Your New Year’s Eve travel just got a little bit easier.
Being in a generous mood this Yuletide, TfL will give London a belated Christmas gift. Once again, they’re making their entire transport network free to ride this New Year’s Eve, so you can get 2020 off to the best possibly start. You know, instead of beginning the year by taking a ludicrously priced Uber from Shoreditch to Richmond.
Thanks TfL! Between 11:45pm on December 31st, and 4:30am on January 1st, the whole TfL network is free to ride. Tubes, buses, overground, DLR, the whole enchilada. Just as exciting, tube lines and the DLR will run through the night – even the ones that aren’t on the Night Tube! However, there are a few caveats, including no Piccadilly line service between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge, and no District line on that curious little spur between Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia). Additionally, the Waterloo & City line only runs until 2:40am, and certain stations will be closed, exit only, or interchange on the 31st. They include big ones like Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Westminster – you can find the full list here.
The Night Overground will also run overnight services on the Richmond-Clapham Junction-Stratford route, the Highbury & Islington-West Croydon line, and the Euston-Watford Junction route (although this one is only until 1:45am). There are also special, albeit irregular, all-night services on TfL Rail and London Trams (excluding the Elmers End branch). Regularly scheduled night buses will run, but beware of changes or disruptions to routes because of road and bridge closures.
For those few hardy souls who have shouldered the burden of “designated driver” (WHY?), the Congestion Charge won’t apply until January 2nd, which is a small crumb of comfort in your darkest hour. You can find the full rundown of New Year’s Eve services on TfL’s website, and we don’t joke when we say it’s a true page-turner.