London's Underground — known simply as the Tube — is one of the world's oldest and most iconic metro systems. For tourists it can feel overwhelming at first: 272 stations, 11 lines, a confusing zone system, and rush-hour crowds that seasoned Londoners navigate on autopilot. This guide covers everything you need to get around London confidently, cheaply, and without the mistakes most first-time visitors make.
The Tube is divided into nine concentric zones, numbered 1 to 9. Central London — where almost every tourist attraction is — sits in Zones 1 and 2. Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6, and most people never travel beyond Zone 3 on a typical city break.
Fares are calculated based on how many zone boundaries you cross. A Zone 1–2 single journey costs around £2.80 with a contactless card (2026 prices). Crossing from Zone 1 to Zone 3 costs more. The good news: there is a daily cap. No matter how many journeys you make with contactless payment in a single day, you will never pay more than the equivalent of two peak-time Zone 1–2 return journeys. This makes the Tube surprisingly affordable for tourists who plan to make several trips in a day.
Weekly caps also apply from Monday to Sunday. If you are staying five or more days and travelling frequently, a 7-day Travelcard can work out cheaper than contactless tapping. Check the current prices on the Transport for London website before you travel, as fares are updated each January.
The cheapest way to pay is with a contactless debit or credit card — including Apple Pay and Google Pay — tapped directly on the yellow card readers at the barriers. This automatically applies daily and weekly caps and avoids any top-up hassle.
An Oyster card works the same way but needs to be loaded with credit at a Tube station, Oyster ticket machine or newsagent. It carries a £7 refundable deposit. If you are visiting for only a few days, a contactless card is simpler. If you want a souvenir or plan to share a card with a companion, an Oyster card is worth getting.
Cash is only accepted at the ticket offices (which are increasingly limited), not at the automated barriers. Buying single paper tickets at a machine costs nearly double the contactless price and should be avoided unless you have no alternative.
The Central line (red) runs east–west across the city and stops at Notting Hill Gate, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, St Paul's and Bank — covering shopping, markets, the cathedral and the financial district in a single straight line.
The Jubilee line (silver) links Westminster and London Bridge in four stops, letting you visit Parliament, Big Ben, the South Bank, Borough Market and the Shard with minimal effort.
The Circle line (yellow) loops around the city touching Paddington, King's Cross, Tower Hill (for the Tower of London) and Embankment. It no longer runs as a true circle — it now runs in a spiral — but it remains the easiest way to link the main terminus stations.
The Elizabeth line (purple), opened in 2022, runs from Reading and Heathrow through the West End and out to Essex. It is fast, air-conditioned, and step-free at most stations — making it the most comfortable line for passengers with heavy luggage arriving from Heathrow.
Peak hours are 07:30–09:30 and 16:30–19:00 on weekdays. Trains are crowded, platforms are packed, and some stations temporarily close their gates to manage passenger flow. If you can shift your sightseeing to start at 10:00 rather than 09:00, your commute will be dramatically more comfortable.
Weekends are much quieter, especially Sunday mornings, which are ideal for trips to markets like Borough or Columbia Road. Bank holidays run to a Sunday service schedule. The Tube runs all night on Fridays and Saturdays on selected lines (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Victoria, Piccadilly) — a boon if you are heading to a late-night show or want to reach the airport for an early departure without paying for a taxi.
Only about a quarter of Tube stations are step-free throughout. The Elizabeth line, Jubilee line south of Green Park, and several recently refurbished stations on the Victoria and Northern lines offer level boarding. The Transport for London map shows a wheelchair symbol at step-free stations.
If you use a wheelchair, travel with a pushchair or have mobility difficulties, plan your route using the TfL Journey Planner with the "step-free" filter enabled. Several central destinations — including Covent Garden and Knightsbridge — have no step-free access and are better served by bus on those occasions.
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With a contactless card or Oyster, a single Zone 1–2 journey costs around £2.80 in 2026. There are daily and weekly fare caps, so frequent travellers are protected from overpaying. Cash single tickets cost around £6.70 and should be avoided.
Yes. Any contactless Visa, Mastercard or Amex card, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, can be tapped at the yellow card readers at the barriers. The system automatically calculates the correct fare and applies daily and weekly caps.
The Elizabeth line runs directly from Heathrow to Paddington in about 25 minutes and costs around £12–£13. The Tube's Piccadilly line also serves Heathrow but is slower (around 50 minutes to central London) and cheaper at around £6. Taxis and the Heathrow Express are considerably more expensive.
No. The Tube is a turn-up-and-go service. Simply tap your contactless card or Oyster at the barrier and board any train. There is no advance booking or seat reservation.
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