Jubilee, Northern Piccadilly, Victoria, Waterloo and City lines, run entirely underground. Zones are further classified as eastbound, westbound, northbound or southbound for ease of navigation.

To help you plan your journey, we provide a free copy of the London Underground map and bus network on our website, so you can familiarise yourself with the routes before your trip to London.

Navigating the London Underground Video

Introduction

Detailed Information

London Underground Lines

Bakerloo Line

Shown as a brown line, the Bakerloo Line runs both above and below ground. It crosses London from north to south, serving 25 stations over 23.2 kilometres. Opened in 1906, the line carries over 100 million passengers a year.

Stations: Harrow & Wealdstone, Kenton, South Kenton, North Wembley, Wembley Central, Stonebridge Park, Harlesden, Willesden Junction, Kensal Green, Queen’s Park, Kilburn Park, Maida Vale, Warwick Avenue, Paddington, Edgware Road, Marylebone, Baker Street, Regent’s Park, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross, Embankment, Waterloo, Lambeth North, Elephant & Castle.

Central Line

The Central Line, inaugurated in 1900, spans forty-six miles, earning it the title of the longest line in the system, stretching from West Ruislip to Epping. It is one of only two lines that extend beyond the Greater London boundaries. This line includes forty-nine stations, with twenty located deep underground. On underground maps, the Central Line is marked with the color red. Starting from August 2016, the Central Line has offered a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays.

Stations: West Ruislip, Ruislip Gardens, South Ruislip, Northolt, Greenford, Perivale, Hanger Lane, Ealing Broadway, West Acton, North Acton, East Acton, White City, Shepherd’s Bush, Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate, Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Chancery Lane, St Paul’s, Bank, Liverpool Street, Bethnal Green, Mile End, Stratford, Leyton, Leytonstone, Snaresbrook, South Woodford, Woodford, Wanstead, Redbridge, Gant’s Hill, Newbury Park, Barkingside, Fairlop, Hainault, Grange Hill, Chigwell, Roding Valley, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Debden, Theydon Bois, Epping.

Circle Line

The Circle Line, shown in yellow, provides a circular route from Hammersmith to Edgware Road, with 36 stations over a distance of 27 kilometres.

Stations: Hammersmith, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush Market, Wood Lane, Latimer Road, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Royal Oak, Paddington, Bishop’s Road, Edgeware Road, Baker Street, Great Portland Street, Euston Square, King’s Cross / St Pancras, Farringdon- Barbican, Moorgate, Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Tower Hill, Monument, Cannon Street, Mansion House, Blackfriars, Temple, Embankment, Westminster, St James Park, Victoria, Sloan Square, South Kensington, Gloucester Road, High Street Kensington, Bayswater, Paddington, Praed Street.

District Line

The District Line, shown in green, stretches across Greater London from west to east, covering 64 kilometres and 60 stations. It carries more than 200 million passengers a year.

Stations: Richmond, Kew Gardens, Gunnersbury, Ealing Broadway, Ealing Common, Acton Town, Chiswick, Turnham Green, Stamford Brook, Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith, Baron’s Gate, West Kensington, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park, Southfields, East Putney, Putney Bridge, Parson’s Green, Fulham Broadway, West Brompton, Kensington, Olympia, Earl’s Court, High Street Kensington, Nottinghill Gate, Bayswater, Paddington, Praed Street, Edgware Road, Gloucester Road, South Kensington, Sloane Square, Victoria, St James Park, Westminster, Embankment, Temple, Blackfriars, Mansion House, Cannon Street, Monument, Tower Hill, Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Stepney Green, Mile End, Bow Road, Bromley By Bow, West Ham, Plaistow, Upton Park, East Ham, Barking, Upney, Beacontree, Degenham Heathway, Dagenham East, Elm Park, Hornchurch, Upminster Bridge, Upminster.

Hammersmith and city line

The Hammersmith and City Line was opened in 1864 and is sixteen and a half miles long.The line incorporates the first ever underground

Stations: Hammersmith, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush Market, Wood Lane, Latimer Road, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Royal Oak, Paddington, Bishop’s Road, Edgeware Road, Baker Street, Great Portland Street, Euston Square, King’s Cross / St Pancras, Farringdon, Barbican, Moorgate, Liverpool Street, Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Stepney Green, Mile End, Bow Road, Bromley By Bow, West Ham, Plaistow, Upton Park, East Ham, Barking.

Jubille line

The Jubilee Line was opened in 1979 making it the system’s newest line.It is twenty two and a half miles long and is served by twenty seven stations between Stanmore and Stratford, thirteen of which are situated underground at deep level.The line is signified by the colour silver on an underground map.

