At lunchtime today (21 April) a 24-hour Tube strike begins, followed by a second 24-hour strike later this week.
You can read more about this RMT union action — including the reasons behind it, and future planned strike dates — here.
In London today? Wondering about getting home tonight? Read on for everything you need to know about getting around the capital while the Tube strike is happening.
When does the Tube strike start today?
It's a 24-hour strike from 12pm (lunchtime) on Tuesday 21 April, ending at 11.59am on Wednesday 22 April — so it'll affect evening rush hour on Tuesday and morning rush hour on Wednesday.
It's followed by another 24-hour strike from 12pm on Thursday (23 April) until 11.59am on Friday (24 April).
Though the strikes end at midday on Wednesday and Friday, TfL has said disruption will continue into the evening on these days. On Wednesday and Friday mornings, no services at all are expected to start running until around 7.30am. You'll need to find an alternative if you're travelling earlier than that.
Further strikes are also planned for May and June.
What's running (and what's closed) during today's Tube strike?
TfL has said that the whole Tube network is likely to be affected, with a reduced service expected to run across most lines, and significant disruption. Complete closures as follows:
- No service expected on the Piccadilly and Circle lines
- No service expected on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate
- No service expected on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street
TfL has said that the Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, Trams and most bus routes* will be running as normal but are expected to be very busy.
*Note that on Friday, some strikes on bus services in east London coincide with the Tube strike due to industrial action at Bow Garage — full details on the TfL website.
Live updates on the Tube strike
🚇 The British Library is among the institutions altering its opening hours this week due to the Tube strike, closing earlier on Tuesday and Thursday, and opening later on Wednesday and Friday:
Our St Pancras opening hours will be affected by planned tube strikes this week.
— British Library (@britishlibrary) April 20, 2026
For a full list of amended hours, visit our website: https://t.co/JWAyrCEta3 pic.twitter.com/921b1pWFJx
🚇 London's pubs and restaurants could see sales drop by up to 40% during the Tube strike, according to a report published by CityAM, which claims that "the capital’s hospitality industry is set to be the hardest-hit from the industrial action". Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association is not happy, telling us: "As the sector faces a fresh surge in energy and operating costs, this new wave of strike action creates yet more uncertainty that businesses simply cannot absorb. Margins are being squeezed from every direction, and confidence is increasingly fragile. The ongoing disruption to transport services begs the question, who does this actually benefit? Because right now, it’s businesses, workers and the wider public who are paying the price for the reckless actions of the few."
🚇 Among the big events taking place during the strikes is an Alex Warren gig at The O2 on Tuesday evening, leaving fans asking why the concert wasn't cancelled or rescheduled when Coldplay at Wembley and Post Malone at Tottenham Hotspur were both rescheduled due to Tube strikes last September. The O2 has a capacity of around 20,000 compared to the 90,000 fans who were expected to attend the Coldplay concert, and the Jubilee line serving The O2 is expected to run during the strike, albeit with a reduced service.
🚇 Those who are blind/visually impaired will suffer too. Clive Wood, Lead Regional Policy & Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs explains: "Tube closures can lead to increased traffic, busier pavements, and more crowded public spaces and buses. We also expect greater use of e-bikes and e-scooters, and as we saw last year, many of these were poorly parked and blocked pavements, posing risks for pedestrians with sight loss. For some, these factors may make journeys feel unpredictable or unsafe, and may lead them to avoid travelling altogether, limiting their independence."
🚇 12.28pm: Half an hour after the strike officially started, the TfL status page is showing severe disruption already — including on the western end of Elizabeth line, which isn't directly affected by the strike action. It's due to a (badly-timed) points failure at Hanwell.
Despite TfL initially saying there would be no service on the Piccadilly line, it does seem to be trying to run some sort of service at the moment.
🚇 4.20pm: In addition to the Tube strike, Great Northern is reporting issues on its routes between Brighton and Cambridge.
🚇5.13pm: Here's how it's looking as people start to head home from work. Thankfully it appears the earlier disruption on the Elizabeth line has now cleared up.
