In this guide
London transport prices depend on the service, zones, time of travel and how you pay. Contactless or Oyster pay as you go is normally the simplest and least expensive choice for an adult visitor because eligible journeys are automatically capped.
Fare snapshot: prices on this page were checked on 31 July 2026. The next confirmed change is on 1 November 2026, when adult bus and tram fares rise. Always use TfL’s Single Fare Finder for an exact station-to-station rail fare.
Quick reference: the fares most visitors need
- Tube, Elizabeth line, Overground or DLR in Zones 1–2: a two-zone journey including Zone 1 costs £3.60 peak or £3.10 off-peak. A one-zone Zone 1 journey is £3.10 peak or £3 off-peak.
- Zones 1–2 daily cap: pay no more than £8.90 for eligible Tube, Elizabeth line, Overground, DLR, bus and tram travel when you keep using the same Oyster or contactless card or device.
- London bus or tram: £1.75 per adult, including further bus and tram journeys started within one hour. The bus-and-tram-only daily cap is £5.25.
- Children under 11: usually travel free on the main TfL services. On rail services they must be with a fare-paying adult, with up to four children per adult.
- Visitors aged 11–15: pay half the adult pay-as-you-go fares and caps for up to 14 days after the Young Visitor discount is added to an Oyster or Visitor Oyster card. A contactless bank card charges the adult fare.
Not sure which payment method to choose? Read the complete Oyster card and contactless guide, including the current card fee, where Oyster works and when your own bank card is the better option.
This is the price companion to our complete London transport overview.
Peak and off-peak times
Peak and off-peak pricing mainly affects the Underground, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail journeys using pay as you go.
| Fare period | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Morning peak | Monday to Friday, 06:30–09:29 |
| Evening peak | Monday to Friday, 16:00–18:59 |
| Off-peak | Monday to Friday before 06:30, 09:30–15:59 and after 19:00 |
| Weekends and public holidays | Off-peak all day |
The time you touch in at the start normally determines whether a single rail fare is peak or off-peak.
There are important exceptions:
- Journeys starting outside Zone 1 between 16:00 and 18:59 and ending in Zone 1 are normally charged an off-peak fare.
- On the Elizabeth line Reading extension, the evening contra-peak rule applies more widely to journeys heading towards London.
- It does not apply in the same way on Southeastern high speed, Gatwick Express or Heathrow Express.
- Tube and Elizabeth line journeys to or from Heathrow that start, end or pass through Zone 1 are charged peak fares.
Because the exceptions are journey-specific, check unusual or expensive routes in the Single Fare Finder.
Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line single fares
The following are adult Oyster or contactless pay-as-you-go fares introduced on 1 March 2026. The same TfL fare scale also applies to many National Rail journeys within London, but some National Rail and airport journeys use different fares.
Journeys including Zone 1
| Zones travelled | Peak single | Off-peak single |
|---|---|---|
| 1 zone | £3.10 | £3.00 |
| 2 zones | £3.60 | £3.10 |
| 3 zones | £3.90 | £3.30 |
| 4 zones | £4.80 | £3.60 |
| 5 zones | £5.30 | £3.80 |
| 6 zones | £5.90 | £4.00 |
Journeys avoiding Zone 1
| Zones travelled | Peak single | Off-peak single |
|---|---|---|
| 1 zone | £2.30 | £2.20 |
| 2 zones | £2.50 | £2.30 |
| 3 zones | £3.20 | £2.40 |
| 4 zones | £3.40 | £2.50 |
| 5 zones | £3.80 | £2.60 |
These tables describe the standard TfL scale. A specific journey can cost more or less because of the route, operator, airport supplement or a station beyond Zone 6.
Daily and weekly caps
A cap limits what you pay for eligible journeys when you keep using the same Oyster card or the same contactless card or device. The TfL day runs from 04:30 to 04:29 the following morning.
| Zones used | Daily cap | Monday–Sunday cap |
|---|---|---|
| Zones 1–2 | £8.90 | £44.70 |
| Zones 1–3 | £10.50 | £52.50 |
| Zones 1–4 | £12.80 | £64.20 |
| Zones 1–5 | £15.30 | £76.40 |
| Zones 1–6 | £16.30 | £81.60 |
| Zones 1–7 | £17.80 peak / £16.30 off-peak | £88.90 |
| Zones 1–8 | £21.00 peak / £16.30 off-peak | £104.90 |
| Zones 1–9 | £23.30 peak / £16.30 off-peak | £116.40 |
For Zones 1–6 the 2026 daily peak and off-peak caps are the same. Some outer-zone combinations have a lower off-peak cap; consult TfL’s complete 2026 caps table.
The weekly cap runs Monday to Sunday, not for any arbitrary seven-day period. Starting a visit midweek can make a 7 Day Travelcard more attractive than contactless weekly capping.
Heathrow Express and Southeastern high-speed journeys are excluded from these caps. River Bus and Cable Car payments are also separate.
