Ultimate Guide: London Tube Strikes Explained & What to Do Now
Traveling to London during a London underground strike? It can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’ve never experienced one before or it’s your first visit to London.
It can be confusing, but I’ll try to simplify things.
Here are London tube strikes explained simply and easily.
I’ll go over how to survive a London underground strike, whether or not to change your plans, and how to get around London during a tube strike when all seems hopeless.
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London Tube Strikes Explained
A London Underground strike is when TFL employees (that’s Transport for London, the company that runs London’s transport system) plan a work strike in protest.
Lots of different labor unions represent employees of TFL. The particular union that is striking will dictate which transport services are closed during a tube strike.
It might be the whole of the underground network (rare, thankfully), just a few tube lines, partial closures, station closures, or any combination of these.
London Strikes: Tube vs. Rail
Heard there’s a “train strike in London”? Make sure you know the differences between tube and rail – a “train strike” can mean a lot of different things.
Two main groups of train networks run in London:
- Transport for London trains (that’s the Underground!)
- National Rail (the large train network that runs a few Underground trains and the vast network of trains across the UK)
✅ During tube strikes, Transport for London workers are striking, so only trains in the London Underground network are affected.
✅ During rail strikes, trains all over the UK – including those in and out of London – can be affected.
London Tube Strike Basics
Now that you know the difference between all the different types of trains, let’s look at what happens during a London Underground strike.
What happens during tube strikes in London? Each strike is different.
✅ They are usually for 24 hours (sometimes more).
✅ Usually not all lines are affected at once.
✅ 14 days notice is required before a strike happens. They won’t pop up unexpectedly.
✅ Buses and trams are not part of London Underground strikes and will still be running.
✅ Sometimes strikes that have been announced are called off last-minute. Cross your fingers!
Which Trains Stop Running During London Tube Strikes?
It depends which labor unions are striking and which types of TFL employees they represent.
During a London underground strike, you can expect any or all of these lines to be either partially closed, have modified services, or be shut down altogether:
- Bakerloo
- Central
- Circle
- District
- Hammersmith & City
- Jubilee
- Metropolitan
- Northern
- Piccadilly
- Victoria
- Waterloo & City
However, during a strike these 3 lines may still be running, or they may be partially disrupted or closed as well due to staffing:
- London Overground
- DLR
- Elizabeth Line
These 3 trains are within the Underground network, but are run by National Rail and not by Transport for London. They often remain running during a tube strike, and have separate strikes of their own tied to National Rail strikes.
I know. It’s confusing. So let’s look at exactly how to plan travel during a strike.
How to Get Around London During a Tube Strike
You planned a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you booked your hotel, you booked your attractions and….then you heard the news.
Before you panic, take these next steps.
1. Use Google Maps to Check Your Routes
With your travel itinerary in front of you, open Google Maps and figure out if your routes will be affected on the days you need to use the Underground.
- Plug in your starting point and destination and toggle to the day the strike is planned.
- Check for alerts on the suggested routes – they will be displayed if your journey is disrupted by strikes (and if it’s within the 14 day time frame before the strike).
- If there is an alert and your journey is affected by the strike, go back and see what alternative routes the app suggests. This may be a bus, a different train route, a taxi, etc.
- If you want to see if a future journey is affected, change the date and time of travel in the app.
If you don’t like Google Maps, keep reading – I have Citymapper tips, too (which I personally like better for London navigation).
2. Use Citymapper to Plan Alternate Routes
Google Maps is great for the basics of getting around London, but I like Citymapper best for suggesting alternate routes and having the most helpful and intuitive alternate routes.
Open Citymapper and if you’re not yet in London, set your location to London.
With your itinerary in front of you, figure out the days and routes you’ll need to use for your planned activities.
- Plug in your starting point and destination. Toggle to a future date if you’re not traveling immediately.
- Check for alerts on that suggested route. These will be displayed if it’s within the 14 day time frame before the strike.
- If there is an alert and your journey is affected by the strike, go back and see what alternative routes the app suggests. Citymapper gives you not only the length of the journey in minutes, but also the estimated cost, which is super helpful.
- If you want to see if any future journeys are affected, change the date and time of travel in the app.
3. Figure Out Alternate Transport
If your journey will be severely disrupted by a London strike, here are the best alternative transport methods.
If you’ve checked the navigation apps and your journey is affected, you can:
- Walk, if it’s not too far. You should bring comfortable shoes to London, anyway!
- Take a bus. Routes will be crowded and traffic will be bad, but it may be the best option.
- Take Trains: the Overground, Elizabeth Line, DLR, and National Rail trains may be running normally.
- Hail a black cab (if you can) or call an Uber. Again, traffic will be bad, and it will be expensive, but it may be the best option.
- Take the Uberboat (Thames Clippers) if you are going across the Thames.
- Cycle, if you’re a confident urban cyclist. I would not recommend this to new cyclists or those who have not cycled in busy cities before.
Should I Cancel My London Trip During a Tube Strike?
No! But I understand why you might think you need to. With some simple planning ahead, you can absolutely keep your London travel dates just as they are.
Tourists usually envision a London strike as an entire city shut down, akin to a massive snowstorm. This has only happened a few times, and it’s very rare.
