London Underground : Tube train fares and guide (2010 ticket prices)

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< Up	Travel / Transport / London / Underground
Using London Underground (the Tube)


Sections:	Introduction
	Planning your journey
	Tickets
	Oyster card
	Ticket prices (2010)
	Group travel
	Tube etiquette
	Access for disabled
	DLR (Docklands Light Railway)
	Further information
	Links

INTRODUCTION

This page provides basic information about using the underground trains in London. The system is known as either London Underground or the Tube.
The underground map is divided into zones: there are 9 zones (zone 1 is central London, and zones 2-9 form rings around this). The cost of a journey depends on the zones through which you travel.

The Tube is run by Transport for London (TfL), which is also responsible for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR - an overground light railway in East London), London Buses, Tramlink (a tram system near Croydon, in south London) and London Overground (part of the overground train system in London).

	London all-on-one [Tube, bus and walking map for central London] Publisher: Quickmap Ltd Date: February 2005		London tube and walk [Tube and walking/sightseeing map for central London] Publisher: Quickmap Ltd Date: July 2004
	London Bus & Underground [Tube and bus maps for central London] Publisher: Berlitz Publishing Date: May 2006		London: By Tube [explore London's tourist attractions by Tube] Author: Matthew Tanner, Joss Waterfall Publisher: Navigator Guides Date: July 2005

PLANNING YOUR JOURNEY

Journey planning

To plan a journey by Tube, bus or train within London, use Transport for London's Journey Planner: http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
Enter your starting point and destination the day and approximate time you want to travel, then click on the "Search" button.
You can use the "Advanced Options" at the bottom if you want to make some special requirements for the journeys.

Maps

Online maps of Tube stations: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1106.aspx.
You can obtain a free printed copy of the Tube map at an underground station or at a Travel Information Centre.

To find out about train connections with the Tube, see the "London Connections" map on the Network Rail website:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/maps/network_rail_maps.htm
You can obtain a free printed "London Connections" map from major train stations in London.

Service problems

It is wise to check if there are problems with Tube services before you travel, especially if it is important to arrive on time.
Planned engineering works are often carried out at weekends or on public holidays: replacement bus services should be available, but journey times may be much longer than normal.
For live travel news on the Tube, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/default.html
If you select a date you can see a map and details of planned engineering works on that day.

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TICKETS

Tickets can be bought from ticket machines or ticket offices at bus or underground stations, or sometimes from some local shops such as newsagents (to find your nearest local ticket agents, see: http://www.tfl-ticketlocator.co.uk). Note that it is cheaper and more convenient to use an electronic card called an Oyster card (for details, see: below).

You must buy a ticket before you travel which is valid for your whole journey, or you will have to pay a penalty. If you have a travelcard which only covers travel in certain zones, you need to buy a ticket extension before travelling (otherwise you will need to pay a fine). For example, the Tube stations at Heathrow are in zone 6, so if you have a zones 1-4 travelcard you will also need to buy a single ticket for travel through two zones (zones 5 and 6). If your travelcard is on an Oystercard the cost of the extension will be taken from the pay-as-you-go credit on your card, but only if you have enough credit remaining.

You must buy an adult ticket if you are 18 years old or over. You can pay a lower child fare if you are between the ages of 5 and 15 (you will need an Under 16 Oyster photocard) and there is also a special fare if you are 16-17 (you will need a 16-17 Oyster photocard). Children under 5 can travel free. If you are a student and are studying in London you may be able to get a discount if you apply for a special student photocard (for details, see: Travel/Transport/London/Guide).

A single Tube ticket will allow you to make one journey on the underground, changing as many times as you need. If you are using a paper ticket this will be kept by the gate when you leave the underground.

A travelcard allows you to use Tube, DLR, Tramlink and rail services (excluding the Heathrow Express) in the chosen zones, as well as all bus services run by Transport for London (this includes most local services within zones 1-6).

