Quick Summary
The RMT union has called eight 24-hour Tube strikes by London Underground drivers, each running from 12:00 to 12:00 the next day: 26 November, 17 and 19 December 2026, 4 and 6 January and 17, 23 and 25 February 2027. The Tube is affected (in earlier strikes the Piccadilly line to Heathrow had no service). The Elizabeth line, DLR, Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, Stansted Express and Thameslink are not part of the strike, but expect them to be much busier. A pre-booked taxi is a fixed price on strike days too: from £55 central London to Heathrow.
A Tube strike does not close the airports, but it does break the usual way many people reach them. Each of these walkouts starts at midday, so it hits an evening rush hour and the next morning’s too, and four of them fall in the busiest travel weeks of the winter: the Christmas getaway and the return in early January. This guide lists every date, shows which airport rail links keep running, and sets out the fixed taxi fares if you would rather go door to door.
Tube Strike Dates 2026–2027
All eight strikes were announced by the RMT on 6 November 2026. Each lasts 24 hours:
| Strike starts | Strike ends |
|---|---|
| Thu 26 Nov 2026, 12:00 | Fri 27 Nov, 12:00 |
| Thu 17 Dec 2026, 12:00 | Fri 18 Dec, 12:00 |
| Sat 19 Dec 2026, 12:00 | Sun 20 Dec, 12:00 |
| Mon 4 Jan 2027, 12:00 | Tue 5 Jan, 12:00 |
| Wed 6 Jan 2027, 12:00 | Thu 7 Jan, 12:00 |
| Wed 17 Feb 2027, 12:00 | Thu 18 Feb, 12:00 |
| Tue 23 Feb 2027, 12:00 | Wed 24 Feb, 12:00 |
| Thu 25 Feb 2027, 12:00 | Fri 26 Feb, 12:00 |
Strikes can be called off if the union and TfL reach a deal, and more dates can be added. TfL confirms which lines will run before each strike, so check tfl.gov.uk on the day. Expect the Tube to be slow to recover for a few hours after each strike ends at noon.
Which Lines Are Affected?
- London Underground: the whole Tube network is affected. In earlier strikes in this dispute, the Piccadilly and Circle lines had no service, along with parts of the Central and Metropolitan lines; other lines ran a reduced service. TfL publishes the line-by-line picture before each date.
- Not on strike: the Elizabeth line, DLR and London Overground are not part of this action, and nor are the airport rail services run by train companies: Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, Southern, Thameslink, Stansted Express and the East Midlands Railway trains to Luton.
- Roads: buses keep running but get crowded, and traffic is usually heavier on strike days as more people drive or take taxis. Allow extra time for any journey by road.
Getting to Each London Airport During a Tube Strike
The airport trains themselves are not striking. The difficulty is reaching the London station they leave from, if you normally do that leg by Tube.
Heathrow
The Piccadilly line is the Tube route to Heathrow, and in previous strikes it did not run. Use the Elizabeth line (from Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street, Paddington and more, direct to Terminals 2–3, 4 and 5) or the Heathrow Express from Paddington. Both will be busier than usual. See our cheapest way between Heathrow and London guide for fares and journey times.
Separate engineering closures: there are no Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express trains to Heathrow on the weekend of 28–29 November, and none from 26 to 30 December. On those days the Piccadilly line is the only train to Heathrow. They are not strike days, but plan around them if you fly then.
Gatwick
Gatwick Express and Southern trains leave from Victoria, and Thameslink runs from St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge. If you cannot reach Victoria by Tube, Farringdon is on the Elizabeth line and has direct Thameslink trains to Gatwick. More in our cheapest way between Gatwick and London guide.
Stansted
The Stansted Express runs from Liverpool Street (also on the Elizabeth line) and Tottenham Hale. Coaches to Stansted also run from central London. See the cheapest way between Stansted and London.
Luton
Thameslink and East Midlands Railway trains run from St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway, where the DART shuttle continues to the terminal. Thameslink also stops at Farringdon for the Elizabeth line. More in the cheapest way between Luton and London guide.
