Londoners and visitors welcoming in 2026 face significant travel disruptions on New Year's Day, with Transport for London (TfL) confirming a series of closures and service changes. Passengers are urged to plan ahead, particularly those heading to the capital's famous New Year's Day Parade, to navigate the altered services effectively.
Major Tube and rail line disruptions
The London Underground will operate a reduced Sunday service across the entire network. Specific line closures will cause considerable inconvenience. There will be no service on the Waterloo & City line for the whole day.
On the District line, trains will not serve Kensington Olympia. Piccadilly line passengers face a closure between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.
The London Overground network is also heavily affected. The Mildmay line will have no service between Camden Road and both Richmond and Shepherd's Bush. A special service will run on other sections. The Weaver line is suspended between Liverpool Street and London Fields.
The Elizabeth line will run a reduced Saturday service. Notably, Liverpool Street station's National Rail platforms will be closed; passengers must use the Broadgate entrance or access via Moorgate station.
Bus diversions and road impacts
Buses will follow a Sunday schedule but will be subject to diversions along the route of the New Year's Day Parade. This will coincide with multiple road closures and expected large crowds in central London.
Drivers should note that while the Congestion Charge is suspended for the day, the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels charge will still operate. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charges also remain in force for non-compliant vehicles.
Other TfL services and charges
Several other transport modes will see altered timetables. The DLR and Trams will run a Sunday service. The IFS Cloud Cable Car will operate between 9am and 9pm.
The Woolwich Ferry will provide a reduced service with one boat every 30 minutes. Taxi users will face extra costs, with black cabs charging an additional £4 per journey until 6am on Friday, January 2. Private hire vehicle fares may also be higher.
National Rail services are running with changes and engineering works. Passengers are strongly advised to check the National Rail website for detailed information before travelling.
TfL emphasises that normal fares apply across New Year's Day. The authority recommends all passengers use the TfL Journey Planner and check live Status updates before setting out to minimise disruption to their first journeys of 2026.
