London is the United Kingdom’s capital city spanning an area of 1,572 square kilometres. The city contains 32 boroughs which are connected by an extensive transportation network. London’s public transit system divides the city in 9 zones with major locations falling within London zones 1 to 6.
This blog post is here to share some key insights about these primary zones in London, the types of transportation options available in these zones and the payment options available. So keep reading further to know more and navigate your way through London.
What Are London Zones?
London is an expansive city in the United Kingdom with a vast public transportation network. Navigating through different travel zones can seem to be daunting. However, the city is divided into fare zones to make it simpler for the residents and tourists. The majority of London falls within Zones 1-6, as seen on the London 1-6 Zone Map. Let’s learn about these individual zones to help you gain a clear picture:
| Zone Number | Key Attractions | Neighbourhoods & Landmarks |
| 1 | Big Ben, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace | Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, British Museum |
| 2 | Regents Park, London Zoo, Arsenal FC Stadium, Chelsea FC Stadium | Camden Town, Islington, Dalston, Hoxton, Angel, Highgate |
| 3 | Wimbledon, Kew Gardens, London City Airport | Streatham Hill, Balham, Crystal Palace, Deptford, Greenwich |
| 4 | Petersham Nurseries, Eltham Palace, Modern Hall Park, Bang Bang Oriental, Kingston Upon Thames, RAF Museum | Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton Court Palace, New Malden, Surbiton |
| 5 | Eel Pie Island, Ruislip Lido, Alexandra Palace, Kew Gardens | Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Finchley Central, Mill Hill East, Woodside Park |
| 6 | Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Enfield, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames | Barnes, Mortlake, Putney, Raynes Park, Wimbledon Chase |
Please note that this table only includes key landmarks and neighbourhoods; there are numerous other attractions and locations within each zone. Also, the boundaries between zones can sometimes overlap, so it’s essential to consult maps when determining specific addresses.
Detailed Insights Into London Zones 1 to 9
Rail transportation in London is divided into London zones 1 to 9, managed by London Transport. Each station on the London Underground zones, London Overground, National Rail, TfL Rail, and Docklands Light Railway is assigned one of the six fare London zones. The central core region falls under Zone 1, while fare zones 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 form concentric circles around Zone 1. Zone 7, 8, and 9 extend into Buckinghamshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire, covering all stations served by TfL services and some Southeastern and Greater Anglia services outside Greater London.
Here’s a breakdown of London zones 1 to 9 and their locations for better understanding:
Zone 1: London City Centre
The heart of the city, Zone 1 includes iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the Tower of London, offering a blend of historical richness and modern vibrancy.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £800 – £2,000 per month
Places of Interest Outside London Zone 1
While Zone 1 encompasses central London, the areas beyond are replete with tourist attractions, culture, and dining options. Here are some favourites:
| Places to Visit | Proximity to Zone 1 (Nearest Station) |
| Horniman Museum | Forest Hill station |
| Greenwich | Cutty Sark station |
| Highgate Cemetery | Archway station |
| Battersea Park | Battersea Park station |
| Oxleas Wood & SevernDroog Castle | Eltham station |
| Brockwell Lido | Herne Hill station |
| Broadway Market | London Fields station |
| London Wetland Centre | Barnes station |
| Bruce Castle Museum | Bruce Grove station |
| Crystal Palace Park | Crystal Palace station |
Zone 2: Notting Hill, Camden Town, London Zoo
Zone 2 is a cultural hub with the trendy streets of Notting Hill, the alternative charm of Camden Town, and the zoological wonders of London Zoo, along with two prominent football stadiums for sports enthusiasts.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £1,500 – £2,500 per month
Zone 3: Kew Gardens, Wimbledon and London City Airport
Embracing natural beauty, Zone 3 features the lush landscapes of Kew Gardens, the renowned Wimbledon tennis championships, and the convenience of London City Airport for quick getaways.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £1,200 – £2,000 per month
Zone 4: Wembley, RAF museum, Richmond Park
Zone 4 boasts the iconic Wembley Stadium, the fascinating RAF museum, and the tranquil expanses of Richmond Park, making it a diverse blend of sports, history, and nature.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £1,000 – £1,700 per month
