Christmas and New Year travel: How to get around London over the festive period

The holidays are just around the corner, with parties and celebrations planned across the capital. Travelling in London doesn't have to be a nightmare over Christmas and New Year, though – plan your journey ahead and avoid travel chaos with our easy guide to the tubes, buses, boats and trains.

Transport for London has warned planned work will take place in parts of the capital over the festive period. New Year's Eve events in central London will mean some roads and bridges are closed off on the afternoon of December 31.

There is free travel on New Year's Eve from 11.45pm to 4.30am on the Tube, Overground, DLR and buses.

Tube

On Christmas Eve, there will be a normal service on the Tube until 8pm after which fewer services will run. There are no services on Christmas Day.

On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the London Underground will run a Saturday service with disruptions to some lines because of engineering works. There is free travel New Year's Eve from 11.45pm to 4.30am.

Overground

There is a normal service on Christmas Eve until 9pm – when there will be fewer services. The London Overground will not run on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

On 31 December there will be a Saturday services but times of the trains may vary. There will no service between Richmond and Willesden Junction.

There will be a Saturday service on New Year's Day but trains will start later than usual. There will be no service between Richmond and Willesden Junction and Romford and Upminster.

Bus

There will be a Saturday service on Christmas Eve, but there will be no night buses from midnight onwards. No buses will run on Christmas Day and there will be a Sunday service from 6am on Boxing Day.

On New Year's Eve, a regular service will run with free travel from 11.45pm until 4.30am. On 1 January there will be a Sunday service on all routes across London. There will be a Sunday service on all routes on New Year's Day.

Boat

There is no river service on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On New Year's Day the Woolwich Ferry will run a one-ferry service between 6am and 8pm, with a reduced service on MBNA Thames Clippers.

DLR

There will be a Saturday service on the DLR on Christmas Eve and no service on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, the DLR will run every 10 minutes from 8.30am until 00.30.

On New Year's Eve, the DLR will run a Saturday service with free travel from 11.45pm until 4.30am. A Saturday service will run on New Year's Day.

Bike

There is a normal service at Santander docking stations over Christmas, but some in central London will be suspended from Wednesday 30 December until 1pm on Saturday 2 January because of New Year's Eve celebrations and road closures.

TfL rail

TfL Rail will run fewer trains between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, but planned engineering work may affect journeys. Check the TfL website for more information on travel over the festival period. For information on London's mainline rail stations, check the National Rail website.