Travelling in London

London stations

London has over 330 train stations, with routes to all parts of Great Britain. Each London station has its own tube station (except Fenchurch Street, which is served by Tower Hill), and they all have connections to buses and taxis.

Travelling to and from London

If you are travelling to or from London, your ticket will usually show London Terminals rather than a specific station. This is because your ticket may be valid at more than 1 London Terminal station, as long as it is on a reasonable route, using National Rail services.

For example, if you are travelling from Woking to London Terminals, you can end your journey at:

• London Waterloo

• London Victoria (via Clapham Junction)

• London Bridge

• London Blackfriars

• City Thameslink

• London Charing Cross

• London Waterloo East

• London Cannon Street (via London Bridge)

But you could not use your ticket to travel to:

• London Euston

• London Paddington

because those stations are not on the line of route – meaning you would have to cross London using another method of transport, such as London Underground or a London bus, to get there.

Some tickets, for example from a specific train company or special fares, will only be valid for a named London Terminal station. This will be shown on your ticket.

What are the London Terminal stations?

There are 18 London Terminal stations:

• London Blackfriars

• London Cannon Street

• London Charing Cross

• City Thameslink

• London Euston

• London Fenchurch Street

• London Kings Cross

• London Liverpool Street

• London Bridge

• London Marylebone

• Moorgate

• Old Street (for journeys starting north of London and via Kings Cross St Pancras only)

• London Paddington

• St Pancras International

• Vauxhall

• London Victoria

• London Waterloo

• London Waterloo East

Tickets to or from London Thameslink

If your ticket shows London Thameslink, you can find more information on routes and validity on the Thameslink website. The below diagrams may help with understanding which stations from the north or the south a 'London Thameslink' or 'London Terminals' ticket is valid to.

Tickets for travel on High Speed services

Customers with tickets with an origin or destination of London Terminals and routed Plus High Speed are also permitted to travel in either direction on Thameslink services between London St Pancras International and:

• London Blackfriars

• City Thameslink

• Elephant & Castle

• Farringdon

• London Bridge

Travelling across London with your train ticket

If your journey involves travelling via or across London to connect with another National Rail service, your ticket should include the cost of transfer on London Underground, DLR, Thameslink or Elizabeth line services between the relevant stations. 

Your ticket will be marked with a cross ( + ) sign.

Tickets displaying this sign are valid for travel between any 2 stations shown in the list below, appropriate to the route of the through journey being made.

You are allowed to break your transfer journey once and leave the Underground, Elizabeth line or DLR at any intermediate station. For example, if you are travelling on the Underground between Victoria and Euston, you can exit at Oxford Circus. However, if you subsequently wish to continue your journey by Underground you will have to purchase another ticket or use pay as you go to travel to Euston.

Travelling in London

If you are making journeys within London, you can use Oyster or contactless pay as you go and Travelcards for travel on National Rail and Transport for London rail services, London Underground, DLR, London Buses and London Trams. See our Oyster, contactless and Travelcards page for more information.

If you are travelling to London from the home counties, the south, south east, or further afield on some routes, you may be able to buy a return ticket which also includes a One Day Travelcard. Check the Journey Planner to see if this option is available.

Boundary tickets

If you already have a Travelcard, then you are permitted to use any services within its Zones (subject to time restrictions of the Travelcard). If you are travelling beyond what is permitted by your Travelcard or Pass then you can purchase a Boundary Zone ticket to or from the station outside of London.

For example, if you have a 7-Day Zones 1 to 3 Travelcard and wanted to travel to Brighton, you can buy a London Boundary Zone 3 to Brighton Day Return ticket from staffed National Rail ticket offices and some self-service ticket machines. The train you are on does not need to call at a station within Zone 3 to be valid. Boundary tickets can be sold in the opposite direction as well (e.g. Brighton to London Boundary Zone 3).

Accessible travel in London

For up-to-date information about travelling around London on public transport, visit TfL’s Transport Accessibility page.