Travelcard prices
Pay as you go with capping is usually cheaper than a Day Travelcard for a visitor travelling only inside London. A weekly or longer Travelcard can still make sense for predictable, repeated travel.
| Zones | Day Anytime | Day Off-peak | 7 Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zones 1–2 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £44.70 |
| Zones 1–3 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £52.50 |
| Zones 1–4 | £16.60 | £16.60 | £64.20 |
| Zones 1–5 | £23.60 | £16.60 | £76.40 |
| Zones 1–6 | £23.60 | £16.60 | £81.60 |
| Zones 1–9 | £29.80 | £17.80 | £116.40 |
An off-peak Day Travelcard can be used from 09:30 Monday to Friday and all day on weekends and public holidays. Travelcards and multimodal caps are currently frozen until March 2027.
Bus and tram prices
Buses and trams use the same flat fare across London. There is no peak surcharge.
For boarding, live arrivals, useful routes and event-day advice, read How to Use London Buses and Trams.
Current prices: 28 July–31 October 2026
| Ticket or cap | Adult price |
|---|---|
| One PAYG fare | £1.75 |
| Hopper fare | £1.75 for unlimited bus and tram journeys started within one hour |
| Daily bus and tram cap | £5.25 |
| One Day Bus & Tram Pass | £6.00 |
| 7 Day Bus & Tram Pass | £24.70 |
| Monthly Bus & Tram Pass | £94.90 |
| Annual Bus & Tram Pass | £988 |
Touch in on every bus or tram, but do not touch out. Continue using exactly the same Oyster card or contactless device for the Hopper and caps to work.
Changing between the Underground and a bus is not a free interchange: the rail journey and bus journey are charged separately. However, a Tube journey does not break an existing Hopper. If you take a bus, make a Tube journey and board another bus within one hour of the first bus touch, the two bus journeys share one Hopper fare while the Tube fare is charged separately. See the worked examples in the bus and tram guide.
Confirmed rise from 1 November 2026
| Ticket or cap | Current | From 1 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| One PAYG fare | £1.75 | £1.85 |
| Daily bus and tram cap | £5.25 | £5.55 |
| One Day Bus & Tram Pass | £6.00 | £6.40 |
| 7 Day Bus & Tram Pass | £24.70 | £26.10 |
The one-hour Hopper remains. TfL says the overall bus and tram increase will be 5.7%.
Summer 2026 Weekend Hopper
The Weekend Hopper is a six-week trial running from 25 July to 31 August 2026, including the bank-holiday Monday.
During the trial:
- One £1.75 fare covers unlimited TfL bus and tram journeys on an eligible Saturday.
- A separate £1.75 fare covers unlimited journeys on Sunday.
- Each fare day runs from 04:30 until 04:29 the next morning.
- The offer applies automatically when you use the same Oyster card or contactless card or device.
- The usual one-hour Hopper continues on weekdays and after the trial.
- Tube, rail, River Bus and Cable Car travel are not included in the £1.75 weekend offer.
For example, unlimited bus and tram travel on both Saturday and Sunday costs an adult £3.50 in total, because each day has its own £1.75 fare.
The trial ends after 31 August unless a new decision extends or replaces it. TfL will evaluate the results before they inform future fare policy.
Our bus and tram guide explains how to use the offer for a day of sightseeing.
National Rail and airport rail fares
National Rail prices within London are not one universal table:
- Many journeys within the Oyster area use TfL-style zonal fares and count towards caps.
- Some routes use National Rail fares even when Oyster or contactless is accepted.
- Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Southeastern high-speed services have special rules or exclusions.
- Stansted, Luton and Southend airports are outside the Oyster area. Adult contactless payment is now available on the principal rail routes, but an Oyster card is still not valid.
- Contactless reaches farther than Oyster on several routes.
Use TfL’s Single Fare Finder for pay-as-you-go journeys and National Rail for Advance, return, Railcard and group tickets.
For Heathrow, compare three separate products rather than assuming the fastest-looking train is best:
- Piccadilly line: standard Tube fare and included in normal capping.
- Elizabeth line: a faster rail option for many destinations; Heathrow supplements can apply.
- Heathrow Express: premium fare, excluded from normal caps and Travelcards.
The complete Heathrow Airport transport guide compares current fares, journey times, comfort and the best line for each hotel area. Our airport section in the main transport guide introduces the routes for all six airports.
For Gatwick, compare Southern and Gatwick Express to Victoria with Thameslink through London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras. The complete Gatwick Airport transport guide explains the special airport fares, terminal transfer and when the Express premium is worthwhile.
River Bus prices
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers sets River Bus fares separately. Oyster and contactless are accepted, but river journeys do not count towards TfL daily or weekly caps.
Until 31 October 2026, Oyster and contactless use a temporary time-based structure. The operator unusually calls weekday travel from 06:35 to 09:27 off-peak and charges the higher peak fare at other times, including weekends and bank holidays.
| River zones | PAYG weekday 06:35–09:27 | PAYG at other times |
|---|---|---|
| East only | £6.20 | £7.40 |
| West only | £6.20 | £7.40 |
| Central only | £9.90 | £11.90 |
| Central and East | £11.40 | £13.70 |
| Central and West | £11.40 | £13.70 |
| All zones | £19.30 | £22.90 |
| Selected short cross-river journeys | £4.10 | £4.10 |
Through 31 August 2026, an adult one-day Hop-on Hop-off ticket costs £29.30 online or in the app, or £32.60 at the pier. A TfL-issued Travelcard gives one third off many standard River Bus fares. Children and several concession groups can receive 50% discounts.
