How to Use the Tube in London: an easy guide for visitors (2024)

This post contains affiliate links for which I may make a small commission to help keep the site running. You will not be charged extra for these items had you not clicked the links. Thank you for your help to keep the site running!

Whether you’re in London for a day or a year, you’re going to want to learn how to use the tube in London, also known as the London Underground.

Many tourists are petrified of using the London Underground at first because London seems like a big city (it is) and they fear a system they haven’t used before, as well as wondering things like, “is the tube safe in London?”

People standing on the right of an escalator on the tube underground in London

However, in this guide to using the tube in London, I’m going to show you exactly why you shouldn’t be afraid of public transportation in London, how to use the tube in London, how to take trips on the tube as a visitor, and point you to all of my resources on everything from London Underground tube tips to using Oyster Cards in London (not real Oysters) to other ways to get around London.

Before you descend into the center of the earth and straight into a businessman’s personal space, here are some basic rules for surviving the London underground.

survivingthelondonunderground

GET A FREE LONDON INTRO GUIDE and ACCESS TO MY FB GROUP

Start your planning with this “Intro to London” guide and access to my London planning Facebook group!

Leave this field blank

The Absolute Must-Knows (from a Londoner)

Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group, where I can answer more of your questions!

How to Ride the London Underground: Tube Etiquette

London tube

1. Stand on the right, pass on the left

If you remember nothing else about using the tube in London, REMEMBER THIS.

When standing on an escalator in any tube station, you must stand on the right hand side.

This is a London non-negotiable.

If you find yourself standing on the left blocking foot traffic, you will feel the stares of a hundred impatient and standoffish Londoners burning a hole in the back of your head.

You will be written about on forums.

You will find yourself on the front page of the Evening Standard next to the words “WANTED.”

London tube

2. Wait for people to get off the train before you get on

This seems obvious when it comes to London tube tips, but you would be surprised about the number of people who treat a tube door like a two-way street.

It’s a one-way street, and this means you need to let everyone rush out before you rush on.

The train won’t leave without you, I promise.

People getting on a London underground train
Click here to check out my custom itinerary planning service with local suggestions to make sure you have the trip of a lifetime!

3. Put your bag/backpack/gigantic purse by your feet

There is NOTHING WORSE than someone with a giant backpack holding 63 textbooks, 8 lunch bags, and 6,000 pens barging their way onto the tube and taking up the space of 4 people with their belongings.

If you’re standing, put the bag by your feet so other people can squeeze in.

AND, if possible, put a leg through a strap so  no one can run away wit your purse.

Yes. It happens.

London Underground train arriving

4. Lower your voice. And then lower it again. 

Americans are notorious for this, but other foreigners (and drunk Brits) are at fault as well.

A journey on the tube is sacred.

It’s for reading the newspaper.

It’s for drafting your ‘hate you’ text to your ex on your phone.

It’s for calming your nerves before you step back out into the world and attend your third job interview of the day.

It’s not for catching up with your friend over dinner, it’s not for singing, and it’s DEFINITELY not for yelling over other passengers to speak to your friend from school three seats down.

Talk quietly or see the previously mentioned stares of English people who think you’re an absolute idiot but won’t say anything to you about it.

I know it doesn’t sound threatening, but hell hath no fury like a Londoner forced to listen to you gab.

People getting on a London underground train

5. Do not make eye contact

Just don’t.

Especially during rush hour, you’re going to be really close to some random person and the least you can do for them is to not acknowledge the situation you’re both in.

Eye contact is official, it’s permanent, it’s a way of marking the occasion.

This is not an occasion to be marked.

London tube

6. Move down inside the train

Riding public transportation isn’t actually rocket science, so you may be able to figure this one out by yourself, but judging by how many times I hear the phrase “MOVE DOWN INSIDE THE CARRIAGE” while on a single tube journey, we should probably rehash.

If you get on a busy train, and there are people waiting to get on, you have two options: get off or move to fill some empty space.

Unfortunately the last space people want to fill is the space in between the seats, furthest from the doors.

I totally get this.

I will do everything possible to not have to move down inside the carriage, but sometimes, you’ve got no choice.

It’s go time.

Just huff a little to yourself, pick up your backpack as instructed in Rule 3, don’t make eye contact with the people who now have their faces in your crotch, and suck it up.

This is the tube carriage, not a horse-drawn one, so lower your expectations accordingly.

London tube

7. Stand to the Side to Ask for Directions

If you need to ask for directions or look at a map, make sure to stand aside and not in the flow of people coming on and off trains or on and off platforms.

There is plenty of space to either stand up against the walls or move down the platform so you aren’t in people’s ways and can take the time you need to figure out where you’re going.

London tube

8. London Underground tips: Remember You Need to “Tap In” and “Tap Out”

Everyone can figure out that you need to “tap in” to get on the train because you won’t be able to go into a tube station without presenting a ticket or tapping your Oyster card on the reader, but sometimes people forget you also need to do this when you exit.

This can leave people unprepared to exit the turnstiles with a long line of people behind them are you’re searching through all of your luggage to where you stashed your ticket when you were trying to follow all of the other rules above.

So just make a note to keep your ticket or Oyster card in an easily accessible place so you can slide on out of the station with ease.

London tube

9. Be Aware of People Who Need the Seats More than You

Especially at rush hour, you may find that there are no seats to sit in to begin with, which is par for the course, but at other parts of the day, you’ll want to make sure to look around at every stop to see if someone is getting on, like a pregnant woman, elderly person, or someone with a “Please offer me a seat” badge that helps those with non-visible disabilities let others know that they may need a seat.

If there are plenty of seats to choose from, no worries.

