Do I need to tap out on the London Underground?

Yes — on the Tube, Overground, DLR and Elizabeth Line you must tap BOTH in and out at the yellow card readers. Forgetting to tap out results in the maximum fare being charged (£8,90 or more). On buses, you only tap in.

How do I get from Heathrow Airport to London city centre?

The Elizabeth Line is the best option: 35 minutes to Paddington, £14,60 contactless, every 5–10 minutes. The Piccadilly Line is cheaper (£5,90) but takes 50 minutes. The Heathrow Express is fastest (15 minutes) but costs from £10 (advance) to £26 (walk-up).

Should I buy an Oyster Card or use my contactless bank card in London?

Use your contactless bank card or Apple/Google Pay — it gives the same fares as an Oyster Card (£3,10 per trip, capped at £8,90/day in Zones 1–2) without the £7 deposit. Only get an Oyster Card if your bank card doesn't support contactless payment.

Are paper Travelcards worth buying in London?

No. A paper Travelcard for Zones 1–2 costs £16,60 per day — nearly double the £8,90 daily cap you automatically get with contactless payment. Paper Travelcards are not recommended for tourists.

What is the fine for not tapping in or out in London?

The penalty fare for travelling without a valid ticket in London is £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

Are children allowed to travel free on London public transport?

Yes. Children aged 0–10 travel free with an adult (up to 4 children per adult). Children aged 11–15 can get a 50% discount with an Oyster Zip Card, though this requires an online application with a photo at least 2 weeks in advance.

Is there a Night Tube in London?

Yes, but only on Friday and Saturday nights. Five lines run all night: Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly (including Heathrow), and Victoria. Night buses (N-prefix) run every night. Your regular contactless card or day pass is valid on all night services.

How much does it cost to get from Gatwick Airport to London?

The Thameslink train from Gatwick to London Bridge or St Pancras costs £13–20 and takes 30–45 minutes, running every 15 minutes. Contactless payment works. This is cheaper than the Gatwick Express and almost as fast.

Public Transport in London: Apps, Tickets & Tips 2026

Q: What is the daily fare cap for London public transport in 2026?

With contactless payment (bank card or phone), the automatic daily cap is £8,90 for Zones 1–2. Once you reach this amount, all subsequent trips that day are free. There is also a weekly cap (Monday–Sunday) of £44,70. Always use the same card or phone to benefit from capping.

Last updated: 2 March 2026
#2 most visited city in Europe

London has one of the most extensive public transport networks in the world (Tube, Overground, buses, DLR, trams) managed by Transport for London (TfL). Contactless payment works perfectly — simply using your bank card or Apple Pay is the easiest way to travel.

iOS: TfL Go | Android: TfL Go

Essential Info at a Glance

Main App TfL Go / Contactless card / Apple Pay Multiple people No: 1 person per card/phone. Children need an Oyster with a young person's discount. Check-in/validate NFC Tap at yellow card readers (in AND out!) Offline available No (contactless requires internet connection for calculation) Payment methods Contactless bank card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Oyster Card Add to Wallet Yes (Express Mode on iPhone works without unlocking) Fine for not validating £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days) Night transport after 01:00 Yes, Night Tube (Friday/Saturday) and Night Buses Exit scan required? YES! Always tap in AND out, otherwise maximum fare Ticket activation needed? No (automatic upon tap) Real-time info Yes (in TfL Go app & digital boards at stations)

Key Pitfalls

1. Automatic Daily & Weekly Capping! London has the smartest system: with contactless payment you pay a maximum of £8,90 per day (Zones 1-2). There's also weekly capping (Mon-Sun) for £44,70. The system automatically calculates the cheapest price!

2. ALWAYS tap in and out! Forget to tap out? Then you'll pay the maximum fare (£8,90+). This is the most common mistake. ALWAYS tap at the yellow reader, including on buses (in only).

3. Pink readers when transferring! Tap the pink readers when transferring outside Zone 1 to avoid the 'Zone 1 surcharge'. This can save you £2-3 per trip.

