London Underground offers different zones to its users.
To find you, I've decided today to write a full article on the subject.
Here we go!
London Underground zones: article summary
London Underground zones: at a glance
London's travel zones are separated, with zone 1 in the city center and zone 9 on the outskirts of the city.
Transport for London (TfL) determines a customer's journey distance and charges appropriately. As most of London's main attractions and the city center are located in zone 1, most visitors won't need to venture outside.
For those traveling far afield, it's crucial to consider the number of London zones you'll be crossing, as this will influence the ticket you need.
What are London's 6 main zones?
Rail transport in London is divided into 9 main zones, managed by London Transport.
Six London fare zones are assigned to each station in the London Underground, London Overground, National Rail, TfL Rail and Docklands Light Railway zones.
The central core region is covered by tariff zone 1, while tariff zones 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are essentially concentric circles around zone 1.
- Zone 1: Central London including Big Ben and Tower of London
- Zone 2: Notting Hill, Camden TownLondon Zoo and two soccer stadiums
- Zone 3: Kew Gardens, Wimbledon and London City Airport
- Zone 4: Wembley, RAF Museum, Richmond Park
- Zone 5: Twickenham, England Rugby Union
- Zone 6: End of line for Central, District, Thameslink, Heathrow Express, Elizabeth, Metropolitan, Overground and Piccadilly
London Underground zones: types of transport
London is a huge city with a wide range of transport options, where anyone can travel on a budget and in comfort.
The city provides London transport via :
With its many options, you can travel comfortably around London.
How do I pay on London's transport network?
Although London's transport system is among the best in the world, a newcomer to the city might find it a little difficult to get around.
Fortunately, there are three main payment methods available to you:
- the Oyster card
- debit or credit card
- Apple or Google Pay
It's extremely important to remember that everyone needs their own means of payment.
London Underground zones: Apple Pay or Google Pay
Apple Pay or Google Pay are the most preferred options in our article on how to pay for public transport in London zones 1 to 6.
With the exception of using your phone, this payment option is essentially the same as contactless.
The Oyster Card
These handy little maps make navigating the city easier when it comes to working out how to pay for public transport in London zones 1 to 6.
You can buy them at the airport, at several train stations and at many convenience stores in the city. You can top up your Oyster card as many times as you need, and they only cost 5 pounds each.
Contactless payment
Contactless payment is available for those with a credit or debit card that accepts contactless payments.
How can I save money on travel?
The main advantage of the London Travel Card is that it is accepted on buses throughout London, regardless of the zones you buy in.
Buying a weekly or monthly Travelcard that excludes London zone 1, but includes zone 2 is a smart money-saving solution if you live in zones 2 to 6 and need to travel to zone 1.
You'll only save money if you use a weekly or monthly Travelcard.
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.
EDIT: you can't enter your email?
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!
Leave a Reply