Going out in London or working a night shift? Night Tube runs overnight from Friday into Saturday and Saturday into Sunday on selected lines and branches. Check that it serves your station and the final leg to your destination.
It can save a longer bus journey or a taxi, but does not make the whole transport network a 24-hour service. Check your return itinerary for the specific date before leaving.
This guide explains Night Tube routes, hours, fares and how to plan your journey.
What is Night Tube and when did it start?
Night Tube is London’s overnight Underground service on Friday and Saturday nights. It launched on 19 August 2016 on the Central and Victoria lines, with other lines joining later.
It expanded overnight travel options for residents and visitors at weekends.
Which lines have Night Tube?
Night Tube operates on these Underground lines:
- Central line: Between Ealing Broadway and the Loughton and Hainault branches, the latter via Newbury Park. No service to West Ruislip or Epping, or between Woodford and Hainault via Roding Valley. Check your train destination and station departures.
- Victoria line: The full line between Brixton and Walthamstow Central; check departures for your night.
- Jubilee line: Between Stratford and Stanmore. Check departures and closures before travelling.
- Northern line: Edgware / High Barnet to Morden via Charing Cross. No Night Tube on the Bank branch or to Mill Hill East or Battersea Power Station.
- Piccadilly line: Cockfosters to Heathrow Terminal 5 via Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3. No Night Tube to Heathrow Terminal 4 or on the Uxbridge branch.
Night Tube hours and frequency
Night Tube extends services through the early hours of Saturday and Sunday, connecting with daytime operations. It does not necessarily start at 00:00 or finish at 05:30 at every station.
- Friday into Saturday: For departures after midnight, select Saturday’s date in the journey planner.
- Saturday into Sunday: After midnight, select Sunday’s date and check every connection you need.
Frequency varies by line, branch and section. Check your station’s departures in TfL’s journey planner; an indicative interval does not guarantee a departure or connection during engineering work.
Fares and payment methods
TfL says Night Tube uses off-peak fares. Check the amount for your starting point, destination and date in the fare finder. Payment options include:
- Oyster: Use your Oyster card as during the day.
- Contactless: Use a compatible bank card or device. Touch in and out with the same card or device: a phone and physical card are counted separately. Oyster discounts do not automatically transfer to contactless.
- Travelcards: They must be valid and cover your zones. A Day Travelcard covers journeys starting before 04:30 on the day after its printed date; it does not last 24 hours from purchase.
Capping applies, but depends on zones, services and correct validation. The fare day changes at 04:30: later journeys belong to the new day. A return at 02:00 on Saturday counts towards Friday’s fare day; one at 05:00 belongs to Saturday. A maximum fare for an incomplete journey is different from a daily cap.
Night Tube map
The website image is a reference. Check stations and connections on TfL’s official night map and check service status too. The map shows the usual network, not whether engineering work affects your date.
Benefits of Night Tube
Night Tube can help both people enjoying London’s nightlife and night-shift workers:
- Time savings: TfL cites average overnight journey savings of around 20 minutes, with larger savings on some routes. This is a general estimate, not a promise for your journey; compare the trip to your actual address.
- Demand: The service supports leisure and work journeys at weekends. Counts from its first months are historical and do not describe today’s passenger levels.
- Economic contribution: Launch-related studies estimated it could generate £77 million annually and support around 2,000 permanent jobs. These are historical projections, not a current measurement of results.
- Staff and assistance: TfL staffs stations while overnight trains run. Ask staff or use help points if you need assistance; this does not eliminate every risk of night travel.
Connections with other night services
Night Tube connects with night buses and 24-hour routes, as well as taxis and pre-booked transfers. Check the final walk too: a night station near your neighbourhood is not necessarily beside your accommodation.
Windrush: London Overground’s night service
The night network includes Windrush between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate on Friday and Saturday nights. This is London Overground, not a sixth Underground line. Do not extend this service to every Windrush branch or the rest of Overground; check your station and date.
Night Tube’s cultural impact
Since launching, Night Tube has expanded weekend leisure and work travel options. Its usefulness depends on whether your route and night are covered: London’s entire rail network is not permanently open.
It helps people return from events, restaurants, theatres and music venues where compatible night stations are available. Check the return route before choosing a venue or booking accommodation simply because it is near a line.
What is next for Night Tube?
The usual schedule checked remains Friday and Saturday nights. Do not plan Thursday travel on the assumption that an expansion proposal has already started. Check TfL’s official announcements and timetables for future changes.
Planning your night journey
Night Tube can be practical for nights out and work. Choose according to your station, branch, date and final destination, and check disruptions before travelling.
Combine Underground, Overground or buses where needed. A planned alternative is particularly useful during works, branch closures or when the final leg is far from the station.
Check your return before going out
- Search the entire journey to your accommodation for the correct date and time after midnight.
- Check the branch: Northern night trains via Charing Cross, not Bank; Piccadilly to Heathrow 2 & 3 and 5, not Terminal 4.
- Check service status and planned closures, as well as the usual map.
- Check lifts if you need step-free access, and save a bus or transfer alternative for the final leg.
Elizabeth line and DLR are not part of Night Tube. It is not an overnight Underground connection to Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Southend either. For an early flight, check your airport guide and terminal, even if the first part of your London journey has night trains.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026.
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