Trains & London Underground

London train journeys

Information on London’s underground tube network can be found at tfl.gov.uk. Train timetables from London to the rest of the UK can be found at nationalrail.co.uk.

We also have our own map of London’s train stations.

London Underground lines

London has the oldest and largest tube train network of any major city, operating 12 lines through miles of underground tunnels. Its 500 trains cover 260 stations.

They operate from 5.30AM Monday to Saturday, and 7AM on Sundays. The last one leaves between 11.30PM and 12.30AM, depending on when and where you’re going.

How to read the tube map
Each underground line has its own special colour, which is shown in the chart.

Train stations which serve only one of the lines are shown by a little stub protruding from the line. For example, Covent Garden – which serves the Piccadilly line.

Stations which serve two lines at once are said to be interchanges, and are shown by a large white circle. For example, Blackfriars – which serves the Circle and District lines.

Stations which also serve mainline (above-ground) trains are accompanied by a little red rail symbol. For example, Charing Cross.

Suburban trains to London

The two main suburban rail services from Central London are Silverlink and Thames Link.

Silverlink runs from Richmond and North Woolwich in the southeast to Hampstead, Camden and Islington in the north. You can find out more by telephoning 0845 601 4867, or visiting their website at silverlink-trains.com.

Thameslink runs from London Bridge to Luton, via King’s Cross in the north. You can find out more by telephoning 0845 748 4950, or visiting their website at thameslink.co.uk.

Docklands Light Railway

The driverless Docklands Light Railway (DLR) runs from Bank and Tower Hill to Beckton in the west, linking the City with Docklands.

It is basically the same as the Underground, but travels on rails above the road. It operates between 5.30AM and 12.30AM Monday to Saturday, and from 7AM to 11PM on Sundays.

Telephone 0207 363 9700, or visit tfl.gov.uk/dlr for more details.

Train station information

Get information about a particular station:

Or plan a journey between two different stations:

Or find the closest stations to a particular place:

Train fares in central London

The London Underground is divided into six concentric zones, with the City itself as number one. The closer you get to the centre, the higher the fare.

If you plan to cross several zones throughout the day, then you might be better off with a travelcard. These can be bought from ticket machines in the station, or from newsagents up above. You will most likely find that they will be placed on an Oyster Card, regardless of whether you have an Oyster Card account.

Oyster travel cards

An Oyster Card is different from a normal train ticket in that it can be topped up wherever you like. It also stays valid forever. You can therefore fill it up with money at the start of your holiday and use it wherever and whenever you like, topping it up with money as you go.

All you have to do is touch it against the yellow reader on top of a gate, or at the front of any bus, and it will let you through to the other side. Any remaining credit should be listed on a small screen nearby. You must remember, however, to touch the card down when you leave the Underground too – or you may be overcharged.

But the main advantage to buying an Oyster card is in its reduced fares. It will also automatically total up your daily journeys and not go above the cost of a travel card. So you can blithely travel around the city without caring to much about your expenses. As soon as you reach the magic travelcard figure, the machines will stop deducting money from your account.

Travel Information Centres

Underground Travel Information Centre are few and far between, operating only at the mainline train stations. You can find them at Euston, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, St. James’s Park and Victoria. There is also one at each of Heathrow’s four main terminals.

Tips for travelling on the Tube

Tourists and first-time travellers will likely be unaware of the various rules and regulations, so here is a little list to get you by:

1. If you’re carrying bulky items and can’t fit through the barrier, show your ticket to the member of staff standing by a wide gate at the side. He will let you through.
2. Always stand on the right-hand side of escalators. The left-hand side is reserved for people in a rush, and if you block the passage you will likely get shouted out.
3. Let people off the train before you get on. People rarely queue, so it’s one for all and all for one after that.
4. Don’t take too much luggage on the tube, and don’t assume that you will get a seat – it’s often crowded. During rush hour you may be standing cheek-to-cheek.

Left-luggage, and baggage lockers

Although the mainline stations all provide left-luggage facilities, you may be surprised to find a dearth of baggage lockers. These were removed in the eighties and nineties due to the terrorist threat.

If you need a temporary place to stow your kit, then you could try the Excess Baggage company. You can contact them on 0800 783 1085, or visit their website at excessbaggage.co.uk