Last Updated on July 29, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Miss the last train home and you could face a long wait or an expensive cab ride. Planning a late night out in London? The Night Tube keeps selected Underground lines running through Friday and Saturday nights. This guide explains the routes, frequencies, fares, branch limits, safety options, and accessibility checks you need for the journey home.
Quick Answer
The London Night Tube runs through Friday and Saturday nights on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines. Trains arrive about every 8 to 20 minutes, depending on the route. Off-peak fares apply, but several branches are not served, so check your exact station before travelling.
What’s in This Article
Key Takeaways
- Night Tube trains run on five Underground lines on Friday and Saturday nights only.
- The Jubilee and Victoria lines run across their full routes, but the Central, Northern, and Piccadilly lines have branch restrictions.
- Standard off-peak fares and daily capping apply. A Day Travelcard covers journeys that start before 04:30 the following morning.
- The Windrush line runs an overnight London Overground service between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate.
- Check TfL’s live status, lift availability, and your final connection before leaving a venue.
- Call 999 for an immediate emergency. Text British Transport Police on 61016 for a non-emergency rail incident.
What Is the Night Tube?
The Night Tube is the London Underground’s all-night weekend service. The first services launched on the Central and Victoria lines on 19 August 2016. The Jubilee, Northern, and Piccadilly lines joined later that year.
The service helps night-shift workers, visitors, and people returning from restaurants, theatres, concerts, and other late events. It supplements London’s night buses, taxis, private-hire vehicles, and daytime rail network.
The Night Tube is not a seven-night service. It runs through Friday and Saturday nights on selected lines and branches.
Which Lines Run All Night in London?
Five London Underground lines provide standard Night Tube service: the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines. The Jubilee and Victoria lines cover their full routes. The other three lines do not serve every daytime branch.
| Line | Typical Frequency | Night Tube Coverage | Not Served Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | About every 10 minutes | Entire line between Brixton and Walthamstow Central | No standard branch exclusions |
| Jubilee | About every 10 minutes | Entire line between Stanmore and Stratford | No standard branch exclusions |
| Central | About every 10 minutes between White City and Leytonstone; about every 20 minutes on outer sections | Ealing Broadway to Loughton or Hainault, with Hainault reached through Newbury Park | West Ruislip branch, Loughton to Epping, and Woodford to Hainault through Grange Hill |
| Northern | About every 8 minutes between Morden and Camden Town; about every 15 minutes to High Barnet and Edgware | Morden to High Barnet or Edgware through the Charing Cross branch | Bank branch, Mill Hill East, Nine Elms, and Battersea Power Station |
| Piccadilly | About every 10 minutes | Cockfosters to Heathrow Terminal 5, including Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 | Terminal 4 loop and the Acton Town–Uxbridge branch |
Note: Service patterns can change during engineering work. Check the TfL live status page rather than relying only on a saved map or an older timetable.
London Overground Windrush Line Night Service
The London Overground is not part of the Underground, but the Windrush line also provides a weekend night service. Trains normally run about every 15 minutes between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate on Friday and Saturday nights.
The route connects areas including Dalston, Shoreditch High Street, Whitechapel, Canada Water, and south-east London. It also provides interchanges with the Victoria line at Highbury & Islington and the Jubilee line at Canada Water.
Night Tube Times and Operating Nights
The Night Tube runs through Friday night into Saturday morning and Saturday night into Sunday morning. The dedicated overnight period is generally from around midnight until normal morning services take over at about 5:30am.
It does not normally run through Sunday night into Monday morning or on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights. Special timetables may apply around public holidays and major events.
Typical waits range from about eight minutes on the busiest Northern line section to about 20 minutes on the Central line’s outer sections. Planned maintenance, staff availability, signal problems, or station closures can make waits longer.
Warning: A line listed as part of the Night Tube can still be partly or fully closed for weekend engineering work. Check your line, destination station, interchange, and final walking or bus connection before leaving.