Read the complete London river boats guide for app and pier singles, day and family tickets, zone boundaries, recommended routes, sightseeing cruises and special experiences.
London Cable Car prices
| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| One way | £7.00 | £3.50 |
| Round trip | £13.50 | £6.75 |
Oyster and contactless are accepted, but Cable Car journeys do not count towards TfL caps. TfL advertises online discounts of up to 30% on selected dates and tickets. A local multi-journey ticket costs £19 for ten one-way journeys.
Woolwich Ferry
The Woolwich Ferry between Woolwich and North Woolwich is free for pedestrians, cyclists and permitted vehicles. Check its operating status before making a special journey because weather, maintenance and service changes can affect it.
Santander Cycles
| Option | Standard cycle | E-bike |
|---|---|---|
| Single ride | £1.65 for up to 30 minutes | £3.00 for up to 30 minutes |
| Day Pass | £3.50 for unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes | Day Pass plus £1 per e-bike journey of up to 60 minutes |
| Monthly subscription | £20 | E-bike supplements apply |
| Annual subscription | £120 | E-bike supplements apply |
Return the bicycle within the included ride time and take another one if needed. Keeping it beyond the limit creates additional charges.
Black cabs and private hire
Black-cab fares are metered rather than fixed. From 25 April 2026:
- The minimum fare is £4.40.
- A typical one-mile journey is approximately £8.40–£13.20, depending on time and traffic.
- A typical four-mile journey is approximately £21–£35.
- TfL estimates Heathrow–central London at approximately £70–£120.
- Booking charges and airport drop-off extras can apply.
Private-hire services such as Uber show a quote in their app. Prices vary with distance, demand, traffic, pickup point and vehicle type, so there is no single TfL fare to publish.
Best ways to save money
- Use contactless or Oyster pay as you go. Paper rail singles are usually more expensive; our Oyster card guide explains which option to choose.
- Keep using the exact same card or device. A physical bank card and that card in Apple Pay are treated separately, so their journeys will not combine towards one cap.
- Travel off-peak when possible. The saving is most noticeable on longer rail journeys.
- Use pink route validators. When changing trains on a route that avoids Zone 1, touching the pink reader can prevent a Zone 1 fare.
- Use the Hopper fare. Chain bus and tram journeys within an hour for one fare.
- Use the Weekend Hopper before 31 August 2026. It is exceptionally good value for a bus-based sightseeing day.
- Let daily capping work before buying a Day Travelcard. For most adult visitors, pay as you go is cheaper.
- Consider a weekly product only for frequent travel. Contactless and Oyster weekly capping follows Monday–Sunday; a 7 Day Travelcard can start on any chosen day.
- Add a Railcard discount to an Oyster card if eligible. Ask station staff to load the discount; it can reduce many off-peak fares and caps.
- Compare airport routes. The premium express is not automatically the best journey for your destination.
- Use a Travelcard river discount. Eligible Travelcard holders get one third off many River Bus fares.
- Check concessions. Children, students, apprentices, care leavers, veterans, older residents and some jobseekers may qualify for free or discounted travel.
How much do children pay?
The answer depends on the child’s age, the transport used and whether they have the right Oyster discount. These are the rules most families visiting London need:
| Child’s age or ticket | Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line | Buses and trams | What a visitor needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | Free with a fare-paying adult | Free | No separate card |
| Age 5–10 | Free with a fare-paying adult; up to four children can travel with each adult | Free | No separate card for these main TfL journeys; use the wider staffed gate together |
| Age 11–15 with Young Visitor discount | Half the adult pay-as-you-go fare and half the adult cap | Half the adult pay-as-you-go fare | A separate Oyster or Visitor Oyster card for each child; ask TfL staff to add the discount |
| Age 11–15 with an 11–15 Zip Oyster photocard | Child fares and caps | Free | Apply in advance; this is usually more useful for London residents or longer stays |
| Age 16–17 without a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard | Adult fare | Adult fare | Use adult Oyster or contactless |
The Young Visitor discount lasts for up to 14 days. The child must be present when a member of staff adds it at most Tube stations, a TfL Visitor Centre or the National Rail ticket office at Victoria. It cannot be added to a contactless bank card or phone. For example, the current adult Zones 1–2 daily cap is £8.90, so the equivalent Young Visitor cap is £4.45.
The free travel rule for children aged 5–10 applies on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and some National Rail services when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. National Rail exceptions exist, particularly beyond the TfL network, so check the exact journey. River services, the IFS Cloud Cable Car and airport express trains have their own child tickets; those prices are covered separately above.
See TfL’s visitor guide to travelling with children and free and discounted travel rules for the latest eligibility details.
Fares checked on 31 July 2026. Adult prices are shown unless a child or concession fare is stated. Always verify an exact journey before buying a non-refundable ticket.
