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Station information, piccadilly line, route and journey times.

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Piccadilly Line

Piccadilly line map.

Piccadilly Line Overview

The Piccadilly Line is a line of the London Underground network which crosses the town of London from the north to the west. It connects the Heathrow Airport and the town of Uxbridge in the western part of the Greater London to Cockfosters, in the north, through the city centre of the English capital city. Around 220,000,000 passengers use the Piccadilly line. It serves 53 stations and has a total length of 44 miles. It is the Dark Blue Line on the Tube map.

London Piccadilly Line Service Status

Tourist attractions on the piccadilly line.

• Trent Park , a beautiful country park with its country house is located in front of Cockfosters tube station.
• The Emirates Stadium , home ground of Arsenal F.C is accessible from Finsbury Park , Arsenal and Holloway Road .
• The British Museum , which is the most visited museum of the United Kingdom, dedicated to culture and art, is served by both Russel Square and Holborn stations.
• Lincoln’s Inn Fields , the biggest and one of the most popular public squares in London, and Sir John Soane’s Museum , dedicated to the work of the famous English neo-classical architect, are located close to Holborn Underground station.
• Leicester Square , a popular green square famous for hosting events during the Chinese New Year, is accessible from Leicester Square station.
• Piccadilly Circus , the public square famous for its buildings with giant video and neon advertisements, is served, as its name indicates, by Piccadilly Circus tube station.
• Green Park , one of the Royal Parks of London, and Buckingham Palace , the London residence of the British Royal Family, are located at walking distance from Green Park station.
• Hyde Park , another Royal Park of London, stands, as its name suggests close to Hyde Park Corner Underground station.
• Harrods and Harvey Nichols , the 2 famous department stores are accessible from Knightsbridge tube station.
• The Natural History Museum , the Science Museum , the Victoria and Albert Museum , the world’s biggest design museum, the Royal Albert Hall , a beautiful concert hall located in front of Kensington Gardens and the Royal College of Music are served by South Kensington Underground station.
• Boston Manor , one of the ancient manors of Middlesex, and its park, are situated next to Boston Manor station.

Piccadilly Line stations

• Cockfosters is the northern terminus station of the Piccadilly Line. Travelcard Zone 5.
• Oakwood station is located in the area of Oakwood which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 5. Wheelchair accessible.
• Southgate tube station is located in the suburban area of London which holds the same name. Travelcard Zone 4.
• Arnos Grove tube station is located, as its name indicates, in the area of Arnos Grove. The station building is listed Grade II*. Travelcard Zone 4.
• Bounds Green Underground station is located in the area which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 3-4.
• Wood Green station is located in the popular residential area of Wood Green, as its name indicates. Travelcard Zone 3.
• Turnpike Lane tube station is located in Haringey, on the street of Turnpike Lane. Travelcard Zone 3.
• Manor House station is located in the district which holds the same name. Travelcard Zone 2-3.
• Finsbury Park is located at walking distance from the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC. Travelcard Zone 2.
• Arsenal is the closest Underground station from the Emirates Stadium, which is accessible from there too. Travelcard Zone 2.
• Holloway Road tube station is located in the district of Holloway. It is also very close to the Emirates Stadium. Travelcard Zone 2.
• Caledonian Road station also stands in Holloway, on the road which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 2. Wheelchair accessible.
• King’s Cross St. Pancras station is one of the biggest interchange complexes in London. It is connected to both London King’s Cross and St. Pancras International railway stations. Travelcard Zone 1. Wheelchair accessible.
• Russell Square Underground station stands in Bloomsbury, on Bernard Street. It is located close to the British Museum. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Holborn tube station is located at the corner of Kingsway and High Holborn in Central London. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Covent Garden station stands at the corner of James Street and Long Acre, in the City of Westminster. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Leicester Square tube station is situated on Charing Cross Road, very close to the pedestrian square of the same name. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Piccadilly Circus station is located under Piccadilly Circus, whoch gives the name to the station and to the line. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Green Park Underground station is located very close to the Royal Park of London which holds the same name. It also serves Buckingham Palace. Travelcard Zone 1. Wheelchair accessible.
• Hyde Park Corner station, as its name indicates, stands at the southeastern corner of Hyde Park. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Knightsbridge is located in the shopping area which gives it its name, where stand both Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores. Travelcard Zone 1.
• South Kensington tube station is situated in the district of Kensington. There are many important museums nearby. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Gloucester Road station stands at the corner of Gloucester Road and Cromwell Road, in Kensington. Travelcard Zone 1.
• Earl’s Court Underground station is located in the district which holds the same name. Travelcard Zone 1-2. Wheelchair accessible.
• Barons Court tube station is located in West Kensington. Travelcard Zone 2.
• Hammersmith station stands in the district which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 2. Wheelchair accessible.
• Turnham Green Underground station is situated in the district of Chiswick, West London. Travelcard Zone 2-3.
• Acton Town station stands in the area of Acton, which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 3. Wheelchair accessible.
• South Ealing tube station is located in the suburban district of Ealing. Travelcard Zone 3.
• Northfields station is situated in the residential area which holds the same name. Travelcard Zone 3.
• Boston Manor Underground station is located in the area of the Boston Manor, as its name indicates. Travelcard Zone 4.
• Osterley station stands in the suburban area of Osterley, which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 4.
• Hounslow East is one of the 3 stations on the line located in the town of Hounslow. Travelcard Zone 4. Wheelchair accessible.
• Hounslow Central Underground station is also located in Hounslow. Travelcard Zone 4.
• Hounslow West is the third station situated in the town of Hounslow. Travelcard Zone 5. Wheelchair accessible.
• Hatton Cross tube station stands in the small residential area of Hatton. Travelcard Zone 5-6.
• Heathrow Terminal 4 station serves, as its name indicates, the terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport. Travelcard Zone 6. Wheelchair accessible.
• Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 serves terminal 2 and 3 of Heathrow Airport. It previously also served terminal 1, now closed. Travelcard Zone 6. Wheelchair accessible.
• Heathrow Terminal 5 tube station is the southwestern terminus station of Piccadilly Line. It serves the terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport. Travelcard Zone 6. Wheelchair accessible.
• Ealing Common station is, as its name indicates, located in the area of Ealing Common. Travelcard Zone 3.
• North Ealing Underground station is situated in the London Borough of Ealing. Travelcard Zone 3.
• Park Royal tube station stands close to the industrial and business area of Park Royal, which gives its name to the station. Travelcard Zone 3.
• Alperton station, at its name suggests, is located in the area of Alperton. Travelcard Zone 4.
• Sudbury Town station is located in the suburban area which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 4. Wheelchair accessible.
• Sudbury Hill is also located in Sudbury. Travelcard Zone 4.
• South Harrow tube station is situated in the area which holds the same name. Travelcard Zone 5.
• Rayners Lane Underground station stands in the district of Rayners Lane. Travelcard Zone 5.
• Eastcote station is located in the suburban area which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 5.
• Ruislip Manor tube station is situated in the area which shares the same name. Travelcard Zone 6.
• Ruislip Underground station is located in the town of Ruislip. Travelcard Zone 6.
• Ickenham station stands in the area which holds the same name. Travelcard Zone 6.
• Hillingdon tube station is located in the suburban area which gives it its name. Travelcard Zone 6. Wheelchair accessible.
• Uxbridge station is the western terminus station of the Uxbridge branch of the Piccadilly Line. Travelcard Zone 6. Wheelchair accessible.

