© Mike Bird・Pexels License

United Kingdom

London

Home of the world's oldest Underground and the red double-decker. Tap the card you already carry and ride.

The Tube (Underground)

Ride with your own contactless card or phone - no tickets needed, and your daily total is capped automatically.

Updated on July 15, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Have a contactless card ready
    A contactless card - or your phone with Apple Pay / Google Pay - is all you need. Nothing to buy in advance.
  2. 2
    Tap in on the yellow reader
    Tap the yellow card reader at the gates. With a phone, having your wallet ready speeds things up.
  3. 3
    Tap out with the same card
    Always exit with the same card or device. Mixing your card and phone counts as two people - and two charges.
  4. 4
    Skip paper tickets
    Paper singles cost far more. There's almost no reason to buy one.

Fares

Single fares1

Zone 1 single (contactless)
Raised 10-20p in March 2026 - exact current fare to be verified. Varies slightly at peak times.
2.9〜3.1 GBP ≈ $4

Fare caps1

Daily cap (Zones 1-2)
Frozen for 2026. Once you hit this amount, further rides are free.
8.9 GBP ≈ $12

Card itself1

Oyster card issuance
Non-refundable. Unnecessary if you have your own contactless card.
10.5 GBP ≈ $14

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardAmexDiscoverDinersJCB銀聯
IC card
Oyster - non-refundable £10.50 to issue
Cash
Machines only, for pricey paper tickets

Quick facts

Hours
5:00–24:30
Frequency
Every 2-5 min
Fares from
2.9 GBP+

Heads-up

  • JCB, UnionPay and Diners Club contactless are not accepted

    JCB, UnionPay, and Diners Club contactless cards are NOT accepted (per TfL). If your card was issued in Japan, check that it is Visa, Mastercard, or Amex.

  • Tap in and out with one card or pay the maximum fare

    Always tap in and out with the same card or device. Missing a tap charges you the maximum fare.

  • Overseas cards may add fees; stand on the right

    Overseas cards may incur foreign transaction fees (issuer-dependent). Stand on the right on escalators.

Timetable

Operating hours 5:00–24:30
Typical duration Central London trains run every 2-5 minutes - you barely wait
Check the official site for the latest times and service status Official site ↗

Route map

12 lines ·311 stations
© OpenStreetMapOpenMapTilesData (ODbL)