A one-day travelcard is valid only on the day you buy it. The cards are cheaper if you travel off-peak (after 9:30am on weekdays, but any time at the weekend or on a public holiday), or if you do not travel in zone 1. The cost depends on the number of zones you want to travel through.

A period travelcard is a season ticket which allows you to travel at any time of day for a week or a month or longer. It is cheaper than buying separate one-day travelcards tickets every day, and there are no restrictions about the time of day when you travel.

Tourists coming to London: buying travel tickets

The following are the main options for someone who is coming to London for a short visit:

(1) You may be able to buy paper travel tickets or a Visitor Oyster card before coming to London, from an agent in your own country. For details about Visitor Oyster cards see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/visitortickets/5185.aspx

(2) You can get an Oyster card after you have arrived in London, at an underground station's ticket office or at a London Travel Information Centre (note that you cannot buy them at a train station's ticket office). You pay a deposit of 3 pounds for the card. You will need either to add some credit to your card, and top up your credit when you need, or perhaps you may choose to add a 1-week travelcard for the zones which you will be using each day. If you don't get an Oyster card you will need to pay more expensive fares for single journeys or one-day travelcards. Note that your deposit can be refunded (together with any remaining cash balance, up to a maximum of 10 pounds) if you hand in the Oyster card when you leave - you will only be paid back in cash if you paid for the card and credit using cash.

(3) If you have a friend who has been to London you can borrow his/her Oyster card. Note that you can only borrow a standard adult Oyster card (one which does not contain a photo).

If you are staying in central London for a week or more you may find it cheapest to buy a 7-day zones 1-2 travelcard (if you travel outside zones 1 and 2 you can use pay-as-you-go credit on an Oyster card or you can buy a paper extension ticket from a ticket office before you start your journey). For stays of less than a week the cheapest option is usually to use pay-as-you-go with an Oyster card.

Heathrow Airport is in zone 6, so to get from here to central London you may want to buy either a single ticket or a zones 1-6 one-day travelcard (or you can use a faster but more expensive train service). London City Airport is in zone 3 (near a DLR station). London's other airports are outside the London transport area.

Student visitors aged 18 or over pay the normal adult fares (student discounts are only for those who are studying in London and who have obtained the appropriate photocard). Children under 16 (or those aged 16 or 17 who have previously obtained a 16-17 Oyster photocard) can buy cheaper cash fares and travelcards. Children under 11 can travel free on the Tube and DLR.

OYSTER CARD

Instead of a paper ticket it is now cheaper and more convenient to use an electronic ticket called an Oyster card. You can get one by completing a form and paying a small charge (£3 in 2007).

You can put credit onto your card: this is known as Oyster pay-as-you-go. The cost of each journey you make is automatically deducted from your pay-as-you-go balance when you exit the Tube system. If you have made several journeys on the same day, the amount you pay is capped at the cost of a one-day travelcard (the peak or off-peak fare, depending on when you made your first journey) [up to January 2010 the cap is 50p less than the cost of a travelcard].

When travelling on the Tube, DLR, London Overground or National Rail services in London you must place your Oyster card on the reader both at the start and end of each journey. You must put the card on the reader even if the ticket gate is open (gates are left open when there are not enough staff at the station, for safety reasons). If a member of staff allows you through the special wide gate (for people who have luggage or who cannot use the automatic gates for some reason), remember to place your card on the reader on the other side of this gate. There are a few stations at which there is no barrier: at these stations you still need to find the card reader and place your card on it. If you do not place your card on the reader at the end of your journey your card will be charged the highest possible cash fare for your journey: this will be shown as an Entry Charge. If you do not place your card on the reader at the start of your journey you may have to pay a fine (or you could be prosecuted if it is believed that you are trying to avoid paying).

If you have a period travelcard, you can travel as often as you wish within the zones covered, but you still need to put your card on the reader at the start and end of all journeys. If you travel outside your normal zones your pre-pay balance is used to pay for extensions.