4. NEVER buy paper tickets! These are nearly twice as expensive as contactless. Always use your bank card or Oyster Card.

Quick Check Before Boarding

Do you have your bank card or Oyster Card ready?
Phone >20% battery? (for Apple Pay/Google Pay)
Do you know which zone you're heading to?
Did you tap in and out on your previous trip?
Are you using the same payment card throughout for the daily cap?

Which Ticket is Best for You?

Automatic Daily & Weekly Cap with Contactless!
When traveling with a contactless bank card or mobile payment, an automatic daily maximum of £8,90 (Zones 1-2) applies. Once you reach this amount, all subsequent trips that day are free. There's also weekly capping (Mon-Sun) for £44,70. This means you never pay more than a day pass would cost!

Ticket Options for Tourists

Ticket Type	Price (2026)	Validity	When to Choose?
Contactless (Bank Card)	£3,10 per trip (max £8,90/day Zones 1-2)	Per trip	Always the best choice! (automatic capping)
Oyster Card	£3,10 per trip (max £8,90/day Zones 1-2)	Per trip	If you don't have contactless (card costs £7 deposit)
Travelcard (paper)	£16,60/day (Zones 1-2)	24 hours	NOT RECOMMENDED — much more expensive than contactless!

Price Example: 3 Days in London:

Option A (Contactless): 3 × £8,90 = £26,70
Option B (Paper Travelcard): 3 × £16,60 = £49,80
Savings with contactless: £20,10!

Zones Explained

London has 9 zones
Most tourist attractions are in Zones 1-2. Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The British Museum, Buckingham Palace — all Zone 1. Camden, Notting Hill, Greenwich — Zone 2. 95% of tourists stay within Zones 1-2.

What You Need to Know

Zones 1-2: Central London — £8,90 daily cap
Zones 1-3: Including Wimbledon, Kew Gardens — £10,00 daily cap
Zones 1-6: Including Heathrow Airport — £16,30 daily cap
Gatwick: Outside zones, separate ticket needed (contactless works)

How to Use Contactless Payment

Find the yellow card reader at the station/bus stop
Tap your bank card or phone against the yellow reader (IN)
Wait for green confirmation + beep
Travel to your destination
IMPORTANT: Tap out at the yellow reader (OUT) at your final station!
Note: Always use the same card/phone for the daily cap

Don't Forget to Tap Out!

This is the #1 mistake tourists make. If you forget to tap out, you'll pay the maximum fare (£8,90+). On buses you only need to tap in (no tap out), but on the Tube, Overground, DLR and Elizabeth Line ALWAYS tap in AND out!

Avoid travel stress and fines. Receive the latest London public transport update 2 weeks before departure free in your inbox.

Heathrow Airport (LHR) — UK's Largest Airport

Compare the options and choose what suits you:

Option	Time	Price (2026)	Best for...
Elizabeth Line	35 min	£14,60 (contactless)	Best price/speed balance — RECOMMENDED!
⚡ Heathrow Express	15 min	from £10–£26 (advance / walk-up)	Speed & comfort (business)
Piccadilly Line	50 min	£5,90 (contactless)	Ultra-budget (but much slower)

Detailed Information per Option

Option 1: Elizabeth Line (RECOMMENDED)

Route: Heathrow → Paddington/Liverpool Street/Canary Wharf
Time: 35 minutes to Paddington
Cost 2026: £14,60 (contactless, counts towards daily cap)
Frequency: Every 5-10 minutes
Tip: Modern trains, plenty of luggage space, air conditioning. Best choice for most tourists!
Payment: Contactless at the gates (tap in AND out!)

