The London Underground is not a 24-hour network. Most nights it stops around midnight and doesn’t restart until early morning. This guide explains roughly when services end, what still runs after that, and what to do when nothing does — without pretending to give you a timetable that would be out of date by next week.
Key takeaways
- Last Tubes generally go around midnight — earlier than many people expect.
- Times vary by line, station and direction — check TfL for yours.
- Night Tube: Friday and Saturday only, on five lines.
- Night buses (“N” routes) run every night — slow, but they exist.
- A pre-booked car runs every night, door-to-door, at a fixed fare.
01 / WHENRoughly when the Tube stops
On most nights, the last Tube trains depart central London around midnight, with services winding down from around 11:30pm depending on the line, station and direction. First trains start early the following morning. The exact time varies by station and by line — which is precisely why we’re not printing a table here.
02 / CHECKWhy we won’t print a timetable
Last-train times change with timetable revisions, engineering works and strikes. A table published on a blog is out of date the moment a closure is announced — and if you rely on it and it’s wrong, you’re stranded. Check TfL’s journey planner or app on the night. That’s the only source that’s actually current.
03 / RUNSWhat still runs after midnight
Night Tube — Friday and Saturday nights only, on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines (not every branch). Night buses — the “N” routes run every night of the week, and cover most of London; they’re slow, and grim with suitcases, but they’re there. Taxis and pre-booked cars — every night, door to door.
04 / FLIGHTThe airport problem
Here’s where this really bites: early-morning flights. A 6am departure means being at the airport before the first trains run — and on a weeknight, there is no Tube at all at 4am. That isn’t a scheduling inconvenience; it’s the reason pre-booked cars exist.
05 / RUSHXOThe 24/7 option
Rushxo runs every night, all night, at a fixed fare with no late-night surcharge — a 4am pickup costs the same as a midday one. Door to door, luggage handled, no night buses and no waiting on an empty platform.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What time does the last Tube leave?
Generally around midnight, with services winding down from about 11:30pm depending on the line, station and direction. Exact times vary and change with engineering works, so check TfL’s journey planner on the night.
Does the Tube run 24 hours?
No — only the Night Tube on Friday and Saturday nights, and only on five lines. Sunday to Thursday, the Underground closes around midnight and reopens early the next morning.
What runs in London after midnight?
Night buses (the “N” routes) run every night and cover most of London, though they’re slow with luggage. The Night Tube runs Friday and Saturday only. Taxis and pre-booked cars run every night, door-to-door.
How do I get to the airport for an early flight?
Before the first trains run, a pre-booked car is effectively the only reliable option. On a weeknight there’s no Tube at 4am, so a 24/7 fixed-fare transfer is what gets you to a 6am departure.
Is there a late-night surcharge on a taxi?
Not with a fixed fare — a 4am pickup costs the same as a midday one, with the price agreed before you travel and no surge.
Where can I check the last train from my station?
Use TfL’s journey planner or app on the night you’re travelling — it accounts for engineering works and disruption, which a published table can’t.
Time Matters
Book a 24/7 fixed-fare car
Fixed fares confirmed before you ride. Local licensed drivers, flight tracking, 24/7 human support — and no surge, ever.