How to Use the London Underground: A Guide to the Tube
How to Use the London Underground: A complete guide to the Tube for first-time visitors
Are you a first time visitor and wondering how to use the London Underground?
The London Underground is the oldest metro/subway in the world, but of course we don't call it that. We call it the Underground, and more affectionately, the Tube.
Opened in 1863, and at 402 kilometers in length, the London Underground is the world's second longest. The Tube is the most efficient way of navigating the city, taking you from one side to the other in as little as 30 minutes. Much of London's main tourist attractions are clustered together in Zone's 1 and 2 (more on that later), making journey times even shorter.
Below is my complete guide on how to use the London Underground. You will find a lot of information, but don't let it phase you, you'll get the hang of it!
Why Use the London Underground?
The London Underground is the fastest and most convenient way to travel around the city for both tourists and locals.
1. Fast and Efficient Travel
With trains running every few minutes, the Tube allows you to reach your destination quickly, avoiding the everlasting traffic congestion above ground. Many journeys across central London take just 10-20 minutes, compared to much longer travel times by bus or taxi.
2. Connecting all of London
The Tube connects almost every corner of the city, from Heathrow Airport in the west to Stratford in the east, and from Hampstead in the north to Wimbledon in the south. There are 272 stations across 11 lines, you’re never far from an Underground station. You can even hop on the Tube in some areas outside of London, such as Upminster in Essex and Chorleywood in Hertfordshire.
3. Cost-Effective and Easy Payment
Compared to taxis or private car hire, the London Underground is one of the most budget-friendly ways to explore the city. The best way to pay is by using contactless payment or an Oyster Card, the daily fare cap ensures you won’t pay more than a set amount each day, no matter how much you travel.
4. Avoid London’s Heavy Traffic
London’s roads can be incredibly congested, especially during rush hour. The Tube allows you to bypass the traffic and reach your destination in good time.
5. Ideal for Tourists
Many of London’s top attractions such as Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, Tower of London, and Covent Garden are just a short Tube ride away. Stations like Westminster, Tower Hill, and South Kensington are conveniently located near major landmarks, making sightseeing easy peasy!
6. Frequent and Reliable Service
Trains operate from early morning until midnight, with Night Tube services on some lines during weekends. You’ll rarely have to wait more than a few minutes for a train, even during off-peak hours.
7. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly
Using public transport like the London Underground significantly reduces your carbon footprint compared to taxis or private cars.
How to use the London Underground: Understanding maps and lines
The London Underground is colour-coded and consists of 11 lines:
- Central Line (Red): Runs from west to east, covering major locations like Oxford Circus and Bank.
- Northern Line (Black): Has two branches through central London, serving Camden Town, London Bridge, and Waterloo.
- Piccadilly Line (Dark Blue): Ideal for tourists, running from Heathrow Airport to central locations like Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
- Victoria Line (Light Blue): A fast line connecting King’s Cross, Oxford Circus, and Victoria Station.
- District Line (Green): Serves Westminster, Tower Hill, and Wimbledon, with multiple branches.
- Circle Line (Yellow): Loops around central London, connecting key attractions.
- Bakerloo Line (Brown): Connects Paddington, Baker Street, and Waterloo.
- Jubilee Line (Silver/Grey): Great for tourists, connecting Westminster, London Bridge, and Canary Wharf.
- Hammersmith & City Line (Pink): Serves Paddington, King’s Cross, and Liverpool Street.
- Metropolitan Line (Magenta): Runs further out to Watford and Uxbridge.
- Waterloo & City Line (Turquoise): Shortest line, connecting Waterloo and Bank.
Which Lines Are Best for Tourists?
- The Piccadilly Line is one of the most used tourist lines on the London Underground. It stops off at South Kensington (great if you love museums), Hyde Park, Picadilly,, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, and up to King's Cross.
- The Circle Line and District Line are great for sightseeing, covering Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, embankment, and Tower Bridge.
- The Victoria Line is ideal for quick travel across central London, especially if you are taking a day trip from London as Victoria Bus Station is where many coach trips depart from.
- King's Cross St Pancras is the most major terminus in London, serving National Rail lines all over the country, as well as the Eurostar to Paris. From here you can connect to several London Underground lines such as the circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Piccadilly, Northern, and Victoria Line.
How Much Does the London Underground Cost? (2025)
London Underground Pricing
Fares depend on the number of zones travelled, the majority of tourist attractions are within Zones 1-2, please note the daily cap is slightly higher if you travel further out.
- Single journey (Zone 1-2): £2.80 with Oyster/contactless, or £6.70 with cash.
- Daily cap: £8.90 (Zone 1-2), meaning you won’t be charged more in a day. Make sure to use the same card for payment (contactless) to make the most of the cap.
- Weekly cap: £44.70 for unlimited travel in Zone 1-2.
How to Pay for the London Underground
- Contactless (Best option for visitors): Tap your debit/credit card at the gate.
- Oyster Card: Prepaid travel card offering discounted fares.
