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Tube maps can be confusing. You’ve got some Underground lines that run straight, others that go round in a circle, there are dozens of different branches and, perhaps most confusing of all, there are stops that are somehow in two zones at the same time.
Earl’s Court, Notting Hill Gate, Hampstead, Stratford – they are all dual-zone Underground stations. TfL’s zones dictate how much you pay for your tube journey, so how on earth does it work when you get on or off at a station that is in both zone 1 and zone 2? Are you better off alighting at a single-zone station? We’ve got all the answers below.
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What is a dual-zone Underground station?
It’s a station that straddles two London fare zones.
How are passengers charged at dual-zone stations?
If you get on or off at a dual-zone station, TfL will charge you for the cheapest option based on where you tapped in or out.
Does traveling through a dual-zone station save you money?
Yes it does! And you don’t even need to think about it – TfL will automatically charge the lower fare.
For example, if you travel to Earl’s Court (zone 1/2) from zone three, you’ll be charged the zone 2 price of £2.50 (peak) or £2.30 (off-peak). But if you travel there from central London, you’ll pay the zone 1 to zone 1 price of £2.70 to £2.80 instead of the more expensive zone 1 to zone 2 fare of £3.60 or £3.10.
Which London Underground stations are in two zones?
Zone 1/2
- Earl's Court
- Vauxhall
- Notting Hill Gate
- Elephant & Castle
- Kennington
Zone 2/3
- Turnham Green
- Manor House
- North Acton
- Bromley-by-Bow
- East Putney
- North Greenwich
- Willesden Green
- Willesden Junction
- Hampstead
- Archway
- Clapham South
- Stratford
- West Ham
- Canning Town
Zone 3/4
- Bounds Green
- Leytonstone
- East Ham
- Kew Gardens
- Hendon Central
- South Wimbledon
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