In this short article, we share a series of tips for using the London Underground. Some are unwritten rules; others are mistakes worth avoiding.
There are tips on being considerate and others to help you choose the right train, pay correctly or avoid an unnecessary interchange. Check staff instructions too: disruption can change your usual route.
Tips for using the London Underground
- Get a map and study your route before travelling. Familiarise yourself with it: either a paper map or an app on your smartphone will do.
- Before boarding, check the destination on the platform display and the train. Choosing the line colour is not enough: on lines with branches, two trains from the same platform can terminate at different places.
- On escalators, stand on the right and keep the left clear. Hold the handrail, keep your luggage under control and follow any specific staff instructions. Do not apply this rule to every fixed staircase.
- Do not smoke or use electronic cigarettes. Drinking alcohol and carrying open containers of alcoholic drinks are also prohibited. This is not a general ban on drinking water.
- Watch out for pickpockets. Keep your bag or wallet close to your body.
- Always wait behind the yellow line.
- Do not leave luggage unattended. If you see an abandoned item or anything suspicious, tell staff and do not touch it. Keeping your belongings with you also reduces the risk of theft.
- For personal souvenir photos, do not use flash or a tripod and do not block the way. Follow staff instructions; commercial shoots have their own permit requirements.
- To check for delays or closures, use the official TfL journey planner and line status updates.
- Compare Oyster and contactless before buying a new card. For many adults with a compatible bank card, contactless avoids buying Oyster; check bank fees and whether you need discounts. With pay as you go, touch in and out, even when gates are open, and always use the same card or device. Do not switch between your physical card, phone and watch.
- If you can choose, avoid the busiest periods. Do not confuse crowding with peak fare times: the general pay-as-you-go rule is Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, 06:30–09:30 and 16:00–19:00, based on when you touch in. Some routes have exceptions; check TfL’s fare finder.
- Check the first and last trains for your route, including connections. There is no universal 5 am–midnight timetable for the whole network. Check official times by line. Some sections have Night Tube services on Fridays and Saturdays, but not all.
- Remember that changing lines can involve long corridors and take considerable time.
- If you are unsure, ask Underground staff.
- Pay attention to signs. Station displays and announcements provide information about lines and stops. Stay alert so you do not miss your way.
- Do not lean against train doors.
- Plan your interchanges: staying in the same zone does not guarantee a free change. The route, payment method and touches matter. Some links require leaving and re-entering and have a time limit. Our guide to out-of-station interchanges explains cases such as Hammersmith and Canary Wharf.
- With a wheelchair, buggy or suitcase, check the whole route and lift status. Step-free access to the platform does not always mean a level boarding point. See our guide to the step-free London Underground.
- Check fares, which vary with the zones you travel through. Many central sights are in zones 1 and 2, but do not choose your coverage on that alone: check your accommodation, airport and day trips too. The price can vary with the time, route and service.
- Prepare for heat. Trains can be hot, especially in summer. Wear light clothing and carry water.
- Let passengers off before boarding. This prevents congestion and helps everyone move through.
- Use headphones when listening to music or watching videos so you do not disturb other passengers.
- Speak quietly in crowded, noisy spaces.
- Respect personal space. Avoid pushing or unnecessary physical contact.
- Be considerate towards tourists, even if you are one yourself. If someone looks lost, offer help. A kind gesture can improve their experience.
- Avoid standing in front of train doors or blocking aisles.
- If paying with your phone or watch, keep enough battery to touch out and show your payment method during an inspection. Switching to the physical card halfway through does not solve a flat battery.
- Offer priority seats to those who need them and take your backpack off your back when the carriage is full to make more room.
Following these tips and avoiding common mistakes can make your London Underground journeys smoother and more enjoyable.
Have more tips to add? You are welcome to help us make this list more useful.
Last reviewed: 18 October 2026.
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