London Underground Pass Guide: Prices, Validity, and How It Works

01/30/2026 Travel & Lifestyle created by Sprachcaffe Team

Details and fares for a London Underground travelcard | Visiting a city as large as London can be a challenge, especially if you only have a few days.

It's a capital city waiting to be discovered, with unmissable attractions scattered throughout and a "center" so vast it could be considered a city in itself! That's why getting a London tube pass can be a lifesaver.

With its 12 lines the iconic Tube is the most convenient way to explore the English city. And as you'll soon discover, it's also the most economical, especially if you choose to buy a London Tube pass for 5 days, 4 days, or as long as you need.

Thanks to this option— and our guide —you'll be able to plan the perfect itinerary and optimize travel time between attractions. Read on to find out all the information you need about schedules and the cost of a London Tube pass.

What Is the London Tube Pass?

The London Underground is the oldest in the world, as well as the largest in Europe: choosing it as your primary means of transportation is a real guarantee. Punctual trains, comfortable, and well-designed routes allow you to travel this city without using any other means of transport, potentially!

If it weren't for the price of a single ticket, which is truly expensive: the price of a single ride varies from zone to zone, but averages out at £4.90 ( €5.65). In short, getting a London Underground pass is cheaper than buying a single ticket, especially if you plan on taking multiple trains each day.

What are they? Simply put, special cards with variable validity that allow you to hop on and off the tube as you please. This not only saves you money, but also the time it takes to buy the necessary standard ticket each time! It's a great convenience, one you should indulge in for a short trip, and even more so if you're planning on going on a study trip to London and staying for a while.

The operation is very simple: they are electronic tickets that you load with money in advance, then pass them over the yellow reader at the turnstile exit in order to have the fare deducted for the journey.

Types of London Tube Travel Passes: A Complete Guide

There are currently several London Underground passes you can purchase to make the most of your trip. The options available to you are:

Travelcards , or actual tickets that can have varying durations. Travelcards are available for daily, weekly, monthly, and even annual use , and their prices also vary depending on the zones (groups of stops) they cover.
The Oyster card is an electronic ticket you can buy at any tube station for £7. It's very simple: once you have the card, you load it with money in advance, then swipe it over the yellow reader at the turnstiles to deduct the fare for the journey. Thanks to the app, you can then monitor your remaining credit directly from your phone and top it up from there if necessary. Besides the convenience, it offers significant savings on single fares, making this type of pass for the London Underground a worthwhile option.

How Much Do London Underground Travel Passes Cost?

As you've probably already gathered, London isn't exactly a cheap city. Travel costs, especially, are quite high... although the city makes up for it by offering free museum admission!

That said, however, it's important to understand which type of card to purchase to get the most benefit, considering that, if you plan to use the metro at least twice a day, a travel card is always more convenient than a single ticket.

The cost of a London Underground pass varies depending on its duration, of course, but also on the zones it covers. A single card doesn't necessarily allow you to travel freely throughout the city, but you can choose a pass valid for the group of stops you need.

When it comes to fees, consider these costs:

Day Travelcard: £7.70 for zones 1-2, £9 for zones 1-3, £11 for zones 1-4, £13.10 for zones 1-5, £14.10 for zones 1-6, £15.30 for zones 1-7, £18.10 for zones 1-8, £20 for zones 1-9 (all)
Weekly Travelcard : from £38
Monthly Travelcard : from £147
Annual Travelcard : between £1628 and £4244, but unless you want to go abroad for a year in London , this one won't interest you too much.

A specific note must be made regarding children and minors under 17 years of age. In fact, different rates apply based on age groups:

Children aged 0 to 11 travel free on all public transport in London;
children aged 11 to 15 get discounts on the metro, and travel for free on trams and buses;
16 and 17 year olds have the option to purchase a Zip Oyster +16 to get various discounts

That said, what if you need a 3-, 4-, or 5-day London Tube pass? Let's look at the most convenient options based on the length of your trip and the type of itinerary you plan to follow during your stay in London.

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Cost of a 3-day London Underground Pass

For a trip lasting just three days, the most convenient option is to pay as you go. In fact, the daily limit in this case is equivalent to the cost of a one-day Travelcard of £7.70.

After all, this is the one that covers zones 1-2, which are the most useful and interesting for tourists. Consider carefully whether to add zones to your ticket, as you might not need them, and therefore you could spend more than necessary!

This way, however, for your entire trip you will only spend £23.10 on transport, which is currently equivalent to €26.64.

Cost of a 4-day London Underground Pass

By adding a day to your trip, you have a choice: stick with daily passes or opt for a weekly one? Doing the math, a London Tube pass for four days on a daily pass would cost £30.80, while a weekly one starts at £38.

The most convenient alternative is therefore the first, or even better the Visitor Oyster Card, which takes into account the discounted Off Peak fares and allows you to save a good amount for each journey depending on the time (peak or not).

Cost of a 5-day London Underground Pass

Finally, regarding the cost of a 5-day London Underground pass , the best solution is the weekly travelcard. For around €40 , you get unlimited travel in zones 1 and 2, the ones you need, and you can save a lot on standard tickets.

The Visitor Oyster Card can be topped up with any amount you like, and for five days you'll need about £50. Also consider a £5 deposit , which is refunded when you return the card. You can also keep it as a souvenir and consider yourself a purchase!

London Underground Pass: Times and Days

Now that we've covered everything about purchasing and pricing a London Underground pass, here's a helpful guide on days and times. Because the City Tube is so popular, it offers convenient hours for use throughout the day and into the evening. It's open and running from 5:00 a.m. until midnight . Actually, it's a little longer, because the last train departs at 12:00 a.m.

You never have to wait more than 2 or 3 minutes for the next metro stop in the city center, so there won't be long waits to slow down your journey! This is especially important if you're short on time.

For those who love to party, the Night Tube , a night-time underground service, was launched in 2016. It operates on some Northern, Piccadilly, and Central lines, particularly the Victoria and Jubilee lines. The service operates only on weekends (Fridays and Saturdays), with trains running every 8-10 minutes.

On Sundays, however, there may be fewer journeys available overall, but this also depends on the time of year and any public holidays. We therefore recommend checking the time of year when you plan to visit London!

One final point should be made regarding the safety of the London Underground. Many people wonder whether taking the Tube, especially at night, is safe, and fortunately, it is. In general, London is a city where safety is a very important concern, and it boasts the oldest police force in the world.

Of course, some neighborhoods are safer than others, but overall, it's a place where you can feel at ease. The Underground also reflects this ideal of safety , so there's nothing to worry about and you can use it even at night.

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