London Transport Zones | London Zone Map and Guide (2024)

London is divided into 1–9 zones*, but most of it fits into zones 1–6. Central London is zone 1, zone 2 is the ring around zone 1, zone 3 is the ring around 2 and so on.

*zones 7,8 and 9 cover a small area just outside North West London including Watford, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Amersham or Chalfont & Latimer.

It’s important to be aware of London’s transport zones and to find out what zone a station is in. Ticket prices for One Day, Weekly or Monthly Travelcards or the money deducted from a Pay as you go Oyster card or contactless card can vary considerably according to how many zones you travel through.

The zones do not apply to bus travel. You can travel by bus all over London (zones 1–6) with any Travelcard.

First time visitor to London? See our guide to London’s transport tickets

London zone map

You can see the zones on a tube map, coloured in either white or grey.

What London transport zones do I need?

Find the closest underground or train station to your accommodation. Then find the zone of the station you want to travel to. If you’re visitingLondon for sightseeing or to shop this will probably be zone 1.

When you know the zones you need to pay for, what you do depends on the type of ticket/pass you buy:

Weekly or monthly Travelcards

You buy a Travelcard that covers all the zones between where you stay and where you want to visit/your regular final destination. For example:

  • if you stay in Shepherd’s Bush (zone 2) and plan to visit central London (zone 1), you need a zone 1-2 Travelcard.
  • If you stay in Wimbledon (zone 3) and travel to/from central London, you need a zone 1-3 Travelcard.

Pay as you go Oyster card

If you use a Pay as you go Oyster card, top-up your card with enough money to either pay for a single journey for the zones you travel through or add enough money to cover the cost of the ‘daily cap’ if you want unlimited travel for the day.

Contactless

With a contactless card, you do not have to worry about the zones as the system will calculate the fare for you the next day. Remember to always touch in and out on the tube or local trains (with the same card!) to ensure you are charged the correct amount.

How to pay for transport outside your normal transport zone

There may be occasions when you need to travel outside the zones on your weekly or monthly Travelcard.

The procedure is slightly different if you have a Travelcard loaded on an Oyster card, or a paper Travelcard:

Travelcards on an Oyster card

Ifyou already have a weekly Travelcard for certain zones and want to visit a place outside that zone, top-up your Oyster card with some Pay as you go money to cover the cost of travelling between the last zone on your Travelcard and the zone you want to visit.

For example, if you have a zone 1-2 weekly Travelcard and you want to visit Richmond in zone 4, you need to add extra money to your Oyster to cover the fare for zones 3 and 4.

See Oyster single fares to find a fare. You can add extra money to your Oyster card at a tube station ticket machine.

Paper Travelcards

If you have a paper version of the Travelcard, you need to buy an extension ticket from the underground station ticket machine.

Stations in two zones

Some stations are on the border of two zones. These stations have a white box around their name on the tube map. Tickets to these stations are slightly different.

For example:

  • Earl’s Court tube station is in zone 1/2. If you stay in Earl’s Court and take the tube to any other station in zone 1 (central London), you pay the zone 1 single fare with a pay as you go Oyster or contactless card.
  • If you travel from Earl’s Court to Heathrow (zone 6), the single fare is charged from zone 2 to zone 6, not from zone 1-6.
  • ABBA Arena is in zone 2/3. From zone 1, you pay the zone 1-2 fare. If you are staying in outer London and are travelling to the stadium without travelling through central London (zone 1), you pay the the fare to zone 3.

How to save money on travel to central London from zones 2-6

A major benefit of the Travelcard is that it’s valid on the buses for the whole of London, regardless of the zones you buy.

If you stay in zones 2-6 and want to travel to zone 1 (central London) a good money-saving tip is to buy a weekly or monthly Travelcard excluding zone 1, but including zone 2. You can then take the tube/train to the zone 2 station close to zone 1 and then use the bus to travel to and around zone 1.

This only works with a weekly or monthly Travelcard, but you will save a money.

  • If you stay in zone 5, a zone 1-5 weekly Travelcard is£73.00.
  • A zone 2-5 weekly Travelcard is £42.50, saving you £30.50 a week
  • A zone 1-5 monthly Travelcard is£280.40
  • A zone 2-5 monthly Travelcard is£163.20 a saving of £111.70 a month

Popular places to visit outside central London (Zone 1)

Tourist attractions

Chiswick House – zone 2 (Turnham Green)
Cutty Sark – zone 2
Dulwich Picture Gallery – zone 2
Ham House – zone 4
Hampton Court Palace – zone 6
Kenwood House – zone 2 (Archway)
Kew Gardens – zone 3
National Maritime Museum – zone 2
Osterley House – zone 4
RAF Museum Hendon – zone 4
William Morris Gallery – zone 3

Shopping

Westfield London (Shepherd’s Bush/White City) – zone 2
Westfield Stratford – zone 2/3
Camden Market – zone 2

Sport and music venues

The O2 – zone 2/3
Twickenham Rugby Stadium – zone 5
Wembley Stadium – zone 4
Emirates Stadium – zone 2
ABBA Arena – zone 2/3 (See stations in two zones above)

Areas

Greenwich – zone 2
Richmond – zone 4
Wimbledon – zone 3

Related pages

  • Oyster cards
  • Contactless cards

Last updated: 23 February 2024

London Transport Zones | London Zone Map and Guide (2024)

FAQs

How do I know my zone in London? ›

London is divided into 1–9 zones*, but most of it fits into zones 1–6. Central London is zone 1, zone 2 is the ring around zone 1, zone 3 is the ring around 2 and so on. *zones 7,8 and 9 cover a small area just outside North West London including Watford, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Amersham or Chalfont & Latimer.

What is the difference between Zone 1 and Zone 2 in London? ›

Zone 1: Central London – The heart of the city, home to major landmarks and attractions. Zone 2: Inner Suburbs – Surrounds Zone 1, offering a mix of residential and commercial areas.

How do London fare zones work? ›

London's fare system works on the principle that the more zones you travel through, the higher the fare. Between zones 1-9, the maximum TFL fare on an Oyster card is £8.90; outside this range, fares can go up to £26. Keeping track of fare breakdowns is essential to plan your journey and budget accordingly.

Is Heathrow in London Zones 1-6? ›

Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground station is in the basement of the terminal building. All stations are in Travelcard Zone 6.

Can I use Oyster in Zone 6? ›

You can use Oyster PAYG on all National Rail routes for journeys wholly within the London zones 1-6 and certain other locations.

What zone is Buckingham Palace in? ›

Zone 1 London hosts iconic attractions like the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the London Eye, offering rich history, art, and stunning views.

Is Paddington zone 1? ›

Zone 1 covers the West End, the Holborn district, Kensington, Paddington and the City of London, as well as Old Street, Angel, Pimlico, Tower Gateway, Aldgate East, Euston, Vauxhall, Elephant & Castle, Borough, London Bridge, Earl's Court, Marylebone, Edgware Road, Lambeth North and Waterloo.

How much is a Oyster card in London? ›

An Oyster card is a smart card you can use instead of paper tickets, available on buses, Tubes, trams, rail, DLR and some river services. Oyster cards and contactless can also be used on the IFS Cloud Cable Car in East London but has higher fares than other modes like the Tube or buses. An Oyster card costs £7 to buy.

Which zone is London Bridge in? ›

London Bridge Station is in Zone 1 and connects to both railway and London Underground lines. It is located within a lively area along the Thames.

What zone is hyde park in? ›

It is in Travelcard Zone 1, between Knightsbridge and Green Park on the Piccadilly line.

What zone is the Tower of London in? ›

Zone 1 covers Central London where most of the tourist attractions and touristy neighbourhoods are located. This includes major attractions like Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, British Museum, Science Museum etc…

How do you pay for zones in London? ›

How To Pay the Congestion Charge?
  1. Online via the official London Transport website.
  2. Via text message (you will need to activate the text payment service by calling TfL on the number below)
  3. Or by phone on 0343 222 2222.

How to check zones in London? ›

London is divided into 9 zones, but most of it fits into zones 1–6. Central London is Zone 1, Zone 2 is the ring around Zone 1, Zone 3 is the ring around 2 and so on.

How can I pay less for transport in London? ›

Pay as you go

You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance. You can pay as you go using contactless (card or device), an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card. It also offers great value as pay as you go is cheaper than buying single tickets and you get daily and weekly capping.

Is Zone 7 in London? ›

Fare zones 7–9 are ancillary zones of the Travelcard and Oyster card fares scheme managed by Transport for London, used for calculating fares from some stations outside Greater London that are not in zones 4, 5 and 6. Travelcards are available on Oyster with validity in these zones.

How much is a Travelcard zones 1 6? ›

Daily Travel Card Prices
TypeDay Anytime PriceOff-Peak Day Price
Adult Zones 1-3£9.60£9.60
Adult Zones 1-4£11.70£11.70
Adult Zones 1-5£13.90£13.90
Adult Zones 1-6£14.90£14.90
1 more row

Is it cheaper to get an Oyster card or a Travelcard? ›

An Oyster card may be the most cost-effective option if you are only visiting for a few days. A 7 Day Travelcard is a good option if you are visiting for a week and only plan to visit central London. You can also use contactless payment, which has both a daily and weekly fare cap.

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