London Bus, Tube and Train Tickets: 2026

London Bus, Tube and Train Tickets: The Complete 2026 Fare Guide for Visitors are easiest to manage with one contactless bank card, phone, or Oyster card. 
For most visitors, TfL automatically works out eligible fares and applies daily caps when you use the same payment method throughout the day.

London's ticket system can look confusing, but the main rules are simple: Tube and train fares depend on zones, buses use a flat fare, and daily caps limit eligible spending. 
This guide explains how the system works, using the fare figures supplied for this guide. Because fares and acceptance rules can change, check the official TfL fares guidance before travelling.

London uses a concentric zone system. Zone 1 covers the centre, while the outer zones extend as far as Zone 9. 
For most Tube, Elizabeth line, and National Rail journeys within London, your fare is based on the zones crossed rather than the number of stops.

A journey entirely within Zone 1 normally costs less than one crossing Zones 1, 2, and 3. Buses work differently: a standard single bus fare applies regardless of how far you travel on that bus.

Zones most visitors use

• Zone 1: Central London, including the City, Westminster, Soho, South Bank, King's Cross, Paddington, and Victoria.
• Zone 2: Inner London areas such as Brixton, Hackney, Clapham, Shepherd's Bush, Stratford, and Islington.
• Zone 3: Outer London locations including Wimbledon, Hammersmith, Ealing, and Finchley.
• Zone 6: Heathrow Airport and many destinations at the edge of Greater London.

Some stations sit close to a zone boundary, and the route taken can affect the fare. When a trip is not straightforward, use TfL's London journey planner and fare tools.
 Checking before you leave is especially useful for airport journeys and trips that combine TfL services with National Rail.

2026 London Bus, Tube and Train Ticket Fares

The figures below are the Oyster and contactless prices used in this guide. Peak fares generally apply during weekday commuting periods, while off-peak fares apply at other times. 
Exact treatment can vary by service and route, so use these figures as a planning guide rather than a substitute for a live fare check.

Peak hours: Monday to Friday, 06:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 19:00. A journey outside these times may qualify for an off-peak fare, although the exact rules depend on the service and route.

National Rail trains within London can use the same zonal system as the Tube when Oyster or contactless payment is accepted.
 A train may be quicker than the Underground for journeys such as London Bridge to south London or Farringdon to stations on the Thameslink route.

London bus fares and the Hopper fare

A London bus journey costs £1.75 at any time and for any distance on a single bus. 
The Hopper fare lets you transfer to another bus within 60 minutes without paying another bus fare.

For example, you could take a bus from Paddington towards Oxford Circus and change to a second bus within the qualifying 60-minute window. You would pay one £1.75 fare rather than two.
 Use the same card, phone, or Oyster card for both taps so the system can recognise the transfer.

Transport for London, the network operator responsible for London's public transport, advises passengers to check its official fares guidance for current prices, accepted payment methods, and route-specific exceptions.

— Transport for London, official fares guidance

Daily Caps for London Bus, Tube and Train Tickets

A daily cap limits what you spend on eligible TfL travel during one travel day, regardless of how many qualifying journeys you make. The cap is calculated automatically when you use the same Oyster card or contactless payment method throughout the day.

Consider a visitor making six Zone 1–2 journeys in one day. If the individual fares add up to more than £8.50, eligible travel is limited by the Zone 1–2 daily cap. Later qualifying journeys do not keep increasing the total for that cap period.

There is no form to complete and no paper ticket to collect. Touch in and out correctly on the Tube or train, and touch in when boarding a bus. Never use one card to touch in and a different card or phone to touch out, because TfL may treat them as separate payment methods and fail to calculate the correct cap.

The travel day runs until 04:29 the following morning. This is important for nightlife. A late Friday journey and a journey after 04:29 on Saturday may fall into two different cap periods, even if they feel like one continuous night out.

Elizabeth Line, Heathrow and National Rail Tickets

The Elizabeth line uses TfL fares within London, but prices can differ beyond Zone 6. This distinction matters most when travelling to or from Heathrow, Reading, or Shenfield.

Elizabeth line and Heathrow fares

• Within Zones 1–6: Standard TfL Oyster and contactless fares apply.
• Heathrow to Paddington: The fare shown in this guide is £12.70.
• Beyond Zone 6: Journeys towards Reading or Shenfield use National Rail fares for the relevant sections. Check whether Oyster or contactless is accepted before boarding.