The Piccadilly Line serves different important transportation sites

• Heathrow Airport is served by 3 different tube station on Piccadilly Line. Terminals 2 and 3 are served by the station which holds the same name, terminals 4 and 5 are served by 2 additional stations.
• London King’s Cross is one of the 2 railway stations served by King’s Cross St. Pancras tube station. You can there a train to the northern part of England, and to Scotland.
• St Pancras International is the other station connected to King’s Cross St. Pancras Underground station. You can travel there to Paris or Brussels with the Eurostar.

The Piccadilly Line is connected to the following London Underground lines

• Victoria Tube Line at Finsbury Park.
• Circle Line , Hammersmith & City Line , Metropolitan Line , Northern Tube Line and Victoria Line at King’s Cross St. Pancras.
• Central Line at Holborn.
• Northern Tube Line at Leicester Square.
• Bakerloo Tube Line at Piccadilly Circus.
• Jubilee Tube Line and Victoria Line at Green Park.
• Circle Tube Line and District Line at South Kensington and Gloucester Road.
• District Line at Earl’s Court, Barons Court, Hammersmith, Turnham Green, Acton Town and Ealing Common.
• Metropolitan Tube Line at Rayners Lane, Eastcote, Ruislip Manor, Ruislip, Ickenham, Hillingdon and Uxbridge.

Ticket Price

Piccadilly line timetable.

The Piccadilly line runs every day of the week including saturdays, sundays and holidays.

First Service

The first service leaves Cockfosters Underground station at 5:09 from Monday to Saturday , and at 7:00 on Sundays , Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground station at 5:23 from Monday to Saturday , and at 6:07 on Sundays , Heathrow Terminal 4 Underground station at 5:02 from Monday to Saturday , and at 5:46 on Sundays and Uxbridge at 6:20 from Monday to Friday and at 8:43 on Saturdays and Sundays .

Last Service

The last service leaves Cockfosters Underground station at 23:54 from Monday to Saturday , at 23:00 on Sundays , Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground station at 23:42 from Monday to Saturday , and at 23:25 on Sundays , Heathrow Terminal 4 Underground station at 23:35 from Monday to Saturday , and at 22:37 on Sundays and Uxbridge at 23:04 from Monday to Saturday and at 22:04 on Sundays .

You can find the full Piccadilly line timetable on the TFL website.

Map of the Piccadilly Line

Welcome to the official site for the London Piccadilly Line maps. This iconic dark blue line serves as a vital link between West and North London. Notably, in the west, it features two branches that converge at Acton Town station.

The Piccadilly Line also boasts stations at Heathrow International Airport, offering the quickest transit option to Central London. Additionally, it passes near another key London landmark – Buckingham Palace. For visiting the Palace, alight at Hyde Park Corner station.

List of Piccadilly Line maps

See the stations on the map below (April 2024).

→ Click map to zoom ←

Overview of this tube line:

• Opened in 1906.
• Colour: Dark blue.
• Underground.
• 53 stations.
• 71 km (44 miles) long.

Should you wish to explore the entirety of the London Underground network, you are invited to view the comprehensive London Tube map . This resource includes a page where all lines are neatly presented together (yet distinctly separate) , or you may opt to examine individual lines simultaneously.

Airport Routes

Travelling between terminals at Heathrow Airport using the Piccadilly Line might seem a bit daunting, so here's a simplified table summarizing the connections between terminals using the Piccadilly Line. All these inter-terminal journeys at Heathrow Airport are free with an Oyster card or contactless payment.

Piccadilly line stations and routes

The Piccadilly line currently has 3 different routes, so before boarding, it is important to look carefully at the front of the train and check the sign with the name of the destination to avoid getting onto the wrong Tube train.

If you click on the name of the station, you can see real-time timetable information and more detailed info. If you click on the line icons, you will see information about that line and its transfers.

Route 1: Heathrow Terminal 4 - Cockfosters

Reverse route view

Route 2: Heathrow Terminal 5 - Cockfosters

Route 3: uxbridge - cockfosters.

London tube map | Timetable | Fares | All subway lines

TfL Piccadilly underground

Tfl piccadilly underground stop list and next departures.

The TfL Piccadilly - Piccadilly underground serves {count_of_stops} underground stops in the London area departing from {first_stop} and ending at {last_stop}. Scroll down to see upcoming Piccadilly underground times at each stop and the next scheduled Piccadilly underground times will be displayed. The full Piccadilly underground schedule as well as real-time departures (if available) can be found in the app .

The TfL Piccadilly - Piccadilly underground route map is shown above. The route map shows you an overview of all the stops served by the TfL Piccadilly underground to help you plan your trip on TfL. Opening the app will allow you to see more detailed information about the route on a map including stop specific alerts, such as stops that have been closed or moved. You can also see the location of vehicles in real-time on the route map so you know when the Piccadilly underground is approaching your stop.

TfL Piccadilly underground Service Alerts

Open the app to see more information about any active disruptions that may impact the Piccadilly underground schedule, such as detours, moved stops, trip cancellations, major delays, or other service changes to the underground route. The app also allows you to subscribe to receive notifications for any service alert issued by TfL so that you can plan your trip around any active or future disruptions.

TfL Piccadilly underground FAQ

What time does the next tfl piccadilly underground depart from {first_stop}.

The next Piccadilly underground leaves {first_stop} at {first_stop_first_time}, and arrives at {last_stop} at {last_stop_first_time}. The total trip time for the next TfL Piccadilly underground is {number_of_minutes} minutes.

Is the TfL Piccadilly underground running on time, early or late?

You can track your underground on a map, monitor real-time updates, and see adjustments to the TfL Piccadilly schedule by downloading the app .

When does the next TfL Piccadilly underground arrive?

You can see the next TfL Piccadilly underground times in the app as well as future departure times for the Piccadilly underground.

How many underground stops are there for the TfL Piccadilly underground?

There are {count_of_stops} stops on the TfL Piccadilly underground.

Is the TfL Piccadilly underground usually crowded?

You can find real-time information on TfL Piccadilly underground crowding levels in the app (available in select cities or on select trips). You can also see predictions on how crowded the underground will be when it gets to your underground stop.

Is the TfL Piccadilly underground currently running?

Find out the current status for the TfL Piccadilly underground in the app .

What is the closest TfL Piccadilly underground stop to me?

Open the app to see your location on a map and find the closest Piccadilly underground stop to where you are.

Other TfL underground schedules, routes and maps

• Bakerloo Bakerloo
• Central Central
• Circle Circle
• District District
• Hammersmith & City Hammersmith & City
• Jubilee Jubilee
• Metropolitan Metropolitan
• Northern Northern
• Victoria Victoria
• Waterloo & City Waterloo & City

Other transit modes in London area

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How to use the London Underground

Despite Londoners’ moans, it’s a good service considering it’s the world’s oldest underground system.

There are 12 separate colour-coded lines (including the Docklands Light Railway) that run in northbound, southbound, eastbound or westbound directions.

You’re never far from an underground station in central London – they’re pretty easy to spot.

The new Elizabeth line is actually a train running east to west through central London.

Tube maps and journey planners

View a Tube map or download a PDF version .

Free pocket-sized tube maps are available from underground stations.

The TFL Go app has a ‘live’ tube map, which makes it easy to locate your closest tube station (if location services is turned on), and find the next departure times.

The CityMapper app has a tube map which shows the zones.

Journey planners

If you can’t work out which route to take by looking at the tube map, or if you want door-to-door instruction, see our guide to planning journeys in London .

How to find the right platform

The direction will normally be obvious by looking at the tube map, but if it’s not — here’s what to do:

• Before going through the ticket barriers, or just after the barriers at some stations, look at the destinations list signs to find the tube station you’re travelling to.
• Your destination will be listed on a sign that gives you the direction (eastbound, westbound etc.) at the top.
• Follow the signs and check you’re on the right platform by looking at the destination list on the platform wall.

If you do travel the wrong way, don’t worry, just get off the train and change platform. You won’t pay anything unless you go through the ticket barriers and leave the station.

Some lines have different branches. For example, the westbound Piccadilly line goes to Heathrow, Rayner’s Lane or Uxbridge. Check the display on the platform to make sure you take the right train. You don’t want to end up in Rayner’s Lane if you’re catching a flight from Heathrow.

Tube timetables

The tube does not run to a strict timetable during the day, but you won’t wait long. Most tube trains within central London run every few minutes or so.

If you need more precise information on departure or arrival times, the TfL Journey Planner has a ‘leaving’ or ‘arriving’ option.

Tube first and last times

The first tube trains start running from around 5.00–5.30am. The last tube trains leave central London around 12.30am (see the Night Tube below). Most trains start at least an hour later on Sundays.

The exact start and finish times vary according to each individual underground line. Posters at tube stations give the first and last train times from that station. Alternatively, check the tube timetables on the TfL website for the exact times.

If you need to travel after the tubes have finished, take a bus . Some routes run for 24 hours. If they don’t, there are special night buses.

The Night Tube

There is currently a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays on the following lines:

Some stations on these lines are not served, so check the TfL website before travelling.

The rush hour

There is a morning and evening peak on the underground when the tube trains, tube stations and platforms are extremely busy. The peak times for travel are roughly 7.45am–8.30am and 5.00pm–7.00pm Monday–Friday.

During these busy times you won’t have much room to stand and you definitely won’t find a seat, especially in central London. If you can, wait until after 9.30am before starting your journey.

The TfL Go app tells you if a station is busy or quiet.

Check for delays

You can check if the underground is working normally or if there are any delays on certain lines on the status updates section of the TfL website.

Check for planned engineering work at the weekend

The underground network is being modernised. Engineering work is carried out at weekends and Bank Holidays and sometimes whole sections of the tube are out of action.

When this happens, a replacement bus service run and underground tickets/passes/oyster cards are accepted on the bus. The replacement buses follow the route of the underground line, stopping outside each station, but it might be quicker to travel to your destination by another bus route.

Check TfL’s service update  if you travel by tube or the ELizabeth line at the weekend, especially if you plan to travel to or from Heathrow airport.

Related pages

• Guide to London transport tickets and passes
• Underground tickets and Travelcards
• Oyster cards
• Contactles cards

Last updated: 14 February 2023

Getting around London

• How to use the London underground
• How to use London buses
• London cycle hire scheme
• Walking in London
• London trains
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How to Use the London Tube (Subway)

This post is a quick and easy tutorial on how to navigate the London Underground (a.k.a. the Tube), including hours of operation as well as info on Oyster Cards, transfers, and other helpful tips.

• What is the London Underground?
• Tickets, Fares, and Oyster Cards
• The Tube Map
• Operating Hours
• Tips from Locals
• to/from Heathrow Airport
• Tourist Buses vs. the Tube

WHAT IS THE LONDON UNDERGROUND?

Similar to the New York Subway or the Paris Metro, the London Underground is London's series of (largely) underground trains that run a regular service throughout the city.

Since the trains underground run through a series of tunnels, many people (Londoners and visitors alike!) refer to it as the "tube."

Despite this name, a lot of the London Underground network is above ground when you travel, particularly outside of central London.

The London Underground has 11 lines that serve Greater London, intersecting with each other in the centre of town.

The tube map is divided into nine zones, with Zone 1 being the centre of London, and Zone 9 being the suburbs.

The cost it takes to travel depends on which zone(s) you travel in, and how far your journey will take you.

It also connects to the London Overground (a suburban train line that doesn't run through the centre of town), the new Elizabeth Line (a high-frequency rail service that covers both central London, Heathrow Airport, and the suburbs), and National Rail Services (standard train lines that run throughout the country).

The Underground also connects to other rail services that serve the capital such as the Docklands Light Railway (an aboveground small train line that serves the docklands area).

WHEN DOES THE UNDERGROUND RUN?

In general, the Underground trains run from around 5:00 - 5:30 am until the last train leaves around Midnight, (exact times will vary and are listed on the Transport for London website ).

However, there are Night Tube services that run on some of the lines on Fridays and Saturdays for convenient travel on the weekends.

The Night Tube runs on parts of the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines only.

LONDON UNDERGROUND TICKETS AND OYSTER CARDS

Buying a ticket for the London Underground is pretty straightforward, but for most visitors, using a contactless payment card is the best payment method.

So, for a more in-depth explanation, including the cheapest ways to travel, check out our previous post about ticket prices and options here in London. Below is our summary.

There are 4 ways to pay for your rides on the Tube:

• Paper tickets 
• Oyster Cards
• Contactless Credit/Debit Cards

We normally recommend avoiding paper tickets and recommend that you buy yourself an Oyster card, unless you have a contactless credit or debit card.

