Christmas travel in London: closures and cancellations explained

Everything you need to know about travelling around London this Christmas

Getting around the capital need not be a Christmas nightmare this festive season (istock)

A series of closures will affect the London transport network this Christmas. Here’s our guide to navigating the city at one of the busiest travel times of the year.

Is the London Underground affected by industrial action this Christmas?

No longer. Strikes on the the Central, Waterloo & City and Bakerloo lines were due to take place this Christmas, but have since been called off.

What other services will be affected over the Christmas period?

On Sunday 23 December there are planned closures on the Metropolitan line, London Overground and TfL Rail.

There will be no London Underground Services on Christmas Day and no London Overground, TfL Rail or Thames Clipper services on Boxing Day.

Track closures will also affect passengers on the Metropolitan line and Overground service.

After approximately 22.00, there will be no Metropolitan line service between Aldgate and Wembley Park, Mondays to Wednesdays until late 2018. Passengers are advised to use the Jubilee line between Baker Street and Wembley Park and the Circle or Hammersmith & City line between Baker Street and Aldgate.

Overground services will continue to be affected on weekends due to a lack of available trains and a reduced service will run between Gospel Oak and Barking.

What time are the last tube services on Christmas Eve?

There will be a reduced service from 15.00 on London Underground on Monday 24 December and most last trains will depart at Sunday times.

The Waterloo and City line is running a reduced service all day, with last trains departing around 23.15.

London Overground trains will stop running from around 21.30.

There will be no night services on TfL buses, with 24-hour services ceasing at midnight.

I want to go to the Boxing Day sales. Which services will be running?

On the tube, a reduced Sunday service will run, with first trains departing around 07.45. Services will be reduced from around 20.00 and last trains will depart at the standard weekday times.

There will be no London Overground services or TfL rail services operating today.

A Sunday service will apply on London bus routes, with 24-hour routes starting from around 06.00.

Normal services will resume on Thursday 27 December.

Can I still get free tube travel on New Year’s Eve?

Free travel will be available to TfL passengers between 23:45 on Monday 31 December and 04:30 on Tuesday 1 January 2019 (except on Thames Clippers and Emirates Air Line services).

London Underground is running a special all-night service on most lines on New Year's Eve.

When will normal services resume?

A special service will run on New Year’s Day, but normal services will resume on the network from Wednesday 2 January 2019.

Services are subject to change, so check the TfL website before you travel.