Stations: Stanmore, Canon’s Park, Queensbury, Kingsbury, Wembley Park, Neasden, Dollis Hill, Willesden Green, Kilburn, West Hampstead, Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage, St John’s Wood, Baker Street, Bond Street, Green Park, Westminster, Waterloo, Southwark, London Bridge, Bermondsey, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, North Greenwich, Canning Town, West Ham, Stratford.

Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is an operational light rail system that has been in service since 1987. It primarily covers the eastern part of London, serving key areas such as Docklands, Stratford, Lewisham, Tower Gateway, Beckton, the business district, London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal. The DLR has 7 lines and 45 stations.

Stations include: Bank, Tower Gateway, Shadwell, Limehouse, Westferry, Poplar, West India Quay, Canary Wharf, Heron Quays, South Quay, Crossharbour, Mudchute, Island Gardens, Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich, Greenwich, Deptford Bridge, Elverson Road, Lewisham, All Saints, Langdon Park, Devons Road, Bow Church, Pudding Mill Lane, Stratford, Blackwall, East India, Canning Town, Royal Victoria, Custom House for ExCeL Prince Regent, Royal Albert, Beckton Park, Cyprus, Gallions Reach, Beckton, West Silvertown, Pontoon Dock, London City Airport, King George V and Woolwich Arsenal.

London Underground: Operation Hours, Schedule, and Frequency

The London Underground typically operates from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. from Monday to Saturday. The service is reduced on Sundays, with operations starting from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The frequency varies depending on the line, ranging from 2-5 minutes to 5-10 minutes. There is a different schedule during rush hours and normal hours. Rush hours are considered from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. During the Underground’s non-operational hours, night buses provide transportation services.

Click here to view the Tube schedule

Click here for Tube fares

Click here to plan your journey on the Tube

Fares and Tickets

Single tickets on the London Underground are expensive. If you intend to use the service frequently, it is recommended that you buy a Travelcard or Oyster card. For example, in central London (zones 1 and 2), a single journey using a single ticket costs significantly more than using an Oyster card. It appears that London Underground encourages the use of these cards, as information on single ticket prices is difficult to find on their official website.

The term “child” refers to persons between the ages of 5 and 15. Children under 11 also travel free on all buses.

The pricing strategy appears to discourage the use of single tickets to encourage the use of Oyster and contactless cards and Travelcards. These cards not only offer a discounted fare, but also eliminate the need to queue to buy tickets. In addition to these benefits, Oyster and Travelcards can be used on a range of transport modes including buses, Underground, trains and DLR.

Discounts and free travel are available for children, students, the elderly and the disabled.

Card Types

Using cards on the London Underground is a great way to save money compared to buying individual tickets. In addition to contactless cards, there are two types of card:

• Travelcard (paper tickets)
• Oyster card (smart card)
• Contactless payment cards

Oyster Card

Oyster Cards are electronic cards that can be used on a wide range of transport services in London, including the Underground, DLR, trams, buses, Thames Clippers (river boat), Emirates Airline cable car and almost all National Rail services. The Oyster card offers significant discounts on every journey, making it a financially sound choice given the high cost of transport in London.

Using the card is as simple as swiping it through the yellow reader at any entrance or exit barrier.

It’s important to validate the card again at the exit so that the system can calculate the fare for your journey. If you fail to do this, you will be charged the maximum fare. A journey on the Underground may involve several changes of train, but it counts as a single journey from the time you first validate your ticket/card at the entrance to the time you validate it again at the exit.

Oyster cards are prepaid cards that never expire. They are designed for unlimited use. The London Underground system calculates the number of journeys you have made within a 24 hour period from 4.30am and applies the cheapest fare, ensuring you never pay more than if you were using a 1-day travelcard. This is known as ‘daily capping’. You can even load Travelcards onto your Oyster card.

Oyster cards can be purchased and topped up at any tube station. They require a £5 deposit, which is refunded when you return the card.

Travelcard

Travelcards are paper cards or passes that are sold at a fixed price and allow unlimited travel during their period of validity. There are daily, monthly, weekly and annual cards. The price varies according to the number of zones covered. In addition to the Tube, these cards can be used on buses, DLR, trams and selected Overground trains. They can be loaded onto standard Oyster cards but not onto Visitor Oyster cards.

In addition to adult and child travelcards, you can choose between:

• Anytime Day Travelcard: Valid at any time of the day until 4.30am the following day.
• Off Peak Day Travelcard: Valid from 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. They are valid until 4.30am the following day.
• 7-day travel pass: These are weekly tickets that can be used at any time during the week.

Contactless Cards

Contactless cards are not exclusive to the London Underground. They are ordinary credit or debit cards that support contactless payment technology. The total cost of all your journeys in a day is calculated at the end of the day and a single charge is made to your card account. This card is used in the same way as the Oyster card, by swiping it over the yellow readers on the Tube gates. Paying with a contactless card on the London Underground has the same ‘daily capping’ benefit as Oyster cards. There is also a ‘weekly capping’ benefit, but it works differently to Oyster cards. To use the weekly spending limit with Oyster cards, the 7-day period can start on any day of the week. For contactless cards, the first day is always Monday.