Zone 5: Twickenham, England Rugby Union
A haven for rugby enthusiasts, Zone 5 is home to Twickenham Stadium, the world’s largest dedicated rugby union venue, and serves as the heart of England Rugby.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £900 – £1,500 per month
Zone 6: End of the line for Central, District, Thameslink, Heathrow Express, Elizabeth, Metropolitan, Overground and Piccadilly
As the gateway to various transport networks, Zone 6 marks the termination point for multiple train lines, providing essential connectivity and convenience.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £800 – £1,300 per month
Zone 7: Zones A – Croxley, Rickmansworth and Watford and B – Chorleywood
Zone 7 encompasses charming towns like Croxley, Rickmansworth, and Watford in Zone A, and the picturesque surroundings of Chorleywood in Zone B, offering a mix of suburban tranquillity and urban accessibility.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £700 – £1,100 per month
Zone 8: Zone C – Chalfont & Latimer
Zone 8 features the serene locales of Chalfont & Latimer, providing a peaceful escape from bustling city life.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £700 – £1,100 per month
Zone 9: Zone D – Amersham and Chesham
The outermost reaches of London, Zone 9’s Amersham and Chesham offer a more rural atmosphere, showcasing historic charm and scenic beauty.
Average Cost Of Accommodation: £700 – £1,100 per month
However, these zones do not create complete rings around London. To speed up ticket purchases, zones were introduced to reduce pricing. In addition to navigating within the city, it’s essential to consider transportation options for journeys beyond the city limits, such as London airport transfers.
Various platforms offer reliable and convenient transfer services, ensuring a smooth transition to or from major airports like London’s Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City Airport.
What Are The Types Of Transportation In London Zones?
London is an expansive city with a wide variety of transportation options. This ensures that the residents have the flexibility and convenience to travel seamlessly within and around the city centre.
Public transportation remains London’s major transportation alternative as it provides connectivity to the major areas easily. Here are some of the popular modes of commute for London Zones 1 To 6:
London Underground
The London Underground Zone 1 6 is one of the best transit systems in London. It is one of the world’s oldest underground railways. London Underground is a rapid transit system that serves all 9 London zones.
It is also widely known as Tube amongst the locals. It serves over 270 stations across London. This 24-hour service runs on the Jubilee, Victoria, Central, Northern and Piccadilly Lines. You can use an Oyster card to make the payment.
London Overground
The overground runs above the street level and connects the major parts of the city centre to the larger metropolitan localities through London zones 1 to 6 and even up to zone 9. Often confused with the Tube, London Overground covers about 71% of London districts and 100 stations.
It merges the older networks into new lines in east and south London. London Overground has a limited 24-hour service and you can pay for the same through a contactless payment mode or Oyster card.
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway is an automated transport system as a part of the driverless London zones. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) links to London’s cable car, the Emirates Air Line.
The DLR serves the Docklands area of London, which lies directly east and southeast of the city centre. It is part of the London Ground Network. It starts from 5:30 – 12:30 am on weekdays.
London Buses
London’s iconic red buses have been a major part of the city’s public transportation system since 1829. Buses are an affordable and convenient way to travel across the city with ease.
London’s bus network serves multiple routes which enables travellers to reach a myriad of localities and popular places from London zones 1 to 6 and even beyond.
Cable Car (Emirates Air Line)
Gliding high above the River Thames, the Emirates Air Line cable car is also known as the “Dangleway”. Passengers get an opportunity to experience the stunning panoramic views of the historic Greenwich sites to the Canary Wharf high-rises. The cable car offers an elevated look of the city centre from zones 1 to 3.
How To Pay For London Transport In London Zones?
Some popular payment modes that are widely accepted for public transportation in London zones 1 to 6 are listed below:
Oyster Cards
The Visitor Oyster Card is a non-refundable London 1 6 zone travel card that offers discounts across all 6 London fare zones. The regular Oyster Card does not have a validity as such and it is refundable with a £5 deposit.