Night Tube Fares and Payment
Night Tube journeys use standard off-peak fares. There is no separate Night Tube ticket or overnight surcharge. Daily capping applies when you use pay as you go with an Oyster card or contactless payment.
- Accepted payment: Oyster, contactless bank cards, supported mobile wallets, and valid Travelcards.
- Cash: You cannot pay cash at the gate for a Night Tube journey.
- Day Travelcards: A card is valid on its printed day and for a Night Tube journey that starts before 04:30 the following morning.
- Daily capping: A late journey may add no further charge if you have already reached the applicable cap.
- Touching in and out: Use the same card or device at both ends of the journey so TfL can calculate the correct fare.
Note: A physical contactless card or Oyster card does not depend on your phone battery. When paying through Apple Pay, Google Pay, or another mobile wallet, keep enough battery for the exit gate.
See the official TfL Night Tube page and Tube and rail fare information for current rules.
How to Plan Your Night Journey
A few checks before leaving can prevent a long wait, an unexpected branch change, or a walk from the wrong station.
Pro Tip: Open the TfL Go app shortly before leaving your venue. Check the line status again after midnight because overnight engineering restrictions may differ from the earlier evening service.
Check Live Service Information
Use the TfL Go app, Journey Planner, or live status page to confirm that your line and destination station are open. Do not assume that every branch shown on a normal daytime Tube map has Night Tube service.
Confirm Your Terminal and Branch
Branch details matter on the Central, Northern, and Piccadilly lines. For example, a Northern line train running overnight to Morden will not continue to Nine Elms or Battersea Power Station. A Piccadilly line Night Tube train can reach Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 or Terminal 5, but not Terminal 4 or Uxbridge.
Plan the Last Part of the Trip
Your nearest Night Tube station may not be your usual daytime station. Check the walking route, local bus, or licensed taxi connection from the station to your final destination.
London has an extensive network of night buses, including routes marked with an “N” and many routes that run 24 hours. Keep a backup route saved, and leave enough charge to check directions or use a ride-hailing app when necessary.
Night Tube Safety and Emergency Help
Open Night Tube stations remain staffed, and British Transport Police patrol Night Tube and Night Overground services. CCTV, station help points, passenger alarms, lighting, and staff provide ways to request assistance.
Keep phones, wallets, passports, and bags secure. Wait in a well-lit part of the platform, remain aware of your surroundings, and avoid isolated walking routes after leaving the station.
If another passenger makes you uncomfortable, move away when it is safe. You can leave the train at the next staffed station and board another carriage or speak to staff. Do not attempt to move between closed Tube carriages while the train is moving.
Warning: Call 999 when a crime is happening, someone is injured or being threatened, or an immediate police response is needed. For a non-emergency rail incident, text British Transport Police on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40. You can also use a station help point or speak to staff.
Passenger alarms are located near doors and wheelchair spaces on Tube trains. Use one when immediate help is needed on the train. Follow instructions from the driver or station staff rather than attempting to open doors or leave a train between stations.
Accessibility on the Night Tube
Night Tube accessibility follows the same physical station layout as the daytime service, but step-free access is not available at every station. Some routes are step-free only from street to platform, while others offer step-free access from street to train.
Lift, escalator, and station availability can also change because of faults or planned work. Before travelling, use TfL’s accessibility tools to check the station route and current equipment status.
| Accessibility Feature | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Step-Free Route | Whether access is street-to-platform or street-to-train |
| Lifts and Escalators | Live outages, planned closures, and an alternative route |
| Platform-to-Train Gap | Whether level boarding, a platform hump, or staff assistance is available |
| Help Points and Staff | Where to request travel information or urgent assistance |
| Audible and Visual Information | Announcements, platform displays, signs, and tactile paving available on your route |
Ask station staff for assistance when needed. Where a change of train is involved, tell staff at the starting station so they can advise the interchange or destination station.