You can top up the credit on your Oyster card and check the balance remaining (or see what amounts have been charged) in the following ways:
- by placing it on the Oyster card reader on one of the ticket machines in a Tube station (when you are adding credit, you must finish by placing your Oyster card on the reader a second time)
- by asking at the ticket office of a Tube station
- by going to the Oyster card website: http://www.oystercard.com. If you have a credit or debit card you can arrange for your card to be topped up automatically every time that the balance falls below a certain level

The advantages of having an Oyster card are:
- you save time, because you do not need to queue to buy tickets each time you want to travel
- it is simpler
- fares are cheaper, and you should automatically pay the cheapest fare if you make several journeys on the same day

From 2 January 2010 nearly all of the National Rail stations in London will accept Oyster cards (previously it was only accepted at a limited number of stations on some routes). On the new routes which are accepting Oyster the fares will depend on the zones through which you travel, but the fares charged (known as National Rail pay-as-you-go fares) may be different from the fares for similar journeys on the Tube (TfL fares). For some journeys it may be cheaper to continue to use paper tickets on the train (for example if you hold a railcard or are travelling as a group, or if you travel at certain times), so you may want to compare the prices before you travel [from 2 January 2010 you will be able to compare prices using this link: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/farefinder].

At a few stations, normally where you can change between London Overground and Tube lines, there are special Oyster card readers which are pink instead of yellow. These are known as Oyster route validators. When you change at one of these stations you should put your Oyster card on the pink reader - this identifies which route you have taken, so that you pay the correct fare.

Oyster card

Oyster card reader

Oyster route validator

TICKET PRICES (2010)

The tables below show a summary of the London underground fares which were introduced on 2 January 2010. Only adult fares which include zone 1 are shown (cheaper fares are available for children and for journeys which exclude zone 1).

Some of the main changes are:
- The Oyster daily price cap will increase by 50p, so that it will cost the same as a paper Travelcard
- Oyster pay-as-you-go can be used on National Rail routes within London, although the fares will not be the same: there will be National Rail pay-as-you-go fares as well as the existing TfL fares
- There will be new Combined TfL/National fares, which apply when you travel on both National Rail and TfL services on the same day

Zones (#)	Cash single fares(*)	Oyster single fares Peak (off-peak **)	1 day Travelcard / Oyster daily price cap Peak (off-peak ***) [railcard ###]
1	£4.00	£1.80 (£1.80)	£7.20 (£5.60) [5.00]
1-2	£4.00	£2.30 (£1.80)	£7.20 (£5.60) [5.00]
1-3	£4.00	£2.70 (£2.40)	£8.60 (£6.30) [5.00]
1-4	£4.00	£3.10 (£2.40)	£10.00 (£6.30) [5.00]
1-5	£4.50	£3.80 (£2.40)	£12.60 (£7.50) [5.00]
1-6	£4.50	£4.20 (£2.40)	£14.80 (£7.50) [5.00]
1-7	£5.50	£4.70 (£3.40)	£16.20 (£9.00) [5.90]
1-8	£7.00	£6.00 (£3.40)	£16.20 (£9.00) [5.90]
1-9	£7.00	£6.00 (£3.40)	£16.20 (£9.00) [5.90]

Zones (#)	1 week Travelcard Adult (Student ##)	1 month Travelcard Adult (Student)	1 year Travelcard Adult (Student)
1	£25.80 (£18.00)	£99.10 (£69.20)	£1032 (£720)
1-2	£25.80 (£18.00)	£99.10 (£69.20)	£1032 (£720)
1-3	£30.20 (£21.10)	£116.00 (£81.10)	£1208 (£844)
1-4	£36.80 (£25.70)	£141.40 (£98.70)	£1472 (£1028)
1-5	£44.00 (£30.80)	£169.00 (£118.30)	£1760 (£1232)
1-6	£47.60 (£33.30)	£182.80 (£127.90)	£1904 (£1332)
1-7	£50.80 (£35.50)	£195.10 (£136.40)	£2032 (£1420)
1-8	£59.40 (£41.50)	£228.10 (£159.40)	£2376 (£1660)
1-9	£67.70 (£47.30)	£260.00 (£181.70)	£2708 (£1896)

