Londoners are set to see a rise in the cost of using the Tube, with new fares coming into force from this week.
Tube passengers will see fares rise by as much as 7.1 per cent on certain tickets when the new pricing structure comes into effect on March 1.
The changes form part of Transport for London’s yearly fares review, with prices having outpaced inflation in recent years.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said the increase is tied to securing Government support for major infrastructure investment, following last year’s spending review settlement.
National Rail fares have been held at current levels in a bid to ease pressure on passengers during the cost-of-living squeeze. However, it has been confirmed that Tube fares will not be subject to a comparable freeze.
Full list of new Tube fares from March 2026
From the beginning of March, these are the new single Tube fares passengers will pay across London:
Zone 1 only: Peak £3.10 | Off-peak £3.00
Zone 1–2: Peak £3.60 | Off-peak £3.10
Zone 1–3: Peak £3.90 | Off-peak £3.30
Zone 1–4: Peak £4.80 | Off-peak £3.60
Zone 1–5: Peak £5.30 | Off-peak £3.80
Zone 1–6: Peak £5.90 | Off-peak £4.00
One zone outside Zone 1: Peak £2.30 | Off-peak £2.20
Two zones outside Zone 1: Peak £2.50 | Off-peak £2.30
Three zones outside Zone 1: Peak £3.20 | Off-peak £2.40
Four zones outside Zone 1: Peak £3.40 | Off-peak £2.50
Zones 2–6: Peak £3.80 | Off-peak £2.60
Why are prices going up?
City Hall said fares on the Underground and Overground are increasing because Government funding for major infrastructure schemes is conditional on TfL raising prices above the Retail Price Index.
Under the terms of last year’s spending review, TfL must demonstrate financial “prudence”, including annual fare rises of RPI plus one percentage point, in order to unlock investment for key projects.
The Government has indicated that more than £2 billion in capital funding will be made available provided fares are increased in line with the agreed formula.
In the absence of a freeze, Tube fares traditionally rise each March.
In contrast, TfL bus and tram fares in the capital will remain unchanged under what City Hall has described as an “emergency cost of living” intervention. Mr Khan confirmed the freeze will stay in place until July 2026.
The popular Hopper fare will also stay at £1.75, allowing unlimited bus journeys within an hour at no extra cost.
Elsewhere, regulated National Rail fares are set to be held as pledged in the autumn Budget — marking the first such freeze in decades.
The measure covers season tickets, peak return fares on commuter services and off-peak returns between major cities, offering relief to passengers facing higher travel costs. The freeze is expected to remain in place until March 2027.