Keep in mind:
- Strikes will not last your whole trip. They usually only last 24 hours. That’s doable.
- Strikes don’t usually close the entire Underground.
- There are always alternative transport options available, though they will be very crowded.
With that said, let’s look at what you should and should not do if you’re in London during a tube strike.
1. Modify Your Itinerary for A London Tube Strike Day
Try to stay within walking radius of your hotel or Airbnb on a strike day. If you’re staying in Central London, this is easily done as there’s so much to see and do in every area.
You may miss some activities you had planned. Most attractions will allow you to reschedule if you have pre-booked tickets.
2. Don’t Plan Excursions
Don’t wake up on a London strike day and think, “I should go to Windsor!” You never know what the day will bring as a London Underground strike has a domino effect to all other transport methods.
Trains will be packed, buses will be packed, roads will be jammed. Just don’t do it.
3. Don’t Take Transport Unless Absolutely Necessary
Is it enjoyable to be watching full bus after full bus pass you by? Or squeezing on that bus with a bunch of grumpy Londoners who still need to get to their day jobs? Absolutely not.
There are enough people struggling on these days to get to very necessary places – don’t add to it unless you absolutely have to.
4. Plan Extra Time for Everything
If it’s your day to fly home, take extra time to get to the airport, even if your route isn’t affected.
If you need to be at the theatre by 7, leave 30 minutes earlier than you planned.
Better safe than sorry.
Airport Transfers and London Tube Strikes Explained
How do you get to the airport during a London Underground strike?
It’s usually not a problem. Rail strikes are much more disruptive for airport transfers than tube strikes are.
Only two London airports are affected by Underground strikes: Heathrow, and London City Airport.
Gatwick, Luton and Stansted are only affected by National Rail strikes or specific union strikes, so tube strikes will not disrupt your main train journey to these airports.
Flying in and Out of Heathrow During a London Tube Strike
Heathrow has two London Underground connections, one or both of which may be disrupted by strikes. But you can still use:
- The Heathrow Express (the fastest route anyway!)
- The Elizabeth Line (run by National Rail, usually open during Underground strikes)
- Coaches run by National Express
Flying in and out of London City Airport During a Tube Strike
London City Airport is the closest airport to London, so it won’t take very long. You can use:
- The DLR (run by National Rail, not the London Underground, so it may still be open)
- London Buses
London Tube Strikes: Final Tips
Strikes are becoming more and more common, so us Londoners have learned to live with them.
They may disrupt your London trip, but they certainly won’t ruin it.
Super Easy Plan for a London Tube Strike:
- Check and double-check which Underground lines are affected.
- Map your routes. Check for disruptions.
- Figure out alternative transport, or rearrange your strike day itinerary if it looks too tricky.
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London Tube Strike FAQ
Do ALL trains stop running during a train strike in London?
No. The train companies try to minimize disruption to prevent London from grinding to a halt.
Only lines that are staffed by struck unions will stop running. On very rare occasions the entire network will shut down, but this is not common.
How do I know which trains are striking?
The easiest way is to check your journey on a mapping app like Citymapper or Google Maps. These will tell you if a strike affects your travel route.
Major news outlets regularly give updates on strikes, too, and every train operator is on twitter with updated news.
Does the rail strike include London Underground?
No. Unless the London Underground specifically is striking, the tube will be running as normal. But there are exceptions.
Three lines – the Elizabeth Line, DLR, and the London Overground – may be included in a rail strike since those are technically part of the train network and not the tube network.
Should I Rent a Car in London During a Train or Tube Strike?
No. When train and tube strikes happen, the roads get even more congested than usual. Read my full guide on renting a car in London here, in which I detail all the issues and costs that come with renting a car in London.
Do London buses run during the Tube strike?
Yes, buses still run during rail strikes, though they will still be crowded and delayed because of increased traffic.
How do I get from Heathrow to London during a rail strike?
Heathrow has several connections to London, and it’s very unlikely that every train or underground line that runs to and from Heathrow will be on strike.
If the Heathrow Express is striking, take the Elizabeth Line. If the Elizabeth Line is striking, take the Heathrow Express. There are also several coach options, or you can book a car service.
What happens if I have a train ticket on a strike day?
You will get a refund or a change of journey. Contact your train company.
What are train workers striking for?
Better wages, for one. They deserve to be paid a living wage, and inflation has outpaced their salaries. They should not have to strike to be heard.
They are also striking for more job security, better schedules and pensions.
Do I need to take an Uber or a Taxi during London Underground strikes?
Not necessarily, but if worst comes to worst, you absolutely can.
Keep in mind that London streets will be VERY congested during tube strikes, Uber prices will surge, and it may take a long time to get a car.
More on Visiting London:
Your Ultimate Guide to a Family Trip to London on a Budget
Super Simple London Neighborhood Guide: Where’s Best for You?
How to Use the London Underground for the First Time
How to Catch a Bus in London for the First Time
What’s the Closest Country to London? 10 Incredible Trips to Take Today
“Trains Now on Uber”: What’s the Deal With Uber Trains?
33 Best Non-Touristy Things to Do in London
Printable London Packing List to Save you Money