Notes:

* Different cash single fares apply on London Overground services.
** These off-peak single fares are for London Underground journeys made using an Oyster card which are completed before 7am or started after 7pm on a weekday, or which are made at any time on Saturday, Sunday or on a Bank Holiday. For London Overground services between Watford Junction and Euston the peak fares apply to journeys starting between 7:00am-9:30am (Monday-Friday) for journeys towards Euston, and to journeys starting between 4pm-7pm (Monday-Friday) for journeys away from Euston.
*** Off-peak Travelcards can only be used after 9:30am on Monday-Friday, or any time on Saturday, Sunday or on a Bank Holiday. The Oyster daily price cap is the maximum you will pay if you use your Oyster card to make journeys during the day.

# Cheaper fares are available if you don't need to travel through zone 1 (the cost depends on the number of zones through which you need to travel), or if you are a child, 16-17 or a senior citizen.
## If you have a Student Oyster Photocard you can buy travelcards for 1 week or longer at a cheaper price. These cost about 30% less than the equivalent adult prices (there are no special student discounts for single or 1-day tickets). Note that these are only available to people over 18 who are studying in London and requires a special card (you cannot get a discount with an ISIC or NUS card). For details of how to apply for a Student Oyster Photocard, see: Travel/Transport/London/Guide.
### If you have a National Rail Railcard (a 16-25 Railcard or a Disabled Persons/HM Forces/Senior Railcard) and you register this Railcard on your Oyster card (by showing it at the ticket office of a Tube station), your Oyster daily off-peak cap is reduced. A 16-25 Railcard can be bought by anyone aged 16-25 or by any full-time student (even if you are aged 26 or over), and this railcard also allows you to get a third off off-peak travel on the UK train system. The daily price cap is not reduced if any of your travel is during peak times. For more details, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/singlefares/6769.aspx

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GROUP TRAVEL

Groups of 10 or more people travelling together can buy a Tube and DLR and London Overground Group Day Ticket. There is a lower price for members of the group who are under 18 (they can travel at the child rate without needing a photocard).
For details, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/oneand3daytickets/2906.aspx
If you are organising travel on the Tube with a large group may wish to contact the station supervisor at the starting station before travelling.

The 2010 prices for group travel are as follows:

Zones (#)	Tube and DLR Group Day Ticket Adult	Tube and DLR Group Day Ticket Under 18
1-6	£3.70	£1.00
1-9 (plus Watford Junction)	£5.30	£1.50

Groups of children from London schools may be able to apply for the School Party Travel Scheme. This allows free travel on Tube, DLR, bus, tram and National Rail services (within Greater London only) to visit places of educational and cultural interest, provided that this trip supports teaching as part of the National Curriculum. For details, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/schoolparty

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TUBE ETIQUETTE

Below are some rules about correct behaviour when using the Tube in London:

- If you are lost or waiting for someone, stand to one side or next to a wall - try not to get in people's way, especially near the top of escalators or near ticket barriers

- Stand on the right on escalators (moving stairs). People who are in a hurry walk up the left side, and they will be annoyed if you are standing there.

- When the Tube train arrives stand to the side of the doors to let people get off the train easily. Get on the train only when all passengers who want to get off have done this.

- Wait for the next train if the doors on a train are about to close when you arrive on the platform. Never hold the Tube doors open - it is dangerous and causes delays.

- When you get into a crowded lift or train, move inside as far as you can, so that other people can easily get on behind you. Don't lean against the doors: this may stop the train from moving.

- If you have large bags, get on the train using the double doors in the centre of a carriage, no the single door at the front or back of a carriage. Make sure that your bags do not get in the way of other passengers.

