How the Tube works
- Each line has a name and a colour, for example the red Central line or the light blue Victoria line.
- Signs point you to a line and a direction: Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound or Westbound. Some platforms list the stations the trains stop at.
- Check the destination on the front of the train and on the platform screen, because some lines split into branches.
- London is divided into fare zones. Most sights are in Zone 1, so a day of sightseeing usually costs no more than the Zones 1–2 cap.
Nearest stations to London's top sights
| Sight | Nearest station | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament | Westminster | Jubilee, District, Circle |
| London Eye | Waterloo or Westminster | Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo |
| Buckingham Palace | Green Park or St. James's Park | Victoria, Piccadilly, Jubilee, District, Circle |
| Tower of London and Tower Bridge | Tower Hill | District, Circle |
| British Museum | Tottenham Court Road or Russell Square | Central, Northern, Elizabeth, Piccadilly |
| Oxford Street shopping | Oxford Circus or Bond Street | Central, Victoria, Bakerloo, Jubilee |
| Harrods | Knightsbridge | Piccadilly |
| Natural History, Science and V&A museums | South Kensington | Piccadilly, District, Circle |
| Covent Garden | Covent Garden or Leicester Square | Piccadilly, Northern |
| Camden Market | Camden Town | Northern |
| Borough Market and The Shard | London Bridge | Jubilee, Northern |
| Hyde Park | Marble Arch or Hyde Park Corner | Central, Piccadilly |
| Regent's Park and London Central Mosque | Baker Street or St. John's Wood | Jubilee and others |
| Wembley Stadium | Wembley Park | Jubilee, Metropolitan |
| Greenwich | Cutty Sark (DLR) | DLR |
Tube etiquette
- Stand on the right on escalators and keep the left side free for people walking.
- Let passengers off the train before you get on, and move down inside the carriage.
- Mind the gap between the train and the platform, especially with a suitcase or a pushchair.
- Have your card or phone ready before you reach the gate so you don't block the queue.
Useful tips
- Avoid the rush hours with luggage: roughly 8:00–9:30 and 17:00–18:30 on weekdays.
- Some stations are very close. Leicester Square to Covent Garden is often quicker on foot.
- Deep lines like the Central and Northern get warm in summer. Carry water.
- Check the live line status each morning. Weekend engineering work can close whole sections.
Night Tube and night buses
On Friday and Saturday nights the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines run all night. Night buses run every night of the week and fill the gaps.
Step-free travel
Many stations have lifts from street to platform, and the whole Elizabeth line is step-free. In our journey planner, turn on “Step-free to platform” to see only accessible routes.
Safety and help
Staff are on duty at every station while it's open, and platforms have help points. In an emergency call 999. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket in crowded carriages.