Mobile Coverage and Future Service Changes
Mobile Connectivity Underground
TfL and Boldyn Networks are expanding 4G and 5G coverage through Underground stations and tunnels. In a June 2026 update, TfL said around 60% of stations classified as underground had mobile coverage. TfL continued to target whole-network coverage by the end of 2026.
Free station Wi-Fi is also available at most London Underground stations. Mobile coverage in tunnels and station Wi-Fi are separate services, so one may work where the other does not.
Note: Coverage remains uneven while installation continues. Do not depend on having a continuous signal throughout every tunnel, and complete any required Wi-Fi registration before relying on the station network.
| Feature | Passenger Benefit | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 4G and 5G | Calls, messages, maps, and mobile data in connected areas | Available at a growing number of stations and tunnel sections; full Tube coverage remained targeted for the end of 2026 |
| Station Wi-Fi | Internet access while waiting at participating stations | Available at most Underground stations; sign-in or registration may be required |
| TfL Go Updates | Live line status, routes, station information, and accessibility details | Available now, subject to data connection and service updates |
Are More Night Tube Lines Planned?
TfL may adjust frequencies, engineering arrangements, or service coverage as demand, staffing, funding, and railway access change. However, no additional Underground line has a confirmed public Night Tube launch date at the time of this update.
Treat proposed extensions or unsourced opening dates cautiously. Use TfL announcements and current timetables for any future change rather than assuming that a daytime route has gained overnight service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pets allowed on the Night Tube?
Yes. Dogs and other suitable animals can travel without a separate fare, but they must remain under control. Keep dogs on a lead and smaller animals in a secure, ventilated carrier. Pets must not sit on seats or walk on moving escalators. Use stairs or lifts when possible, or carry the animal unless it is an assistance dog trained to use escalators. See TfL’s current pet policy.
What should I do in an emergency?
Call 999 if a crime is happening, someone is injured or in immediate danger, or the suspect is nearby. On a train, use the passenger alarm when urgent help is needed. At a station, speak to staff or use a help point. For a non-emergency rail incident, text British Transport Police on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40.
Is Wi-Fi available on the Night Tube?
Free Wi-Fi is available at most London Underground stations, although registration or sign-in may be required. Mobile 4G and 5G coverage is also available in a growing number of stations and tunnels. Coverage is not yet guaranteed throughout every journey.
Can I use contactless payment late at night?
Yes. Oyster, contactless cards, and supported mobile wallets work during Night Tube hours. Touch in and out with the same card or device. A physical bank card or Oyster card does not depend on your phone battery, but a mobile wallet does.
Are there special Night Tube tickets or discounts?
No separate Night Tube ticket is required. Standard off-peak fares and daily capping apply. A Day Travelcard remains valid for an overnight journey that starts before 04:30 on the morning after the printed date.
Does the Night Tube run on Sunday night?
Not as part of the normal weekly timetable. The service runs through Friday night into Saturday morning and Saturday night into Sunday morning. It does not normally continue through Sunday night into Monday.
Does the Night Tube go to Heathrow Airport?
The Piccadilly Night Tube normally serves Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 and Heathrow Terminal 5. It does not serve the Terminal 4 loop overnight. Check your airline terminal and the live TfL status before leaving central London.
Ready for Your Night Out?
The Night Tube makes late weekend travel easier, but the correct branch and final connection still matter. Check TfL Go before leaving, confirm that your destination station is served overnight, and save a backup bus or licensed transport option. With those checks complete, you can enjoy your evening without guessing how you will get home.
Sources
- Transport for London: The Night Tube — operating lines, fares, Travelcard validity, and official service information
- Visit London: Night Tube lines, map, times and how it works — current line frequencies, branch limits, accessibility, and Night Overground coverage
- Transport for London: Mobile phones and Wi-Fi underground — station Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity information
- Transport for London: Transport accessibility — step-free journey planning, lift status, maps, and passenger assistance
- Transport for London: Pets on public transport — leads, carriers, seats, gates, and escalator rules
- British Transport Police: 61016 text service — emergency and non-emergency crime-reporting guidance