Option 2: Heathrow Express ⚡ (fastest, most expensive)

Route: Heathrow → Paddington (non-stop)
Time: 15 minutes
Cost 2026: £26 (walk-up) — from £10 (advance booking)
Frequency: Every 15 minutes
Tip: Book online for discount. Luxury trains with WiFi and power outlets.
Payment: Online (heathrowexpress.com) or contactless at gates

Option 3: Piccadilly Line (cheapest, slowest)

Route: Heathrow → city center (many stops)
Time: 50-60 minutes
Cost: £5,90 (contactless, counts towards daily cap)
Frequency: Every 5 minutes
Tip: Cheapest option, but crowded and slow. Not ideal with lots of luggage.
Payment: Contactless at the gates

Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Thameslink Train (RECOMMENDED)

Route: Gatwick → London Bridge/St Pancras
Time: 30-45 minutes
Cost: £13-20 (contactless works!)
Frequency: Every 15 minutes
Tip: Cheaper than Gatwick Express, almost as fast

Budget Breakdown for 3 Days in London:

Smart Option: Elizabeth Line return (£29,20) + 3 days contactless (£26,70) = £55,90
Luxury Option: Heathrow Express return (£52) + 3 days contactless (£26,70) = £78,70
Budget Option: Piccadilly Line return (£11,80) + 3 days contactless (£26,70) = £38,50

0-10 years: Free travel with adult (max 4 children per adult)
11-15 years: Reduced fare with Oyster Zip Card (50% discount)
- Note: Requires online application with photo (2 weeks in advance)
- For short trips: adult fare is often easier
16-17 years: Reduced fare with 16+ Oyster Card
60+ seniors: No discount for tourists (UK residents only)
Students: No special discount for tourists

When Does Regular Metro Stop?

London's Underground has limited night hours, but the Night Tube runs all night on some lines:

Day	Last Metro (regular)	Night Tube
Monday - Thursday	~00:30	None
Friday - Saturday	-	All night (5 lines)
Sunday	~23:30	None

Night Tube Lines (Friday/Saturday)

These lines run all night on Friday and Saturday:

Central Line: West to East (White City ↔ Ealing/Leytonstone)
Jubilee Line: North to South (Stratford ↔ West Hampstead)
Northern Line: North to South (High Barnet/Edgware ↔ Morden)
Piccadilly Line: Heathrow ↔ Cockfosters (including airport!)
Victoria Line: North to South (Walthamstow ↔ Brixton)

Night Buses

London has an extensive night bus network that runs every night. All night buses start with 'N'.

Main Night Buses:

N9: Aldwych → Heathrow (Airport service!)
N15: Trafalgar Square → East London
N29: Trafalgar Square → North London (Enfield)
N91: Cockfosters → Crouch End

Tips for Night Travel:

Same tickets: Your contactless card or day pass works at night too
Night Tube frequency: Every 10-20 minutes
Night Buses: Every 15-30 minutes depending on line
Heathrow at night: Piccadilly Line + Night Buses N9 available

Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5 stars)

Why? London is a city of extremes. The bus network is world-class (100% accessible + free for wheelchair users). The Tube is old and challenging (only 33% step-free). But thanks to the fully accessible Elizabeth Line, DLR and the iconic Black Cabs, the city is still manageable with proper planning.

Tube & Train Accessibility

Elizabeth Line: The "Game Changer". 100% accessible from Heathrow to city center (Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool St, Canary Wharf).
Jubilee Line: The modern section (Westminster, Waterloo, London Bridge, Canary Wharf) is fully accessible.
DLR: 100% accessible, perfect for East London/Greenwich.
Bus: All 9,000 buses have automatic boarding ramps and wheelchair spaces.

Notorious Non-Accessible Stations:

Piccadilly Circus (No lifts!)
Oxford Circus (No lifts!)
Covent Garden (Lifts only, but often queues/breakdowns)
Bank (Maze, avoid unless you know the way)

🤝 Assistance & Support

Tube (Turn Up & Go): You do NOT need to book. Staff will help you with the ramp ("manual boarding ramp").
National Rail (outside London): Passenger Assist App or call 0800 022 3720 (2h in advance).
Mental/Hidden Disability: TfL offers free "Please Offer Me a Seat" badges and passports.

Discounts & Free Travel

Wheelchair Users: Travel FREE on all TfL buses (no pass needed).
Tube/Train: Normal fare for tourists (Freedom Pass is for residents only).
Companion: Pays normal fare, unless you have a specific UK Disabled Persons Railcard.

