London Underground: all the practical information you need in 2025!

In this article, I present London Underground to help you find your way around the British capital!

Here you'll find

• An introduction to the London Underground and its main lines
• How it works
• How to use it easily
• Practical information: prices, opening hours, reservations
• And much more!

If you're looking for information about the London Underground, you'll love this article.

Follow the guide!

Metro London: article summary

London Underground: one of the largest networks in the world!

The London Underground is more commonly known as The Tube by Londoners. It's their favorite mode of transport, enabling them to move quickly from one part of the vast British capital to another.

When you come visit Londonyou'll definitely want to borrow it! Let me introduce you to it, so you don't get lost!

Introducing the London Underground

Plans to build an underground transport system in London date back to 1827, and the first station was inaugurated on January 10, 1863. This makes it the world's oldest subway!

To keep pace with the city's demographic growth and expansion, the metro has been expanded to include 11 lineswhich serve 272 stations in 2023. It's one of the most extensive networks, alongside those of Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing!

Subway stops are everywhere and easily identifiable, with a red logo in blue similar to a one-way street and the words underground (the other name for the Tube!).

Facts and anecdotes

• Every day, it is used by around 5 million passengersmaking it one of the busiest metros in the world
• Its network covers 400 km
• Despite its name, only 45 % metro stations are actually underground!
• The busiest station is Waterloowith over 85 million passengers / year
• In 2020/2021, the metro has welcomed more than 296 million passengers
• Some stations are decorated with superb works of art!

What are the London Underground lines?

The London Underground has 11 lineswhich serve the capital and the surrounding area. They are as follows:

• Line Bakerloo (Brown), from Harrow & Wealdstone to Elephant & Castle
• The line Central (Red) from West Ruislip to Epping
• The line Circle (Yellow), from Hammersmith to Edgware Road
• Line District (Green), to Upminster from Richmond, Wimbledon, Ealing Broadway, Kensington and Edgware Road
• Hammersmith & City (Rose), which runs between Hammersmith and Barking
• The line Jubilee (Grey), which runs from Stanmore to Stratford
• The line Metropolitan (Magenta), which runs between Aldgate and Uxbridge, Moor Park,Watford , Chesham and Amersham
• Line Northern (Black), from Morden to High Barnet, Mill Hill East and Edgware
• The line Piccadilly (Dark Blue) from Cockfosters to Heathrow and Uxbridge
• The line Victoria between Walthamstow Central and Brixton
• Waterloo & Cityfrom Waterloo stop to Bank

In addition to these 11 lines, there are two special lines: the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), originally designed to serve the docks, has 45 stations. And the London Overground which is similar to a TER network to get to the most remote neighborhoods.

It's vast! To help you find your way around, I'll explain how the London Underground works, and what makes it so special.

How does the London Underground system work?

London Underground operates with a zone systemThe tariffs vary according to the zone, but also according to the time of day. Here's what you need to know!

Zones

The London Underground network is divided into 9 zones. The two most useful are the 1 and 2over 90 % of tourist attractions.

Visit zone 6 is that of London's main airport.

Simply put, the more zones you cover, the more expensive your ticket. So it's important to know which zone you're going to when you buy your tickets.

Peak hours

In addition to zones, there are two price structures in this metro: peak and off-peak hours:

• Off-peak hours : a ticket that cannot be used before 9:30 a.m.
• Peak hours : a ticket that can be used even during rush hour

Of course, Peak tickets are more expensive than Peak-Off tickets.

Ticket prices

It's important to know that single ticket prices in London are very low. Travel starts at 4,90 £This can add up to a hefty bill for your stay. For example, a journey between zone 1 and zone 6 could cost you £14.90.

For this reason, you should opt for one of the following transport cards proposed below.

How do I buy a London Underground ticket?

You can easily buy your metro tickets in the stations, at the ticket office or at the automatic machines. But beware: it's often very busy in the busiest stations!

They are also on sale on the Internet, on the the TFL company (Transport for London) and in the city's stations.

Good to know You can also pay for your ticket with your Contactless CB directly on the transport entrance kiosks!

Which London Underground travel cards are right for you?

As I said, it's much better to opt for a travel card during your stay. You'll save both time and money.

Here are the 3 main options:

• The Oyster Card is London's official digital pass. It's a magnetic transport card that you simply load and beep at stations/on public transport. It can be booked online or purchased at automatic kiosks. It costs €5.70 + fare, with fares starting at £2.40/journey.
• The visitor Oyster Card is similar, but aimed at visitors. It also offers discounts on certain city attractions, and comes pre-loaded if you order it online!
• Travel Card, available in 1-day or 7-day versions. It allows unlimited use of transport in the zones selected. It's a paper card, with fares starting from £12.90 for 1 day in zone 1-2 and up to £64.20 for 7 days in zones 1-6. It's a great deal!

The choice will depend mainly on number of trips you plan to use the metro every day and the length of your stay.

The most practical for short stays is Oyster Card and saves 50 % compared with normal ticket purchases.

Is it possible to reach the city center from the airport by metro?

You can use the metro to reach downtown from the airport (and vice-versa) if you arrive at Heathrow airport. It is served (in around 45 minutes) by the Piccadilly line with 3 stops to reach the various terminals.

By contrast, the Gatwick is not served by the metro. You will have to take the Gatwick Express train to Victoria station.

For airports Luton and StanstedThere are no subways either, but trains make the journey to central stations.

What is the layout of the London Underground?

As soon as you arrive, you can purchase a subway map to help you find your way around the different stations.

Signs are very clear in the metro, with well-marked directions and traffic flow to avoid getting lost too easily.

Here is the overall plan, to give you an idea of the network:

London Underground: timetables, tips and practical information

Here's some information and advice on how to use the London Underground without stress.

Opening hours

On weekdays, the metro runs between 5 a.m. and midnightsometimes 1h on certain lines. On Fridays and Saturdays, the main lines (Central, Victoria, Jubilee, Piccadilly and Northern) operate 24 hours a day.

On Sundays, timetables are reduced on certain lines.

There are very little waiting between metros, with departures every 2 to 3 minutes.

Practical tips and information

• You can download the official application TFL Go for all timetables and easy route planning
• I advise you, if you can, to avoid rush hours because the trains are packed
• Please note the distance between the edge of the platform and the wagon when climbing: 20 cm between them!

What to do in London in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?

Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special London guide.

It's free and in PDF format.

All you have to do is tell me below which e-mail address you'd like to receive it at.

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Take the quiz at the top of this article and you'll be able to register your email address to receive the special London guide!