Off-peak Fridays in London

While London’s economy has recovered strongly from the pandemic, the number of people travelling on Fridays is recovering more slowly than other days of the week.  

For example, Tube ridership on Fridays is around 73% of pre-pandemic levels. This isn’t the case mid-week, where ridership is at 80-85% and continuing to grow. 

This has a knock-on effect on venues that rely on footfall such as London’s art galleries and theatres, as well as hospitality businesses like cafes, bars and restaurants. 

To encourage more Londoners to take the Tube and Rail on Fridays, pay as you go with contactless and Oyster fares will be off-peak all day on Fridays for a 3 month trial. The trial covers the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and some National Rail services across London and the southeast. 

The trial starts on Friday 8 March 2024 and finishes on Friday 31 May 2024. 

During this trial, you can travel on Tube and Rail at any time on Fridays for an off-peak fare.  

For any other weekday you’ll be charged a peak-fare as normal to travel between 6:30 and 9:30am and between 16:00 and 19:00pm.  

The trial will also allow 60+ London Oyster photocards and Older Person’s Freedom Passes to be used before 9am on Fridays.  

For example, you can save £2 by travelling from Zone 6 to Zone 1 on the tube with an off-peak fare on Fridays, with the price dropping from £5.60 to £3.60.  

Someone commuting from Richmond (Zone 4) to Hammersmith (Zone 2) currently pays £2.80 for the trip. This fare would be reduced to £1.90 - saving them 90p. 

The off-peak fares on Fridays trial is for pay as you go only. Single paper tickets and paper Day Travelcards will still have peak-hour restrictions during the trial. Season tickets will not change during the trial as there is no off-peak option. 

Peak fares will continue to apply to journeys to and from Heathrow via Zone 1. However, fares for journeys to Heathrow that don't include travel through Zone 1 will be charged an off-peak rate on Fridays during the trial. 

City Hall is working with TfL to collect feedback on the trial from customers and London’s businesses communities. TfL will also monitor ridership to evaluate the success of the trial.  

City Hall wants to know what you think about the trial. 

Your feedback, along with others, will feed into a post-trial report. It will also help to inform future fares policy.  

City Hall’s Transport team works closely with TfL to set the strategic direction for transport in London. The team provides policy and business support to the Deputy Mayor for Transport and wider mayoral team.