Keep up to date with festive happenings in the capital on our Christmas 2026 in London page. Additionally, be aware of Tube strikes planned across London between November 2026-February 2027.
Heading into, out of, or around London over Christmas 2026?
Wondering which trains run between Christmas and New Year?
Do London buses run on Christmas Day?
Find out all you need to know about transport in London over Christmas and New Year below. Bear in mind that services may shut down early on Christmas Eve — always check your specific service before your travel.
The below information is correct at time of writing, but do check directly with your transport operator before you set off.
Does the Tube run on Christmas Day 2026? A guide to TfL services over Christmas
As usual, no TfL services run on Christmas Day. That's buses, Tubes, trains, trams, Elizabeth line, Overground, DLR, river boats, cable car, the works. Some transport will also finish early on Christmas Eve, so don't get caught out by that.
Santander Cycles are still available to hire on 25 December — though if you're an irregular user, note that a brand new Santander Cycles app is in use from November 2026, so make sure you've got that downloaded and ready to go. Some taxi services will also be running on Christmas Day.
Aside from the Christmas Day mass shutdown, there are a handful of part-closures on TfL services including some Tube and London Overground lines and the DLR between Christmas and New Year, though disruption is fairly minor this year compared to previous years. Check the TfL Status Updates page closer to the time to see what's closed when. Its major events travel page is worth bookmarking too.
Can you drive in London for free on Christmas Day 2026?
The Congestion Charge (which applies to all vehicles driving within the Congestion Charge Zone) does not apply Friday 25 December 2026-Friday 1 January 2027, inclusive.
The ULEZ, which is the one that applies to the most polluting vehicles, does not apply on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026. However, unlike the Congestion Charge, it is enforced every other day of the year, including Boxing Day through to New Year.
And finally, the LEZ, which generally only applies to heavy diesel vehicles and is separate from the ULEZ, applies every day of the year including Christmas Day.
The fees for using the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels, introduced in 2025, do not apply on Christmas Day, but do apply every other day over the festive period.
Unsure which applies to you? Check your vehicle on the TfL website.
Which railway stations are closed over Christmas 2026?
As always, no National Rail trains run on Christmas Day, and only certain operators run a limited service on Boxing Day. Check with your individual operator for specifics.
Paddington station closure: Christmas 2026
National Rail services from Paddington — including Great Western, Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line — will not run from Christmas Day onwards, as the station* closes for engineering works on lines in the Thames Valley.
Services begin returning from New Year's Eve (31 December), when Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line services resume running between Paddington and Heathrow. However, the Elizabeth line won't serve stops between West Drayton and Reading until 4 January 2027.
Great Western Rail services will also be unable to use Paddington until Monday 4 January 2027. Some services will terminate at Reading instead, while others will divert to Euston.
Paddington Tube station is unaffected by these works.
*The station building remains open to allow people to use toilets and other facilities
Full details available on the Paddington station and Network Rail websites.
Forest Gate/Great Eastern Main Line engineering works: Christmas 2026
Engineering work on the Great Eastern Main Line (which runs between Liverpool Street and Norwich) in the Forest Gate area mean that no Greater Anglia or Elizabeth line trains will run through this stretch from 25 December, reopening on 4 January 2027.
See the Greater Anglia website for details. The route from Liverpool Street to Cambridge via Stansted Airport is not affected.
See National Rail's Christmas travel page for more details on the above. Beyond this, check with your train operating company for details of what is (or isn't) running between Christmas and New Year. There are no trains running anywhere on Christmas Day, and most operators start winding down early (around 5pm — though it varies) on Christmas Eve.
Getting to and from London airports: Christmas 2026
HEATHROW: No services Friday 25 December. No Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express service until 31 December 2026 due to Paddington station closure (see above). Use the Piccadilly line instead.
GATWICK: No Gatwick Express on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December (though a limited Southern service runs on 26 December) The Gatwick Express runs between Victoria and Gatwick throughout the rest of the festive period. No Southern service on 25 December. Be aware of engineering works in the Redhill area between 20 December 2026 and 3 January 2027, which means changes to normal timetables.
STANSTED: No Stansted Express services Friday 25 December. On Saturday 26 December, Stansted Express services terminate at Tottenham Hale instead of Liverpool Street. Some early morning diversions on the Stansted Express on 27 December 2026 and 3 January 2027. Otherwise, a normal Stansted Express service operates throughout the festive period.
CITY: We're awaiting TfL's updates on Christmas 2026 services on the DLR.
More information on National Rail's Christmas page.
New Year's Eve travel in and around London
Sadly, there's been no free travel on New Year's Eve for several years now. Usually though, services do run through the night to help people get home after seeing in the new year. We'll bring you this year's details when TfL announces them.
Some stations closest to the NYE Fireworks action may close temporarily if they get too busy.
Are there Tube strikes in London over Christmas 2026?
Tube strikes have been announced for eight dates between November 2026-February 2027, including 17 and 19 December, and 4 Janaury. This is the TFL page to keep an eye on for any updates regarding these strikes.
At time of writing (early November 2026), there are no strikes planned on the railway network over Christmas 2026. All upcoming railway strikes are recorded on the National Rail website, so check that page before you travel for any changes.
