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london-transport-christmas-new-year

Christmas is such a busy time of year, with lots of people rushing around it can make using public transport even more stressful. Then there are those strange few days in between Christmas and New Year where you’re never quite sure what day it is and so it’s even more confusing to remember what is/isn’t running as normal. If you’re travelling around London over Christmas and New Year we’ve got all of the information you need to make your public transport journeys as relaxed as possible.

An overview of Christmas transport

We’ve got a complete day-by-day guide a little further down this page but for a (very) quick guide, here’s the essential information you need to know.
  • Christmas Eve (Saturday 24th): Services finish early and there’s no Night Tube.
  • Christmas Day (Sunday 25th): No public transport.
  • Between Christmas and New Year: Tubes, trains and buses run weekend or altered services. Check ahead before travel.
  • New Year’s Eve (Saturday 31st): Free travel on the TfL network between 23:45 and 04:30. Many Tube, DLR, Trams and buses will run through the night.
  • New Year’s Day (Sunday 1st): The Tube will run a Sunday service after midday, as will the buses. Other transport services may run a reduced or altered service.
  • Monday 2nd January: Tube, bus, Overground, DLR and Trams all on a Saturday or Sunday service.
  • Tuesday 3rd January onwards: Services back to normal.

Planning a Tube journey

Over the festive period Oxford Circus is going to be extremely busy during the evening rush hour. It’s a very popular station for shoppers and tourists so use alternative stations when possible. Follow our guide on how to avoid Oxford Circus and other busy Tube stations. If you’re unsure about what’s running or how best to deal with changes to a service, use Tube Map’s real-time route planner. The best thing about the journey planner is that it takes current closures and delays into account and will route around them if necessary.  Download the app for free on iOS or Android.

Checking the buses

There are thousands of buses in London so you’ll be forgiven for not being completely sure what’s running and how often. Use the search function in our Bus London app to find any bus stop or route and see live departures. There’s also information from TfL that let’s you know about anything happening in the area. Download for free on iOS or Android.  

Day-by-day London transport guide

For your complete guide to using public transport over Christmas and New Year we’ve included a day-by-day account from Transport for London on what is and isn’t running and how some service changes could affect your journeys.

23 December (Friday)

TfL Rail – Reduced service after 23:00 but otherwise as normal. All other transport will run as normal including the trains, buses, Tube and Night Tube.  

Christmas Eve (Saturday)

London Underground – Service finishes early and there’s no Night Tube. Aim to finish any journeys before 23:30. DLR – Services finish at about 22:50. TfL Rail – Trains will run every 15 minutes until 22:00 but be aware of replacement buses running between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trams – There will be fewer trams after 18:00 but otherwise running as normal. Buses – No night buses and services that are normally 24-hour, will end at about midnight. National Rail Trains – No services at Paddington or Heathrow Airport. Routes will depart and end at Ealing Broadway instead. Check here for more details on the works at Paddington and alternative routes.  

Christmas Day (Sunday)

All public transport is closed for the day. You can get an Uber or a black cab but these will likely be more expensive than usual.  

Boxing day (Monday)

London Underground – Trains start running at 07:45 and will run as a Sunday service.
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Gloucester Road and Acton Town, Richmond and Wimbledon, Edgware Road and Wimbledon. No service to Kensington (Olympia).
  • Circle line. Trains won’t run between Aldgate and Gloucester Road via Tower Hill.
  • Waterloo & City line. No service.
  • Bakerloo line. Trains won’t run between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone.
  • Piccadilly line. Trains will stop at Turnham Green, Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park (Westbound only).
London Overground – There will be no service. DLR – Trains will run every 10 minutes. TfL Rail – There will be no service. Trams – Trams won’t run on Line 4. Other trams will have weekday start/ end times but run at a Sunday service frequency. Buses – There will be a Sunday service. National Rail Trains – Not all services will be running. Please check the National Rail website for info on service in and around London.  

27 December (Tuesday)

London Underground – Trains will have weekday start/ end times but run at a Sunday service frequency.
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Gloucester Road and Acton Town, Richmond and Wimbledon, Edgware Road and Wimbledon. No service to Kensington (Olympia).
  • Circle line. Trains won’t run between Aldgate and Gloucester Road via Tower Hill.
  • Piccadilly line. Trains will stop at Turnham Green, Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park (Westbound only).
London Overground – Trains won’t run between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Park and Barking. Other trains will run a Saturday service. DLR – Trains will run on a Saturday service. TfL Rail – There will be replacement buses between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Other trains will run every 15 minutes. Trams – Trams will have weekday start/ end times but run at a Sunday service frequency. Trams won’t run on Line 4. Buses – Some buses will be on a Sunday service.
  • The following routes will be on a Saturday service: 327, 346, 347, 375, 377, 383, 385, 389, 399, 404, 424, 467, 470, 485, 549, H3, K4, K5, R2, R5, R7, R8, R10, S3, S4, U10 and W10
  • Night buses will run as normal.
National Rail Trains – No services at Paddington or Heathrow Airport. Routes will depart and end at Ealing Broadway instead. Check here for more details.  

