The time has finally arrived!
Your Christmas trip to London is just around the corner so you are probably packing up the last bits and pieces. We just wanted to let you know that London looks amazing, all twinkly lights, shiny baubles and fun events taking place in the city so get ready to be amazed. Here is an actual tube map with all the Christmassy things to do in London.
During these festive days, it might be a bit tricky to get around the city due to changes in public transport services, so we strongly recommend reading the information above to avoid any hassle. It might be helpful to bookmark this article or simply print it out so you can easily have access to this guide.
Enjoy your stay, happy holiday and a happy new year!
Throughout
To make the most of London over the festive period, consider all your travel options and plan ahead. Here are some tips for travelling during this busy time:
- Oxford Circus Tube station is especially busy 17:30-18:30. You could have a quicker and more comfortable journey if you travel outside this time
- When Tube stations are busy, shopping areas like Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street can also be reached by walking or cycling
- If you're not familiar with London, find out how to get around in our visitors section
- Read our tips on staying safe, especially if you're enjoying the festivities into the night
- Winter Wonderland takes place in Hyde Park until Monday 2 January 2017. Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch stations are expected to be very busy, but Green Park, Victoria and Knightsbridge stations are a short walk away from Hyde Park too.
Travel changes and information
Throughout the festive period, please note the following:
- National Rail: Visit the National Rail site for full details about changes
- DLR: The DLR runs a different timetable
- London Overground: Gospel Oak to Barking line is closed until February 2017, and Romford to Upminster is closed between Saturday 24 December 2016 and Monday 2 January 2017
- Tube:
- Lambeth North station is closed
- Metropolitan line early closures are suspended
- Use Twitter alerts for service updates straight to your phone
- Roads: Roadworks take place throughout London
- Coaches: See the festive opening hours for Victoria Coach Station's ticket office and left luggage
- Transport accessibility: See our transport accessibility section to find out how to get round London
- Dial-a-Ride: Different booking arrangements apply over the period. See our Dial-a-Ride section for more
Friday 23 December
- TfL Rail: Runs normally until 23:00, then there's a reduced service
- All other transport modes run normally
Christmas Eve
- Tube: Early finish (complete your journey around 23:30) with no Night Tube, Charing Cross station closed until 05:30
- Buses: 24 hour services finish around midnight, no night services
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply
- London Overground: Early finish (from 21:30), no service between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues
- National Rail: Changes include Paddington services run from Ealing Broadway instead
- Heathrow Airport: No National Rail service at Heathrow Airport
- Taxis: An extra £4 per journey after 20:00
- DLR: Early finish (around 22:50)
- TfL Rail: Replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trains every 15 minutes on the rest of the line until 22:00
- Trams: Less frequent service after 18:00. Last trams at usual times
- Coaches: Limited coach service from around 17:00
- Rivers: Early finishes on RB1 and RB1X, Sunday service on RB4, no service on RB2 or RB6
- Emirates Air Line: Open 08:00-20:00
Full details for Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day
No service on public transport. Limited coach services, and black cabs will cost an extra £4 per journey.
Full details for Christmas Day travel.
Boxing Day
- Tube: Late start (07:45) with Sunday frequency service, closures on the District, Circle, Waterloo & City and Bakerloo lines
- Buses: Sunday service
- London Overground: No service
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply
- National Rail: Changed services include no GWR service
- Heathrow Airport: No National Rail services at Heathrow Airport
- DLR: A service every 10 minutes
- TfL Rail: No service
- Trams: Sunday service with a weekday start and finish, no Line 4 service
- Taxis: An extra £4 per journey
- Rivers: No service
- Emirates Air Line: Open 08:00-23:00
Full details for Boxing Day travel.
Tuesday 27 December
- Tube: Sunday frequency service but weekday start and finish times, closures on the District and Circle lines
- Buses: A weekend service in the day, usual Tuesday service at night
- London Overground: Saturday frequency service, no service between Romford and Upminster, and Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply
- National Rail: Changes include Paddington services run from Ealing Broadway instead
- Heathrow Airport: No National Rail services at Heathrow Airport
- DLR: A Saturday service
- TfL Rail: No trains. Replacement buses between Stratford and Shenfield, except Maryland
- Trams: Sunday service with a weekday start and finish, no Line 4 service
- Taxis: An extra £4 per journey until 06:00
- Rivers: A one-boat service on the Woolwich Ferry, weekend service on RB2 and RB4
- Emirates Air Line: Open 08:00-23:00
Full details for travel on Tuesday 27 December.
