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Tube strikes can bring all or part of the London Underground to a halt for a day or more, usually after disputes between the unions (chiefly the RMT and ASLEF) and Transport for London. Strikes are announced in advance, so the single most important thing is to check before you travel. This guide explains how to find confirmed dates and how to get around when the Tube is disrupted.
How to check for confirmed strike dates
Always confirm current action on the official Transport for London website and its status pages, which list any planned strike dates and the lines affected, and on TfL's travel-alerts channels. Dates can be announced or called off at short notice, so check again the day before you travel. National Rail has its own separate strike calendar for train lines.
What a strike means for your journey
On a full Tube strike, expect little or no Underground service and severe knock-on crowding on buses, the Overground, the Elizabeth line, DLR and trams, which usually keep running but get extremely busy. Services often wind down the evening before and start late the morning after. Allow far more time, and travel outside the peaks if you can.
The best ways to get around
Buses, the Overground, the Elizabeth line, DLR, river boats, Santander cycles and walking all come into their own during a strike, and central London is more walkable than visitors expect. Our getting around London guide covers every option, and contactless and Oyster work across all of them, as explained in Oyster vs contactless.
Tips for visitors
If your trip falls on a strike day, plan a walkable, central itinerary, book any timed attraction tickets with extra buffer, and consider a hop-on river or bus route for sightseeing. Avoid driving in the centre, where the congestion charge and ULEZ still apply and roads are gridlocked. With a little planning, a strike day need not derail your visit.
