Transport in London over Christmas and New Year's Eve
Getting around during the 2012 holiday season
Getting around during the festive season can be challenging thanks to reduced timetables on the tube, buses and railways. Fortunately, Time Out can smooth the way with our transport info hub page. See below for a summary of the main transport info and visit Transport for London for further details.
We can't plan for the weather, however, so note that information may be subject to change due to adverse conditions. Check directly with your transport provider before travelling.
Tube, DLR, buses and trams
On Christmas Eve a Saturday service will operate on the bus network. There will be no night buses and on 24 hour routes buses will operate until just after midnight. A Saturday service will also operate on the Tube, with reduced services on all lines after 7pm and last trains as per Sunday trains. Some stations will be closed. On the DLR a modified service will operate, finishing around 11.30pm. London Overground will operate a Saturday service with last trains departing around 9.30pm. On Christmas Day there will be no services running on the Tube, London Buses, DLR, London Overground or Tramlink. On Boxing Day the Aslef union has called a Tube strike. If the strike goes ahead, there is likely to be significant disruption to Tube services (please check the TFL website for updates). A normal Sunday service will operate on buses.
Travel on the Tube, DLR, buses and trams will be free from 11.45pm on New Year’s Eve until 4.30am on New Year’s Day. London Overground Services will also be free from 11:45pm until last train times on New Year's Eve. Tube, DLR and Tramlink tram services in Greater London will run all night but some Tube stations will be closed. Night and 24 hour bus routes will run on a Saturday service, but are subject to road closures in central London. On New Year's Day buses will operate a Saturday service, a reduced Tube service will be in operation on all lines. Many roads in central London will be closed on New Year's Day between 6am and 6pm for the New Year's Day Parade.
Remember, you can now view live bus departures from any stop with Tfl's Live Bus Departures board.
Cycle Hire Scheme
Some docking stations will be temporarily out of service at various times throughout the holiday period. Last year there was a big spike in the use of Boris bikes on Christmas Day, when they were the only means of public transport available.
Emirates Air Line
Emirates Air Line - © Rob Greig
A weekday service operates on Christmas Eve. The Emirates Air Line will be closed on Christmas Day. A Saturday service will operate on Boxing Day. Normal services will then be in operation from December 27 until December 30. On New Year's Eve a Saturday Service will operate. A weekday service will operate on New Year's Day.
Taxis
To book a licensed black cab call One-Number Taxi (0871 871 8710) or one of the other booking numbers listed on TfL's taxi page. Note that charges will apply. You can also book a taxi using Twitter: see @tweetalondoncab or email tweetalondoncab@googlemail.com. Alternatively, there's always the on-the-hoof tactic of hailing a cab in the street.
There is an additional £4 charge for journeys made between 8pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on December 27, as well as between 8pm on New Year's Eve and 6am on January 2 2012.
Trains
© Scott Wishart
There are generally no trains on the rail network on Christmas Day with a significantly reduced service in operation on Boxing Day. National Rail will operate modified timetables with additional late night departures and a limited number of routes will operate until about 5am on New Year's Eve. Trains on Christmas Eve and the preceding days are likely to be very busy. Book your ticket in advance if you can. National Rail has timetables and tickets.
Congestion Charge
Congestion charge sign
The central London C-charge is suspended between Christmas Day and January 1 inclusive.
Coaches
National Express Coach
Everyone wants to get home for Christmas; so, as with the trains, advance planning is key. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, many coach operators will reduce services from early evening, with last departures from Victoria Coach station leaving at around 9pm and 8pm respectively.
National Express (08717 818178; Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras) has no services on Christmas Day.
Megabus (0900 1600900; Calls cost 10p per minute from a BT landline, calls from mobiles and some other networks may be higher) has already announced that it will run some services on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, linking London and 16 towns and cities in England and Wales.
