The London transport system can sometimes feel like a maze to newcomers. But once you get familiar with it, you realise it's really a piece of cake.
London’s zones are a system of geographical zones used by Transport for London (TfL) to determine the distance of a customer’s journey and charge a fee accordingly.
London is divided into 9 zones, but most of it fits into zones 1–6. Central London is Zone 1, Zone 2 is the ring around Zone 1, Zone 3 is the ring around 2 and so on.
Understanding the zone system is crucial for getting around the capital and knowing how much you’ll pay.
How do I know what zone I am in London?
London's tube map will help you to find out what zone you're in.
What are zones 1 to 6 in London?
Here is a rundown of what to expect in each zone.
Zone 1
London Zone 1 covers central London.
In Zone 1, you'll find major attractions such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, the British Museum, the Science Museum, and more.
Zone 2
London Zone 2 is the inner city that wraps around Zone 1. It is not in the city centre but closer to the centre than zone 3.
You can expect Notting Hill, Camden Town, and London Zoo.
Zone 3
London Zone 3 is the inner zone of Transport for London’s zonal fare system.
Zone 3 features the beautiful landscapes of Kew Gardens, the famous Wimbledon tennis championships, and the convenience of London City Airport for quick getaways.
Zone 4
London Zone 4 is the outer zone of Transport for London’s zonal fare system. Zone 4 rings around zone 3. London Zone 4 is only 33 minutes from Central London (Zone 1).
In Zone 4, you'll find Wembley Stadium, the fascinating RAF museum, the tranquillity of Richmond Park and more.
Zone 5
London zone 5 is an outer zone and rings around zone 4.
Zone 5 offers great value as it only takes on average 15 minutes longer to get into central London than in Zone 2.
A haven for rugby enthusiasts, you'll find Twickenham Stadium here.
Zone 6
London Zone 6 is the outer zone of Transport for London’s zonal fare system. It is the end of the line for Central, District, Thameslink, Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth, Metropolitan, and Piccadilly lines, and the Overground.
