London Underground : Tube train fares and guide (2008 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 (2008)
	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 (American English: subway trains) in London.
The system is known as either London Underground or the Tube.

The underground map is divided into zones: there are 6 main zones (zone 1 is central London, and zones 2-6 form rings around this, with zone 6 being the furthest from the centre). There are also four metropolitan zones beyond zone 6 (zones A, B, C and D) on the Metropolitan line. The cost of a journey depends on the zone in which you start and finish (you can make as many changes as you need along your route)

	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:
(1) Go to http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk and click on "Journey planner"
(2) Enter the day and time you want to travel, your starting point and destination
(3) Click on "More Options" at the bottom if you want to make some special requirements for the journeys
(4) Click on the "Submit" button
(5) The four fastest options will be shown. Click on "Show these route details" for full information.

Maps

Online maps of Tube stations: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/maps.
One of these maps shows only the Tube stations, while another also shows train and tram connections in central London.
You can obtain a free printed copy of the Tube map at an underground station or at a Travel Information Centre.

To see a street map of the area around an underground station, choose "Tube Map" from: http://www.multimap.com. Click on the part of the map in which the station is located to zoom into that area, then click on the station name.

To find out about bus, tram, river and DLR connections at each underground station, click on a station's name on the interactive map at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/interactive_journey.shtml

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.
Problems with the normal services are common. Planned engineering works are often carried out at weekends or on public holidays: replacement bus services should operate, but journey times may be much longer than normal.
For a map showing which Tube lines are having problems now, see: http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/im/RD-T.html.
For further information about services, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/service_rt_all.shtml.

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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).

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 normally 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 buses throughout London.

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) If you are from one of the countries listed below you can buy paper travel tickets before coming to London. You can buy tickets up to 90 days in advance. You need to allow at least 7 days for tickets to be posted to you. You can buy single journey tickets and 7-day travelcards - there are also 3-day peak and 3-day off-peak travelcards (for use only after 9:30am on three consecutive days). Children under 16 can get cheaper tickets.
Countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, United Kingdom, United States

(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 are from one of the countries listed below you can get an Oyster card before travelling to the UK. You do this using the Visit Britain Direct website: http://www.visitbritaindirect.com (you will need to register). You pay a card fee (non-refundable) and a postal charge as well as the cost of the pay-as-you-go credit added to the card. You pay in your own currency. You can only add pay-as-you-go credit in advance
Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

(4) 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 50p below the cost of a one-day travelcard (the peak or off-peak fare, depending on when you made your first journey).

When travelling on the Tube, 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 (in 2007 this is £4, or £5 at some train stations): 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 if you use an Oyster card
- you should automatically pay the cheapest fare if you make several Tube or bus journeys, even if you change your travel plans

Note that currently only a few of the National Rail stations in London accept Oyster cards. If you plan to use some local London train services as part of your journey it may be cheaper to buy a one-day travelcard (a paper ticket) from a ticket office, because these are valid on trains, bus or Tube services within the zones shown. There are plans to introduce Oyster card readers at all train stations in London in 2009.

Oyster card

Oyster card reader

TICKET PRICES (2008)

The tables below show a summary of the new London underground fares which will be introduced on 2 January 2008. Only adult fares which include zone 1 are shown (cheaper fares are available for children and for journeys which exclude zone 1). You can now also use Oystercard on the following "London Overground" train routes: Gospel Oak - Barking, Richmond - Stratford, Watford Junction - Euston, Willesden Junction - Clapham Junction. Zones A and B are now zone 7, zone C is now zone 8, and zone D is now zone 9.

Zones (#)	Cash single fares(*)	Oyster single fares Peak (off-peak **)	1 day Travelcard Peak (off-peak ***)	Oyster daily price cap Peak (off-peak ***) [railcard ###]
1	£4.00	£1.50 (£1.50)	£6.80 (£5.30)	£6.30 (£4.80) [£3.10]
1-2	£4.00	£2.00 (£1.50)	£6.80 (£5.30)	£6.30 (£4.80) [£3.10]
1-3	£4.00	£2.50 (£2.00)	£8.00 (£5.90)	£7.50 (£5.40) [£3.50]
1-4	£4.00	£2.50 (£2.00)	£9.40 (£5.90)	£8.90 (£5.40) [£3.50]
1-5	£4.00	£3.50 (£2.00)	£11.80 (£7.00)	£11.30 (£6.50) [£4.20]
1-6	£4.00	£3.50 (£2.00)	£13.80 (£7.00)	£13.30 (£6.50) [£4.20]
1-7	£5.50	£4.50 (£3.00)	£15.00 (£8.20)	£14.50 (£7.70) [£5.00]
1-8	£7.00	£5.50 (£3.00)	£15.00 (£8.20)	£14.50 (£7.70) [£5.00]
1-9	£7.00	£5.50 (£3.00)	£15.00 (£8.20)	£14.50 (£7.70) [£5.00]

Zones (#)	1 week Travelcard Adult (Student ##)	1 month Travelcard Adult (Student)	1 year Travelcard Adult (Student)
1	£24.20 (£16.90)	£93.00 (£64.90)	£968 (£676)
1-2	£24.20 (£16.90)	£93.00 (£64.90)	£968 (£676)
1-3	£28.40 (£19.80)	£109.10 (£76.10)	£1136 (£792)
1-4	£34.60 (£24.20)	£132.90 (£93.00)	£1384 (£968)
1-5	£41.40 (£28.90)	£159.00 (£111.00)	£1656 (£1156)
1-6	£44.60 (£31.20)	£171.30 (£119.90)	£1784 (£1248)
1-7	£48.00 (£33.50)	£184.40 (£128.70)	£1920 (£1340)
1-8	£56.00 (£39.10)	£215.10 (£150.20)	£2240 (£1564)
1-9	£65.00 (£45.40)	£249.60 (£174.40)	£2600 (£1816)

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 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 Young Persons 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 by about a third. A Young Persons 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 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 2008 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	£3.50	£1.00
1-9	£5.00	£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/tube/maps

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/tube/using/access.asp

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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 a Passenger Service Agent at the front of the train. 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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© UK Student Life 2002-2007

* Search this website (www.ukstudentlife.com) or the web: