London Tube Fares 2026
Updated: February 2026
Transport fares vary depending on when and where you travel, and on the payment method you choose.
Time of the day:
If you travel during peak hours, costs will be more expensive than during off-peak hours. Peak hours are Monday to Friday, between 6:30 am to 9:30 am, and between 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, except on public holidays.
Ticket type:
- Paper ticket (bought at the station): a single ticket costs £7.00.
- Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) or contactless payment methods: By using an Oyster card, which is a prepaid or contactless option, you can save significant money on each journey. For example, if you use it in Zone 1, your ticket will cost less than half the price of a paper ticket. It is worth learning more about this money-saving payment option; see below for more information.
Distance between stations:
When you are in front of the ticket machine, first you must choose the zones you will be travelling through in the next few days. If you are a tourist, you will usually travel within zones 1 and 2. Our suggestion is to select this option because it is where you will find the most famous attractions in London.
Another tip is to add enough credit for 3 days' travel. If you mainly travel within Zones 1-2, the daily cap is £8.90, so 3 full days would be £26.70 per adult.
Children: under 11s travel free on the Tube when accompanied by a paying adult. For ages 11-15, ask staff to add the "Young Visitor discount" to an Oyster card (or use an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard) to pay child-rate fares.
You must scan your card or ticket at the ticket barrier's reader upon both entering and exiting the Tube platforms.
| Trips between | Single | Oyster / Contactless Peak | Oyster / Contactless Off Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | £7.00 | £2.90 | £2.80 |
| Zone 1 to 2 | £7.00 | £3.50 | £2.90 |
| Zone 1 to 3 | £7.00 | £3.80 | £3.10 |
| Zone 1 to 4 | £7.00 | £4.60 | £3.40 |
| Zone 1 to 5 | £7.00 | £5.20 | £3.60 |
| Zone 1 to 6 | £7.00 | £5.80 | £3.80 |
Oyster Card and Travelcard
When travelling in London, using a prepaid card such as an Oyster Card or Travelcard is the savvy way to go. Not only do these cards offer cheaper fares compared to paying with cash, but they also come with daily spending limits to help you save even more.
The Oyster card has a non-refundable £10 card fee, and then you add credit (pay as you go) or load a Travelcard. Daily caps help you save money; for example, the daily cap for travel in Zones 1-2 is £8.90.
Remember: if you don't use all your credit, you can get a refund for up to £10 at a ticket machine. The £10 card fee isn't refundable, but the card can be reused for your next visit.
And if you prefer to travel light, you can tap in with a contactless bank card. Just keep an eye on any potential bank charges. Similar to the Oyster or Travelcard, contactless bank cards also benefit from a daily cap on charges, ensuring you don’t spend more than a set amount each day, regardless of how many trips you make.
Here are the tables that outline the fare caps and Travelcard prices:
Pay as you go (PAYG) caps: For trips on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, and National Rail, there are daily and weekly spending caps that apply.
| Zone(s) | One Day Anytime | 7 day |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 only | £8.90 | £44.70 |
| Zone 1 and 2 | £8.90 | £44.70 |
| Zone 1, 2, and 3 | £10.50 | £52.50 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, and 4 | £12.80 | £64.20 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 | £15.30 | £76.40 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 | £16.30 | £81.60 |
Travelcards: These cards give you unlimited travel within the chosen zones and are available for different lengths of time.
| Zone(s) | One Day Anytime | One Day Off-peak | 7 Day | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 only | £16.60 | £16.60 | £44.70 | £171.70 | £1,788 |
| Zone 1 and 2 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £44.70 | £171.70 | £1,788 |
| Zone 1, 2, and 3 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £52.50 | £201.60 | £2,100 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, and 4 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £64.20 | £246.60 | £2,568 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 | £23.60 | £16.60 | £76.40 | £293.40 | £3,056 |
| Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 | £23.60 | £16.60 | £81.60 | £313.40 | £3,264 |
We recommend Oyster or a contactless bank card when travelling around London – it's cheaper than paper tickets and caps your daily spend. If you choose Oyster, the card fee is £10, and then you add credit or load a Travelcard.
If you want something delivered before you travel, the Visitor Oyster card can be ordered online (it costs £10 plus postage). Otherwise, you can buy a standard Oyster card in London when you arrive.
In addition to the Oyster Card, the Travelcard is an excellent option for those planning to make extensive use of public transport. You can purchase a Travelcard for periods of 7 days, a month, or even a year, making it ideal for regular visitors or residents of London. Unlike the Oyster Card, which charges per trip up to a daily cap, the Travelcard allows you unlimited travel within the zones you have selected, without concern for the number of trips you make.
For added convenience, both the Oyster Card and Travelcard can be topped up online, at ticket vending machines, or at any London train or Tube station. With these cards, you can fully enjoy all that London has to offer, moving around the city efficiently and cost-effectively.
Where to buy tourist tickets online?
On the Tiqets website, you can buy all kinds of tickets online, for the main attractions in London: museums, shows, monuments, and other very nice places. On some tickets (few) you can save between 5% and 20%. It will also save you from queuing at many places.
Tip: It can also give you great ideas of places to go! (even if you don't buy tickets) ;)
Questions and answers
Where can I buy tickets to travel on public transport in London?
- Tickets and prepaid card top-ups can be purchased at the ticket machines that can be found at the Tube stations. You can pay by credit/debit card or in cash (coins or notes). Ticket vending machines are available in different languages.
How much do young children pay for transport in London?
- Children under 11 travel for free when accompanied by a paying adult.
- Children aged 11 to 15 can get 50% off adult pay as you go fares if they have an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard or if staff add the "Young Visitor discount" to an Oyster card. The discount does not apply on contactless bank cards.
For more information on discounts, visit the official transport website.
Tourists: a standard Oyster card can be bought in London (card fee £10). If you want a card before you travel, you can order a Visitor Oyster card online (it costs £10 plus postage and comes with credit).
Where can I find precise information for the rest of the fares and tickets?
- Official sources: tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares (Single Fare Finder + caps/Travelcards) and the adult fares PDF: content.tfl.gov.uk/adult-fares.pdf.
If you notice any errors on this website or have any suggestions, please use our contact form, and we will try to solve the problem as soon as possible.
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