But if there are no seats left and you are sitting in one of them and a person who looks like they need the seat more than you gets on, the courteous and right thing is to offer it to them so they can either have the seat or have the opportunity to decline.

London bus

10. Remember the Tube Doors Open Automatically

The tube doors open by themselves, with no need for you to press the button.

You can press it, but you’ll look a bit like an idiot and nothing will happen any faster.

This is one instant way to tell a tourist from a local, so do as the locals do and just wait for it to open or close!

London tube

How to Use the London Tube Map: an easy London tube guide

The London Tube map has won awards for being one of the easiest public transportation maps in the world to read (which you can find out more about at the London Transport Museum).

The basics are: the map is divided into 9 Zones.

It works a bit like a tree trunk, with the zones being circles that start with Zone 1 in the center and Zone 9 the furthest out.

Most visitors will only ever go in Zone 1, with some in Zone 2 and then a few in Zone 3 for attractions like Wimbledon.

The price of your journey depends on which zones you travel through.

When you look at the map, you will see different colored routes, called lines, and they are referred to by name and not by color.

For instance, the black line is the “Northern Line,” the dark blue line is the “Piccadilly Line” and the brown line is the “Bakerloo Line.”

How to Navigate London Tube Stations

London tube

In tube stations, you will see both the color and line name displayed when trying to navigate your way around, however.

Just like other subway systems, you can stay on one line for the duration of the journey, or you may need to switch lines at some point.

You can tell when you are able to switch lines because the lines will intersect or run parallel to each other with empty white circles next to them showing you that this is an interchange.

Some of the lines run North and South and some run East and West, but you don’t necessarily need to know exactly which way you’re going, you just need to follow the signs that have your stop displayed on them.

London tube

When you get onto a platform, there will also be big signs which show all of the stops that trains from that station can make.

The final thing to note on how to take the tube in London is that you can see when the next train is coming on signs above the platforms.

However, you should make a note of the final destination listed on that sign and then check on the big tube maps on the walls if your stop is included in that.

Sometimes, tubes will stop short of the end of the line or there are some lines, like the Northern Line, that have “branches,”.

If you check the station that is listed as the end station on the departures board and then find the stop you are currently at on the map, you will be able to see if the station you want to get to is between those two points.

If it’s not, wait for the next train that is going out to the stop you want.

This is not a problem in central London for the big tourist attractions, but would be if you were going towards the very end of a line.

How to Use Oyster Cards in London: Riding the Tube 101

For more information on how to use Oyster cards in London, check out my guide to Oyster cards which walks you through exactly what you need to do to buy an Oyster card, use an Oyster card, and make an Oyster card worth your while.

You can also learn more about the cost of the London underground, whether kids go free, and more information on buying travelcards in my guide to getting around London.

Oyster
Sourced from London Chow under CC by 2.0.

Is the Tube Safe?

The tube is an incredibly safe method of public transportation.

It has its own police force, and unlike other subways systems in places like Paris or New York, it’s actually pretty clean and well policed.

You won’t usually find much “life” on the tube like people playing accordians or being loud, as Brits in general tend to stick to a more orderly fashion.

London tube

The tube mostly runs an early in the morning until a midnight service, but some lines do have full night service on the weekends.

It is still safe to travel on the night tube, but as always when following London safety tips, be aware of your surroundings and keep good London tube safety practices in mind.

If you do notice anything suspicious, you’ll find signs up everywhere encouraging you to report it to the Transport Police in person or using a specific number listed – there is the option to text them, as well, to be more discreet.

You should also be sure, at any hour of the day, to not stand too close to the platform edge when a train is approaching to avoid any tragic accidents based on the crowds of rush hour.

And, of course, as you will hear lots of time when taking the tube, you should “mind the gap,” which is to say, “watch out for the gap in between the train and the platform and don’t fall in it.”

London tube

The gap can be very small in some stations, and large enough for a human to fit through in others.

Want more London travel guides? Check these out!

UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs

🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?

Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here, a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.

🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?

Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one, which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.

🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?

The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.

🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?

For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.

📳 Will my phone work in the UK?

Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.

🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?

Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink.

19 thoughts on “How to Use the Tube in London: an easy guide for visitors (2024)”

  1. Actually that’s a great point…Londoners stick to the rules until you break them, and then it’s fair game!

    Luckily Londoners are weird and write poems about travel etiquette displayed in the tube stations so it wasn’t hard to learn. Not kidding, check out this link for some very British reading:

    https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2014/february/passengers-poems-to-change-travel-etiquette-now-on-show-at-tube-stations-across-the-capital

  2. Very true. Just last week on a bus I was forced to listen to a bunch of lads who brought musical instruments and played loudly and badly for my entire trip home. Definitely lots of quiet wrath on that trip.

    1. Ugh that is the worst! I am never confrontational and wouldn’t say a word, but that is when the glares come out!

    1. Yes! I remember being on the Paris metro and thinking it was MUCH more chaotic than the tube though haha. People playing accordians, jumping over barriers! Brits are too timid for that. 😀

  3. Way to scare those of us away! Haha only kidding. This was a fun article. Thanks for the share! How different from the NYC sub.

    1. I live in NY and actually it seemed like much of what was discussed was very similar to the NY subway, no eye contact etc.

  4. I love number 5!! So true!! Even I, who is from the uk cant stand london, especially the tube!! Everyone is just so rude!! Much rather head up to the north, everyone is so so lovely!!!!

  5. Definitely will take these rules into consideration. London is actually on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.

    Alexis|www.themindfulmotivation.wordpress.com

  6. This is great. I visited London for one day and found the Tube SO easy to navigate. I loved it. Your tips are great too, and most of them can be applied for public transportation in many other cities too.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.