Oyster cards are available at all Tube, most Overground and Elizabeth Line stations, and DLR stations. However, they are not accepted between Reading and Iver.
Oyster Cards make travelling across London easy and affordable. Here are the average regular Oyster Card fares:
- Zones 1-2: £8.10 per day
- Zones 1-3: £9.60 per day
- Zone 1-4: £11.70 per day
- Zone 1-5: £13.90 per day
- Zone 1-6: £14.90 per day
Apple Pay
Apple Pay is one of the most popular payment methods for public transportation across all London zones. This contactless payment option allows you to simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the yellow card readers when entering and exiting the Tube, buses, Overground, DLR and more. It is as seamless as using an Oyster card.
Apple Pay works the same way with easy tap-and-go access as Oyster through your mobile device.
Contactless Payment
Debit and credit cards can be used as a contactless payment option on public transit similar to an Oyster card. You simply need to tap your contactless-enabled card on the yellow readers when entering and exiting the Tube, buses, Overground, DLR, and more.
This allows for easy pay-as-you-go travel across London’s extensive transport network without needing to purchase a separate Oyster card. However, your card needs to support contactless functionality to support this payment option.
How to Save On Travel To Central London Zones 2-6?
The London Travelcard provides a key advantage by being valid on buses across the entirety of London, regardless of the desired London zones. If residing in Zones 2–6 and needing to travel to Zone 1 (London’s centre), consider the cost-effective strategy of purchasing a weekly or monthly Travelcard excluding Zone 1 but encompassing Zone 2. Opt for bus travel within Zone 1 after taking the train or tube to the nearest Zone 2 station. Significant savings are only achievable with the use of a weekly or monthly Travelcard. Here are the pricing details for your clarity:
Weekly Travelcard Rates:
- Zone 1-5: £69.60
- Zone 2-5: £40.50
Monthly Travelcard Rates:
- Zone 1-5: £267.30
- Zone 2-5: £155.60
Weekly and Monthly Travelcards for Zones 6-9:
- Weekly: £64.40
- Monthly: £247.30
Fares For Stations Across Two Zones
The London public transport system consists of nine fare zones, with Zone 1 covering the city centre and the remaining zones extending outward. Stations positioned on the border between two adjacent zones are considered to straddle their boundary.
These stations, denoted on the tube map by a unique graphic clue, have a distinctive status, indicated by a white box around their names. Travellers should be attentive to possible ticketing discrepancies when travelling to or from these border stations, including varying rates, ticket options, or fee computations compared to journeys within a single zone.
Navigating London Zones 1-9 Guide
Starting on exploring London through Zones 1-9? This guide aims to assist in seamless navigation, ensuring a comfortable experience for new travellers in the United Kingdom. Abide by the country’s laws, tap in and out to avoid travel card penalties, and explore suitable student accommodation options if planning to study in the UK.
Thus, navigating London’s vast transportation network is simple when you understand the city’s major zones and the transportation options available. With a broad array of public transit alternatives that connect London zones 1 to 6 and even beyond, connecting to the major areas in the capital city of the United Kingdom feels like a breeze.
FAQs
How many zones are present in London City?
London has a total of 9 zones in the transportation network which are widely known as London zones 1 to 9.
Which is Zone 2 in London?
Zone 2 is a cultural hub with the trendy streets of Notting Hill, the alternative charm of Camden Town, and the zoological wonders of London Zoo, along with two prominent football stadiums for sports enthusiasts.
What is Zone 5 in London?
A retreat for rugby enthusiasts, Zone 5 is home to Twickenham Stadium, the world’s largest dedicated rugby union venue, and serves as the heart of England Rugby.
What areas are in Zone 6 London?
Richmond, Kingston upon Thames, and parts of north Kent majorly fall under Zone 6 London.
What area is Zone 1 in London?
Zone 1 majorly covers the West End, the Holborn district, Kensington, Paddington and the City of London, as well as Old Street, Angel, Pimlico, Tower Gateway, Aldgate East, Euston, Vauxhall, Elephant & Castle, Borough, London Bridge, Earl’s Court, Marylebone, Edgware Road, Lambeth North and Waterloo.
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