28 December (Wednesday)

London Underground – Trains will run a Saturday service.
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Gloucester Road and Acton Town, Richmond and Wimbledon, Edgware Road and Wimbledon. No service to Kensington (Olympia).
  • Circle line. Trains won’t run between Aldgate and Gloucester Road via Tower Hill.
  • Piccadilly line. Trains will stop at Turnham Green, Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park (Westbound only).
London Overground – Trains won’t run between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Park and Barking. Other trains will run a Saturday service. DLR – There will be a Saturday service. TfL Rail – There will be replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Other trains will run every 15 minutes. Trams – Trams will have weekday start/ end times but run at a Sunday service frequency. Buses – Buses will run a Saturday service.
  • The 521 and X68 will be on a limited service.
  • The 965 will run a Wednesday service
  • Night buses will run as normal.
National Rail Trains – No services at Paddington or Heathrow Airport. Routes will depart and end at Ealing Broadway instead. Check here for more details.  

29 December (Thursday)

London Underground – Trains will run a Saturday service.
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Gloucester Road and Acton Town, Richmond and Wimbledon, Edgware Road and Wimbledon. No service to Kensington (Olympia).
  • Circle line. Trains won’t run between Aldgate and Gloucester Road via Tower Hill.
  • Piccadilly line. Trains will stop at Turnham Green, Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park (Westbound only).
London Overground – Trains won’t run between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Park and Barking. Other trains will run a Saturday service DLR – There will be a Saturday service. TfL Rail – There will be replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Other trains will run every 15 minutes. Trams – Trams will have weekday start/ end times but run at a Sunday service frequency. Buses – Buses will run a Saturday service.
  • The 521 and X68 will be on a limited service.
  • Night buses will run as normal.
National Rail trains – Check the National Rail Christmas and New Year page for works and changes.  

30 December (Friday)

London Underground – Trains will run a Saturday service
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Gloucester Road and Acton Town, Richmond and Wimbledon (this extends to Embankment after 21:30). Edgware Road and Wimbledon. No service to Kensington (Olympia).
  • Circle line. Trains won’t run between Aldgate and Gloucester Road via Tower Hill. After 21:30 there will be no trains between Embankment and Edgware Road via Tower Hill.
  • Piccadilly line. Trains will stop at Turnham Green, Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park (Westbound only).
London Overground – Trains won’t run between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Park and Barking. Other trains will run a Saturday service DLR – There will be a Saturday service. TfL Rail – There will be replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Other trains will run every 15 minutes. Trams – Trams will have weekday start/ end times but run at a Saturday service frequency. Buses – Buses will run a Saturday service.
  • The 521 and X68 will be on a limited service.
  • The 931, 965 and 969 will run a Friday service.
  • Night buses will run as normal.
National Rail trains – Check the National Rail Christmas and New Year page for works and changes.  

New Year’s Eve (Saturday)

It will be free to travel between 23:45 and 04:30 on the London Underground, London Overground, buses, DLR, TfL Rail and Trams. London Underground – Trains will run throughout the night with minor exceptions. Some Stations may close at night.
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia)
  • Waterloo & City. Trains stop at 02:40
London Overground – Trains won’t run between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Park and Barking. Other trains will run a Saturday service. Some services will run though the night. DLR – Trains will run through the night. TfL Rail – Trains will run every 15 minutes (on the open section of the line) and continue through the night. Replacement buses will run between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trams – Trams will run through the night. Buses – Buses will run a Saturday service and some day routes will continue through the night. Central London routes will be diverted. National Rail trains – Check the National Rail Christmas and New Year page for works and changes.  

New Year’s Day (Sunday)

London Underground – After midday trains will run a Sunday service.
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Earl’s court and Kensington (Olympia).
London Overground –  Trains won’t run between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Park and Barking. DLR – Trains will run an overnight service until 10:00. TfL Rail – Trains will run every 15 minutes. Replacement buses will run between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trams – No service on Line 4. Buses – Buses will run a normal Sunday service. National Rail trains – Check the National Rail Christmas and New Year page for works and changes.  

2nd January (Monday)

London Underground – Trains will run a Saturday service.
  • District line. Trains won’t run between Earl’s court and Kensington (Olympia).
  • Piccadilly line. Trains will stop at Turnham Green, Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park (Westbound only).
London Overground – Trains will run a Saturday service. Trains won’t run between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Park and Barking. DLR – Trains will run a Saturday service. TfL Rail – Trains will run every 15 minutes. Replacement buses will run between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trams – Trains will run a Sunday service. Trains won’t run on Line 4. Buses – Buses will run a Sunday service.
  • Route 965 will run a Monday service.
  • Night buses will run a Monday service.
National Rail trains – Check the National Rail Christmas and New Year page for works and changes.  

3rd January (Tuesday)

Normal services resume. Tube, Overground, DLR and TfL Rail – Check Line Status and station information in Tube Map for details on closures. For buses check live departures and information in Bus London.   Information via Transport for London. Back to blog