Rides with an Oyster Card or contactless card are much cheaper than paper tickets.

You can add as much money to these as you wish and there is a daily limit that you will spend, (£8.10 for Zones 1-2) so the rides get cheaper the more you use them. The same daily cap applies to your contactless card, too.

Read our post on which London Oyster Card or Travelcard to buy . 

TIP: The Oyster Card is actually included with the London Turbo Pass at no extra cost. If you're planning to visit several notable attractions in the city, this could be a great way to save some money.

London Underground Fares

While there are 6 travel zones for the London Underground, most visitors to London will travel largely within Zones 1 + 2.

How much you pay depends on when you travel, whether during peak hours (06:30 - 09:30 and 16:00 - 19:00 Mon-Fri) vs. off-peak (all other times).

It also depends on where you travel to and from, and whether you are using a paper ticket vs. an Oyster, Travelcard, or contactless credit/debit card.

If you have one of the latter, then you will pay somewhere between £2.70 and £3.00 per ride within Zones 1 + 2.

The most expensive ride (Central London to Heathrow) will cost either £3.30 (off-peak) or £5.60 (peak).

Oyster and Travelcards can be used on all of London's public transportation options, including buses, DLR, the Overground, suburban trains (within London), a water taxi, and even a gondola. 

Daily Limits

If you use an Oyster Card or a Contactless Card, then there are daily limits to what you will spend. These caps are dependent on where you are traveling within.

So, for example, if you stay within Zones 1 and 2, the cap for an adult is just £8.10 for the Underground and £5.25 for buses.

So, the more you ride, the cheaper each ride is. You can see what the cap is for each zone or between zones here.

Child Discounts

Children under 11 travel for free and there is a 50% discount on Oyster Card fares for children 11-15 years of age.

To receive this discount, you need to grab a Tube staff member at any Underground station, including Heathrow.

We help you determine which type of card or ticket you need in our in-depth post on Oyster Cards .

Travelcards

Travelcards are prepaid cards that give you unlimited access to specific zones within London. 

You can choose to either order these in advance (in which case you will be given a paper Travelcard) or you can buy them upon arrival (in which case you will be using a plastic Oyster Card with the Travel Card loaded onto it).

Travelcards particularly have benefits for travellers here for an entire week. A 7-Day Travelcard can be worth your while, as a 7-Day Travelcard for Zones 1-2 is £40.70 which works out less per day than the £8.10 daily cap.

Find out more on our post comparing Oyster Cards, Visitor Oyster Cards and Travelcards .

UNDERSTANDING THE TUBE MAP

Picking up a Tube map is easy! They are available for free at most stations on the Underground network.

The maps on offer at the stations are small – perfect for carrying around in your pocket. 

Below is a map of the London Underground. You could also download a PDF version .

Don’t be embarrassed to consult your map as you travel through London, even Londoners themselves occasionally need to check where it is they are heading to!

Some people will actually have an app on their phone sporting the London Underground tube map – though we think Google Maps App is very good. 

If you look closely at the map, you will notice that the center part is shaded white (zone 1) with a ring of gray shade (zone 2) which is also surrounded by white again (zone 3).

Again, most visitors to London will spend much, if not all, of their time in Zones 1-2. 

Focus on Colours

Every line on the London Underground has a different name and colour.

The names and colours will appear on your Tube Map, and also all over the various stations on the network.

For some, memorising the names is easier, but in general, colours can be the simplest way to learn your way around, and also to use when asking for/receiving directions.

Generally speaking, any particular line will either head north-south or east-west.

FREE TOURS BY FOOT TIP:

Start your holiday in London with our All-in-One London Tour, which takes in most of London's legendary tourist sites and utilizes the London Underground. Get a tutorial directly from us.

OPERATING HOURS AND THE NIGHT TUBE

It’s important to remember that the London Underground system doesn’t run 24 hours a day every day and that timings may be different on weekdays vs. weekends.

General Hours

Although each station has different timings, in general, the first tube trains start running around 5:00 am - 5:15 am and finish around 12:00 am - 12:30 am from Mondays through Fridays.

On Sundays, the Tube begins a bit later, around 6:00 am - 6:15 am and the final trains depart around 11:30 pm - 12:30 am.

Sundays also carry a reduced service which means there are not as many trains running as on Mondays to Saturdays.

Weekdays: 7:00 am - 9:30 am and 16:00 (4 pm) - 19:00 (7 pm).

Like any major city, London has a very busy rush hour in the mornings and in the evenings when the majority of people are travelling to and from work.

If possible, try to avoid travelling on the tube during these times, particularly if you have any large baggage/luggage with you.

Space is an absolute premium, which means you may have to wait as multiple trains pass you until there’s one with enough space to fit you in.

If you need a place to store luggage, read our advice here.

The Night Tube

As of 2019, some London Underground lines are now operating as The Night Tube, a 24-hour Underground service that operates on Fridays and Saturdays.

Really, this service should be called the "Overnight Tube" as the regular operating hours reach midnight every day of the week.

