How do London travel zones work?
London is divided into numbered fare zones that spread out from the centre, and a pay as you go fare depends on which zones you start and end in. Zone 1 is central London, and the higher numbers sit further out.
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How it works
The zone map covers the Underground, the Elizabeth line, the Overground and most rail inside London. Daily and weekly caps are also set by zone, so the cap you reach depends on the widest journey you made that day.
Commonly mixed up with
Zones look like distance bands, but a few stations sit in two zones at once and are charged in whichever way is cheaper for the journey.
How do London travel zones work?
| Knowledge, London | Travel and visit |
|---|---|
| Short answer | London is divided into numbered fare zones that spread out from the centre, and a pay as you go fare depends on which zones you start and end in. Zone 1 is central London, and the higher numbers sit further out. |
| How it works | The zone map covers the Underground, the Elizabeth line, the Overground and most rail inside London. Daily and weekly caps are also set by zone, so the cap you reach depends on the widest journey you made that day. |
| Commonly mixed up with | Zones look like distance bands, but a few stations sit in two zones at once and are charged in whichever way is cheaper for the journey. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Is zone 1 always more expensive?
- Travel that touches zone 1 is priced higher than the same distance outside it.
- Do buses use zones?
- Bus fares are flat and do not depend on zones.
- How is the cap set?
- The cap matches the zones you actually travelled through that day.
- Do airports sit in a zone?
- Heathrow is in zone 6, and other airports sit outside the zone map.
- Where is the map?
- Transport for London publishes the current zone map and fares.
Sources
More in this track
- How do you get from Heathrow to central London?
- How do you get from Gatwick to central London?
- Oyster or contactless in London: what is the difference?
- What is the Elizabeth line and when is it useful?
- Which areas do visitors stay in when they come to London?
- What is the weather like in London through the year?
- Can you get around London without a car?
- Which airports serve London and how do they differ?
- How do payment and tipping work in London?
- How accessible is London transport?
- Which day trips are reachable from London by train?
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