Best Accessible Routes for Tourists

Route 1: Heathrow → City Center / Canary Wharf (Fast & Comfortable)

Route: Elizabeth Line.
Accessibility: Level boarding from train to street. Lifts at every station.
Tip: Get off at Tottenham Court Road for West End (Soho/Theaters) – brand-new station with lifts.

Route 2: South Bank & Tate Modern

Route: Jubilee Line (Westminster → Waterloo → London Bridge).
Accessibility: All these stations are step-free from street to train. The South Bank itself is a flat promenade along the Thames.
Tip: Blackfriars Station (Overground) also has lifts and an entrance directly on the bridge.

Route 3: Museums (South Kensington)

Route: Avoid Tube station South Kensington (no lifts for Piccadilly/District)!
Advice: Take Bus 360, 14, 74, 414 or a Black Cab from Victoria Station (which is accessible).
Attractions: Natural History Museum & V&A are fully accessible via side entrances.

Tools & Apps

App: TfL Go (Best app: shows "Step-free mode").
App: Citymapper (Choose "Wheelchair accessible" in settings).
Taxi: Black Cabs are 100% wheelchair accessible (ramp built-in). Expensive, but perfect for short distances where the Tube fails.
Uber: Uber Access option available in the app.

Golden Tip: Don't trust the Tube map. Download the special "Step-free Tube map" or use TfL Go. A station can be "step-free" but still have a large gap between train and platform ("manual boarding ramp" needed).

Bikes (Bike-sharing)

Provider	Price (2026)	Features
Santander Cycles	£1,65 (regular) / £3,30 (e-bike)	Day Pass £3 (unlimited 30-min rides)
Forest	10 min free / day	Then £0,23/min (no unlock fee)
Lime	£1 unlock + £0,19/min	Largest fleet, also via Uber app (£0,27/min)
Voi	£0,20/min	Hackney pass (£1,75 per 30 min)

E-scooters

Provider	Price (2026)	Status
Voi	£0 unlock + £0,12/min	Cheapest option in London
Lime	£1 unlock + £0,17/min	Available in 9 boroughs
Dott / Tier	£1 unlock + £0,21/min	Merged, limited operations

🌍 UMOB: All-in-One App
Live in London since November 2025. Book and pay directly for Forest shared bikes via one account. Handy for travelers who also use UMOB in other European cities.

London has excellent 5G coverage, but the Tube (metro) is notorious for lack of signal underground. An eSIM is essential to find your way above ground immediately.

Roammate Tip

Airalo eSIM From $4,50

Recommended for most travelers. Quick activation and reliable coverage across London.

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Firsty (Free Backup) Free / Paid

The perfect safety net. Get free basic data for essential apps like WhatsApp or Maps.

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Holafly (Unlimited) From €19,00

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London Tip: Download your eSIM before you land at Heathrow or Gatwick. You'll need internet immediately to check Elizabeth Line times or book an Uber.

Don't drag your suitcases around! In London there are 2 reliable options to safely store your luggage.

IMPORTANT: No Station Lockers in London!

Unlike other European cities, London has NO public luggage lockers at stations (King's Cross, Paddington, Victoria, etc.). This is a security measure since the '90s. You must use commercial luggage storage services.

Most Locations

Bounce Luggage Storage Typically £5,00/day

Safe luggage storage in local shops and hotels. Best choice for flexibility and coverage.

£10,000 protection 24/7 locations Free cancellation

Find Storage Near Me →

Stasher Typically £6,00/day

The 'Airbnb for luggage', working with reputable hotel chains and shops across the city.

Fully insured Vetted hosts No size limits

Book with Stasher →

🏨 Hotel Storage (Free!)

Almost all hotels store luggage for free before/after check-in/out. Ask at reception if they can store your suitcase after check-out.

Roammate Advice: Because London has no station lockers, Bounce is the best choice for most visitors. With 100+ locations throughout London, you'll always find a spot near your hotel, station or attraction. The insurance up to £10,000 gives extra peace of mind. Stasher is an excellent premium alternative if you prefer hotel service.