London City
London City Airport is on the DLR, which is not on strike, with direct trains from Bank and Stratford. If you usually change from the Jubilee line at Canning Town, check whether it is running first. See how to get to London City Airport.
Southend
Greater Anglia trains run from Liverpool Street to Southend Airport station, next to the terminal. The cheapest way between Southend and London guide has the details.
Fixed Taxi Fares on Strike Days
If you have luggage, an early flight or a group, a pre-booked taxi takes the Tube out of the journey altogether. LondonAirport-Taxi.com fares are fixed when you book, and there is no surge pricing on strike days: these are checkout fares for a strike evening, with airport drop-off and pick-up charges already included.
| Central London (WC2) and | To the airport | From the airport |
|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | £55 | £56 |
| Gatwick | £79 | £77 |
| Stansted | £74 | £77 |
| Luton | £76 | £80 |
| London City | £51 | £51 |
| Southend | £106 | £103 |
Saloon fares for up to 3 passengers, quoted for Covent Garden at 20:00 on 26 November 2026. An MPV for up to 5 costs more (for example £77 to Heathrow or £101 to Gatwick). Trips into the Congestion Charge zone during charging hours add TfL’s £18 at checkout (see our Congestion Charge guide). The exact fare for your postcode is shown before you book.
Tips for Flying on a Strike Day
- Book early. Demand for taxis rises on strike days, especially for early-morning flights on the day after each strike starts. A pre-booked taxi is confirmed in advance.
- Leave earlier than usual. More cars on the road means slower journeys, particularly in the evening rush on the strike day and the morning rush the next day.
- Check the morning after. Each strike runs until noon, so a morning flight the day after is still inside the strike window.
- Landing during a strike? A driver meets you inside arrivals with a name board, tracks your flight and allows 60 minutes of free waiting from landing, so a delay does not leave you hunting for a way into London.
- Christmas dates. The 17 and 19 December strikes fall in the Christmas getaway. Our Christmas taxi guide covers holiday transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the next Tube strikes?
26 November, 17 and 19 December 2026, 4 and 6 January, and 17, 23 and 25 February 2027.
Each strike starts at 12:00 and lasts 24 hours, ending at 12:00 the next day. Strikes can be called off or added, so check TfL before you travel.
Is the Piccadilly line running to Heathrow during the Tube strike?
Probably not: in earlier strikes in this dispute the Piccadilly line had no service.
TfL confirms the line-by-line service before each strike. The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express are not on strike and both run direct to Heathrow.
Is the Elizabeth line affected by the Tube strike?
No. The Elizabeth line is not part of this strike.
It is expected to be much busier than usual, as are the DLR and London Overground, which are also running.
Are Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express running?
Yes. They are not part of the Tube strike.
The difficulty is reaching Paddington, Victoria or Liverpool Street if you normally take the Tube there. The Elizabeth line serves Paddington and Liverpool Street, and Farringdon for Thameslink trains to Gatwick and Luton.
Do taxi prices go up during a Tube strike?
Not with a fixed-fare booking. Our fares are the same on strike days.
A saloon from central London is £55 to Heathrow, £79 to Gatwick, £74 to Stansted, £76 to Luton and £51 to London City, with airport charges included. App-based ride-hailing prices can rise when demand is high.
Will my flight be affected by the Tube strike?
No. The strike is by London Underground drivers only; it does not involve the airports or airlines.
The risk is getting to the airport late, so leave extra time and check your route on the day.
Related Guides
- Cheapest way between Heathrow and London
- Cheapest way between Gatwick and London
- Pre-booking a taxi in London
- Are London taxis available 24/7?
- Christmas taxis in London
Final Thoughts
The Tube strikes do not stop flights, but they do make the trip to the airport slower and busier. The Elizabeth line, DLR and the airport express trains keep running, so most airports are still reachable by rail if you avoid the Tube leg. If you have bags, an early flight or a group, book a fixed-price airport taxi and leave a little earlier than usual.
