The Night Tube — what runs, when and how to get home

The Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights only, on a subset of Underground lines. This guide explains exactly which lines run, the routes covered, the parts of the network that don't run overnight, and your alternatives when the Tube isn't running.

The five lines that run overnight

Night Tube services run on Friday and Saturday nights (technically, the overnight period between Friday-into-Saturday and Saturday-into-Sunday) on the following five lines:

• Central line — between Loughton / Hainault and Ealing Broadway, via the main central section. The Epping branch beyond Loughton does not run overnight.
• Jubilee line — the full route between Stanmore and Stratford.
• Northern line — between Morden in the south and High Barnet / Edgware in the north, via the Charing Cross branch only. The Bank branch and Mill Hill East spur do not run overnight.
• Piccadilly line — between Cockfosters and Heathrow Terminal 5, via the main route. Terminal 4 does not run overnight — for Terminal 4, change at Hatton Cross.
• Victoria line — the full route between Brixton and Walthamstow Central.

Frequencies are around every 10 minutes through the central section and every 20 minutes on the outer branches — much less frequent than daytime services, but still considerably faster than the night bus.

Other modes overnight

Elizabeth line

The Elizabeth line is not part of the Night Tube, but it operates significantly later than other modes — last trains typically leave the central section around 01:00 on weekdays, with similar hours at weekends. For journeys east-west across central London, the last Elizabeth line train is often the easiest "late" option even when the Night Tube isn't running.

Overground

The London Overground does not run a formal Night Tube, but the Windrush line (through Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Surrey Quays and on to Crystal Palace / West Croydon) operates an extended Friday and Saturday night service. Other Overground lines stop at conventional last-train times.

DLR, Trams, Cable Car

None of these operate overnight. They stop at conventional last-train times and resume at first train times the following morning.

The night bus network

Where the Tube doesn't run, London has an extensive 24-hour bus network. Night buses are designated with an "N" prefix (N9, N15, N73, etc.) and run from approximately 23:00 to 06:00, often as overnight extensions of daytime routes. Around 50 routes operate overnight, covering virtually every part of central, inner and middle London — and a number of outer routes too.

Buses use the same contactless / Oyster fare structure as daytime, with the same £1.75 flat fare. Bus journeys are not capped on weeknights with the Night Tube, but they are capped within the daily and weekly bus/tram caps.

When the Tube isn't running

The Tube — including the Night Tube — generally doesn't run between approximately 00:30 and 05:30 on Sunday-into-Monday, Monday-into-Tuesday, Tuesday-into-Wednesday, Wednesday-into-Thursday and Thursday-into-Friday. On these nights:

• Use a night bus — typically the fastest option for short and medium journeys.
• Use the Elizabeth line if your journey is east-west through central London.
• Use a licensed black cab (hail one in the street with the "TAXI" light on) or a licensed minicab / private hire booked via Uber, Bolt or a local minicab firm.
• Do not use an unlicensed minicab — they are illegal in London and unsafe. Always book through a licensed app or a known firm.

How to plan a late-night journey

A few rules of thumb for getting home late:

• Fridays and Saturdays — Night Tube is your friend. Plan around the five lines that run.
• Sundays to Thursdays — assume the Tube isn't running after about midnight. Plan around night buses, the Elizabeth line, or a cab.
• Bank holidays and special events — TfL sometimes extends or suspends Night Tube services. Always check.
• Single women, vulnerable travellers — TfL has a network of safer-travel buses; night Tube stations are staffed and have full CCTV; black cabs are typically the safest single-rider option late at night. Stay in well-lit areas while waiting.

Last and first train times

Approximate last train times for non-Night-Tube services (always check TfL for current times):

• Last Tube trains depart central London around 00:00 to 00:30 on most lines.
• Last Elizabeth line trains depart central London around 01:00.
• Last Overground trains depart around 00:00 to 00:30 on most lines, slightly later on Windrush at weekends.
• First Tube trains start around 05:30 on weekdays, 07:00 on Sundays.

More guides

Line guides