Night Tube London: Your Guide to Late-Night Travel

When the sun goes down in London, the Night Tube, a 24-hour service on select London Underground lines during weekends. Also known as 24-hour Tube, it keeps the city alive for night owls, partygoers, and workers heading home after midnight. This isn’t just a train service—it’s the backbone of London’s nightlife. Without it, you’d be stuck waiting for buses, hailing cabs, or walking miles after last call. The Night Tube runs Friday and Saturday nights on the Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern, and Piccadilly lines, connecting key party zones like Shoreditch, Soho, Camden, and Brixton directly to residential areas. It’s the quiet hero of a good night out.

Planning a night out? The Night Tube doesn’t just get you from point A to B—it shapes your whole evening. You can start with cocktails in Mayfair, hit a drag show in Soho, grab kebabs in Peckham, and still make it home before dawn. It’s why venues in East London and South London now stay open later—they know the Tube will carry you home. And it’s not just for party girls. Students, shift workers, and tourists all rely on it. But here’s the thing: knowing when it runs isn’t enough. You need to know which stations are busiest, where to avoid crowding, and how to stay safe. The Challenge 25 policy applies on the Tube too—carry ID if you look under 25. And while most stations are well-lit and staffed, some quieter stops near the edges of the network get quieter after 2 a.m. Stick to the main lines. Avoid walking long distances from stations like North Greenwich or Cockfosters late at night. Use the TfL Go app to check real-time arrivals and service alerts. The Night Tube isn’t perfect, but it’s the best tool you’ve got for a smooth, safe night out.

What you’ll find below are real stories from Londoners who’ve used the Night Tube to make their nights unforgettable. From how to plan a bar crawl that ends with a 3 a.m. ride home, to which venues partner with Tube access for guestlist perks, to why some girls’ nights out only happen because the Night Tube exists. You’ll see how venues in South London, like The Begging Bowl and Kudu, time their closing to match the last train. You’ll learn how to avoid the rush at Oxford Circus by switching lines early. And you’ll find out which late-night food spots are easiest to reach after the last Tube. This isn’t a tourist guide. These are the tricks locals use—because in London, the night doesn’t end when the music stops. It ends when the train pulls into your station.