- Travelcard: Paper ticket for unlimited travel within selected zones.
- Cash tickets: Available but significantly more expensive.
How to Navigate the London Underground
- Plan Your Route: Use apps like Citymapper or Google Maps to check live updates. You can also use the TFL website to plan your journey.
- Follow the Signs: Each station has clear signs indicating lines, directions, and platforms.
- Use the Right Entrance: Some large stations (e.g., King’s Cross, Oxford Circus) have multiple entrances/exits.
- Look at the Line Map: Trains often have different branches, always check if your train is heading to the correct destination. Each station has overhead digital boards that tell you which train is arriving first and where it terminates.
- Some lines board from the same platform (many stations on the Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City Lines run on the same line in certain places) so you must make sure the train you are getting on is the correct one, it will tell you on the side of the train.
Understanding Platforms and Branches
- Platforms are marked with the direction and final destination of trains.
- Some lines (e.g., Northern Line) have multiple branches, check the digital boards to confirm your route.
- Underground lines are marked as either eastbound or westbound, or northbound or southbound. You must check the map to make sure you are on the right platform, you will find maps on the walls on the platform (on the other side of the track). The station you are at will show at the top of the map, and the stations below show the direction the train will be travelling in, please check your station is listed - if not, you need to swap platforms.
- Peak hours (7:30-9:30 AM, 5:00-7:00 PM) can be extremely crowded, so allow extra time.
Is the Underground the only option to travel London by train?
No! The London Underground is not the only train transport system in London. There is also the Overground, the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), and the Elizabeth Line. They are all overseen by TFL (Transport for London.
Each different system has its own symbol as you can see in the below image. The London Underground logo is a red circle with a blue strip through the middle, National Rail is a red rectangle with a white railway symbol, the DLR is a turquoise circle with a blue strip through the middle, and the Overground is the same but an orange circle., the Elizabeth Line is purple.
What are the different TFL networks?
The Overground
The London Overground is a suburban rail network that connects London and its surrounding areas. The Overground serves many suburban areas and avoids most of central London.
There is no difference in fares in the Zones between the Underground and Overground, just think of it as another underground line with a more structured timetable.
The Overground is included in the TFL daily fare cap.
The DLR
The Docklands Light Railway, more commonly known as the DLR is a driverless train serving East London and Southeast London. The DLR links up to the London Underground at some major Tube stations such as Bank, Tower Gateway (Tower Hill) and Canary Wharf.
The DLR is less used by tourists but is the main access point to London City Airport, London's smallest airport, as well as Canary Wharf (the major financial district in London).
The DLR is included in the TFL daily fare cap.
The Elizabeth Line
Most people are surprised that the Elizabeth Line is not technically part of the London Underground, this is because the line passes straight through central London, with much of this part underground.
The Elizabeth Line is the newest addition to the London transport system as offers a quick and cheap route from London Heathrow into central London. The line stretches all the way from Reading in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the East.
In central London the Elizabeth Line stops at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, and Liverpool Street.
The Elizabeth Line is included in the TFL daily fare cap and interchanges with the tube stations in central London.
Is the London Underground wheelchair friendly?
Whilst many London Underground stations are accessible to wheelchair users, there is unfortunately still a portion of stations that are not. If you area wheelchair user or have mobility issues and wondering how to use the London Underground, keep reading!
The trains themselves are all wheelchair accessible.
To identify which stations are accessible, check the Tube map. The map shows which Underground, Overground and DLR stations are step-free by displaying a blue wheelchair symbol.
Some stations have a slight step off the train, these stations show a white wheelchair symbol, at these stations a ramp needs to be used to exit or board the train. You can ask station staff to arrange this for you.
If a station offers no accessible way to reach the platform, staff will help you to plan an alternative step-free journey to your destination.
If there isn't a reasonable alternative route, TFL will book you an accessible taxi at their cost to the nearest available accessible point.
You can find full accessibility guides to the Tube here.
Whilst improvements have been made to the network's accessibility, it is important to remember the London Underground is the oldest system of its kind in the world and not all stations have elevators installed in them yet. The network is constantly working to improve this.
Final Tips on how to use the London Underground:
✔️ Avoid Peak Times – Travel after 9:30 AM for a less crowded experience.
✔️ Stand on the Right – When using escalators, stand on the right and let people pass on the left.
✔️ Stand behind the yellow line – Trains enter the platform quickly, passengers must stand behind the yellow line for the purpose of their own safety. There have been instances children's pushchairs have been blown over when a train is entering the station.
✔️ Mind the Gap – Be cautious when stepping between the train and platform, you would be surprised the amount of people that still slip between the two.
✔️ Use Mobile Apps – TfL Go, Google Maps, or Citymapper will help plan routes easily.
✔️ Tap In & Tap Out – Always touch your Oyster/contactless card at the gates, or you’ll be overcharged, some stations have no gate and it's easy to forget to do this, especially if you are transferring straight onto a National Rail line.