Click here for a downloadable pdf .

There are 5 lines making up the Night Tube and there are fewer trains operating, which means wait times are more than the standard 2 - 5 minutes.

The lines and approximate timings are:

• Victoria Line - Trains every 10 minutes
• Jubilee Line - Trains every 10 minutes
• Piccadilly Line (Cockfosters to Heathrow Terminal 5 ONLY) - Trains every 10 minutes
• Northern Line (Camden Town to Morden) - Trains every 8 minutes
• Northern Line (Camden Town to High Barnet) - Trains every 15 minutes (No Night Tube on the Bank and Mill Hill East Branches)
• Central Line (White City to Leytonstone) - Trains every 10 minutes
• Central Line (Leytonstone to Loughton/Hainault) - Trains every 20 minutes
• Central Line (Ealing Broadway to White City) - Trains every 20 minutes (No Night Tube on other branches of the line)

NOTE: The Night Tube operates with standard off-peak fare prices. Your daily travel card will be valid until 4:29 am the morning after you have purchased it.

TIPS ON NAVIGATING THE UNDERGROUND

Now we will provide you with our top 7 tips for navigating your way through the system, from how to enter a system, how to board the correct train, how to change lines, and when to walk instead of taking the Tube.

Underground Tutorial Tours

Let us,  Free Tours by Foot , show you how to utilize the London Underground to get around the city - like our London in a Day or our   Harry Potter Tour .

While these are not specifically Underground tours, your tour guide will assist you in learning how to master the system and to offer you some tips and tricks for riding the Tube.

1. Entering and Exiting Stations

All Underground stations have ticket barriers – large grey machines where travellers either insert their paper travel cards or tap their Oyster cards on top of them.

At first glance, most barriers all seem the same but they are actually divided into three different purposes; Enter, Do Not Enter, Bags/Buggies.

Some of the barriers will have a green arrow displayed – this means this is a barrier that you can travel through.

Insert your paper ticket, or tap your Oystercard on the yellow pad right next to the sign displaying the green arrow.

The barriers in front of you (just left from the arrow) will open and allow you to walk through.

Other barriers will have a red X displayed – this means this barrier will not open for you and is either closed or being used for visitors traveling in the opposite direction.

Lastly, some barriers are quite large, with signs displaying buggies, luggage, and wheelchairs.

These barriers are much larger than the regular grey ones and are there for people travelling with added items/persons.

They will not close as quickly as the others, giving travellers time to get themselves and all possessions through to the other side. 

Read our post on taking the Tube from Heathrow Airport to Central London .

2. Find Your Correct Direction

In general, the Underground lines operate going north-south or east-west and vice versa.

Checking on your map will help you determine which direction you are travelling in, which will help you find the correct platform and train for your journey.

At every station, there will be maps like these showing the two directions that the trains will be travelling in, and under each direction will be a list of all the stations the train will stop at – in order!

This makes it easy not only to see which platform you need to be on but also how many stops it will take you to get to your destination. 

3. Don't Board the Wrong Train

Sometimes, multiple Underground lines share the same track at a station. If you aren't paying attention, you could board the wrong train.

As the trains pull into the platform, you can take a glance at the front of the train. Here will be displayed the final destination of that particular train.

Also, on every platform there will be an electronic sign displaying the time until the next train arrives, and which station will be its’ final stop.

4. Lines that Split

Another potential mixup is lines that split. Some lines can have 2 or 3 different ending tracks, so you need to be aware of this.

Take the image below as an example.

For example, suppose you plan on boarding a District Line (green) train at South Kensington Station (the black square) with a final destination Wimbledon (the bottom-most black arrow).

You would be taking a westbound train. 

However, you can see from the map that there are two additional tracks with different ending points (Richmond and Ealing Broadway), all a part of the District Line heading westbound.

As you probably can tell, you could end up missing the first tennis match.

5. Changing Lines

The Tube map can often be misleading in that many tube lines crisscross over each other on the map, but do not actually connect to one another in reality.

If you want to know where you can change from one Tube line to the other, you need to look for the white circle on the line on your map.

Any time you see one of these, it means you can change from one line to another or to British Rail.

Check out our tips on using the Underground with luggage and kids . 

6. Sometimes You Should Just Walk

The London Underground Map is definitely NOT geographically accurate. Oftentimes it is easier to walk instead of getting on the tube to travel just a stop or two.

There is a map that gives the walking times between stations ( pdf ).

A good example of this is Leicester Square and Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line.

On the map, they appear a fair distance apart, but in reality, it would take you just 4 minutes to walk the journey yourself.

Another good example is Charing Cross and Embankment - it’s just a 2-minute walk from each station! 

7. Step-Free (Handicap) Access

For those with limited mobility, there are clues on the Underground map that will let you know if there is step-free access.

This is also useful if you are travelling with exceptionally heavy suitcases.

Simply look at the map, and on some stations, you will see a blue circle with a white figure in a wheelchair.

This means it is possible to get from the street into the train without any stairs or escalators. 

The white circle and a blue figure in a wheelchair denote stations with step-free access from the street to the platform.