- Offer to give up your seat if you see someone who needs to sit down - for example, someone who is old, disabled, pregnant or who has young children. These people may need a seat close to the doors.

- Try not to eat while on the train, especially hot food or anything which gives off smells.

- Smoking is illegal everywhere on the Tube (for safety reasons).

- You are not allowed to drink alcohol on the Tube. Throw away any opened cans or bottles of alcohol before you try to enter a station.

- Take any rubbish with you when you leave the train (you can put it in a bin when you are outside again). For security reasons there are no litter bins in underground stations.

- Do not take a photograph using flash while you are on the platform. If a train is coming the driver will be temporarily blinded by the flash, and this may affect safety.

- Always respect the Tube's members of staff. Remember that it is not their fault if there are delays or problems.

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ACCESS FOR DISABLED

A special version of the London underground map is available called the "Tube access guide", which can help people in a wheelchair to plan a Tube journey avoiding stairs and escalators. "Large print" versions of bus and underground maps are available for people who have poor vision. See: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1106.aspx

Ask at your nearest Tube station or Travel Information Centre or call London Travel Information on (020) 7222 1234 to request free printed copies of these maps or booklets.

The Journey Planner described above allows you to plan journeys which avoid stairs, escalators or lifts, or which need wheelchair accessible vehicles (to select these requirements, click on "More Options").

The most accessible parts of the system are the newer lines: the Jubilee line east of Westminster and the DLR. For these stations you can use lifts to travel from the street to the platform, and there is level access from the platform onto the train. The trains have space for a wheelchair user. If possible it is recommended to avoid the morning and evening rush hours on weekdays, eg 7:30-9am and 5-6:30pm.

Wheelchair users should use the
wide access gates

Getting on a Tube train
at an accessible station

There is space for a wheelchair
near the double-doors

At Heathrow (both the Tube and Heathrow Express platforms) there are special gates which are designed to stop people from trying to take luggage trolleys out of the airport and onto the trains. Unfortunately these also prevent wheelchair access, so you will need to ask a member of staff for help to unlock the barrier and let you pass.

Ask a member of staff to unlock
barriers at Heathrow

If you need help on the Tube you can speak to a member of London Underground staff or press the Information button on the Help Point on the platform. Someone can help you to get onto a train or can meet your train to help you get off or change lines. Travel in the front carriage (nearest to the driver), so that the driver can see you getting on and off and so that an assistant knows where to meet you.

Help Points are available
on the platforms

Press the Information button
to speak to a member of staff

A member of Tube staff
providing assistance

For further information about the accessibility of London Underground services, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1167.aspx

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DLR (DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY)

Docklands Light Rail (DLR) is a train service in east London. There is no driver, but there is sometimes a Passenger Service Agent at the front of the train.

If you are using Oyster pay-as-you-go you must remember to "touch in" at the start of your journeys and to "touch out" at the end - there are no barriers at most of the stations, so you need to use one of the Oyster card readers which is on or near the platform [if you forget your statement may show an "incomplete journey" and you will be charged extra].

For more information, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/dlr

The DLR is accessible for wheelchair
users: use the lifts to get between
platforms or to reach the exit

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you need further information about London Underground services, try one of the following:
- the London Underground website: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube.
- the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) website: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/dlr
- telephone London Travel Information on (020) 7222 1234 (this service is available 24 hours a day).
- ask at a Travel Information Centre (these are located in some of the busiest stations in central London)

The Knowledge of London website includes a page of information about the history of some of London's Tube stations: http://knowledgeoflondon.com/tube.html

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LINKS

London buses and trams: Travel/Transport/London/Buses
Guide to London transport: Travel/Transport/London/Guide

Air travel and airports: Travel/Transport/Air
Driving a car: Travel/Transport/Car.htm.
Taxis: Travel/Transport/Taxi
Railways: Travel/Transport/Train

Home page: Home

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