Visitor Oyster Card

The Visitor Oyster Card is a special type of Oyster Card designed for tourists. It is promoted as the cheapest way for visitors to get around London. It is valid on buses, underground, trams, DLR, Overground and rail services within London. It also offers discounts on river and cable car services. These cards can be topped up at any Underground station, Oyster Ticket Stop or Travel Information Centre and their credit never expires. Visitor Oyster Cards can only be purchased by adults.

The advantage of the Visitor Oyster is that you can buy it online and have it delivered to your home. The disadvantage is that they cannot be loaded with Travelcards valid for more than one day. In reality, it is usually cheaper to buy a regular Oyster card, especially for stays longer than 3-4 days.

Up to 4 children under 11 can travel free on the Tube, DLR and Overground when accompanied by an adult holding a Visitor Oyster Card. If you are travelling in a group, you must inform staff.

Travelling with Children

5-10 and 11-15 Zip Oyster Photocards

Children under 11 can travel for free on the Tube, DLR, Overground, Rail Tfl and some National Rail services with a 5-10 Zip Oyster Photocard when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Free travel on buses and trams does not require a ticket. For those aged 10-16, an Oyster Photocard is required for free travel on buses and trams and concessionary travel on the Underground, DLR, Overground, Rail and most National Rail services in London. These fares are £0.8 during rush hour and £0.75 during normal hours when travelling between zones 1 and 6.

16+ Zip Oyster Photocard

There is also an Oyster Photocard for 16-18 year olds, which allows them to buy weekly, monthly or annual travelcards with concessionary fares, as well as bus and tram passes. They can also use Oyster in pay-as-you-go mode with a 50% discount on adult fares on buses, Tube, trams, Overground, DLR, Rail Tfl and almost all national rail services in London.

There is a special rate for students aged 16 to 18 living in London’s outer boroughs, which allows them to travel for free on buses and trams.

You can apply online for Oyster Photocards. All you need is a postal address, a credit or debit card with a minimum balance of £10 and a recent photograph. You can pick this up later at Travel Information Centres with proof of identity (passport, ID card, birth certificate, etc. original documents).

If you are visiting London with children aged 11-15 and do not have time to apply for Oyster Photocards, you can still apply for the Young Visitor Discount in Pay-as-you-Go mode. This gives you a 50% discount on adult fares on a normal Oyster or Visitor Oyster for a maximum of 14 days. It is valid for 1 day on buses, tube, trams, DLR, Overground, TfL rail and most national rail services. After 14 days the discount expires and normal fares apply. This concession can be claimed at Zone 1 stations, Heathrow, Visitor and Travel Information Centres and Victoria Station.

Seniors and Retirees

There are no special rates for pensioners visiting London. However, if you live in London and are over 60, you can apply for a Freedom Pass or Oyster ID Card 60+, which gives you free travel on the Underground and buses. You can apply online or pick up a form at any post office.

Group Tickets

1-Day Travelcards are available for groups of 10 or more travellers. They provide unlimited travel during normal working hours for zones 1-6 and 1-9 after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day on weekends and public holidays.

Where to Buy an Oyster Card

You can buy Travelcards, Oyster cards and group tickets at any London Underground station. Credit and debit cards as well as cash are accepted. There are also ticket vending machines (ATMs) where you can purchase them. Day travelcards and group tickets can be purchased 7 days in advance. Weekly, monthly or yearly Travelcards can be purchased up to 30 days in advance. However, 1-Day Travelcards and Group Tickets must be purchased on the day of use at automated ticket machines. Travelcards for over a week can be purchased 4 days in advance.

The Visitor Oyster is available online and from ticket offices at Gatwick Express at Gatwick Airport and Victoria Station.

London Underground Tips

The London Underground is well signposted and easy to use. However, before you board, check the destination on the front of the train to make sure it’s correct.

Always buy and validate your ticket or card. The fine for not doing so is £80.

The London Underground is not the most accessible in the world. Many stations have no escalators or lifts, and there are often crowds, especially at peak times. Therefore, if you are visiting for sightseeing, try to avoid using the Tube between 7:30 and 10:00 and 16:30 and 19:00. As a general rule, when on escalators, keep to the right. Although efforts are being made to make the network accessible to disabled people, there is often a gap when boarding trains. All trains have priority seating for disabled passengers. Many trains have designated wheelchair spaces. Tube staff are also available to assist people in need.

On the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), all stations have lifts or ramps to the platforms. Platforms are level with trains wherever possible to make access easier.