Wednesday 28 December
- Tube: Saturday frequency service, plus closures on the District and Circle lines
- Buses: Generally a Saturday service in the day, usual Wednesday service at night
- London Overground: Saturday frequency service (weekday on Liverpool Street branches), no service between Romford and Upminster, and Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply
- National Rail: Changes include Paddington services run from Ealing Broadway instead
- Heathrow Airport: No National Rail services at Heathrow Airport
- DLR: Saturday service
- TfL Rail: Replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trains every 15 minutes on the rest of the line
- Trams: Saturday service with weekday start and finish times
- Rivers: One-boat service on the Woolwich Ferry, no service on RB1X
Full details for travel on Wednesday 28 December.
Thursday 29 December
- Tube: Saturday frequency service, plus closures on the District and Circle lines
- Buses: Generally a Saturday service in the day, usual Thursday service at night
- London Overground: Saturday frequency service except weekday frequency on Liverpool Street branches, no service between Romford and Upminster, and Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply
- National Rail: Changes include Paddington services run from Ealing Broadway instead
- Heathrow Airport: No National Rail services at Heathrow Airport
- DLR: Saturday service
- TfL Rail: Replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trains every 15 minutes on the rest of the line
- Trams: Saturday service with weekday start and finish times
- Rivers: One-boat service on the Woolwich Ferry, no service on RB1X
Full details for travel on Thursday 29 December.
Friday 30 December
- Tube: Saturday frequency service, Night Tube runs as normal, closures on the District and Circle lines
- Buses: Generally a Saturday service in the day, usual Friday service at night
- London Overground: Saturday frequency service except weekday frequency on Liverpool Street branches, no service between Romford and Upminster, and the Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues
- National Rail: Changes include a reduced service at Heathrow Airport and at Paddington
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply
- DLR: Saturday service
- TfL Rail: Replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trains every 15 minutes on the rest of the line
- Trams: Saturday service with weekday start and finish times
- Cycling: Some docking stations in central London will be suspended from 14:00
- Rivers: One-boat service on the Woolwich Ferry, no service on RB1X
Full details for travel on Friday 30 December.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve fireworks take place in central London, causing extra transport changes from the afternoon. Please note tickets for this are now sold out.
- Free travel on the TfL network between 23:45-04:30
- Tube: Services run throughout the night, but some stations will be closed
- Buses: Saturday service, with diversions in central London from early afternoon. Some day routes run into the night
- London Overground: Saturday service, no service between Romford and Upminster, and the Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues. Some services run throughout the night
- National Rail: Service changes
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply, and some roads in central London will close
- DLR: Services run throughout the night
- TfL Rail: Replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trains every 15 minutes on the rest of the line, including throughout the night
- Trams: Services run throughout the night
- Taxis: An extra £4 per journey after 20:00
- Cycling: Some docking stations in central London are suspended
- Rivers: No service on RB6, early finishes on RB1 and RB1X
Full details for New Year's Eve travel.
New Year's Day 2017
The New Year's Eve Parade takes place in central London, causing extra transport changes.
- Tube: Reduced Sunday service after 12:00
- Buses: Diversions in central London from early afternoon
- London Overground: No service between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply, and some roads in central London will closed
- DLR: Overnight service until 10:00, then there's a Sunday service
- TfL Rail: Replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trains every 15 minutes on the rest of the line
- Trams: No Line 4 service
- Taxis: An extra £4 per journey
- Cycling: Some docking stations in central London will be suspended
- Rivers: No service on the Woolwich Ferry or RB6
Full details for New Year's Day 2017 travel.
Monday 2 January 2017
- Tube: Saturday frequency service
- Buses: Sunday service in the day, Monday service at night
- London Overground: Saturday frequency service, no service between Romford and Upminster, Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues
- National Rail: Service changes
- Driving: The Congestion Charge won't apply
- DLR: Saturday service
- TfL Rail: Replacement buses between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Trains every 15 minutes on the rest of the line
- Trams: Sunday service, no Line 4 service
- Taxis: Until 06:00, an extra £4 per journey
- Cycling: Some docking stations in central London are suspended
- Rivers: One-boat Woolwich Ferry service, no service on RB6, weekend service on RB2 and RB4
- Emirates Air Line: Open between 08:00-23:00
Full details for travel on Monday 2 January 2017.
Tuesday 3 January 2017
The Congestion Charge applies again, and normal service returns to public transport except:
- Tube: Lambeth North continues to stay closed until February 2017, and Lancaster Gate closed from today until August 2017
- London Overground: Gospel Oak to Barking closure continues until February 2017
- TfL Rail:No service between Brentwood and Shenfield until late May
- Cycling: The suspended docking stations re-open at 08:00
For more updates, check the Transport for London website www.tfl.gov.uk before travelling.