Transport
Tube strike in London: what still runs and how to get around
On this page
The short answer
Check tfl.gov.uk/strikes on the morning you travel. In the last two Tube strikes, the Elizabeth line, Overground and trams kept running, very busy; allow extra time and check the morning after too.
A Tube strike sounds like London stopping. In the last two it did not. Each was called by one group of staff, at one part of the network, and other parts kept running — more crowded than normal, but running.
This page explains the pattern, using what TfL itself said about recent strikes, and where to find the facts for the strike in front of you.
Check the day's facts, not the headline. Every strike is different: which lines, which hours, which other services are affected. TfL publishes the details for each one at tfl.gov.uk/strikes and in the TfL Go app. Check on the morning you travel.
At a glance — what the last two strikes showed
| During a Tube strike | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tube | Reduced, some lines closed — or little or none | Check live |
| Elizabeth line, Overground, trams | Not automatically affected by a Tube strike; ran in the last two | Check live |
| DLR | Ran in April 2026; closed on two days in Sept 2025 | Check live |
| Buses | Not automatically affected; bus strikes are separate | Check live |
| The morning after | Late start possible | Check live |
What happened in the last two strikes
September 2025. TfL said there would be little or no service across London Underground from Monday 8 to Thursday 11 September. The Elizabeth line, Overground and trams will be operating but are likely to be extremely busy, and may not stop at every station because of Tube closures. The DLR had its own action: no service expected on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 September.
April 2026. A strike by RMT Tube drivers ran from midday Tuesday 21 April to midday Friday 24 April. TfL said a reduced service will run across most lines, with no service on the Piccadilly and Circle lines and on parts of the Metropolitan and Central lines. The Elizabeth line, London Overground, DLR and trams were to run normally but be very busy, and most buses ran as usual.
Two lessons from those two:
- A “Tube strike” can mean anything from some lines being closed to almost nothing running. The headline does not tell you which.
- Other networks are run separately, so they usually keep going — but not always, because they can have their own disputes, as the DLR did in 2025.
The morning after is the trap
A strike that “ends” does not mean a normal morning. After the September 2025 strike, TfL said there would be no service before 08:00 on Friday 12 September, with a good service on all lines expected by late morning.
If you have an early start the day after a strike, check that morning’s service specifically.
How to get around during a strike
- Check tfl.gov.uk/strikes the morning you travel, and the TfL Go app. Strikes are sometimes suspended or changed at short notice.
- Look at the Elizabeth line, Overground, DLR and trams first. The Elizabeth line, Overground and trams ran in both recent strikes; the DLR ran in one. Expect them to be very busy, and allow extra time.
- Buses are the fallback, and most ran as usual in April 2026. Expect them to be fuller than normal.
- National Rail and Thameslink are run by separate companies, so a Tube strike is not their dispute. Check the operator for your journey.
- Walk or cycle short journeys. TfL itself suggested it in April 2026.
- Going to an airport? See London airports at night for the routes that do not use the Tube, and leave early.
What a strike changes after dark
- Night Tube depends on the strike. Check whether night services are included.
- Night buses become even more important — see after the last train.
- The first trains the next morning may be late. Plan the early journey separately.
Where the facts are
- TfL strike information: tfl.gov.uk/strikes
- Live status for every line: TfL status updates
- Journey planning: the TfL Go app, or TfL’s journey planner
We do not list strike dates on this page. They can be announced, suspended and rescheduled at short notice, and a stale date is worse than none. This page explains the pattern; TfL’s page has the facts.
The one-line version
In the last two Tube strikes, London did not stop. The Elizabeth line, Overground and trams kept running, very busy. Check tfl.gov.uk/strikes that morning, allow extra time, and plan the morning after the strike as carefully as the strike itself.
Sources
- TfL, 2 September 2025 — strike action on the Tube
- TfL, 16 April 2026 — RMT Tube drivers’ strike
- TfL — strikes
Checked: 22 September 2026 — against TfL’s own releases.