At these stations, you will need assistance to get into and out of the train, either with a ramp or the help of fellow passengers. 

Note that in larger stations, such as Waterloo, the blue circle appears on one line only, which means the other two lines do not have step-free access. Transport for London has this helpful video .

A final note – Although London is generally a safe and welcoming city for visitors, pickpockets, and thieves operate throughout the entire London Underground network.

Please be aware of your surroundings, keep hold of all of your possessions, and avoid the habit of simply putting your ticket/credit cards/keys/mobile phones into your pockets – this will make you an incredibly easy target!

Also, never leave your belongings unattended on a train or in an Underground Station.

PICADILLY LINE TO AND FROM HEATHROW

By far the easiest and most affordable way to get to and from Heathrow Airport.

The Piccadilly Line runs through all 5 terminals of Heathrow Airport as well as straight through the centre of London, offering connections with every other tube line on the London Underground network.  

Use our Google Map and input the address of your final destination for directions and travel time from Heathrow .  

Travel time on the Tube is roughly 45 minutes to central London.

Piccadilly line trains run out of Heathrow from 5:00 to 23:00.

Ticket prices from Zone 1 to Heathrow are £6.70 for a cash-bought paper ticket, £5.60 on an Oyster card or contactless card at any time.

Read our full post on taking the Picadilly Line to and from Heathrow Airport .

TUBE ETIQUETTE

To avoid faux pas and keep from being marked out as a typical tourist, here are a few tips for Tube etiquette when travelling along the Tube.

1.  Have Your Ticket Ready

Do not approach the ticket barriers until you have your Oystercard – or paper ticket – ready.

If you walk to the barrier and then fumble through your pockets/bags for your ticket, it will delay other travellers and oftentimes can mess with the barrier censors, potentially causing the barriers to lock.

[Remember you need a ticket both to BEGIN/ENTER and also to FINISH/LEAVE your journey!]  Be sure to read our blog post on the Oystercard and Travel Card .

2.  Stand on the Right

When riding escalators up and down in Underground Stations, please remember to stand on the RIGHT.

Travellers who wish to move up/down whilst on the escalators will be doing so on the left-hand side.

If you stand on the left you may find yourself politely asked to move to the right, or simply shoved past by a multitude of commuters.

This also includes your belongings/suitcases – they must be on the right of the escalators as well.

It is poor form and bad manners to take up the left side of the escalator with your belongings.

3.  Stand Behind the Yellow Line

On every Tube platform, you will find a yellow line painted along the edge.

This line marks the boundary between where it is safe to stand, and where it is dangerous.

Stand BEHIND the line (not on top of!) in order to limit any risk of death or injury.

You may occasionally see passengers swiftly walking down the platform directly on top of the yellow line – but do not follow their lead!

4. Move Down the Platform

As soon as you get onto the platform, move either right or left.

You will find many people gathered at the entrance to the platform, meaning people cannot get past them and move onto the platform to get their train.

TIP : Besides just being courteous, the rear and front of the trains tend to be less crowded so moving down the platform means you’re more likely to get a seat!

5.  Let Other Passengers Off First

As soon as the Tube doors open, step to either side of the opening doors and let customers off the train before you attempt to board.

Failure to follow this rule may lead to verbal chastisement.

6.  Move Down Inside the Carriage

Once you are inside the Tube – move away from the door! Standing in place will impede others who are trying to board.

Also (especially during peak times) it is important to move as far down into the carriage as possible in order for the maximum amount of people to fit onto the train.

You will see Londoners standing in between the benches on busy Tube carriages, and you should follow their lead.

7.  Keep Feet and Bags Off the Seats

Particularly on crowded trains, it is unacceptable to take up an entire seat solely for your possessions – or your feet!

8. Do Not Lean on the Poles

The poles that are placed throughout the Underground train carriages are meant for people to hold on to.

Leaning against one of the poles means blocking the pole for those that may need it to hold balance whilst the train is moving.

9.  Mind Your Earphones and Your Meals

The music you are listening to should not be loud enough for anybody else on the Tube to hear.

Also, it is best to avoid eating hot/smelly food on the Underground.

10.  Get Out of the Way of Those Getting Off the Train

When you are on the Tube and at a stop that is not yours, make sure you are not in the way of those who are trying to exit the train.

Occasionally, you may need to step outside of the train to let passengers off if the carriage is very crowded.

This is expected behaviour, and you will be able to step right back on once the departing have left.

11.  Stand Up for the Elderly and Pregnant

This is one even some Underground regulars need reminding of!

It’s just good manners in the UK to offer up your seat to the elderly, pregnant, or those who are less able to stand.

Be aware of who comes on the Tube at each stop and do not be afraid to offer your seat.

Occasionally you may see women with a small ‘Baby on Board’ badge with the London Underground logo pinned onto their coats.

Some men even take it upon themselves to stand up for any woman who comes onto the train so chivalry is not completely dead in London!

12.  Take Your Rubbish Home With You

Rubbish left behind on the Tube is unsightly and can be quite disgusting.

