Industrial action on London’s Underground or national rail network can turn a simple trip to the airport into a stressful one. Flights normally still operate on strike days, so the responsibility for getting there on time stays with you. With a little planning it is entirely manageable.
Which Airports Depend on Which Services?
- Heathrow: the Piccadilly line (Underground), the Elizabeth line and the Heathrow Express. A Tube strike can stop the Piccadilly line while the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express keep running, or the reverse, depending on who is taking action.
- Gatwick: Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink trains. A national rail strike can affect all of them.
- Stansted: the Stansted Express from Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale.
- Luton: Thameslink or East Midlands Railway to Luton Airport Parkway, then the Luton DART shuttle to the terminal.
- London City: the DLR, which is run separately from the Underground.
How to Check What Is Running
- TfL status updates for the Tube, Elizabeth line, DLR and buses.
- National Rail Enquiries and the train company’s own website for mainline services, including Gatwick Express and Stansted Express.
- Heathrow Express publishes its own service updates.
Check the evening before and again on the morning you travel. Strikes can be called off at short notice, and service often starts late and finishes early on the days either side of a strike.
What Happens on the Roads
When the Tube or trains stop, more people drive, take buses or book cars, so the roads into and around central London are usually busier than normal, particularly during the morning and evening peaks. Taxis and app-based cars are in high demand and can be hard to find at short notice.
Planning Your Journey
- Book ahead. A pre-booked private transfer is fixed and confirmed before the day, rather than relying on finding a car when demand is highest.
- Leave earlier than usual. On strike days add a generous extra buffer, more for peak-hour departures. Our guide on how early to leave for your flight gives normal timings to build from.
- Avoid a tight connection between a train and your flight check-in.
- Consider the night before. For a very early flight, a hotel near the airport can remove the risk altogether.
Arriving in London on a Strike Day
If you land during a strike, the queues for taxis and the remaining trains can be long. A transfer booked with your flight number means the driver tracks your arrival and meets you inside the terminal, with no need to queue. See our Heathrow arrivals guide.
Eurostar and Mainline Stations
Strikes can also affect journeys to St Pancras and other mainline stations. If your Eurostar or long-distance train is running but the Tube is not, a pre-booked station transfer gets you and your luggage to the right entrance.
Groups and Families
Groups are hit hardest because several people and suitcases need to move together. If you are travelling with children or more than three or four people, book a suitably sized vehicle early; our luggage and vehicle guide helps you choose.
Related Services
See our London airport transfers page, or get an instant fixed-price quote for your journey.