Heathrow has several transport choices with different prices and journey times. The Heathrow Express uses its own ticketing system, while the Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line are usually compared as standard public transport options.
 If your priority is saving money rather than speed, compare all three before choosing.

National Rail services inside London

Many National Rail services in Greater London accept Oyster and contactless payment within the relevant zones. They can be a practical alternative to the Tube, particularly for cross-city journeys or destinations south of the River Thames.

• Thameslink: Including Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, and routes towards south London.
• Southeastern: On services operating within Zones 1–6.
• Southern: On services operating within Zones 1–6.
• Greater Anglia: On services operating within Zones 1–6.

Some services still require a separate rail ticket. Heathrow Express does not accept Oyster and uses its own system. Great Western Railway accepts Oyster at some London stations but not all, so check the route on TfL's website before travelling.

Night Tube and Night Bus Fares

The Night Tube operates on Friday and Saturday nights on the Jubilee, Victoria, Central, Northern, and Piccadilly lines. It provides overnight service on those lines during the relevant nights, but not every station necessarily receives identical service.

Night buses, identified by routes beginning with N, operate seven nights a week when the Tube is not running. They accept the same Oyster and contactless payment methods and use the standard £1.75 bus fare.

Remember the 04:29 cap boundary. If you travel before that time and continue after it, your journeys may contribute to two separate daily caps. This can make a late-night trip cost more than expected if you cross into a new travel day.

Travelcards: Are They Worth Buying in 2026?

Travelcards offer unlimited travel within selected zones for a set period. They can cover the Tube, buses, the DLR, and some National Rail services within London.

For many visitors, a daily Travelcard is not the best value. The listed Zone 1–2 daily Travelcard price is £15.20, while the Zone 1–2 daily cap is £8.50. Even with many Tube journeys, the cap can limit eligible spending automatically.

A 7-day Travelcard may suit someone travelling heavily for a full week, especially if unlimited travel feels simpler than tracking caps. 
The listed Zone 1–2 weekly price is £40.70, but check the difference between a Travelcard's validity dates and weekly capping rules before buying. A Travelcard may also be useful when you need its specific validity or associated benefits.

How to Choose the Best London Ticket Option

1. Use contactless if your card works abroad. Check foreign transaction fees, spending limits, and whether your bank supports contactless payments.
2. Use one payment method all day. This allows TfL to link your journeys and calculate the correct cap.
3. Choose Oyster if needed. Oyster can help when a bank card does not work in the United Kingdom or when you want to set aside a fixed travel budget.
4. Compare airport options. Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line, and the Piccadilly line have different prices and journey times.
5. Consider a Travelcard only for heavy travel. Compare its cost with the likely daily or weekly cap before purchasing.

For most short city breaks, contactless or Oyster is the simplest choice. A visitor staying in central London and making several journeys may reach the daily cap without doing any calculations. 
Someone making only one or two trips may spend less by paying individual fares, while a visitor travelling outside London should check whether a separate National Rail ticket is required.

London Bus, Tube and Train Tickets FAQ

Is contactless or Oyster better for visitors?

Contactless is usually easiest if your bank accepts it and overseas fees are reasonable. Oyster is useful if you do not have a suitable card, want a controlled travel balance, or prefer not to use your bank card repeatedly.

Do buses count towards the daily cap?

Eligible bus travel can count towards the relevant daily cap, and bus-only travel has its own listed cap of £5.25. Use the same payment method for every journey so the system can link your taps.

Can I use Oyster to Heathrow?

Oyster and contactless can be used for eligible TfL journeys to Heathrow, but airport services do not all use the same ticketing rules. Heathrow Express does not accept Oyster, so check the exact service before travelling.

Should I buy a Travelcard for a weekend?

Usually, compare the Travelcard price with the applicable daily caps first. For many weekend visitors staying in central London, contactless or Oyster is cheaper and requires less planning.

Editorial note: This guide is structured around TfL's published fare concepts, including zones, caps, Oyster, contactless, and the Hopper fare. The listed 2026 figures should be checked against TfL's current fares pages before purchase because prices, routes, and payment acceptance can change.