There are no bins on Underground trains or at most Underground Stations which means it is expected that you will take any rubbish of yours off the train and home/back to your hotel with you when you leave.

On the London Underground, a little bit of courtesy and kindness can go a long way.

Commuting and travelling in the city can be quite stressful so try to remain courteous to others as you go about their business, and hopefully, they will do the same as you go about yours

HOP-ON-HOP-OFF BUS VS. LONDON UNDERGROUND

If you’re visiting London and aren’t sure about riding the London Underground, then we hope our tips above have made you more confident and willing to use the tube to get around town.

However, we understand that some people may still be a little anxious or unsure about the benefits of taking the tube, as opposed to riding one of London’s hop-on-hop-off tour buses.

To help you make up your mind, we’ve listed a few pros and cons of each below.

Hop-on-hop-off buses can be useful in getting an overview of the city or learning your way around town.

They are also quite useful for people who aren’t physically fit enough to walk through London day in and day out.

However, whenever possible, we strongly believe that the best - and the quickest - way to get around town is by taking the London Underground or to walk.

[Note that if you wish to take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, we have a handy page HERE to help you choose which one to ride]

Pros of a Bus Tour

• easy to understand routes
• convenient stops at the most popular tourist attractions
• climate controlled all year (on the inside)
• tickets often include night tours, boat cruises, or free attractions.
• commentary along the routes

Cons of a Bus Tour

• more expensive than riding the subway
• routes are only one-direction
• wait times can be very long due to seasonal or even daily traffic
• buses can be crowded
• bad weather is always a risk

Pros of Riding the Underground

• (relatively) inexpensive
• flexible routing
• very warm in the winter
• you get to travel like a real Londoner
• Almost always faster than a bus

Cons of Riding the Underground

• not all stations are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers
• can be really hot and sweaty in summer
• can be really crowded during rush hours
• no commentary

Related Content

• Which Oystercard to Buy
• How to Get from Heathrow to London Centre by Underground
• How to Get from London to Paris by Train
• Things to do in London
• Most Haunted Places in London

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The 150-mile journey London Underground's newest Piccadilly Line Tube trains will take before arriving in London

A change to the rollout will mean the last train will be delivered 'slightly later than planned'

• 04:30, 17 FEB 2024
• Updated 10:58, 19 FEB 2024

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Transport for London (TfL) has said that a 'rephasing' of the delivery of its new Tube stock will mean the last train will be received by officials 'slightly later than planned'. The shiny Piccadilly line stock is due to start entering service in 2025, and 80 per cent of it will be assembled in Yorkshire, around 150-miles-away from the capital.

MyLondon understands that the first of the new trains will be tested in Wegberg-Wildenrath, Germany, with the later stock going straight to London after being built in the north of England.

In December, TfL said that the manufacture and deployment of the Tube's latest additions was being 'rephased'. The latest report to the authority's board - published last week - raised the move. It described how the altered 'schedule of payments and delivery' enables bosses to 'better align the introduction of the new trains with the refurbishment of our depots'.

READ MORE: Full list of the London Underground and Elizabeth line stations that could get internet connectivity next

Officials added that this 'does not affect the delivery of the first train in 2024 for testing in London ahead of entering service in 2025, and will also protect the planned Piccadilly line timetable uplift in 2027'.

This will mean that Londoners will still benefit from the new, higher capacity walk-through trains and more trains per hour. In addition, more new trains will be built in the Siemens Mobility factory in Goole, Yorkshire, compared to the 50 per cent originally planned.

Last train delivered 'slightly later than previously expected'

Asked by if the 'rephase' means trains will be rolled out at different times than planned, a spokesperson for TfL said that the change will mean a slight delay to the authority receiving the final train. They told MyLondon: "The new delivery schedule will mean that the last train will be delivered to TfL in autumn 2027 - slightly later than previously expected but without impacting the planned timetable uplift in 2027 from 24 to 27 trains per hour."

Asked whether the authority's depots would have to be refurbished before the new trains are introduced, the authority clarified that some parts of its infrastructure would have to be updated first, but the refurbishment of depots at Cockfosters and Northfields 'does not need to be fully completed' before the new Piccadilly line trains are delivered.

A TfL spokesperson said: "The relationship between maintenance facilities and introducing new trains into service requires the delivery of some aspects of the refurbished facilities first, some at key points during the introduction of the new trains, and other elements once the full fleet is in place to meet requirements for later-life heavy maintenance.

"The revised schedule for delivering trains and bringing them into service means these stages are now better aligned to the availability of the refurbished maintenance facilities." They added: "The new Piccadilly line trains will need facilities to keep them well-maintained which is why we’re refurbishing our depots at Cockfosters and Northfields.

"The first stage of these upgrade works has begun, with the construction of three new sidings at Northfields station for train stabling and in support of the extensive refurbishment works that will take place at Northfields depot once the supply chain procurement process is finalised. Work is also underway at Cockfosters depot to provide a new wheel-turning facility for the new trains.

"This is the first stage of the refurbishment works at this depot, which will provide maintenance, servicing and stabling facilities needed for the new fleet of Piccadilly line trains."

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