Can you believe it’s that time already? We’re having our Christmas parties and panicking about whether the Tube lines are running or not.
Well, not to fear, we’re here with a complete guide to the works, closures and changes that you need to be aware of. This is everything you need to know about what’s happening on the London Underground, DLR, Overground and TfL Rail.
An overview of Christmas transport
We’ve got a complete day-by-day guide a little further down this page but for a (very) quick guide, here’s the essential information you need to know.
- Christmas Eve (Sunday 24th): Services finish early by about 23:30. DLR services end earlier at 22:50
- Christmas Day (Monday 25th): All services are closed.
- Between Christmas and New Year: Tubes, trains and buses run weekend or altered services. Check ahead before travel.
- New Year’s Eve (Sunday 31st): Free travel on the TfL network between 23:45 and 04:30. Many Tube, DLR, Trams and buses will run through the night.
- New Year’s Day (Monday 1st): Most services will run on a Sunday schedule.
Planning a Tube journey
Over the festive period, a number of stations will be extra busy with Christmas shoppers and tourists. Follow our guide on how to avoid London’s busiest Tube stations.
If you’re unsure about what’s running or how best to deal with changes to a service, use Tube Map’s real-time route planner. The best thing about the journey planner is that it takes current closures and delays into account and will route around them if necessary. Download the app for free on iOS or Android.
Checking the buses
There are thousands of buses in London so you’ll be forgiven for not being completely sure what’s running and how often. Use the search function in our Bus London app to find any bus stop or route and see live departures. There’s also information from TfL that lets you know about anything happening in the area. Download for free on iOS or Android.
Day-by-day London transport guide
On-going Closures
These are the closures that will be continuing throughout the Christmas period.
London Overground. No trains between Gospel Oak and Barking until January.
TfL Rail. The entire line is closed from 23rd December to Monday 1st January. Rail replacement buses will run between Stratford and Romford, then between Newbury Park and Shenfield.
23rd December (Saturday)
London Underground
Northern line: Trains not running between Charing Cross and Stockwell from 00:45 to 01:30.
London Overground
- No trains between Highbury & Islington and Dalston Junstion.
- No trains between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace and West Croydon before 09:45.
- No trains between Camden Road and Stratford. A rail replacement bus will stop at Camden Road, Finsbury Park, Dalston Junction, Hackney Central, Homerton, Hackney Wick and Stratford
- No trains between Romford and Upminster. TfL advises passengers to use bus 370.
Christmas Eve (Sunday)
London Underground – The Tube will close early so be sure to have finished your journey by 23:30. Rail replacement buses will be in operation for closed services.
- District line: No trains between South Kensington/Edgware Road and Ealing Broadway/Richmond, Ealing Broadway/Wimbledon, and between Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia).
- Circle line: No trains between Aldgate and Edgware Road via Victoria. This will last until Saturday 30th December.
- Piccadilly line: Trains towards Rayners Lane and Uxbridge will also call at District line stations between Acton Town and Hammersmith. Normal service will resume for the Night Tube.
London Overground
- No trains between Highbury & Islington and Dalston Junction.
- No trains between Camden Road and Stratford. Rail replacement buses will be in service.
- No trains between Romford and Upminster, passengers recommended to use the 370 bus instead.
DLR – The DLR will finish early at about 22:50 so be sure to complete your journey before then.
Trams – The trams will be less frequent after 18:00 but will finish at the normal time.
Buses – Bus routes normally run 24 hours will end at about midnight and there will be no night services.
Christmas Day (Monday)
All TfL services will be closed for the day. But if you’re walking you can always use the walking Tube Map!
Boxing day (Tuesday)
London Underground – Trains start running at 07:45 and will run as a Sunday service.
- District line: No trains between South Kensington/Edgware Road and Ealing Broadway/Richmond, Ealing Broadway/Wimbledon, and between Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia).
- Circle Line: No trains between Aldgate and Edgware Road via Victoria.
- Piccadilly line: Trains running towards Rayners Lane and Uxbridge will also call at District line stations between Acton Town and Hammersmith (only during the day, this will stop before the Night Tube).
London Overground – There will be no service.
DLR – There will be a reduced service.
Buses – All buses will run a Sunday schedule.
27th December (Wednesday) to 30th December (Saturday)
London Underground – All lines will run on a Saturday timetable with the exception of the Waterloo & City line which will run an amended weekday timetable.
- District line. No trains between South Kensington/Edgware Road and Ealing Broadway/Richmond, Ealing Broadway/Wimbledon, and between Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia).
- Circle line. No trains between Aldgate and Edgware Road via Victoria.
- Piccadilly line. Trains running towards Rayners Lane and Uxbridge will also call at District line stations between Acton Town and Hammersmith (only during the day, this will stop before the Night Tube).
London Overground
- No trains between Highbury & Islington and Dalston Junction.
- No trains between Camden Road and Stratford. (Rail replacement buses will be in service).
- No trains between Romford and Upminster, passengers recommended to use the 370 bus instead.
DLR – Normal weekend service
Buses – All buses will run a Saturday schedule with the following exceptions:
- Sunday service on routes 7, 38, 93, 94, 120, 133, 149, 159, 209, 343, 344, 507 and W7.
- A limited service on the 521 and X68.
- Night buses will operate as normal.
New Year’s Eve (Sunday)
Between 23:45 and 04:30 you can travel for free across the Transport for London network.
London Underground – All lines will operate on a Sunday schedule and then continue through the night.
The New Year’s event by the Thames will mean the following stations will be extra busy:
- Westminster Tube station (Jubilee, Circle, District lines)
- Leicester Square Tube station (Northern, Piccadilly lines)
- Piccadilly Circus Tube station (Bakerloo, Piccadilly lines)
- Waterloo Tube and National Rail (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee lines)
- Pimlico Tube station (Victoria line)
- Victoria Tube and Rail (Victoria, Circle, District lines)
London Overground – The Overground will operate on a Sunday schedule and then free travel will be available between 23:45 and 04:30.
- No trains running between Romford and Upminster.
- No trains running between Edmonton Green and Cheshunt.
- No trains running between Euston and Kilburn High Road before 12:15 and after 20:30.
DLR – The DLR will operate on a Sunday schedule until 00:30 and free travel will be available between 23:45 and 04:30.
Trams – The Trams will operate on a Sunday schedule and then free travel will be available between 23:45 and 04:30.
Buses – All buses will run a Sunday schedule and then night buses will have extra services. It will be free to ride a bus between 23:45 and 04:30.
The following bus routes will terminate early or be diverted due to the London fireworks event:
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 36, 38, 45, 52, 53, 55, 59, 63, 68, 73, 76, 77, 82, 87, 88, 91, 94, 98, 100, 134, 139, 148, 159, 168, 170, 171, 172, 176, 185, 188, 211, 242, 243, 341, 344, 360, 381, 388, 453, 507, C2, C10, N1, N2, N3, N5, N8, N9, N11, N13, N15, N16, N18, N19, N20, N21, N22, N26, N29, N38, N41, N44, N55, N63, N68, N73, N87, N89, N91, N97, N98, N109, N113, N136, N155, N171, N199, N207, N253, N279, N343, N381, N550, N551 and RV1.New Year’s Day (Monday)
TfL hasn’t yet fully confirmed travel changes for New Year’s Day 2018 but here’s what we’re expecting….
London Underground – After midday trains will run a Sunday service.
London Overground – Will operate on a Sunday schedule all day.
DLR – Trains will operate on a Sunday schedule after 10:00.
Buses – Buses will run a Sunday schedule with a number of routes being affected by the New Year’s Day Parade.
Information via Transport for London.
